Casper's First Trail Ride

Today Sally and I took Casper on his first trail ride.  I rode Highboy, so that recently turned five year old Casper would have an uncle to look to for courage and an example.  It's worth noting that twelve year old Highboy is actually really good at this job, which is a drastic change from when he was a youngster and asking us to take the lead inspired this sort of response:

We arrived at Red Mountain early, and got tacked up with our full gear including first aid kits and saddle bags.

Sally has been working extensive hours at her day job, so she was long overdue for a trail ride, and this was her first time riding Casper.  Since he's been here and started under saddle I've been the only one on him, but everything he's learned with me transferred easily to Sally in the saddle.

 

Ned also came with us on his mountain bike, and got a few shots of us near the beginning of our ride when he pulled off to the side of the trail.

Highboy and I led for most of the ride since he's done these trails a million times and Casper gains a lot of confidence from following an adult horse who knows what he's doing.  I did my best to take plenty of pics, but since Highboy is 17h and Casper is 14.2, the angle of the photos sort of dwarfs my petite morgan friend.

 

 

Here is a little video of the ride:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS35df9CE9s

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ylzEVhnZs

 I got some scenic shots with Highboy's prominent ears.

 

And towards the second half of the ride Casper mustered up his courage and even took the lead for a little while!
 

Here is video of Casper leading

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7BH2WpC4kw
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMQqO6HPBCc

 

 

When we got towards the end, Highboy led us through Ruby Wash.  Normally when it's just me and Highboy, or Highboy with another more seasoned horse, we often gallop through certain parts of this ride.  Highboy was super well behaved and asked politely at each of our usual take-off points if he could gallop, but I had to decline as Casper wasn't yet ready mentally or physically for running through the countryside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxIvjUbYJ2I

The total distance for this ride was approximately 12 miles, once I accounted for all the trails we'd taken (Sunrise, salt lick, cheyenne rim, ruby wash, sunrise) to make our loop.  Since there were significant hills with climbing, descending, mud, sand, water crossings, and cairns lurking at every turn, it was a very sizeable ride for Casper's first trail.  Fortunately he had Uncle Highboy for moral support and though they were both tired at the end, it was a fantastic success of a ride.  Bonus points for mental health for the humans, too!

 My obligatory End of Ride Selfie with Highboy.  I love it when he smiles for these.

The Barefoot Mountain Thoroughbred

Today Owen and I went early in the morning while it was still cool to Red Mountain Open Space with Raven.  We did a twelve mile loop along Cheyenne Rim trail, which has significant elevation change as you go up to the rim and then back down again.  Raven was amazing, never put a foot wrong, and we trotted, cantered, and galloped a significant portion of the ride.  It works out well, since Owen is a trail runner he has a pretty consistent pace, and with the horses I do a little of each gait for conditioning.  We end up leap-frogging for most of the trip, but we usually start and finish together.

I didn't remember to bring my gopro on this ride.  However, because Raven is so surefooted and confident on the trails even at speed I got several videos on my phone.  I held it in my hand while I neck-reined her through switchbacks and turns, even on trails with a drop off at one side.  Raven is a rockstar at this kind of thing, and I said several times to myself that I ride an amazing Barefoot Mountain Thoroughbred. 

That said, some of the videos are very high-motion, especially the last one where we gallop through the wash.  Enjoy what you can see of the view!