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.