OhMyGoodness A Crazy Fan

Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous, though I have something to tell you. I have a... stalker! Don't worry I'm totally okay but Cyd is trying to track her down and tell her to leave me alone. On Friday she went to where my friends live and spoke to Aunt-T about how I was broken and my leg hurted me and it was bad. Aunt-T went to check on me and didn't see any owies, but called Cyd to check on me too. I had done a pretty tough pony ride the day before after all. Cyd went to go look, and didn't see any owies or swellings or places where my blood came out. Nothing on my legs, and even no owies in my back or neck that might make it look like my legs hurt. I did trotting around and no limpy steps either. I also was bright eyed and my usual cheery self. Weird lady. 

Today Cyd just got another call from Aunty V saying that the lady called and left a message that my shoulder was all badly swelled and I should not do pony riding. She also said how much she luuurves me and how special I am and that she comes to see me everyday. Cyd came to look at me and there is no swelled shoulder on either side, or swelled withers, or sore back or neck or legs or anywhere. She poked and prodded me and I just asked for cookies. I am bright eyed and cheery. Weird lady. There Is Nothing Wrong Me!

So now we are trying to find who the crazy lady is so we can tell her to go away and leave me alone. Cyd said it might be the lady who dumped an entire bag of carrots as well as pears and apples and cilantro (?? I know, right?) and something unidentifiable in my field. Cyd picked it all up except two things and donated the carrots to my friends cos for there being way too many for me to eat (though I beg to differ). Then another day I had my halter on and was going to get brushed ready to do pony riding when a lady came to give me carrots and DEMANDED I be set free to go see her, or Cyd bring me to the fence, or she be able to come in my field. Cyd was very patient though very mad at how rude the lady was. I am Bugsy, and I am not your public properties lady! Crazy lady, if you see this, leave me alone!! I am not sick or hurted and it is not cruel to ride ponies. You are a crazy stalker and we don't like you!

Trekking Day

Edit - 'Today' is yesterday, Cyd totally failed at working her computer :)
Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous after a good pony ride today. I went trekking with my friends and my Aunty V and the Lady in Red. Like usual for my Wednesday joinings of trek, my friends went down the beach first. Cyd comes to get me, puts me in the pony trailer, and we go to wait for them. Once we get to Simcha, we all get out, drink some waters, and pick long or middle length rides. Cyd picked long for me.

We started going around Hidden Meadow to warm us up. Leaving Hidden Meadow we do trotting and pop out back near the pony trailers. I was confused why we didn't go back to the trailer yet, but my friends were cantering off up the hill without me so off I went after them. I went in the back in case I got tired on the canter hills, which is lucky cos for only making it half way up the driveway before having to take a breather and do trottings the rest of the way. We stopped at the top for pictures.

 

No ocean view pictures cos of the fog, but the scenery the other side is pretty spectacular too. Next we go down Big Trees trail, jump massively bigger over the ditch than is at all necessary, and pause to admire the massive 1500 year old Redwood trees. Next is time to do some cantering up the hill. Cyd got her phone to do movie-ing, but I had to take a potty break first, so forgive me waiting before I zoom. 

Near the top is two ways to go, and we nearly missed the turn. Lucky we saw a flash of white, Zhivago had waited for us to catch up to show us where to go! We just ambled our way up to lunch times, where I was securely tied with my new rope that lives on my saddle to stop me destroying more reins with my chewing. 

After lunches there was long or middle again, and we picked the long route. On Osprey trail we did some trottings, and the ponies ahead of me were doing big trottings and I couldn't keep up so I did canter.

I probably could have kept up doing trottings, but now I think that canter is the answer. As long as I was polite I was allowed to do canter. I got a bit stuck at the top of Green Gate trail, thinking I knew the best way to go. My friends just left me until I straightened my brain out. When we did trottings and canterings on Green Gate I might have had a little melt down, cos for being nervous with a big pony behind me, and not being with the group, and the more upset I got the further behind I got and the closer the big pony got and the more I got upset so I got further behind and he got closer and I got more upset and further behind and OHMYGOODNESSMYBRAINISHURTINGSOISHALLLEAPFORTHESKY!!!!!!!!

We had a big hill to go up next, and I've done it one time before but I was just walking, and took a ton of breaks, and did a lot of breathing. This time I cantered nearly the whole way. Zoom up the first two steep bits, quick trotting break on the flat, trot the next steep bit, canter the rest of the way. I am so strong, everyone was really proud of me. We walked back to Simcha and Cyd got off to lead me down the driveway cos for me doing good today. I had a big drink at the bottom, then hopped in the pony trailer really good. Back at where my friends live, I had a shower and got snugged in with my fuzzy cooler while I ate my snacks.

Cyd was in the barn to collect my saddle from where we took it off me, and was walking back to her truck. OHNOBUGSYISGONE! I was totally not where I had been left cos for getting thirsty and deciding to take myself off for a drink. Troubles is, I didn't break the rope, or the string I was tied to, or the clip on the rope, or my halter. Nothing was broken. I am the most talented pony in the world who managed to unclip my own rope! Pretty fancy, right?

Now Is It Hometime?

Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous, but a bit confused. Yesterday me and Cyd did a really long pony ride, further than we've gone by ourselves before. Cyd wanted to make a map of the trails we ride most often. There are more for us to explore, but we wanted to print out the ones we have so Uncle J can find us if he needs to. This meant we rode nearly every trail I have yesterday, to get them all on one strava screen. We went up my hill the usual way, and only had a bit of troubles when I could hear something around the corner. There was noises, and we thought maybe it was a wildlifes. Cyd was about to call out but then we heard an ATV start up and ride away from us. We went forwards with caution, since we heard them turn around. They were going very slow, but the driver was facing the wrong way and nearly didn't see us. His friend pointed us out, but they didn't stop. Just as Cyd was asking them to pause and let us by, I said No Way Jose and spun around so I could save us. They were very apologetic, and turned off the quad. They said how pretty I was and how grown up I look, we ran into the same kids over a year ago when I was just starting out. We got past and said many thankings for stopping, then off we went. Next down the rocky road, then along the fun trail where I like to fly. We had to wait a minute at the cattle grid cos for someone in a truck (not an official truck, a little concerning) to go by, but they waved us through and gave me loads of room to pass. Now for my favourite bit of trail! We were cantering quite fast, and Cyd didn't realise that I've totally learned the route. We go along this trail, then take the right fork up the hill. So that's what I did. We nearly parted company, cos for Cyd planning on us going straight ahead. I realised what she was asking at the last minute and changed course to go the way she told and we took off again. It wasn't far down that trail that I realised this means we missed the turn for home. I did some tantrumming, then did my stopping. Cyd ended up getting off me and made me trot behind her. She said if I insisted on doing stopping so bad that she has to get off then I have to work extra hard to make up for it. We did walking after a while, then stopped to let me eat some of my favourite snacks before she got back on.

Nomnom daisies

Wearing daisies, eating daisies, just love daisies :)

There's a squiggly bit of getting around a gate but there being a giant crater on the tiny gap by the gate so Cyd didn't get back on until we passed through there. Once we were back on the trail, I was ready to do some trottings. Cyd decided to do movie-ing on her phone with one hand, and since I was being so good she only had two fingers kinda hooked on my rein with the other hand, and I had big loopy reins. So please forgive the kerfuffle a few seconds in when a turkey took off from right next to me...

Look how quick I settle back in to grown up trottings again though! He just startled me a bit is all, and Cyd didn't fall down so we're all good. It was so pretty and green on this section, even though lots of the places around us are getting brown.

So pretty here

I had no troubles along here, and did loads of trottings practice and got really good at slowing down by myself when I needed to be careful of the ruts, and where it was a bit slippy, then speeding up at good spots. At the top of the hill we were back at the cattle grid. We stopped for some snackings, then Cyd said it was time to go. But we already did this trail, and over the cattle grid is the quick way home. But nope, we had to go this way. Cyd ended up getting off and we ran together a bit on the down parts, then she got on for the fun parts, and did more movie-ing of me. Excuse some of my bouncing, I get a bit carried away and even though we were going fast I was still a bit mad that Cyd made me go this way instead.

This time we did take the right fork, and I zoomed like a rocket up there and made Cyd actually use her reins to do stopping. There's a spot where we could get tangled in the long sharp grasses, and things to hop over and trees to bump Cyd's knees on. I did a very bouncy walk until she let me do trottings again. I was so excited that we were going the right way again! Once we made it up to the rocky road I just did walking on a long rein, looking around at all the things, a few trotting steps some places, but generally being a good pony.

You can't see it, but we're looking at the oceans

We turned onto the trail for home and I was happy but polite. But then you know what happened? We got to the last intersection, where straight goes to home, and right goes down the bumpy trail the long way to home, and of course we go the long way. Cyd pre-empted me, and hopped off before I could have any issues and was ready for a walk break anyway, so I just followed her. I did make ugly faces to show my grumpiness at not going the quick way though. See how mean I can pretend to be?

Side-eying

I got over it pretty quickly, even though this was Time Number Three we went the wrong way. At the bottom of the hill Cyd got back on, and I did a springy walk again until Cyd let me do trotting. Then I got to do trottings all the way back until we get to the houses on the emergency trail. We walk through there so we don't upset the dogs who live down there, or the pony who lives right next to the trail. I had one more bad moment here, but not for long. We were having an easy walk back on the last bit of trail to go home when we could smell something funny. There must have been people hiding in the bushes cos we could smell them smoking their weeds but Cyd couldn't see them. I thought it was a funny smell and wrinkled my nose up so I got laughed at. A bit more further we could hear someone around the corner, going Hurry Hurry. We kept walking, but carefully. It turned out they were hurrying to pick up their small dogs cos for hearing me coming and not wanting them to get stepped on by me. There were three people and two dogs. One of the peoples kinda knows me, but has only seen me in my field since I was a baby hiking pony. They said how amazing I was, and that I was one of their favourite ponies to see. I got a bit nervous going past the boy, and the mum said he should talk to me so I knew he wasn't scary. He thought this was silly and went 'Oh yeah, hey dude' cos he didn't know what to say to me, and got laughed at, but he petted my nose gently and I got brave and went on by. We did some trotting to get far enough ahead that the little dogs wouldn't try to chase me when they got put on the ground again. Now we just had the squirrelly trail to go and a bit of road, and I would be home! I was still striding out good and had lots of energies, but my brain was tired from all the things we did today, like going the wrong ways, and seeing so many people when we usually see none at all.

Drink all the waters

As soon as we got home Cyd took me to my water tank and stood there until I figured out that we did that so I could drink before getting my saddle off. I was so thirsty! (Cyd counted 42 swallows.) I got a short sponge bath cos for being sweaty but it getting too cold to shower me. Then I dived into my mash foods! I went 14 miles, with nearly 1900' elevation gain, and hit my top speed. Cyd was not delighted with some of my bad behavings, but overall it was a good ride. I was at least consistent in my badness, and we know what to work on for future rides. Just because I know the way home, doesn't mean I get to choose! Today I'm taking a well earned day off.

Saddle Free Again

Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous as always. It's nice and sunny at my house today, and Cyd and I opted for a nice easy pony ride. We did a bareback kind again, to help Cyd get better at it, and cos for me not having to go fast on all my pony rides.

Heading to my trails

She did much better today, I even took her for some short trottings practice and she didn't wobble off. She did laugh at me a little bit, cos for when we had to step over a little tree that I like to jump, I was super careful so as to not drop her. It's important to take care of your peoples when they're wobbly.

I didn't get stuck AT ALL today! In fact, I was so good, that mostly Cyd didn't use her reins either, just occasionally for steering or telling me that I can't eat all the snacks. What a pleasant pony ride for both of us!

Daisies

Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous. I like the cooler weather here at home much better, so today me and Cyd went to play in the fog. I did mostly trottings practice and canterings today, and was so good. I nearly got stuck a couple times, but didn't actually do my stopping, just told Cyd that I was thinking about it. The only bad moment I had was when the ponies near the entrance to my trails kept calling to me and running around. I wanted to go play with them, and it took a minute to persuade me that it would be more fun to go on my trails than it would be to stand in the road and watch other ponies get to play. That really was the only bad moment though, and it only took a minute or two. I'm getting so good! Also today, all four of my go-faster booties stayed on just fine, which makes Cyd more sure that it was her fault the back ones fell off on Friday, cos for that being the only time they did falling off and I was not very co-operative for her to fit them properly. Yay booties! There was a spot today where my favourite flowers, daisies, were growing so high that Cyd could reach them from my back without too much troubles. I ate some for a mid-ride snack, and Cyd put some in my bridle to make me even prettier. 

So pretty!

Cooley Ranch Adventure Pt II

Hello everybodies, how are you? Are you ready for the next bit of my adventure story? On Saturday I didn't go pony riding. Cyd came to see me really early in the morning, it was even a bit dark still. There were some ponies getting their things on ready to go do their enduring. I wasn't doing any enduring this weekend, but Cyd was going to go to the vet check to help the people and their ponies. She gave me a sloppy bucket, and made sure I had loads of hay foods in my net, and that my water bucket was full and not dirty. All the vet checks at this enduring ride are 'out checks', which means the ponies don't come back to camp until the end of the race. A whole bunch of volunteers went to help the ponies, make lunches for the riders, hold the ponies while their riders went to pee, help the vets by writing stuff down, and check the pulses of the ponies when they came in to start their exam. I wouldn't get to see a vet check until tomorrow, but apparently it's like a giant pony buffet. The 50 mile ponies came through twice, and the 30 mile ponies just came through once. When everyone had been and gone as many times as they were supposed to, the volunteers tidied up and came back to camp. Cyd came to check on me, and fixed our wobbly divider fence, then went to go help the vets some more while they did the ponies post-ride exams. It is helpful to the vets to have a writing person, but also helpful to Cyd cos for getting to learn tons of stuff. When it seemed like there was a trickle of ponies coming for exams instead of a whole bunch, Cyd asked Vet Dr B if we could maybe bring me over for a pretend exam when no enduring ponies were in line.

Dr B doing my vet exam

We like Dr B cos even though all the vet people are nice, she is very patient with excited squiggly young ponies like me. First we did my Cardiac Recovery Index (CRI). This means my pulse is measured, then I trot a set distance while the stopwatch times one minute, then I stand still for however long of my minute is left. Then my pulse is measured again. My CRI was 60/64 cos for me being all excited.

Doing our trot out, we've been practicing at home

We need to get me to be calm, cos for that not being very good if I was an enduring pony, but lots of us start quite high while we are learning and new. They also watch for other things while I do my trotting, looking at my attitude, how bouncy I'm feeling, and that it doesn't look like I hurt or am limping. I looked great, but apparently Cyd is like a paso fino cos for her running funny. After doing my CRI I have to have my mouth checked to look at my gums. We need to practice this cos for me not liking it and Dr B was very gentle with me, but some of the vets are a bit more enthusiastic.

Why are you in my mouf?

Next Dr B runs her hands over me to check my back doesn't hurt and looks to make sure I don't have any owies. That was okay. After that my belly is listened to for gurgles, to make sure I am digesting my foods. They listen in two different spots on each side. I didn't mind the high up one, but when Dr B went to check the lower bit I swung my back leg out at her. Luckily, I totally missed, but Cyd was super embarrassed and told me off and promised that if any pony of hers ever kicks the vet people that she will definitely buy them dinner! I behaved to have my guts on the other side checked at least. Dr B said it was okay cos for me learning and that I didn't get her and didn't really try to be mean, but if I had bomped her it would be a different story. Now we have to practice lots of people listening to my belly so it doesn't surprise me and make me be bad, otherwise I can't do enduring. Kicking is absolutely not okay and gets you in Big Troubles! After my exam I went to get weighed on the pony scale. The ponies were being measured for a research project, one weight before their enduring, and another one after. Even though I wasn't enduring they let me get weighed. Guess how much? 870lbs! I didn't care about the scale, just followed Cyd right on, then stayed up there by myself while she got off to make my weight accurate. Most of the ponies didn't mind it, but some thought it was super scary. then it was back to my pen to be tucked in for the night.

So lucky to do pony riding here!

The next morning, Cyd came really early again to give us ponies our breakfast and go to the vet check again to measure the pulses. Aunty K said once the big rush of ponies came through, Cyd could come back to camp and take me pony riding. The same as yesterday, the 50 mile ponies go twice, and the 25 mile ponies once. When everyone had gone through the first time, Cyd got to come and get me. We tacked up, then headed out to do Blue Loop Number One, just like the enduring ponies.

Got hills?

We had to go up a really big hill, and it was hot. I started off trying to do it fast, but really quickly realised that that wouldn't work! It took me a really long time to get all the way up, but Cyd said I could take lots of breaks. Then we go down the other side of the really big hill to get to the creek. Once we got to the creek and I got a big drink and Cyd sponged me I was ready to pretend to do enduring. We did my big trot on a loose rein, following the ribbons so we didn't get lost. Sometimes we did some canter on the flat bits, and walked the steep uphills and downhills. I drank from every bit of the creeks, and got a lot of washing. Cyd sponged herself off too cos for her getting hot.

So pretty, and lots of water for drinking and cooling

I ate plenty of snacks when we were stopped too. It's really important that enduring ponies drink and eat a lot during their races, otherwise they run out of steam and can get sick. The trail was so pretty, Cyd had not ridden here before. I had no troubles with my go-faster booties this time, they stayed on no matter what I did. After a while of pony riding we found this sign:

Nearly at a resting point

This helps the pony riders know that it's nearly time for them and their ponies to take a break. Some pony riders get off and loosen their pony's girth and take their bit out, since it helps their pulse come down faster. Usually Cyd does this, but since we were just doing a fun ride she stayed on top. I came in to the vet check and used my big pony voice to announce that I had arrived. Almost all of the ponies had come and gone, so I was allowed to eat as much as I wanted. There was a pony buffet of hay foods and carrots and beet pulp and even watermelons left over from the people. Someone held onto my rope for Cyd to go pee and get a drink and fill her bottles up. Instead of following the blue ribbons, we were just going on the road to go back to camp like we did to start our pony ride on Friday. We took a slight detour on our way out of camp to the creek where Cyd did swimming last time she came here with Aunt-E. I went nearly up to my belly and we both got soaked down cos for their being nowhere to do sponging all the way home. I didn't have much troubles going around the cattle grid this time, and Cyd stayed on my back all the way to the water trough. Today I thought the water trough was really scary, and I managed to break my reins doing spooking. Oopsie!

Hiding in the shade

We stayed there a while in the shade and I did some drinking while Cyd taped up my reins. While we were hanging out there a pony named Fancy Pants (really) and her rider came up. They were not doing too good and the rider felt sick. It was his first enduring ride, and he was very sad. The time they got to the water trough was the time they had to be at the finish line, so now he was overtime as well as sick and sad. His pony was hot and tired too. She got a drink and some water poured on her, and Cyd gave the rider her ice tea from her pack and said we would keep them company back to camp cos for them not looking too good. I was confused that we went a slightly different way to camp, that was longer than my way, but that was the way Fancy Pants had to go. They were happy for company, and the rider kept sipping at the water and tea Cyd gave him so he didn't get more sick. Once we got back and made sure there were people to care of them, me and Cyd went back to my corral to clean me up and get us some water and food. Then it was back to work for Cyd, but it wasn't super busy. Some of the ponies weren't feeling very good even though their riders took good care of them so she went to watch them be taken care of and see if there were things to learn. After I had a few hours to recover, it was time for our things to be packed back in the pony trailer, and us ponies loaded up to go back home. Cyd stayed another night at camp, so the Lady In Red left me where my friends live with my hay foods so I could go home the next day when Cyd got back. I had so much fun on our adventure, and got to learn a ton of things and have some fun pony rides. Thanks to all the peoples who helped for me to be able to go, we are very grateful!

Cooley Ranch Adventure Pt I

Hello everybodies, how are you? I am super fabulous cos for going on vay-cay this last weekend with Cyd to learn more about doing enduring. We went to Cooley, where ponies can do two days of enduring, 25 or 50 miles each day. Firstly though, I had to get washed. Cyd was trying to clean me so I looked presentable, but the more I got brushed the dirtier I was getting. Okay, time for a bath!

You missed a bit...

Then I got to hang out in my super snazzy fuzzy cooler from Aunt-E (get your own at HnW) while I got dry and Cyd got the pony trailer all packed. There was a bit of a pony trailer kerfuffle, but it all got done and ready so we could leave super early in the morning.

See, super shiny now

Cyd came to get me really early in the morning, and put my alien mask on me to keep some of the dusts out on my long trip, and so that the flies stayed off me once I got to my destination.

Once the last of my things were packed, and I was tucked in safe in the pony trailer, we set off to Simcha, where Rascalpony and Trevepony were waiting to join me, and the Lady In Red was going to drive us to the camp. Cyd had to go to her people job during the day, but as soon as she was done there she hopped in her truck and zoomed down to where us ponies were already unpacked and hanging out. I got an A+ on my report of how good I did getting there without Cyd's supervision. Mostly ponies camp attached to their trailers, or in portable pens, but I got my very own corral with my name on it cos for being super special. Thanks Aunty K for saving me somewhere to sleep safely!

Like I'm famous!

Rascal and Treve shared my pen with the portable fencing dividing it in two littler pens so we couldn't hurt each other. Next door were four ponies, some who I've met before, and the other next door was a pony called Kaz who was very nice to me and became my new friend. 

Safely in my half-pen

Friday morning Cyd came to see me early in the morning, and gave me a sloppy bucket of mash foods. She said to get my energies ready cos for us going pony riding, and it's hillier here than at home, and can get very hot. I slurped up my food, then just observed all the things happening. More pony trailers were starting to arrive, but it was still quiet. After the peoples had their breakfast, they came to put our halters on, and Cyd put my go-faster booties on. She said it's rocky here so I should wear all four booties for extra protections. I was excited so got a bit squiggly. Then we went to the pony trailer to get our saddles and our bits and reins. I was ready super fast, but waited patiently for the other ponies.

I was a bit bouncy when Cyd first got on my back, and even popped a wheelie cos for being super excited. Trevepony had to go back for his breastplate so me and Rascal walked about to keep me calm. Our job today was to ride along the road to get to Blue Loop Number Three, and then follow the ribbons to make sure the enduring ponies wouldn't get lost.The Lady In Red carried some extra ribbons just in case, but the marker people did super good and we only added one or two ribbons. At one point Cyd looked down to check on my go-faster booties, and I only had three, and one bare hind hoofie. We all had to turn around and go back for it. Once it was securely back on my foot we took off again, a bit fast to make up our lost time. Except then Cyd looked again and the other hind hoofie had lost it's boot. This time I stayed with Treve and Rascal cos for being by the creek with water for drinking and snacks for eating, and Cyd did running to go find my bootie. It was all the way back where we fixed the other one. Once she came back to us she just took off the other back bootie and strapped them to my breast plate and asked if we could please go a bit more slow on the rocky bits so I didn't get sore feeties. She thinks maybe they didn't get put on me properly cos for me being a wiggle-butt and her being in a hurry, but we didn't want to make our ride super long and annoying just for my go-faster booties. (Don't worry, I still went quite fast, and my feeties didn't get owie.)

The pony ride was really very pretty, with lots of water for us to drink. It got quite hot, and Cyd drank her whole two liter pack of people water. I learned how to be sponged. Cyd has a sponge wrapped up in wool that Aunt-E made, and it has a long rope so it can reach the water without Cyd getting off. She carefully lowered it down to the water, dipped it in, then pulled it up. The first time she squeezed most of the water out and patted me with it. Each time there was a bit more water in the sponge, and it felt really good to be washed off. I drank loads on my pony ride, and ate a ton of snacks every time we stopped. We were doing lots of trottings and canterings. I was starting to get a bit tired, and there was a down hill bit so Cyd got off and led me. Even just doing walking and not carrying Cyd I was still breathing quite hard. When it seemed like I wasn't cooling down like I should be, we all stopped by a water tank and thoroughly washed me and let me drink, and I had my pulse taken. It was quickly down to 52 beats per minute, but my breathing rate was still high. The other ponies were breathing hard too, so we all waited in the shade and had water put on us. Cyd was a bit concerned cos for this not being normal for me. She didn't get back on when we set off again, and mostly it was downhill, so she stayed off for a long time. We offered to let the other ponies go faster, but they said they'd walk with us at least for a while longer. There were some more great views so we took some pictures.

I wanted to eat, not pose

After a couple of miles of walking I was feeling better and being my usual playful self. Since it was still mostly down and flat Cyd kept doing walking for a while. She got back on when we got to another creek. We were nearly home, but there was a big long hill up the road to get back to camp. Soon the other ponies left me to do trotting up the hill but we just did walking. I got a bit stuck when I had to go around a cattle grid, and it took a long time and quite a stern discussion but eventually I did it. After that, Cyd got off me and led me the rest of the way up the hill. She got really hot, and was just as happy as me to see the water trough that is two thirds of the way up. I had a drink, and Cyd put water on her head. I was getting a bit reluctant to keep moving, so needed some encouraging. We were both super happy to get to the top of the hill. Then I looked down and got a bit excited. There were lots more people than when we left. 

They weren't here when we left

Look down there!

 We got down the hill, and pulled over on the grass to let a pony trailer go by. But there wasn't ponies in the trailer. They were mules. Mules talk funny, and they both started making the mule noises and I did jumping. I've never met mules before. We were nearly back at my corral, and I just stopped in the road and stared around at everything. Lucky nobody as trying to come through so I could take a minute to absorb all the things I saw. Once I got to my pen I was still doing a lot of looking. Cyd cleaned my sweats off and gave me another sloppy mash bucket but then she had to go to work helping all the ponies get checked in at their vet exams and get numbers painted on their butts so the organisers can keep track of them. So far it had been a great start to my adventure!

Wheeeee!

Hello everybodies, how are you? I am fabulous. Today Cyd and I went pony riding by ourselves on my trails. I did so good walking up the road, and waited super patiently at the mounting tree cos for Cyd being on the phone with Aunt-E making plans for my adventure weekend that's coming up. Today I wore all four of my go-faster booties, and I loved it. 

Four orange feeties ready to zoooom

We were supposed to go straight up the hill but I wanted to go left. Cyd said I was a silly pony cos for that making our pony ride longer, but off I zoomed to the left. Cyd thought maybe we would have one of our discussions when we got to the turn where we usually head home but I happily turned the other way to keep pony riding. We did have a sticky moment further up but Cyd thinks there was something she couldn't see but I could sense round the corner, cos for me not having my bad behavings face, but my super alert face. We eventually got me to go up the trail. Once we got to going down the rocky road, Cyd got off like she does sometimes. I was ready to amble down after her, but she had other plans for us today. She made my go faster noises. I did trotting like she asked, but it took a while before I did it politely. I did some whirling about, then I did chasing Cyd, then I tried to catch her braid cos for it flying behind her. Eventually I figured out it was easier to just trot along behind or next to her. I still got a bit in her space sometimes but when she put her hand up, and maybe went "Grr" at me, I got back in my own space. At the bottom it was time for her to get back on. I hit another sticky spot and it took me a while to get over it, and this time it was definitely me being a brat face. We did some discussing about appropriate behavings for a pony, and off I went. That was my last troubles for my whole pony ride. After that, I was on super long loopy reins as long as they go the whole way except occasionally when Cyd thought we should go a bit slower she gave my reins a little tweak and I slowed right down perfectly. We did loads of trottings and canterings, and I was so good! The puddle I sometimes like to drink from was all dried up and I was a bit thirsty cos for it being warm today and me going a bit fast. I had some snacks instead, then off we went. Soon after I kept doing looking to my left, and being a bit banana-y. Cyd looked to see if maybe we had a bootie malfunction but they were all fine. The lead rope that Cyd keeps on her saddle bag (so I don't chew my reins anymore at lunchtimes) had started unraveling. Now there was nearly 5' of rope trailing from my saddle bag and it was bopping my front leg and my back leg, and even got between my front legs. Cyd was so proud of me for not losing my cookies over this, not many ponies would be so tolerant. She let me have some snacks while she secured it doubly tight this time and gave me tons of scratchies and told me awesome I was. Once we were secured appropriately, we set off again, quite speedy, slowing down for the down bits, speeding up on the fun bits, ducking around trees, jumping ditches, and generally being awesome. Notice there aren't tons of pictures of me? Cos for us having too much fun!

Mash foods everywhere!

Once we got back to my house, I got my sloppy mash foods and promptly got it all over my face like I do, and had a quick sponge bath. Cyd said it was a bit chilly for being washed but I was so dirty. We just got my saddle area clean then I had a good roll in the dirt so that I wasn't too clean. Can't have a Bugsy being too shiny!

I'm a bit dirty now...