With my new riding buddy out of town for three weeks, Stella and I have been riding at and around home. She seemed more settled for several days after the beach ride, but her usual level of tension eventually returned. Time for another outing! I texted Lisa, who had helped me in my early days with Stella, to see if she was available to go somewhere to ride today. She suggested a park I hadn't heard of that's only 18 miles away, and showed up with three friends and four horses, all wild-caught mustangs in training.
We had a great ride at Bob & Crystal Rilee Park at the top of Parrett Mountain (more of a big hill). There are a lot of fields to ride around, as well as trails through the woods, some up and down terrain steeper than Stella has navigated before. Since we were mostly in the shade the temperature was comfortable, and the dirt trails were perfect for barefoot horses. Stella and I mostly led as she was the fastest walker and trotter as well as bold; she got a real workout but came back with plenty of energy. We'll definitely return there to ride again – maybe as soon as next week!
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| That's us, heading out first |
A couple videos shot by Lisa, showing Stella at a concerning culvert and leading a short canter:
8 comments:
How fun! I wish I could join you!
I wish you could, too!
Well done !!
So - barefoot? You mean Stella doesn't have shoes? How does that work? I've only ever seen/ridden horses that were shod.
Neither Lance nor Stella have ever worn horseshoes. I do have protective boots for their front feet (on which they bear the majority of their weight) for rocky trails, but don't use them often. Keeping a horse shod is very expensive anymore, and damages the integrity of their hoof wall, so I'd rather not have them shod if I can help it. Of course, some HAVE to be shod because of their feet (Thoroughbreds have notoriously thin soles and less substantial horn material), the surfaces they are ridden on, and/or the sheer number of miles ridden on them; serious endurance horses wear through iron shoes so you know what would happen to their feet!
I always learn something from you, Michelle :-)
Very interesting. I once saw a video of how horse shoes are removed and put on - and they used nails into their hooves and it made me cringe. Obviously it wasn’t hurting them since the horse was not reacting, but still.
I just read what you posted about shoes and hooves. Thank you !!
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