Old Lesson Re-learned

Back when I was riding jumpers one thing I learned was the best way to a fence, or line of fences, was the direct straight-on approach.  Unless you are flying around in a jump off trying to shave seconds off your time you will probably be more successful if you get your horse straight going to the jump.  That way the rider, and horse, have a better feel for how far away the fence is and can get a good distance.

Turns out that trail riding can have more in common than I thought.  More on that later.

So today we headed North to Winlock,Wa to ride some trails behind our group trail boss's house.  The weather was exquisite!  Not too hot yet, a little breeze,  and lots of blue sky!!!!

I took Cartman along, although Dazzby is looking pretty good and I think she really wanted to go.  Cartman needs time out with a group of horses, and new experiences.  Secondly, I don't know these trails and really want to take it easy with Dazzby since she's had so much time off.  And, lastly I am really having fun riding Cartman!  He is super smooth (for a trotting horse that is!)

I picked up Flo and P. and we met P., S., M., and J. in Winlock.  Its such fun to be around a big group of horse people!  They're just more interesting than others :) wink wink!  S. has a beautiful farm and a to-die-for barn.  It was so clean I really wondered if horses actually lived there.

The trails we were riding were fairly new and it was great training for my boy- he hasn't done much climbing up and over hills and valleys.  At one spot we could see both Mt St Helens and Mt Rainier(?).  We were talking, riding, and occasionally would stop to cut a branch that had fallen across the trail or to let the horses grab a bite of grass now and then.  Cartman was really relaxed, and other that getting a little close to Shiraz now and then (he's a saint and was very patient about it) I was having a great time.

Flo was riding her baby greenie Auggie and he was a rock star!  He's huge and looks a lot like big brother HotShot.  Actually Auggie isn't really green, he's a blue roan:)

We came upon a very small bridge over a little culvert.  I was riding behing P. and she held her mare back for a second so we could get Cartman right up behind her to cross the little bridge.  Unfortunately, Cartman chose that particular moment to do the baby horse, noodle step sideways manuever and didn't step up squarely onto the bridge.  He corrected, climbing up with his front legs but the hind slipped down.  It was certainly not a high bridge (thank goodness) but it ended up that it had gotten a little slick since last use. 

It has been raining, and raining here and a kind of slimey stuff appears on wood over nite in Western Wa.  So, after what seemed like an eternity of slipping, scrambling, slipping off the other side, and scrambling some more- we reached the other side. 

I LOVE my boy.  He didn't panic and he is a strong horsea.  I jumped off and he was holding up his right hind leg.  Apparently Cartman had completely scraped the skin off  the front of his cannon bone.  It started to dribble a little blood as I was passed a vet wrap and telfa pad (thank you P.- nice to have a vet around!) and some wound creme. 

After several minutes three of us (P., J., and myself) managed to find the end of the roll of vet wrap.  I think it had been kicking around in the saddle bag for a while!

I poured some clean water over his leg and wrapped it up.  Someone actually had a human first aid kit, so we topped the vet wrap with a bandaid, hoping to hold it on long enough to get him back to the trailer.

P. and I headed back, Cartman felt sound and had finally quit shaking.  He pretty much acted unfazed about the whole ordeal at that point.

Back at the farm, Cartman got a dose of Banamine, and then ran around in a grassy paddock while I waited for the others to get back.

Here are some pictures of the day! 

Waiting while S. cuts a tree limb.

Someone kept me company while I waited.

Here they come!

Nothing seems to affect Cartman's appetite.

Someone knows how to get "that spot"

Not to be outdone, Danny gets in on the action.

Cartman and buddy Auggie

The temporay wrap.

Cartman's now fully wrapped and turned out, hoping this will heal uneventfully.