What have we been up to since end of April? Well, more riding (for me and Skyler) and soccer! Some tree fort building too…and just generally seeming to plow through the month and into the end of the school year (their last day is same day as OD).

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Mother’s Day weekend I took Sully to the Eastern Shore Trail Ride – I’ve always wanted to go and after checking with Doug to make this my “May ride” I put in my registration in time to go with Amanda and Morgan. Relatively easy trip up/out there, though crossing the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel for the first time hauling a trailer was a little nerve wracking, but other than expensive it was not an issue lol. We arrived right as we planned and set up our camp/pens, then hopped on the boys for the “Friday short ride”. They all kept a good walking pace together and faced a scary tractor prepping the fields for planting. We had a good evening and fun playing “Farkle” and relaxing.
(pics of Sully ready for Friday’s ride, camp (using the awning finally!) and Sat am sunrise view from our spot)

Saturday was the main event…a choice of a 15 or 22 mile ride total length. Trails, then a stop at the beach (around 8 or 9 miles in) for low tide riding and pics, then a bit more trail and lunch stop. Then back to trails with a split to go for another mile or so for the 15, or continue on further for long loop. The trails were really nice and we had an absolute blast on the beach! Sully and Draco jumped back and went “WTH!?” when we first entered the water/waves, but Morgan and her brave pony Neville led us all in to play. Lunch went well, Sully drank a ton – slurping away at the tank – before we left again, and then split off from his buddies pretty easily. The first bit he did call a bunch and was anxious about being alone and doing a few obstacles (wooden bridges and ramps) by himself, but he was easily convinced to keep going and once settled we could stop and graze a bit. We rode alone walking and trotting through the pines and fields for about 5 miles of the extra loop, then had a group of gaited riders come up on us that we followed along with back to camp. I was very pleased with how he did and feel pretty good about going for the 25 mile ride at OD – turtle maybe?

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Memorial Day weekend was full of soccer for the Sunburn Tournament. Asher’s team did so well this season (only losing their first game) they got bumped up into a different league and played against teams they had not matched up with yet. They had 4 games – 2 each on Saturday and Sunday – in some good old fashioned VA heat and humidity! The boys came away champions with 3 wins and a tie! (6-3, 3-0, 5-1, 0-0).

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On Monday I had plans to get Sully back into the mountains to meet a few friends at Graves Mill. However, the storms that came through over the weekend made us decide to postpone as to not risk getting caught in some dangerous weather out there or the drive back. Instead, after lunch I went out to ride at the barn, but as usual life had other plans! I found Sully with a sprung front left shoe so a text went out to the farrier to get us squeezed in for fixing as soon as we can.


I finally got to give him his birthday treats as he turned 12 on May 25th, and then Amanda got a chance to teach me how to remove a shoe. Sully happily complied to stand there while we yanked and pulled to get it off – such a good guy! Hopefully we will get a new shoe on this week and get out to Graves this coming weekend for a last mild conditioning ride to get ready… I sent off my registration and deposit for the OD LD on 6/7 and have my vacation time approved at work!
The countdown continues…