Training Journal
We brave the wilds and live to tell the tale.
After schooling at the show [Pink], we ventured a few minutes down a wooded path, accompanied by our safety monitor. Rodney buried his snoot in safety monitor’s back pocket on the way out. On the back, Rodney waved a hoof and gave him a hearty ‘Hasta luego, Dude. You’re not moving fast enough.’
Rodney and I have have ridden out into the great, wide open on a few occasions in the past. On one of our test rides, I went over to potter about in some of the trees on the side of the property. At Falcon Hill Farm, we walked around the barn area [Video Or It Didn’t Happen]. At Stepping Stone Farm, we wandered around rings and parking lot on several occasions and one time walked all the way up and back the long driveway.
This was our first time out of sight of civilization. Except for the sound of traffic in the distance and the wide, gravel path itself. Well, the riding area at home and most of the pasture is out of sight of the barn and other buildings. It’s his own pasture. I’m not counting that.
I shouldn’t laugh. He did very well. New things are legitimately scary when your species is at the sharp end of the food chain.
Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott
Virtual Brush Box 
😊
It’s a good start. No bad memories to have to overcome.
Priney and Chief knew where I kept my treats and were always trying to get into that pocket.
I’m so glad you did you went on a (small) trail ride, or just out and about, not in a ring. I think riding like this is good for the horse, and rider, — physically and mentally.
It should be noted that this trail ride occurred following an in-hand class at a show doing something that neither horse nor rider had any clue about. It wasn’t all that long ago that the thought of R at a show didn’t even turn a stomach because it was such a preposterous idea that it wasn’t even taken seriously. Then they schooled the same obstacles under saddle. And then they went for a trail walk into the ‘wilderness’. A big day for both K and R. Yippee.
Trails are great for everyone. I hope we can do more.
Anonymous is right. The fact that Rodney is doing ANYTHING off the property is cause for celebration. More Kermit dance!