Our First Spring Ride Alone 2010

I'm back...just been incredibly busy, with my family, and teaching Starlette to load...redux!  But that is another blog for another day.  Spring is here, and another trail ride adventure with my mare!


It turned out to be such a beautiful day today that I just wanted to trail ride.


I had not taken Starlette out on her own since last year. She was very good once we got past the scary logs and the stream - that took about 10 mins of snorting and circling. We took a trail, and even passed group of about 6 horses, and Starlette didn't even try to follow them.

We moved along nicely, she checking out everything, and me with my legs on her sides lightly. We were both relaxing, enjoying the view, when we rounded a corner and came face to face with a deer! Starlette planted and snorted, the deer planted and snorted, and within 2 seconds, both the deer and Starlette (and I) rocked back, spun and bolted in the opposite direction! 

I only lost one stirrup, and managed to right myself by grabbing Starlette's mane. Starlette was in a full-out terrifed gallop. I didn't try to stop her until I was balanced again, sans stirrup, then I gently pulled on the reins, said "Whoa"...which she ignored, she was so scared. I then said "Whoa" louder, pulled the reins more, and she cocked her ear back but kept on going. I finally yelled "WHOA" , reinforced it hard with my reins, and she planted her feet and stopped.


She stood there, trembling and breathing heavy between snorts. I let her catch her breath, praised her for stopping, and we headed back towards ground zero. She was so sure there was a deer behind every leaf and twig, but we made it past, and after about 10 minutes, she calmed down a lot. We ended up taking the another trail that meandered along a creek back, and she managed to calm down, although she did startle at creaking trees and bird chirps.

Once we got close to the trailers, I decided to quit for the day, as we both had enough. It is a lot harder to ride her on the trails alone than over the small jumps I have set up!  I did walk her around the campgrounds for about 15 minutes, and believe me, walking next to her was a lot easier than riding her spooks. Watching her in action from from ground made me realize that she has been a good riding teacher to me! Not too long ago, I would probably have come off on her "rock back, spin, and gallop" spook and bolt!