Hard Labor Creek State Park

The only picture taken of me this weekend at Hard Labor Creek State Park and I'm not riding either of my two horses, just holding them down by Hard Labor Creek. Hilary took this of us. That's Asia on the left (my right) and India on the right (my left). Asia does have a saddle on, despite how it looks, and was being ridden by Marion. They did very well together. India did pretty darn good, too. This was her first visit to Hard Labor and she was pooped at the end of four and half hours out on the trail.

When we started out, she was pretty prancy and full of it, but after an hour she settled in and gave me a lovely ride for such a greenie. We also had a nice canter on the dirt road and quite a few nice trots on the trail. She was barefoot on the trail and she wasn't ouchy at all there, but I could tell that when we cut down the gravel roads she tread lightly. She still was eager to canter, and I'm sure being in a group helped, but I didn't feel guilty about the canter because she wasn't tender every stride, just when she'd step on a large piece of gravel and I could keep her on the shoulders and she was fine.

We need to work on leading. She moves out and was eager to pass Woody or Jack, but when she'd realize that she was now in front, OMG!scary and would suck back and halt, so, we'll work on that at home. I didn't push it there because I really just wanted to have a lovely ride and come back unscathed and that we did.

Marion has a lot of experience in dressage and she got a beautiful walk from Asia. Look how nicely flexed she is and how well she's stepping under herself with her back feet. I wish Marion could ride Asia more often!


India, or Princess Goofball as Christi has named her, wearing her new, green cooler. Sacking her out with my rain slicker and the blue tarp paid off as she was very ho hum about getting this put on and she's never worn blankets at all.