Second Solo Ride

I've been itching to get out on the trails alone again, and today I was able to do just that.

Ride stats:

Total Distance: 7.97 miles
Total Time: 1:30:31
Moving Time: 1:19:08
Max Speed: 12.31 mph
Average Speed: 5.28 mph
Average Moving Speed: 6.04 mph
Elevation Gain: 850 ft
Min Elevation: 224 ft
Max Elevation: 427 ft
Min Grade: -6.2%
Max Grade: 7.3%

At the beginning of the ride, Peanut was slower than molasses in February.  Once we got onto the trail itself, each step was a victory.  He wanted to stop, he wanted to turn back, but I asked him again and again to try and he did.  I think that he peed three times and I lost count of how many times he poo'd.

The first time we went solo, we didn't encounter a single other person on the trail.  This time we encountered several hikers/joggers - a couple with dogs - and one biker at the very, very end.

Eventually he got into his stride, and this time, unlike last time, we did some gaiting and cantering with a possible gallop thrown in at one part where he lowered down and, with a sudden surge, took off.

At every branch he wanted to turn off and turn back, but I asked him to go on and he would.  At every water crossing he would stop and paw paw paw at the water, and then try to turn back but I would catch him and keep him pointed in the right direction.  At several points in the ride he would suddenly shy off to the side and turn around and, except for once where I was able to turn him back, I would just complete the circle and he got nowhere.  After the circle, he was always happier to go forward, but at the same time I do believe that I did have a Grumped Nut for most of the ride.

He stayed calm, though!

There have been several storms this week and more to come, which always means that you encounter surprises on the trail (and, with all of the branches that Peanut knocked me into I would occasionally have a nice, cool shower).  This time, we came to this right before a small bridge over a stream:

Peanut tried twice to cross this felled tree - once in the middle and once off of the trail to the right - but he just couldn't do it.  He would get one front leg over it but would pull it back, unable to reach far enough to get any weight on it.  I believe most horses could cross off to the right, but obstacles like this were never Peanut's forte and I didn't want to force him.  When enlarged, you can see the strip of bark that Peanut took off of the log to the right where he pawed at it during his second attempt to cross.  Right after taking this picture, we turned around which made Peanut quite happy and he took off at a gait.

At the next offshoot into a field, I guided him down it and we skirted this part of the wooded trail and rejoined it at a water crossing.  Peanut was not pleased.  Grumped Nut.

I was so proud as I think we may have ridden that part of the park's perimeter once before, but we may not have.  So, it might as well have been new to Nutters.  He took it quite well, and I was very proud of him.

Later, to avoid a particularly tricky stream crossing, I decided to try a trail that always looked far, far too vertical and rocky to force on a horse.  However, it was much shorter and I was ready for us to be heading back as this was only his second solo ride and it was already far, far longer than the first.  Peanut passed the trail we normally took on his own (despite wanting to shoot down every other trail we saw) and he took that hill in stride.  It was difficult at times, but he did it and he did it well.  Good boy.

At one point we were cantering down one of the wider wooded paths when he suddenly pulled up and went on alert.  I looked where he was staring and saw a herd of deer off in the trees.  I asked him to move forward and he freaked.  He was ok to stand still, but every time I asked him to move forward (the deer were forward and to the right) he would freak, spin, and try to thunder down the trail from whence we came.  I finally decided that it wasn't worth fighting him after his marbles had already rolled away, so I quietly dismounted and led him past the deer.  He was dancing at the end of the reins, alarm calling, and had completely checked out.  About 20 yards down the trail he was no longer dancing although he was nervous.  I positioned him in a part of the trail where the water runs and thus it is about a foot lower than the edge and I climbed back aboard.

The rest of the return journey was uneventful until we were almost out of the trail and came across the biker.  Suddenly, Peanut decided that he was afraid of bikes again.  Doof.  We got past and finished up the ride.

All in all, I was thrilled that we went so far, that he took a trail that he was not accustomed to and was in the open (which used to leave both of us shaking from nerves), that we were able to put on some speed without incident, and that he took that new uphill so nicely.

It was nice to be out alone with him.  Just me and my Nut.  :)

In other news, we have been dealing with a nasty case of scratches.  YAY for four white feet!  After talking to some folk at Dover Saddlery, I tried this goop.  After less than a week, it is almost gone.  In previous years tea tree oil worked a charm, but not this year and it really hurt him to put it on.  Even the person I talked to at Dover (who boards across the street from us and we've gotten to know) said that the scratches on her horse are not responding to what always worked before.  But, she had great success with this stuff, so I decided to give it a shot too.  Best thing was that it never hurt him as I treated him.  A+ would smear on heel bulbs again.

In even other news, I had to take in the chin strap on my helmet.  It was too loose.  :)