Revelation

I rode Del yesterday with several horses on a trail ride. Gena, Larry's wife, and Courtney's sister have ridden  a little in the past. Cindy was inexperienced but seemed a real natural on Telma. Joe rode his beautiful big, paint horse. I had been asked by Rose to be the so called leader. A BBQ was planned for after the ride. Rose stayed at the ranch to give Larry a lesson on Sky, his new horse. In my role as leader, I neglected to bring my camera. Funny, the photographer in the group forgot her camera!

Del did really well. He even walked for me : ). That might be due to the fact I led the group most of the time. But what the hey.  There were only two Pasos and with the inexperienced riders it was a casual ride. This was just our fourth ride together. We went out to the Ramona Grasslands toward the pond. When we came to a heard of cattle, I decided to turn back with Gena and Cindy. Telma is afraid of cattle and I didn't want any bad experiences as everything was going so well. The rest of the group decided to come back with us instead of going on. As it turned out we were gone much longer than we planned. When we returned, there were jokes about riding to Texas.

While I was riding I had a revelation. When Del didn't want to go up the trial Saturday morning I think he was remembering that 5 hour ride he went on! I think he  thought "No way, I don't  want to do that again !"  I hope  because I just made it a short ride that day, it will change his mind. Perhaps the next time we go up that way he will not associate that trial will our first, five hour ride. Imagine five hours of hills and not much walking.

Early Morning Ride

Made it out to the ranch by 7 A.M. this morning to beat the heat. Day before yesterday it was 106 degrees and pretty tough on horses and riders alike. The ranch was quite. Del was calm, and at first I thought we would be out and up the trail in no time. Delgado is testing me at every turn. He didn't want to go past the busy truck and tractor area. I had to work at it. Then he still seemed unwilling so we went down into the arena and rode around doing figure eights, and circles. I noted how sensitive he is with his hackamore. I barely have to use the rein to turn. Jenn calls it riding with your "pinky". He backed up well and I decided to move on to the trial. There was another truck blocking the path to the trial so I got off and we walked around it. Then we started up the hill. Del didn't want to go. Late,r I felt perhaps I was sending him mixed signals. I was saying "go" and maybe it sounded like woah? I have since changed to "walk on" and I believe that has made a difference. We did finally make it to the top of the hill at about 8 A.M!

Abby came on our first ride alone. She was a welcomed addition. I think Del has already gotten used to having dogs along on the rides. Del and I continued on to the water tanks near Starvation Mountain. We had a wonderful ride. Funny how things go. I think my persistence paid off. However,I was so busy riding that I don't have any great photos. Just memories.

I went back out with Glory in her new hackamore (side-pull) and did the very same ride except she was perfect! No hesitations. I think she liked the hackamore (like a bridle minus the bit) and will keep it. All and all it was a great morning.  

Ride 2

Yesterday, Del and I went out with Millie, Pam and Jo on what I would call a bushwack trail ride. It is a ride of mostly walking and single file as the chaparral (Deer Bush, Buckwheat, Laurel Sumac) is thick from the winter rains. The trail is narrow or we just pick our way through the wilderness. Del likes to go faster. I had to keep him back from the horse in front. Jo was mostly in the lead. I could see him look over his shoulder to see if we were too close to his horse. Del didn't want to walk so he gave himself a workout : ). Almost like running in place. While I feel in control with his hackamore, bit-less bridle, it  required me to pull back quite a lot. Overall, Del showed his heart and willingness to do new things. I think he is used to more open landscapes with less vegetation. When we got back to the ranch, Millie discovered that her cell phone was missing. I had wanted to ride Glory as well, so I volunteered to go back and look for the phone. Millie stayed and took care of Del and Cupido (her Paso).

Millie took this photo before I left on the first ride. We forgot to make one of me on Glory.

This was my first ride on Glory (since my test ride). I tried using Del's hackamore on her. It felt like I was riding with a halter! Jo and Pam went along on the search for  Millie's phone. We only had to go about a mile or so and we found it! Amazing! We continued up the mountain just to give the horses a little more workout. Glory was much calmer on the ride than Del had been. She is a wonderful mare and I think she will be like Telma. Telma is very versatile. She can be enjoyed by experienced riders as well as a novice. She adjusts to all skill levels. She has a great largo (that is the fast gait). I want to work to train Glory to have this kind of versatility. I really believe she has a similar horseanality (personality) - left-brain introvert. This last photo shows how much Del loves Glory. Glory seems less interested : ).

RD and Glory

Yesterday, RD and I went out to work with the "herd" : ). Here are a few photos of RD with Glory and her new saddle. They got along great!

Del is getting more comfortable in his surroundings. I guess this photo doesn't really say that, but I like the composition.

Glory: Round Pen

Glory in the round pen. We are working. She is coming forward by my command.

Glory: Pasture

Glory is in the pasture with Coop. He is Millie's Paso. They make a nice pair. He is a buckskin (with fly mask on) and she is a dun (left). This is the largest pasture at Holly's Land Stable. I think it is 2 acres.

First Trail Ride on Del 4th of July!

I am so happy to report that Del and I had a great ride today. I mean GREAT. He was so good. He hardly spooked at anything. I rode with two seasoned trail horses, Pasos of course, Telma and Tiena. Daniel (ranch owner) and Diane who is now leasing Telma (whom I used to lease) made up our group. Daniel took us to lake Poway.  It didn't take that long for Del to fit right in with the group. Of course they were mares : ).  I wanted to work him out but  didn't  dream Daniel would take us so far. We were trying to make a big loop going out by the Ramona Reservoir, down the front (steep road) and then through some wonderful lowlands and canyons along water and Live Oak trees. That was my favorite part. Shady and cool is nice for horses and riders this time of year. We went on to ride by a four lane highway with lots of cars. All three horses did so well. I was very impressed with Del. Jenn, his previous owner and trainer, did a wonderful job. There was just a little post and rail fence between us and the street! Then we rode east again. It turns out we were lost.  We rode pretty far up a canyon and had to back track. We met Ann, a very nice woman who offered us water.  Del was the first to drink out of the bucket. Ann has several horses and a really nice, but not ostentatious ranch. There are lots of those in that area!

When we were back in the shady area, I let Daniel ride Del. It was so fun to see him from another perspective. He is really striking! I was really pleased that he is even smoother than Tiena. I had her as my benchmark! Del's gaits are smooth as silk.

Then we had to ride back up that really long, steep hill. Most of it is on dirt, but the last and steepest part facing the dam is paved. Del just came to a stop. I knew he was tired. Fortunately, Jenn had told me about this. I sat there a minute and we watched the mares draw away. I hollered to Daniel that Del was tired. Then Del moved on. I gave him no leg. He just decided to keep going. When we got up to the mares Daniel got off Tiena and walked her. I wish I had the brains to have thought of that first. I got off and hoofed it beside Del. He looked at me with what I think was an expression of  "thanks". I appreciated his efforts when we reached the top. I was very out of breath!

Daniel was afraid he was in trouble with his wife, having been gone much longer than he planned. He was suppose to be spending some time with his family in the afternoon. So, when we neared the ranch he went ahead. Diane stayed back and rode slower with me. I really appreciated that. I knew Del was pooped because he had stopped a couple more times on hills. I didn't want to push Del but Daniel wanted to hurry back.

When we were nearly home I was leading and wanted  to go down a slightly different trail that is a short cut. Del stopped about 20 feet from the other trial we had taken out. He KNEW that I was going on the wrong trail! He turned around and started back the way we can come. I decided that because he had been so willing, and it had been such a challenging ride, that I would let him have his way. I told him it was a harder and he would have to go up two more hills. I have never witnessed a horse with such a memory. What a smart cookie Del is! I love him so already! I found my Paso!


No photos to show. I didn't take my camera out. But my memories are sharp. Hopefully my words have painted a picture instead.

Del and Glory: Bath

 Del and Glory were bathed today. They seemed to really enjoy it. This is right after.

Millie and Del hit it off.

Delgado and Glory are in their new home.

For a few days we will keep them in the pipe corrals and then introduce them to the pasture. Del likes to give kisses and Glory is a little shy. You can tell a lot about their personalities from these two quick photos.