Faye's Big Adventure--or The Little Red Team

Well really, neither Faye nor I are little.  But we ARE short. Ha!  And we ARE The Red Team!

When my main horse became seriously ill in Feb, I was left with no horse to ride.  Sooooooo Baby Faye had to grow up quick.  I started riding her & realized that while she'd been ridden a little, she'd only walked.  It was interesting to ride an 11 year old greenie learning to balance a rider as we trotted down the trail.  A friend of mine describes it best, spider legs.  LOL

I had planned to do the Dru Barner Memorial Ride over Memorial Day Weekend.  Of course that plan was made before Faye became my riding horse.  Oh well, what was the worst that could happen if I took a greenie to a huge group ride for a weekend of camping?  I could just sit around camp if she was too nervous or freaked out to ride.  I could lead her on the trail (uh not the best option for me).  I could start riding & go back if she started to get too nervous & unsafe (yeah, I know me better than to think I'd go back).  Or I could just RIDE!  Which is exactly what I did, riding with a friend on her mare.

My friend & I caravaned to the ride early Saturday morning.  Once there, we set up camp & then headed out on the 5 mile ride through the Enchanted Forest Trail.  Faye & Lulu did VERY well.  We walked the 5 miles in 1 1/2 hours.  Along the way we played leap frog so both mares had the opportunity to lead & follow.  Back at camp Faye got to experience the Hi-Tie for the first time.  Of course I wasn't worried because she does very well on the hot-walker at home.  She's such a sweet mare who never tries to stretch her boundaries, which made it hard for her on the Hi-Tie.  Everytime she felt the pull of the line, she'd stop.  That meant she wouldn't reach down far enough to eat from her bucket or drink.  She finally figured out she could reach the water bucket & I bucket her feed bucket on the top of her nibble net to raise it up for her.  We settled in for the night & all was quiet.

My friend & I hit the trail at 8am Sunday morning.  We were doing the 12 mile ride & wanted out before the heat set in.  Within
minutes of hitting the trail we had 2 crazy girls on crazy horses crash pass us.  Fortunately we were able to move off the trail & keep Faye & Lulu a little calm.  Grrrrrrrrr...some people have NO clue about trail etiquette.

It was a gorgeous day for a ride.  Faye & Lulu, a Missouri Fox trotter, did great together.  We crossed bridges, logs, rocky trail, rutted trail, & even a section of trail that had cinder blocks as erosion control. The Dru Barner Campground is in El Dorado, outside the town of Georgetown.  It can be quiet hilly & we did some pretty tough climbs on single track trail.  Faye was AWESOME!  She really impressed me with her willing attitude & "get it done" forwardness going up the hills.  She just powered right on up.  We did a little trotting in places where the trail was flat & easy.  Faye really figured out that she could trot & we got some nice even pacing for short sections.  Lulu was learning to maintain a nice fox trot so both mares did really well learning their respective gaits.  Every now & then we had a few riders pass us.  We moved over & faced our girls into the on coming riders & had no problems.  Have I mentioned how proud I was of Faye?

Half way though our 12 mile loop was a nice refreshment stop.  There was hay & carrots for the horse, food & drinks for the riders.  We hung out while Faye & Lulu ate & we enjoyed a soft
drink (beer was available for those who wanted it).  Then climbing on a log, we mounted up & started off on the 2nd half of our loop.  Heading back to the campground had the harder trails, but by then our girls were in a groove & feeling like real trail horses.  It was fun riding the windy, single track trail (my favorite).  With Lulu in the lead, Faye all of a sudden jumped forward.  Yikes!  It was a runner coming up behind her.  Once she saw him she relaxed, but that jump was a little startling.  Further down the trail I all of a sudden found myself airborne & slapping back down on the saddle.  I don't know what happened, but Faye went straight up in the air like you see in cartoons where the horse spooks all 4 feet off the ground.  Did she get stung, see something under her out of the corner of her eye, or....?  Luckily I just got a bruise on the inside of a knee, & I didn't even lose a stirrup. Woohoo...  When we had about 1 1/2 miles left, a group of 3 riders came toward us.  As we moved off the trail for them, we ended up on opposite sides of the trail with the riders going between us.  ACK!  Faye had a melt down, bouncing around, spinning, & screaming for Lulu. Another disaster averted & on down the trail we went.  Not long after that the 2 crazy girls on crazy horses came galloping up behind us.  We got off the trail but they really frazzled Lulu.  Fortunately Faye was in front when we got back on the trail because Lulu tried to run through her bit & needed Faye for brakes.  Those 2 crazy girls on their crazy horses sure gave off a bad vibe.

The last 3/4 mile was uneventful & we were both so happy & proud of our girls.  Back at camp we sponged them off & fed them mashes.  Faye finally learned that she could put pressure on the Hi-Tie & it was ok.  After her sponge bath she figured out how to roll while on the line.  Way to go Faye!  It was fun watching other riders come in from their rides.  Everyone had smiles on their faces & fun stories to tell.  We stayed for a delicious dinner before heading home.  The group that puts on this ride does an awesome job.  It was fun with well marked trails & the people are great.  I got home before dark & Faye was really glad to see her pasturemates.  I'm sure she had fun last night, telling them all about her big adventure.  Which is only the first of many for The Little,errrrrr, Short Red Team.

:)