THE HILL climb with Ruth

Today I got off work a little early to head out to the barn for a ride with Ruth. It was such GORGEOUS weather, I was so thankful to be able to get outside and take advantage of it. Since it was fairly warm, I put on my jodhpurs and a t-shirt. I grabbed a couple of carrots and a water bottle in addition to some granola bars and a cheese stick for myself since I would be missing dinner with the family. Just as I was pulling out in the car, Matt came running out to me with the phone. It was Ruth, and she was pretty close to my house so offered to pick me up and give me a ride. That worked out really well and I gave her one of my granola bars.

We arrived at the barn and unloaded Topper and walked back to the hitching rails, discovering Jennifer was already tacked up and ready to go on Phoebe, with Gray in a halter and lead for ponying. I talked to her a little bit and it sounded like she wanted to take it slow today so she decided to head on out ahead of us.

I walked out to the far far far back pasture and got Sinwaan. Why is he always as far as he can get from the gate when I arrive? Oh well, more exercise never hurt. I was able to groom him quickly since he was still pretty clean from his shower on Sunday. I decided to ride in my Wintec today since I had not yet had a chance to purchase a new pad for my Abetta. Ruth and I were tacked up and ready to go at about the same time. We mounted up and rode towards Cache Hollow.

When we were about to start up the first small hill, we saw Jennifer coming towards us with her two horses. I asked if everything was alright and she said Gray was really sore, tender-footed so she was taking him back to the barn.

Ruth and I continued on, walking for awhile to give the horses a good chance to warm up. Then we did some trotting until Topper noticed a hide in the bushes, so we slowed for that and then picked up the trot again soon after. We had a nice ride, and although it was incredibly windy at the barn, on the road between the hills it was fairly calm. We alternated walking and trotting with one brief canter. Our challenge this evening was our silly geldings both wanting to be the 'follower.' So I had Sinwaan take the lead when we could, and the rest of the time mostly rode two abreast.

When we got to THE HILL, we took the softer option in the elevated section between the field and road. This was also slow going, watching for holes and encouraging the horses up up up with a few quick bites of grass here and there. We finally did reach the top, and it was very windy and cold, especially in just a t-shirt! I looked down to my right and noticed a 'leg' and assumed at first that it was a deer leg. It is not uncommon to see bones and such up there but upon closer inspection I realized it was NOT a cloven hoof, but rather a single toe! AAAGH! When I realized it was a horse leg it really creeped me out. How on earth would it have gotten up there? It was the hoof, fetlock and section of leg up to the knee bone, with the knee joint exposed. I would guess small horse or pony sized, adult with a small part chipped off the one side. Ruth and I threw some ideas around (a big cat maybe) but nothing really made much sense.


[At the crest of THE HILL you can look across Kinnear Rd which I sometimes ride - off to the left]

Ruth and I decided to ride down THE HILL on the road this time instead of back down the grass section. In doing so every once in a while I would look over and see barbed wire strands hanging from the dirt embankment. So we wondered and worried about the possibility of it being up there in the grass, hidden by the weeds. I probably won't ride that way any more, esp with the risk of holes.

We did some more trotting on the way back, and all-in-all had a very nice ride. We talked a fair amount about the upcoming Renegade Ride which Ruth plans to attend with me and she will ride the 15 mi. trail ride. We think we may need cruppers for that ride, and wondered about the amount of rock. When we got back I untacked and gave Sinwaan his carrots, a brushing and checked his feet. Everything looked good so back out to pasture he went. We were able to load up Topper and get back to town by 8 pm!