Here is Beth (Willie), Lenzy (sitting on Sam), Selena (back to us), Laura working on her bridle, Ginger in the background, (Moon still in the trailer eating hay) and me behind the camera :).

We this was supposed to be a walk ride, ha! girls and horses (that was a stupid statement), anyhow it was mostly a walk ride. Now Beth is pretty confident on Ginger, yet Selena has not ridden much and she got to tack up Willie in her brand new never been on a horse saddle (yes, made sure it would fit him and I always double pad anyhow).

Now Selena has really only done some arena riding (English some Western) or in a small pasture (turn out area). So of course, new horse and out in the woods, she started off a little stiff but soon loosened up. She was riding with a lot of contact at first and Willie (Mr. Social) just did his own thing anyhow. I love this expression. He had walked down the gully and run up the other side, she has never done any thing above a walk/slow trot.

Beth took the area like an old pro and even got ole Ginger (BLM Mustang mare) to jump over the log. IF you know Ginger this was about like an act of congress. This mare will not under any circumstances get her feet wet unless there is absolutely no alternative. Then she will walk through water like it is no big deal. Once through she shakes like a dog, it is really funny to watch her do this.

Both Selena and Beth went on and on about how quit it was in the woods and how did we know where the trail was at.

They also enjoyed talking with Lenzy who rode some with Laura (she will do a blog later) and just had a blast riding with us. This little girl already has it made. A love for horse and a Grandmother who loves to ride as well.

Now as we got to the back pond to cool the horses off you can see how much more relaxed the girls had gotten while on our ride. The Water was definitely on the cool side.

We rode for about 2 1/2 hours and then Laura and Lenzy had to go home. So on the way back Lenzy decided just before her potty break that it was time to share her love and ride with her Favorite Aunt Kim and Moon. I know why she wanted on the mare, Moon is like riding a rocking horse she has a nice long stride and stretch and you kind of sway in the saddle with her. So she rode facing me for awhile so she could wave at her grandmother and the girls and then she turned around and leaned against me. She cracked me she pushed on my legs then my upper anatomy and said I was harder than Meemee (grandmother Laura), I busted out laughing.

The girls and I went out for another hour to trot and lope the horses up and down the gullies and a weaving trail. I want to thank Cat for offering me some water for Moon at the trailer (She was the only one who did not drink before or during the ride) We had a blast. Selena and Beth both had some first for the day. Beth got to jump a log and got Ginger up into a run and Selena got all the above, plus wading in the water. It amazes me how much we as riders take for granted. Selena's mother was proud of her and that she had a good time. We later went to eat CiCi's pizza and then to the movies to see Enchanted (Cute show).

Here is the link to all the photos, just click view slide show, no need to log in.
http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=13wcq97a.7jvaq2ly&x=0&y=4m7fvd

Saturday at 11:30 we Jim (no photo and official photographer rode Jingles), Laura (Sam) and I (Dream Bar) who is on her 2nd ride in nearly two years. I really love this mare and can she move out in the woods. Dream is out of shape, fat and does not have a lot of muscle tone (yet) but we will get there. But she is willing.

We rode for 4 hours and it was definately a good ride for us and the horses. We hit some old trails on the other side of FM2666 and my memory is not what is used to be. There was a time when I knew the area like the back of my hand, but sad to say, I no longer do. Oh, I will not get lost and have a vague idea of where I am at and the direction to go, but still (must be a sign of old age- I am getting forgetfull) it ain't what i used to be. Then I think, well it has been 3 or 4 years since I ventured over there.

We started out on a nice open road that is closed and grassed over while Jingles and Jim do their dance (circle after circle), seems Jingles has taken a fancy to Dream and she wants no part of him.

We will cut to the right and follow an old trail that goes through some old creek beds (dry - due to lack of rainfall) and cross over a red dirt scenic road. I have no idea of how many miles we rode but figure it was close to 15 or perhaps a few more. We do some walking, but mostly trotting the horses and a few lopes in open areas.

It is an old forest with lots of color to it. Old stately magnolia's, dog woods, red buds and some other types of blooming trees in the gully/ravine areas. The ground is covered in old leaves and litter and you can walk and never hear the footfalls of a horse. Very peacefull and pleasant. If the other riders get a few hundred feet in front of you, they disappear into the forest and not a sound can be heard. Saw lots of large woodpeckers, and where the piney rooters have dug around.

We rode kind of parallel to the Lone Star Hiking trail and then followed some older trails where I had flagging tape on it many moons ago. It was dry rotted and flakey. Jim and Jingels did a great job of busting through old growth and clearing the trails for us. I tell ya Jim must have been dizzy from all the circles he did and sore from going through all the brush. They went through some brush on an old trail and we could hear the crashing but no sight of him, we follow the trail he so obviously left behind and he has a cut under his left eye (where football players put the black stuff), he is off Jingles looking kinda of worn out. Laura gives him some medicine to put on it and we mount up and go again.

At one point we kinda let Jingles and Dream get nose to nose and she struck out, he reared up, I spun her to move away from him and he wanted to mount (proud cut stallion, they only removed one testicle), Jim did a fast sit and spin on him and we stayed away from each other after that. Oh we could get about 5 feet from each other and that was close enough. Any closer and Dream would pin the ears give the ugly mare face and swish her tail. She is so funny. Laura and Sam just did their own thing, he is a happy gelding and they are good together.

Now the area we rode in is a NO SHOOT area and firearm free. So we were safe from the hunters (if they read the signs). We came across two different sets of hikers as we were crossing the lone star trail and on our way back we crossed paths again with the first group we came to. They had a long ways to go yet.

We saw lots of deer tracks while on our adventure of looking for old trails, following game trails and just riding open areas with non-existant trails. Here we are at a small creek with some water in it.

We do plan to clear out and mark more trails in the area and get to riding on that side once again. It is really pretty with lots of hills and ridges.