The idea was to ride the "MarDet" trail (Marine Detachment built it) which goes about 3 or 4 miles and links with the trails south of the Dru Barner horse campground, the other side of Georgetown. In the event, we picked the wrong turn and ended up doing a loop which brought us straight back to the trailhead. This was probably just as well. Although we were lucky if we rode three miles today, it was also the hardest three miles Mouse has ever done, and she performed brilliantly. I'm so proud.
The trail is extremely rocky - both loose rocks and huge embedded in the ground ones, there are a good few downed trees to climb over, as well as manzanita to dodge - the trail twists and turns, goes up and down steeply and is generally *hard* work (especially seeing it was in the 90s today). Mousie behaved like a pro and even did a bunch of downhills without getting pissy. She felt solid, well balanced and picked her way very carefully along, selecting good footing and keeping her weight planted. I felt as safe on her as any trail professional. She even crossed a wooden bridge without panicking (although she was nervous and quickly jumped off the end before it "got" her).
Here's
us at the trailhead. Predictably, it was totally deserted, with nothing
but the sound of the wind in the trees.
Is
that horse winking at Patrick?
Provie showing off his smart new fluorescent orange bridle and breast collar... and Patrick's nekkid saddle (guess who got to be pack donkey for this ride?).
Pack
donkey personified.
I was worried that we'd get lost and run out of water, so pft and I each carried a 90ml camelbak, and Mouse and I got to carry three water bottles on the saddle. That saddle weighs a ton..
We
din't get lost, but we didn't end up where we intended (subtle difference
there). We're pretty sure where the actual trail split off, for next time,
so there's still lots of room for exploration.
About 2/3 of the way along, we came to this creek and practised sponging. Mouse got to eat the blackberry bushes, Provo got some carrots. Neither horse was interested in drinking (even though I was convinced they must be dying of thirst... can you say "projection"). Coming down to this creek was so steep I got off and led Mouse down. Pft, OTOH, rode Provo down. Provo tucks his butt and trolls down quite merrily.
None
of the water bottles were needed, seeing as we were only out there an hour
or so. Oh well.
We
hung out by Traverse Creek when we got back and sponged off all the crud,
of which there was lots.
We may not have gone far, but oh-boy, did Mousie sweat. She was like a greased slimey thing.
Hah.
See that pool in the creek to Mouse's right? I was sitting on her in that
pool, watching Patrick sponging Provo - making sure he got his armpits and
leg pits and cruddy around the cinch bits, when Mouse starts to paw. I
absent-mindedly tap her on the shoulder with my schooling whip, and
suddenly... you guessed it...
...Mouse suddenly collapses out from underneath me into the creek. :))))
It
was the funniest thing. I hopped off pronto, and luckily din't get tangled
up in the stirrups (pft said his life flashed in front of him for a
second, as he stood by helplessly watching), and Mouse jumped up looking
embarrassed. It's almost like they get into a trance-like state and forget
what they're doing.
Luckily she didn't get my new-camera wet (it was in the saddle bag), and it actually felt good to be dumped in the water from the knees down...
She
had a lil' cut on her back leg, probably from a rock in the pool, but was
fine.
Oh. I lent pft my green cotton riding tights. He only has polarfleece ones (on a 90 degree day? Not). These were a smidgin' tight, but not bad. Time to talk to Evelyn who made these and get him a cotton pair.
And then the pones got to snack...
That's the ridge we went up in the background.
Such
pretty bridles <snicker>.
Patrick
Me
(in my blue lycra tights that I made myself). And yes, I burnt my
shoulders.
The
yellow bandana I'm wearing is actually a trail map of the trails south of
Dru Barner horse camp. We got lost there last year, so now I take it with
us when we're likely to ride in the vicinity. It's a maze of ridges and
woods and interlocking trails... but if you go wrong, you can end up going
for miles without water. So a map/bandana is a good thing.