tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post8522130086747544365..comments2024-01-06T11:22:03.305-08:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: Trail Ride AdventureJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-59423076134767402722014-01-11T07:42:02.778-08:002014-01-11T07:42:02.778-08:00WHP--That's sort of how I feel about the ridge...WHP--That's sort of how I feel about the ridge trail. I've ridden it--many times. Maybe I can just remember it fondly and not push/risk my horse to do it yet again.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-4919217059229588532014-01-10T14:24:06.888-08:002014-01-10T14:24:06.888-08:00When I rode more in the woods getting poked in the...When I rode more in the woods getting poked in the eye by a branch was far more of a worry than simply falling off. We did have a horse that ended up with a pine needle sticking out of an eye - fortunately he recovered fully with treatment. <br /><br />I am one for getting off on tricky ground. It seems easier for my horse and it's less far to fall too. I came off once riding a tricky rocky slope. The old gelding just looked down at me with such contempt....<br /><br />Last summer I visited a hill I hadn't ridden in fifteen years. We visited a really steep trail on crumbly ground that stuck in my mind. One time back in the 90s I came up it and met some bicyclists at the top. They looked down, shook their heads and decided to ride another way. Well, I went up that slope again. It was tricky. Brena hauled me up, slipping and panting and getting over roots and rocks. If she'd been a person, we'd have headed off to regale one-another with tales of our prowess over a beer. Then we'd have found an alternative way home. I won't ride it again. I've got the tales to tell, don't need any new ones. White Horse Pilgrimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18256903307281225327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-33218346311312932942014-01-09T15:26:20.732-08:002014-01-09T15:26:20.732-08:00RiderWriter--Yes, I fear I am just getting too old...RiderWriter--Yes, I fear I am just getting too old to duck under the headbonker tree any more (!)Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-64752934066506922482014-01-09T12:17:05.820-08:002014-01-09T12:17:05.820-08:00Dang, Laura, that is some trail! I myself would de...Dang, Laura, that is some trail! I myself would definitely NOT be interested in attempting it, even on a solid citizen like your Sunny. Leaping up 2-3' "steps" sounds a bit too adventurous, as does following a ridge with serious drop-offs on both sides. The road crossing part would not be my favorite but I have actually done that, and could do it again if necessary. Does raise your heart rate a bit, though! <br /><br />I wouldn't blame you a bit if that if your and Wally's last trip on THAT particular piece of trail!<br /><br />I remember the head-bonker tree very well from Going, Gone which is the first book of yours that I read. I definitely cringed, because I was once swept off a runaway pony by a tree branch that caught me across the chest (if it had been neck-height I suspect I wouldn't be here to write about it...). Glad you erred on the side of caution and dismounted this time, rather than doing the limbo!RiderWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679157278313699794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-44155871963367609792014-01-08T16:26:24.930-08:002014-01-08T16:26:24.930-08:00WHP--Yes, when we were halfway up that trail, I wo...WHP--Yes, when we were halfway up that trail, I wondered if I'd made a stupid choice to go that way. It wouldn't seem worth it if a horse got hurt. And honestly, it looked tougher than the last time I rode it--but maybe I just forgot.<br /><br />I honestly never get off--it just isn't my habit--except on long, multi-day rides when I get too stiff and sore. But we did get off and lead under the headbonker tree on this last ride. I just didn't feel up to the rather extreme "duck"--literally hanging off the side of the horse--that is required.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-43772190318741466212014-01-08T15:58:30.979-08:002014-01-08T15:58:30.979-08:00I've ridden some rough trails out of necessity...I've ridden some rough trails out of necessity, and I'm glad not to have to nowadays. I would jump down and lead over the roughest parts, long split reins allowing me to get far enough in front that I wasn't stepped on. Nowadays it's harder to get back on! <br /><br />There's a lot to be said for intuition. Unconsciously an experienced rider like you is assessing hazards. It's better to avoid trails like that if you can. There isn't much of a margin for error on steep slopes and especially on steps. White Horse Pilgrimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18256903307281225327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-78703432342294832272014-01-08T15:57:12.101-08:002014-01-08T15:57:12.101-08:00Aww Funder--You cheer me up. Just saying the ridge...Aww Funder--You cheer me up. Just saying the ridge trail sounds horrifying sort of makes me feel like less of a wimp. I have ridden down that so-and-so many times (not lately) and I wonder now why I ever thought that was a good thing to do. Going up is hard enough. And bear in mind that Sunny is probably less than half the athlete that Dixie is. <br /><br />Many people would probably dismount to cross the road I have to cross, but I actually feel safer on the horse. I'm not afraid of him dumping me, and I feel like I have more control, you know? Not to mention I can see better and its easy to break into a trot if a car appears suddenly (which has happened many times) and we need to hurry.<br /><br />And I totally agree with your last point. Every time I ride a bit of tough trail I am so happy on the next twenty rides on easy trail.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-4484849599131904782014-01-08T15:45:32.496-08:002014-01-08T15:45:32.496-08:00The ridge trail up sounds horrifying, but yeah, I&...The ridge trail up sounds horrifying, but yeah, I'd probably ride it. :) <br /><br />Things that scare me: mountain bikes coming out of nowhere. D isn't very spooky, but some riders go too fast and aren't looking far enough ahead, and they literally can't stop. Traffic scares me, cause I kinda almost died in the road on my very first trail ride on my very first horse, but c'est la vie. Going down scares me, because I have completely unrealistic disasters playing out in my head (you know, that the horse is going to trip and tumble head-over-hooves down with me trapped in the saddle). <br /><br />So I keep an eye out for bike tracks on no-bikes singletrack, and if the horse is nervous about traffic I'll dismount, and if the descent makes me nervous I'll lead down. <br /><br />It's nice to have some scary trails to take periodically, to remind you of just how nice the boring everyday trails are. ;) Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-69258661166491387902014-01-08T15:31:15.314-08:002014-01-08T15:31:15.314-08:00GunDiva--Yep, this trail is just like that. After ...GunDiva--Yep, this trail is just like that. After a year of not riding it I simply forget how tough it is.<br /><br />Alison--Well, my horses are not great trail horse athletes, but they are steady and experienced and calm. I was just wondering if maybe other riders would think this stuff was no big deal?<br /><br />Aarene--You have some mighty good points there. The best thing about the ridge trail is that it is very sandy ground and is virtually never slippery, even after plenty of rain. But I do think the step ups have places where a horse could catch a foot--and though I try to take the best line, I really wonder if it's wise to ride up that trail. As I said, I hadn't done it in a year, and it may be a year before I do it again (if ever). There are other routes that go to the same place, so no need to ride the ridge trail (though it does have very pretty views).Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-67640467748798762992014-01-08T14:35:29.112-08:002014-01-08T14:35:29.112-08:00*erodes them further and causes further damage.*erodes them further and causes further damage.AareneXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18072169739345465380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-78790352513503283072014-01-08T14:33:56.860-08:002014-01-08T14:33:56.860-08:00I would say that it depends on the horse, depends ...I would say that it depends on the horse, depends on the rider, and in our region it also depends on the RAIN. A trail like that with wet tread could be really scary, even by my standards.<br /><br />Remember that I trained as a Trailmaster. The trail you describe is basically a "fall line trail" (which means that if you dropped a rolling object that wouldn't get caught on tree roots, it would fall straight down the trail instead of meandering off the side somehow). Fall line trails are the most subject to erosion damage, because there's nowhere for water to go except down the middle of your trail, which erodes them further and causes further erosion. <br /><br />Trails with root "step ups" are even worse, because the water (I know you don't get much, but feet can erode trails just like water) will eventually knock out from under the root, and make a place for a horse's foot to catch. That's really bad. An exposed tree root is also bad for the tree--and on a ridge trail like you describe, that tree is probably holding part of the trail in place!<br /><br />Bottom line: I'd be scouting a way to re-route that sucker before it falls completely apart.AareneXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18072169739345465380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-29846299915485129522014-01-08T13:43:56.786-08:002014-01-08T13:43:56.786-08:00Laura, I think only someone (like you, Wally and y...Laura, I think only someone (like you, Wally and your son)with a terrific, quiet and experienced trail horse could have managed your ride. Each area you described has situations that would be super dangerous to a beginning rider and/or nervous horse! But it made for a great post. (If you are a wimp, I am a super-wimp based on that ride!)Alisonhttp://www.alisonhartbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-52471022842814466462014-01-08T13:19:28.088-08:002014-01-08T13:19:28.088-08:00We have a trail like that, too. I ride it once an...We have a trail like that, too. I ride it once and then forget about it for a year or so and when Mom or Bill asks if I want to ride it again, I'm game. Then we get actually on the trail and I wonder if I've lost my mind. So if you ever come to visit and they ask if you want to just 'take the Allenspark trail' over to Wild Basin, think twice. :)GunDivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02965363044411500380noreply@blogger.com