Akal Ranch

Today, I saddled Lily and we moseyed around Tired Dog Ranch. She was game for some gaiting along the road. Boy, did that make me feel fancy! And she also wanted a good gallop around the upper meadow.

Our main task was checking trail, which we did. we followed one trail from the road next to the TDR driveway, up along Gray Creek. I wanted to find a connector to the trail from the parking area down to the creek by the hammock. I didn’t find it. Later talking to Amy Jo, I learned that you have to go down through the creek a ways to get to it. It’s too deep now, but maybe later in the year. Most of this trail is broad and open enough to allow for a little canter, which Lily offered quite happily.

We also tried to find a connection from the road on the far side of the back pasture, up through the woods to the upper meadow woods trail. I got far enough to be able to see where it would be, but there was far too much brush and downed saplings to get through.

Lily went everywhere I pointed her, even if it meant having to back out again. She really seems to like the woods. She will go over most logs, short of chest high and through brush and up hills. She slows when I ask her, so that I won’t get face whipped by low branches. I was feeling a bit cautious, as there have been reports of cougar in the area. I made sure that I had on my bell and had Bob the dog along with us for early warning.

After untacking Lily and hosing her down, I turned her back out with her buddies. Lily went to roll in one of the dirtiest spots in the pasture and was content. All the younger horses had been galloping too and fro watching for her during our ride. Most of this was instigated by Lola, who shadows her every move. I could hear Lola yelling for Lily on and off the entire time she was out of the pasture. Thankfully, Lily was fine being out with me.

After some refreshment, I went back out on foot with my loppers and cleared the first trail of the aforementioned face whipping branches and other brush closer to the ground. Later on, I went back to the second trail to do some real clearing. This involved moving some larger logs, cutting brush and limbing a few trees close to the trail. There was one that will need a hand saw, as it was too much for my loppers. Lily and I will have to wait a few weeks for my next visit to test it out. Eventually, the plan is to connect all the spur trails, so that there is a trail all around the property through the woods. There is a bit of a steep section in this part, but I think that it will be fine as a nice hour long walk during the SMR meeting. Next time, I’ll take the loppers along on my rides for more efficient work.

I was very happy that I could take Lily out after months of no riding and have her be so wonderful for me. I was mindful of her being seven months in foal and lack of condition. I let her choose her speed for the most part and we didn’t go too far. I think that she is actually keeping in better shape being out on pasture than she was being stalled/turned out in the day. That was a nice surprise.

While walking Lily out to cool, I told her that next year, we will be doing much more of this sort of thing. Her ears perked up and she got an extra bit of spring in her step!

The day was productive with other tasks accomplished as well. The post locations for the round pen were staked out, and the posts and gate collected and moved. The holes will likely be augered tomorrow. We also looked over the roofing project for the long house and discussed a work party. That will be more than a one person job. I’ll be looking to recruit a few hands. Anyone game? I ended up with a pretty good sunburn. Got to get in the habit of sunscreen again. The meeting is seeming like more of a reality and it’s exciting!