Two weeks ago, the clouds parted and there was sun. It was a glorious day! We walked up the hill and the horses seemed eager to go with us. (It was probably the smell of the green grass and the promise of getting to consume some.)
Right above the first woods crossing, we were all trotting on the road when the distinctive sound of a loose shoe pulled us up. Ziggy had lost one shoe. This was Shirley's first outing at home with Buster, so Lynn told us to go on and she'd head back to the trailer and do some ground work with Zigs. We went on up the hill to the top. I thought we would turn back, but Shirley turned left and we headed for the loop. Only she didn't take the trail, she stayed on the road.
We trotted and walked down the road, passing different trails that we often use. I didn't say anything, thinking she had a plan and knew what she wanted to do. We turned left onto a trail down below the big meadow. In my mind I was picturing how the trail turned and the different landmarks. At one point, it began to be extremely overgrown and rutted. I called ahead to Shirley and told her I thought we had missed the trail. We turned back and both of us recognized a tree that we should have turned by.
This is where it becomes obvious that we are too dependent on Lynn. I knew immediately this was the trail that I always have her lead on--back when I rode Brady, he knew where we going, but it's rocky and there's no real trail markers like horse tracks or a path. Plus, it has rained over 100% of normal since we took this particular trail. Jupes probably could have done it if I'd let him, but Buster had no idea. So I called it and we turned around again and doubled back.
We retraced our steps to the meadow. I took the initiative (finally) and we rode the trail from there to the top. Then we headed back. Part way down we heard gun shots. Lots of them. Big cannon-like reverberations of gun shots. Although the riders were nervous, neither horse paid attention. We arrived at the dumping area and there were three men and guns. They called up to us that they were taking a break and would wait until we were five minutes away to begin again.
Once we got to the trailer we saw there was no Lynn. No Ziggy. No sign from them.Tired of fighting the slipping, twisting saddle, I unsaddled Jupes and had him over eating grass. I figured Lynn wasn't far away and would return momentarily. Twenty minutes later, Shirley was getting nervous. She wanted to ride out and find her. She thought Jupiter would have a fit if she left and we stayed. (I think he would've kept eating.) Just as I walked him over to begin tacking up, Lynn walked in.
Her story is she put a boot on him, carried an extra boot, and ran him up the hill to find us (those long legs can cover the ground quickly!). But of course we did not take the trails and behaved somewhat erratically by staying on the road, going down below the main trail she thought we would ride, and then doubling back. In the meantime, she left us markers like her coat (which we didn't see). She lost her hat. She dropped the extra boot. None of which we saw. Again because we did not go where she expected us to go. Then Ziggy lost another shoe. So she lost time walking out. Thankfully she found the boot, her hat, and she picked up her coat.
A beautiful, but maybe a little frustrating, day. The good part? Shirley loves Buster. He's a good boy who is steady and calm. She feels confident on him and safe. For me: it's always good for me to have to rely on myself and not so much on Lynn. Next time I will be more assertive with Shirley and make sure we take trails I know well.
I've said it before, I've said it different ways, but the bottom line is: being "ahorseback" anyday is better than a day not riding at all.
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