Growing up with Horses (archived 5/15/08)

When we first got our horses eight years ago, my brother was staying with us temporarily.  He got to experience those mistakes that new horse owners tend to make.  He and his daughter are here visiting and last evening, the kids were down at the south pond trying to rescue the boat they left float through the winter.  So I put bridles on Windy and Butterscotch & invited my brother to “hop on” and we would ride down to the pasture – bareback.  Having broken a bone in his leg on one of those rides eight years ago, he was a bit apprehensive about riding bareback, but I convinced him Butter was completely safe (evil grin).  With a death grip on the mane, we headed down to the pasture. 

My sister didn’t fare as well in recovering from her fear of riding.  She, too, took a tumble that first year we had Ginger.  Hers was a case of overconfidence & forgetting she was no longer 17 but 42.  Last year I convinced her to go on a short ride with me.  No pictures exist (except in my mind) of my once brave sister now riding Windy – equipped with a helmet, grasping the horn and being lead by me from another horse all the while saying, “don’t drop the rope, pleassse don’t drop the rope!”

I’m reminded of those early years – how a little thing called “fear” played havoc on my only desire – to have fun with my horses.  Looking back, nothing in particular happened that warranted me to be fearful, but it loomed over me every time I swung my leg over the saddle.  Everything on a ride made me nervous:  cows rushing a fence, a spook at a plastic bag, a head toss, going up a hill (or down).  In time, things changed for the better. 

Today we ventured out further.  John, my boys and I, and my brother and his daughter, rode the Oak Creek Trail from Loma to Valparaiso and back.  Other than the "roadside bomb" (aka root beer bottle) that sent Blue in a tailspin, the day couldn’t be more perfect.  It’s so rewarding to see how confident the kids have become on a horse; they no longer remember us NOT having horses.  They were very young when my obsession with the equine began.  And my brother remembers a little bay filly born on our place six years ago... as he watches his daughter now riding that bay mare – all grown up – both of them. 

JUST A TRAIL RIDER  (written & contributed by Sheila Christiansen, Gretna, NE)

Today I was at the tack shop buying a dressage girth.   Not because I do dressage or own a dressage saddle, mind you, but because that is what is needed for my new Barefoot treeless saddle that I am so excited about trying out on the trails!  The lady who happened to be working at the tack shop today also boards, trains, and gives lessons out of my boarding stable; hunter/jumper, I believe.  So I introduced myself and we were talking…  I was thinking how she is a nice lady. 

Then she says, "So, who are you working with out there?"  I was like, "Uhhh, well....uhh...” thinking, ‘What does she mean?’ 

Then it dawned on me that she was asking me which trainer I have training my horses or that I take lessons with.  So I glibly admitted that I am not working with anyone (which made me sound real back-woodsy, by the way), and that I just pleasure ride and trail ride.

“Oh,” she says.  That didn’t seem to be an adequate explanation.  So I said, “You know, hauling my horses to trails and meeting up with friends, trying out new places.” 

She's now murmuring reassuring phrases, like, “Well, there’s nothing wrong with that, now, is there?  Sometimes it is fun to just do that."  And I'm left still feeling even more like a hick! 

I find myself explaining why I am not in training of some sort, that I am not interested in competing, not very self-disciplined, even though I find it interesting to watch others taking lessons, I assure her.  And lest she get the impression that I don’t take my horsemanship journey very seriously, I told her, “I am a student of the HORSE, but no particular discipline”.  (I’m starting to sound kind of flakey by now).

Then she asked me how that trail riding is going.... (Interpret like this, “So, how's that going-without-a-trainer working out for ya, hmmm?"...)  She's either drumming up business or she has seen me ride.  I said, "Great! I've had these horses six years now and they are doing just great."  That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.  Pray I never show up there in a cast. 

I always have a hard time explaining what it is that I do with horses, without people getting the impression that I really don’t do anything of any importance, when in actuality I spend more time in groundwork, problem-solving, training, riding, trying new and challenging horse activities, studying natural horsemanship, and just general education about horses than the majority of horse owners I know!  Maybe I should start stressing the hours I rack up in a year doing my own horse thing, whatever it is called.  See, if I actually did Competitive Trail Riding, at least I would have a good ANSWER when people say, "What kind of riding do you do?"  There is a name for it.

Shouldn’t there be a better name for it than Just Trail Ride? 

Fuel Prices & Trail Riding  4/18/08

By the looks of the hay bellies on my horses, there is no shortage of hay around here.  But unfortunately, there is at our house.  We had hoped for a good crop last year with all the spring rains.  But the damp fields also prevented us from getting it out; we even lost some that was already in wean rows when the creeks overflowed from a sudden and quick rain, taking our hay on downstream.  We aren’t farmers and boy, did it ever show!  This has been the first time I remember, in our horse life, that we have had to go looking for large round bales.  Fortunately, my friend’s father – a cow farmer – took pity on us and will supply us until the pastures are ready. 

On Horsetales, we were pondering the price of hay.  Obviously, the cost to cut and bale the hay has increased with the exuberant (ridiculous & greedy) fuel prices.  It takes more to produce that bale of hay this past year than in prior years. 

So we are paying more for hay, more for fuel and I know the price of everyday living has gone up.  Gosh, who’d have thought milk would become a luxury item.  And eggs!  I vetoed making deviled eggs this past weekend because they were $2.86 a dozen!  And what does this have to do with horses?

As a trail rider, the sport is riding “the trails”.  Not my pasture, not the gravel road – but “the trails”.  And to ride the trails, you have to get to them.  Pulling 1 horse in my 2 horse trailer, I get about 11 miles to a gallon of diesel (overpriced right now at about $4 a gallon).  The nearest trail is 12 miles from my door.  So it costs me about $8 round trip to the nearest trail.  Round trip to Branched Oak & back will cost me about $18!  Heck, that’s almost as much as a yearly park permit!  When I first bought my horses almost 8 years ago, that same trip in the same truck cost me under $5.

We are heading to South Dakota for a horse trip this summer pulling four horses in our big trailer.  Please don’t tell the kids, but for what we are spending on diesel fuel, the 4 of us could fly to Disney World and back!  We planned early and I’ve been saving for summer.  But I saved for $3.50 diesel fuel, not $4.  Boy, was I dreaming!

My sacrifice to my horse hobby was trading in my Blazer for a Honda Civic.   A Honda!!  I’m 5’9” tall.  There is nothing I like about that little car except the 37 MPG.  Too bad the little thing can’t pull a trailer!

What have you done to combat the increasing cost of owning a horse?  Do you do without in other areas so that you can continue to enjoy your horses in the same way you always have?  Do you trail ride less or just not go as far?  Have you decided your horse really doesn’t need shoes after all?  Have you taken on a second job or a second mortgage?

I may have to compromise and ride the roads a little more often or play in my arena.  Forego a few haircuts and trips to the dentist.  Buy less milk.  No eggs.  And when I hit the trails, I hope to see you along the way!  I'll be anxious to hear what you are doing without so that we can ride the trails together!

Lost Data 4/2/08

I returned home from Horse Expo to find my computer had crashed! And yes, lost some things I wished I wouldn’t have, but did have most of my photos on an external hard drive… but not all. So when the kids graduate from high school and are presented with their life in pictures, there will be a slight gap! Yes, never thought it would happen to me. Lesson learned. So Horsetrailriders.com has been stale while I rebuilt my desktop.

I’m surprised I have already logged hours in the Trail Time program for this year. The weather sure hasn’t cooperated this winter, but I did ride any opportunity that I could. Mostly around the yard and down our roads. Took my “greener than green” black gelding to Chance Ridge and Dr. Smith introduced us to team sorting! What a rush that was! Black would put his head down and snake it toward the cow. My gawd, he even bit one! I think he found his calling! And it is the first time I have been stiff after riding for a long time! Just maybe sorting is something to look forward to next winter!

The days are finally staying light longer. The horses -- a few a tad overweight from standing at the round bale all winter -- have started to shed. The grass has is showing hints of green. People are finally able to get their trailer out of the mud left by snowdrifts and rides are being planned. A few weeks ago, I spent an afternoon at Two Rivers with some friends. We were half expecting fresh horses but instead, had a mild and enjoyable ride. The trails are interesting when they are void of leaves and grass. Almost like riding somewhere unknown.

Besides losing a year in the life of pictures in the crash, I also lost my mailing list. If you want to be on the Horsetrailriders.com mailing list, simply click & send and I will add you back to the list.

Happy Spring & Happy Easter!