Friday, August 8, 2008

The "Other" Side!

Me, Amber, and Martha, went for a really nice trail ride today, and the weather even cooperated nicely...it has been in the 90's and humid ALL week, while today, it was around 65-70 degrees and pleasant. We headed out to an area that I call the "other" side, because it is on the "other" side of the highway, and because it is on the "other" side of where we rode while growing up.

Have I ever mentioned that Amber only lives about three minutes--if that!!--from my parents old house? That is why we still can ride on the trails that we grew up riding...I just no longer recognize them, as they have grown up so much in the past nine years. Old Bo Bo does though! Last weekend, Amber and I rode out to another one of mine, and Bo's, old haunts--heeheehee!!!--and as we were nearing the end of the trail, Bo started his cantering in place--he can canter while the other horses are walking...really...he can!!--and when we got to the end of the forest--it drops you out on a gravel road that takes you to my parents old house--Bo tried to take off towards home...his old home from five years ago with Amber, not his current home with Amber!
It was really cute. He does that a lot when we ride over there...he will turn down an old trail that will take us back to my parents old house, and even wants to go up MY old driveway, because Amber used to ride him, and Jen rode either Shadest or Classy, over to see me and my babies. It's just cute to see that even though he went back to live with Shelby, the girl that Amber leased him from, for five years, he remembers the good times that he and Amber had. Nostalgic I tell you...simply nostalgic :)

OK, OK...back to the present...sorry!!! Now where was I??? Oh yes, the "other" side. One of the reasons I mentioned that Bo and I still remember "our" side, is because Bo and I do NOT know, or recognize, anything on the "other" side. We literally stumble around blindly, after the other horses, and every now and then, Bo's internal compass will tell him that we should be heading "this" way, not "that" way, and he will take off down a trail that points towards home. On the way home, Amber and Martha discovered that someone had barricaded one of their trails, to prevent quads and motorbikes from trespassing, and we had to travel down a really steep and sandy hill, for approximately 75 feet. I will have to do another post on Bo's accident that he had when he was back with his old owner, another time, but for now, let me just tell you that Bo does NOT like steep hills anymore, and I am talking like straight down or straight up, not just a regular hill. He literally panics, scrambles, and looses his footing...not good! He is now old and wise, and knows when to put his hoof down and say "no!" Sooooo....Amber and Waska went down...clippety clop, clippety clop...while Bo watched OVER the drop off. Next, Martha and Curly went over...I mean down...the hill...clippety clop, clippety clop...and then I got off of Bo, put his reins around the saddle horn, and sent him over...I mean down... by himself. It was classic, and I wish that I could have gotten a picture, but I didn't!

When we got back from our ride, this is what was oozing out from under Bo's saddle pad. He is quite the piggy, so anytime he sweats, it literally turns to mud on his back.The reason that he is so dirty, is because he likes to roll in the dust a lot. Here he is, right after I had hosed his saddle area down with water...why, I do not know, for he ends up looking like this!
Great Bo! I am so glad that I rinsed your sweat off for you! You look like new!
"Get away from me Mel!!! You are not going to take me out again today," Bo said as he ran by me. Actually, he was running for his pile of hay, but it is fun to put words in his mouth :) Notice all of the dirt on Bo.Tomorrow, me and Amber are going to an Arab show, but as I told Twinville, thanks to her recent posts on her local Arab show, I feel like I have already been there! Have a great weekend, and I am sure that I will have more to write about after tomorrow...unless none of the pictures turn out!!!

9 comments:

Denise- LessIsMore17 said...

Your trail rides sound really fun minus that steep hill:-o I remember having to send my old mare up or down a hill by herself because it was such slippery rock and the path wasn't big enough for the both of us... it was scary, but she waited for me.

I love the dirty pics, lol.

Grey Horse Matters said...

It's amazing the memories that horses have isn't it? I'm glad you had a nice trail ride, the steep hill probably would have stopped me if my horse didn't want to go down it, I would just agree with him.
What is it with grey horses anyway, I think they all just love to be filthy dirty.

20 meter circle of life said...

Have fun at the show and cant wait to see you at my show!! I should have info soon!!

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

What a great ride! I love how Bo Bo still has fond memories of his old home. That is so cute that it still means so much to him after all that time.

Makes me feel good that horses have such excellent memories...
especially if they are good memories!

Wow! That one photo of Bo looks like has a dark grey saddle pad or bareback pad on! hehe
My Baby Doll loves to roll as soon as I rinse her down after a ride, too. Silly horses! :)

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Oh! And have fun at the show...I'm getting ready to post my Saddle Seat Equitation photos, but I can't wait to see any photos you take, too :)

Mrs. Mom said...

Looks like Bo had himself a mighty good scratch there when you got back home!

A happy horse is a DIRTY horse right? If that is really the case, I would say that Bo is probably one of the "happiest" horses I've seen in a while! ;)

Paint Girl said...

Your Bo reminds me of my Brandy! She loves to roll in the mud! She is the dirtiest horse I have ever had. My Paint stays pretty clean, every now and than she'll be dirty but not like Brandy.

Anonymous said...

I think Bo is wondering where his old horse show/trail riding buddy is. He needs to "go home" and see we are all gone. I wonder what the lady from LA would think about a horse at her back door looking for treats through her kitchen window!

Momma / Cowgirl said...

I don't think I could have tried that down and up that steep area. It sure sounded fun though.
My horses always want to turn around and go toward home no matter where we go..LOL