School's Out and I'm Celebrating!

Jetta and I joined four friends to head up the canyon and ride the Ponderosa Trail. It was quite chilly, but I was still happy--I am out of the elementary school till August! Yay!

I arrived half an hour before everyone else so that I could work with Jetta a little bit. I walked her down to the river and sent her out into the water. She hesitated for only a second and then walked on in. She trotted up and down a small hill on the lunge line. She grazed. She did NOT whinny, paw, fret, or worry about being the only horse up there. I tell you, I love this mare!

Everyone arrived, saddled up, and we headed out. Jetta took the lead from the get-go. She walks out really well. Mikey and Sharon led the way through the river, but it was a non-issue, and then Jetta was back out in front marching down the trail. It's a long, sometimes steep, climb of a couple of miles to the cattle tank. She led the entire way. Tammy's three-year-old was a little excited, but nothing fazed Jetta. She was looking at things, but no hesitation or "stickiness." It is such a relief to be back on a forward thinking horse!

Nobody drank when we reached the cattle tank; maybe the very cool temperatures kept the horses cool. We rested for a few minutes and then carried on. We had a short trot in an open meadow, then Sharon and Tammy left on their own to push Tammy's horse a little. Jetta had a moment's worry about carrying on, but then she seemed to get over it. We did a small loop back to the trail we rode up on and headed down the canyon toward the river.  About half a mile from the trailers, Jetta was out in front when suddenly a wild turkey hen jumped up on the edge of the trail about five feet in front of her nose. Here I am riding a green four-year-old Arab and what do you think happened? Nothing. Jetta said, "Hey, look at that turkey!" And she walked on by. I know I keep saying it, but I really love this mare!

We crossed the river and arrived back at the trailers where I sponged Jetta down and gave her a hay net, while we headed down to the river to eat lunch. (Actually, I just visited since I didn't bring any lunch, but it was fun anyway.) I want to do this all summer!