October 1, 2011

Track To Trail

Stardate: 1st of October in the year 2011. 

The scene:  Umstead State Park, site of 13 miles of lovely bridle trails, located conveniently about 30 miles from the farm. 

The players:  Pete and Encore, on his FIRST off-site trail adventure.  Accompanied by two gaited paint mares to add friends to the fun.

The verdict according to Encore:  Bicycles - meh.  Hikers - meh.  Runners - meh.  Dogs - meh.  Stream crossing - meh.  Trotting through the woods on a perfect, 65-degree day - BEST ACTIVITY EVER (To be fair, he hasn't experienced a cross country run yet). 

Superstar!

Yeah, I rocked it.  Whatevs.

15 comments:

  1. What a dude! You've got a very good horse!

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  2. Bringing a good name to OTTBs everywhere.

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  3. He is a very good boy indeed! I have always loved Thoroughbreds, but he has altered even my perception of what neat horses they are.

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  4. Woah that is amazing!!! He has never been out on a trail before and did that well? WOW! You got yourself a good one there. I have always loved thoroughbreds too but I haven't really seen one that is that relaxed about all of those things. Very awesome!!

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  5. He looks like a BAJILLION, HAPPY Dollars! Don't forget how terrified he is of thunderstorms and crazy people doing fake rodeo bronc's on him! :) Love the blog!

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  6. What a good young man!!!!! So happy for you!!
    Being a trail girl, and recently English rider-how do you attach your saddle bags? I come up with all sorts of wonky ideas, I feel like there has to be a better way! I have seen this thing that sits under the saddle that has D-ring attachments, any reviews on that?
    He seriously is an impressive youngin'!

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  7. Oh, and 30miles from Umstead? Lucky!!!

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  8. Between you and Jessica and Allie, I am more convinced, every day, that a CANTER horse is what I need for my next partner. Good job as Albigears said, bringing a good name to OTTBs everywhere.

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  9. Amy, he has been out on the trails at home a couple times and the CANTER girls took him hacking. He's always just taken it in stride though!

    Hahaha, Allie, yes, I could really see his fear when he...yawned...during the last tstorm we had!

    Alana, I got my saddle bags off of eBay, but I know other places carry them. They are designed for English saddles, a little pocket slips over the cantle and two velcro straps attach to the girth billets.

    Cheryl, they do such a fantastic job, I think you should go get one today! ;-)

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  10. I need those saddle bags! I think that most of the CANTER crew trail rides/hacks out the horses quite extensively. I know I try to get mine out and about at least 2-3 times a week on all sorts of local trails and off the farm trips to trail ride. You can always install the flatwork at a later date but putting good mileage on them is the best foundation.

    I like to believe that all the hacking we do with them gives buyers a great idea of what the horse will want to do with it's future. If they hack out super well they will likely do well eventing/hunting or whatever else. If they are super terrified they may need a different career :) I can honestly say the horses who don't enjoy the trails are few and far between.

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  11. Awesome!! Encore is so freaking cool.

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  12. What a good boy. You must be so pleased with him :)

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  13. What Jess said! I only had "Encore"/ Jester in training for 5 weeks but he hacked almost every day! He has such a fantastic brain - So glad you're taking him places and having fun!

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  14. Your work definitely paved the way, Suzanne, he's doing great!

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