Forest Adventures

Hey everybodies! How are you? I am my usual amazing self, but a little sleepy from my yesterday adventure. I did my most miles ever, and quite a bit of trottings and some quite fast canterings and some big hills. Thanks Aunty V and S for letting me and Cyd tag along, we had so much funzies.

Napping still

Cyd came and woke me up quite quite early, before it was even 8:00.

Time to get up!

We got me thoroughly brushed (Aunt-T and Cyd primped and preened me the night before but I did some rolling hehe). I got my saddle and my bridle and Cyd's helmet and we were ready to go.

We went down to where my friends live to meet Aunty V and Aunty C, who both had guests riding. I started snacking right away.

We were all going to share a trailer, and I would tag along with Aunty V's group. But first Cyd had to help get the other ponies ready, so she left me tied in a box stall so I was safely out of the way, not causing mischiefs.

I don't really like being in stalls

Cyd had brought me extra of my stable mix so I got some breakfast mash to occupy me. Soon Boscoe and Citron and Voltaire and Treve all had their saddles and the people all had their lunches and it was time to go.I took a few minutes to think about getting in the pony trailer, but not too long so as to be super annoying. Cyd says I have to get quicker though.

In the pony trailer, let's go!

We drove a little ways, and some on a bumpy road, then it was time to get out. I got tied up next to Treve and we made friends.

Treve and me, we made a good team

"What's up there? Snacks?"

Aunty C and her riding person went first so we weren't bunchied together. While we finished getting all our sandwiches and carrots packed another pony arrived to go riding. That person's truck was all smoky, but a man from CalFire was there as well making sure we didn't go to the trail they were working on, and he checked it wasn't on fire. This made quite the activity for the beginning of my first ride in six weeks. I was super tense, and Cyd told Aunty V she felt like she was sitting on a firework ready to go off. But I showed her up and behaved myself really well, just carefully looked around at everything. I got in a bit of a pickle at the first stream crossing, but Aunty V put me on a rope and I followed Big Brave Treve across. I did all the others by myself though. Once I was in, I was set free to go by myself.

Look, I'm in a stream

Following Voltaire

Voltaire following me

We did our warming up loop, and then we have to go past the trailers to get to our trail. There was another trailer with two more ponies, so now three ponies. They had a big dog and a little dog that came running towards us. They just wanted to say hi but I got a smidgen nervous. We told the people I was only young and they called their dogs back and hung on to them while we went passed so I wouldn't get scared. Thank you!

It's pretty here

We enjoyed wandering up the trail, it was very pretty and quite warm. It was time to do some trottings. I went in the middle like a Bugsy sandwich so we could assess how my brain was doing now that I had relaxed a bit, and I trotted really good. Voltaire and I took it in turns to be in the middle, mostly I went in the back for practice at not racing and trying to overtake or crowding the leader ponies. I had been on this trail one time before when we were with Ike and Aunt-E, but it was super dark then and I had to tell Cyd where to go cos for her not being able to see. There was a scary bathtub that had water in so we could all get a drink, we were a bit sweaty already. We walked a bit more, and had to make a decision. Do we go the bit shorter way to lunch that is very pretty, or do we go the bit longer way on the 'hobbit trail' and 'dinosaur valley'. We asked S since it was her ride, and she picked the hobbit trail. I went the other way last time so it was new to me. We did a little bit of some trottings and some canterings, and then it was adventure time. I had to concentrate really hard and it was a bit slippy. Cyd didn't help me much cos she was videoing it:

The video doesn't do it justice at all! The hobbit trail comes out at the stream, and I marched on up to get a drink by myself.

I was quite thirsty

Everyone laughed at me for putting my face all the way in the water, sometimes halfway in, sometimes all the way up to my eyeballs.

Up to my eyes

I got it in my eyes

Blowing bubbles hehe

Once you go through the stream two times, you come to Dinosaur Valley. My picture didn't come out super good here but you get the idea:

Totally velociraptors hiding here

 We were nearly at our lunchtime rest stop, so I grabbed some extra snacks along the way.

Aunty V and Treve

S and Voltaire

Where are you going?

We all three got tied up at hitching rails under the trees and Cyd gave me carrot snacks. I didn't get to hang out with the people this time, I stayed in my spot. We kept an eye on them in case they left us in the woods though.

We're watching you!

We did selfies after lunch

After lunchtime we had to go up a really steep hill. There is a choice of really steep, or a rock face trail. Since it was a bit slippy we didn't do the rock face trail. I had to take a couple of rests to make it all the way to the top, but I did it. It was soon time to do more cantering. Cyd decided to take some video of me doing canterings, look at me go!! (Excuse her telling me to take it easy, I got a little bouncy the second time).

 

 

After lunch, Cyd wasn't quite feeling her usual somewhat composed self cos for eating some funny food. She got quite confused, and I could tell something was amiss. I behaved really well, and only had mini baby moments cos I had to take care of her.  We were nearly home to the pony trailer, where we met back up with Aunty C. The people all had a nice cold drink before it was time to take us home. Once I got back I was super thirsty.

Must drink all the water

Hey Boscoe, how does yours taste?

I got my saddle off and I was really super sweaty under there.

I worked hard today

While I waited for my turn to shower, I started refilling my belly

Then I got made clean again

Then it was time to take me back to my field. Cyd took me right down to my sandy rolling pit, but I didn't make it all the way in the sand before flopping down:

After the first itchies were taken care of, I rolled three more times to be good and relaxed.

This feels so goood

Shaky shake, look at my nose hehe

When I was done I bolted back up my field to get even more water to drink, then hung out with Cyd for more cookies, I earned them today. I look really good for having been on an all day long adventure:

Cyd had to go back to where my friends live to get her saddle and truck and bring me my dinner mash. Once she got back I came flying over to the fence to prove I wasn't tired.

Wheee

Troubles is, I fell asleep at my bucket when I finished eating it. I always come right back to my shed for cookies and hay foods, but Cyd caught me napping. The picture is a bit dark, but my eyes are closed...

Thanks for letting me practice pony riding with you S and Aunty V, we had so much fun! Can we go again soon?