Touched By Horses: Happy 4th of July from the BIG BRAT & I

What better way to spend July 4th than enjoying the freedom of riding a section of my favorite trail with my bestest horse Launi & wonderful cousin, Jan.

It's been so hot the last couple of nights that I haven't slept much so 5am found me groggy & stumbling around trying to get ready to ride. By 6:30 Launi & I were on the road to Auburn. Surprisingly the streets & highways were pretty empty for a holiday. We arrived at the Auburn Staging Area/Overlook at 8:15. I always arrive early because it takes me so long to get Launi dressed. After brushing him his mane is braided; then he's tacked up; next comes his EasyBoot Gloves; heart monitor is put in place & girth is adjusted a couple notches; crupper goes on; girth adjusted again; Glove gaiters snugged; my water & his cookies are packed onto the saddle; helmet goes on my head; bridle goes on Launi's head; one more girth adjustment; & FINALLY we're ready to ride.

The trails were busy today with a lot of riders, runners, & hikers. Passing traffic coming & going was such a great experience for both Launi & Angell, Jan's lovely mare. Launi was quite happy to lead the way with Angell within touching distance of his tail. We trotted the uphills, most of the flat, & even some of the slight downhills. Woohoo the BIG BRAT is growing up. Over rocks, through water, tip-toeing between well-worn ruts, happily spending the day on the WST, aka TEVIS trail. Jan & I had a great time chatting, remembering the good ol' days of endurance. At Paige Harper Springs Launi scrambled through the rock, trying to stay away from the many, many, many bees buzzing around. Uh oh, off went a hind boot. Well, the boot went off but the gaiter held it to him. Good boy Launi didn't panic. I hopped off, more like slumped to the far distant ground LOL. The old, fishing line repaired gaiter was torn. DARN! But luckily I had a boot packed on the saddle, albeit a 1/2 size too big. Never fear, I had athletic tape & with 1/2 a roll holding the boot on we were on our way. Oh & surprise, surprise, I managed to get on Launi from almost ground level when he stepped away from the mounting rock after my left foot was in the stirrup. At 15.3 that was quite a feat for this not so young, not so slim, not so limber rider. :)

At one point early in our ride we heard a roar coming through the canyon at us. I first thought it was a helicopter flying low, which means about as high as we were on the trail. That's scary unless your horse is used to looking into a helicopter pilot's eyes. Ha! As the roar neared we looked up & saw an incredible four jet formation flying above us. So fitting for a 4th of July fly over.

We rode to Cool & took a break at a wonderful water tank. Launi enjoyed a ziplock baggie of grain with electrolytes while I guzzled a water bottle. We even hosed Launi & Angell off before heading back to Auburn. Part of our route back to Auburn was different trail that allowed a little more trotting. Launi gave me a few fits & head slings to speed up but then settled back down. He's really starting to like being allowed to slow trot some of the downhill. After crossing No Hands Bridge, AWESOME by the way, we had a lot of flat that allowed for some nice trotting. On a slightly relaxed rein there were times when I knew we were at 7mph, & even faster a couple of times. I could tell when Launi stepped his speed up when I felt his trot suspend. FABULOUS feeling but not one that we're really ready for just yet. But it's there to look forward to in the not too distant future.

Coming up off the road & onto single track we were stopped by EMTs tending to a downed hiker. Luckily we were by the spring so the horse got to enjoy a nice long water stop. It was 20-30 minutes before they were able to stabalize the hiker (who had hiked 5-6 miles in & out of the canyon with NO water) & begin carrying him up the hill. We slowly followed at a safe distance, both horses behaving like pros. When we got to the top we had to walk between emergency vehicles & about a dozen firemen & EMTs. Launi & Angell sure impressed me with their quiet, calm manners. Two miles later we were back at the Auburn Staging Area with two horses sucking in more water, grazing on a little grass, & chilling under the trees.