Trails and trials

Another month has gone by – where has the time gone? This summer has been a whirlwind it seems of kids camps and traveling (work and fun) in addition to our normal commitments.
To start out July we went on a family vacation for a week in TN. Lots of fun at the water parks on site at the resort, and a day away in Gatlinburg hiking (where we saw a bear on trail) and visiting Ripley’s Aquarium.

Cool tree roots
The falls we hiked to
Shark!
Smile!

After we got back I could finally hop on Sully again, trying out a new bit on trail with a friend and her daughter, and also a few times in the outdoor ring working on his maintaining speed while I work on me with stuff from the clinic. He did a bit more of exploring of the area (instead of just around the outer edge), but also liked to stay by the gate end (our normal battle per say). The ported bit was definitely appreciated by him, and he now has a MB33 HB Short Shank.

Let’s go! Preddy Creek trails
Yes, this bit is a little big (new one is correct size)

Asher attended his first “Sleep Away camp” for a week at Silver Beach. A lot of driving for us in drop-off and pick-up (4hrs each way -twice). He had a blast and will be back! Skyler has continued her lessons with Flicka and had her first fall – but got back on (with some protest). She of course was dying to ride again at the next lesson, so all is forgiven (Flicka spooked sideways).

His Bunk
No Hands!
Car decorated to head to camp

I managed to squeak in a ride for my birthday (The big 40!), granted only 20min in the outdoor – but something! The heat for most of July was oppressive and not safe to ride in the evenings or most weekends I could have, with the heat and humidity levels. All 3 horses got a hose down during the worst of it (105-110 for a whole weekend!) that they appreciated.
The kids and Doug of course spoiled me with cake, and gifts of items I wanted for camping/riding; Doug also made me “The 4th decade” photo album (he made one for my first 30 years).

Asher and Doug are graduating to Black Belt in Karate later this month – but first they had to pass a day long worth of tests! It started with physical fitness (mile run, push-ups, kicks, sit-ups), then onto the skills portion (performing all 10 universals, weapons, sparing, board breaking). Out of a possible 105 points, Asher got 102 and Doug 103! They did so awesome – Skyler and I came to watch most of the skills portion and video them.

Soon to be Black Belts in just a few weeks

Sully has had some unintended time off, but rest is never a bad thing for a fit horse who needs a little extra weight. He is looking good despite fighting the heat and flies, though he now has to deal with the flies more as he had an unfortunate tangling event and killed the fly sheet (thankfully he freed himself and it didn’t happen long before I got there) – argh! Working on a new sheet as it helps keep him out grazing versus hiding in the shed.
He is currently bare after switching farriers and moving to composite shoes – which I was really happy with and he did well with. We plan to put them back on for the Iron Mountain ride, just letting the nail holes grow out a cycle. He has been moving better on rocks than previous barefoot times, so I think his hooves are finally starting to come around…still a bit to go with the heels and getting that frog nice and thick again.
I picked him up early this past Sunday morning and took him up to the mountains to meet a few friends for a short training ride (12.3 miles). We were testing out using all 4 Scoot Boots for the first time since the spring when I found some rubbing issues and made the switch to shoes to be ready for OD, as well as the new bit. We had one issue with the RH boot Twisting, but I think it was more circumstance/terrain related (stuck in between rocks and popped toe strap off, then scrambling in some mud on the edge of the trail). That RH is the side he torques more as he moves – but they didn’t budge on the flatter flying trot areas.

About ready to head out
Handsome guy (hand walking portion)
The road back
All done – mash time!

Of course, I’m super happy with how he is doing overall. He was his normal mostly chill self for the ride, leading the way as usual with his big walk and trot. He made us all laugh at the beginning as he “jumped” over the yellow lines in the road we crossed. Other than stopping 2x to fix the boot, it was a fairly normal ride and solidified for me his like of the ported style bit. We’ll get a curb strap on it and put my “regular reins” to it too (been using the easy on/off clip ones instead as I keep trying different bits). I need to decide which tack set to put it on! The teal & blue or the royal blue reflective one?! I like both on him 🙂
We did have a few ‘fun’ times – being out in front we had a bear cross the trail a bit ahead of us, then we stirred up a Rattlesnake next to us in the grass! That snake was not happy and rattling loudly as he slithered off…Sully didn’t seem to bat an eye at either. Yet the fences and rocks – well they might eat us!! 😛

Looking back through FB Memories, this past weekend/first weekend of August, has apparently been my weekend for Graves Mountain riding. In 2014, it was the first really big conditioning ride I took Traveler to (Graves Mill side); That ride moved us from the planned intro ride to an LD at IMJ after seeing how he handled what ended up at 28 miles. In 2015 I took Tesla camping with a small group on the lodge side (we were dealing with saddle fit issues and not able to attend RBTR) and rode 35 miles I think it was that weekend. This year I took Sully on some of those same trails.
Graves trails will always hold a special place in my heart I think!