When Two Dressage Queen's Crash a Rodeo

My PBO and I have decided that our young mares need to get out for some adventures...  

Earlier this month I saw ad on Craiglist for a "Trail Riding Clinic" in Kentucky about an hour haul away.  S and I decide to do it.  Then Amy from Slow and Steady Wins The Race gets a hold of me and asks if I want to join her for a lesson with Jodi.  I say sure - set it and let me know what day/time.  So she picked the same day as the trail clinic...  Well luck would have it the trail clinic was hosted 5 miles from Jodie's barn, the clinic didn't start until noon and our lessons were in the morning.  It all worked out perfect.

The lesson was non-eventful. Rosie was heavier in my hands than normal, but I expected it since I've not ridden her at all in several weeks.  I normally taken January off for both a physical and mental break for both myself and my horses.  She was also pretty lookie and was curious about everything, but not crazy or scary.

At the end of my lesson I asked Amy if she'd like to ride Rosie and cool her out for me.  She readily agreed and hopped up.  Smiling, talking, and walking we got to know each other.

Then off to the clinic S and I go.

We get to the facility and it's beautiful, and is about a mile off the road and a single lane sometimes dirt, sometimes black top lane.   Get to the barn, get  a stall assignment, settle our horses and get signed in.  Almost everyone there is a western trail rider.  There are a couple of hunter jumpers, and one endurance, wanting to go to competitive trail riding, rider.  Quite a few Arabians  including one that was crazy over reactive ridden by a woman who is just like her horse.  We were the only riders who primary riding discipline is Dressage.

We each took our time going through... 

Or over... 

and through... 

... and gate opening

More going through... 

Don't forget the snail mail !

The absolute best part of all of this is just getting our mares out there.  There was a lot of reactive horses and as we all know horses tend to feed off other horses emotions.  Our mares were 'up' at first but didn't get over reactive and very quickly just ignored the other ones that were not so quiet.

Next Sunday we ride the Little Miami Scenic Trail !!