We still have a few weeks left in which to enjoy the longer days. I am taking full advantage of this. Having a good time, too. This morning I took Tyra on a longer ride, up and down the Grizzly Camp trail and then up and down the bench.

I switched from using Hrimmi’s saddle on Tyra to using Tyra’s saddle. It is difficult to put in place – the saddle pads have to be in their proper place and the rigging has to be exact. I have been letting Pete do this.

I found the saddle to be very uncomfortable going up and down the Grizzly Camp trail. My hip was twinging on me, and my knees were getting sore. I also felt like either the saddle or I were cattywampus. When, finally, I got to the bottom of the latter, I decided to lower the stirrups a notch.

Horses getting some dandelions

I did this, got back on, and went ahhhh. Doing this made all the difference in the world. If I hadn’t done this, I would not have gone up and down the bench. Going up, I stopped at all the shade spots. And after a bit, I let Tyra graze. She’s not being unreasonable about grubbing and this, I realized, relaxed her.

Going down, we went off trail and it took me a few minutes to find it again. Tyra had no problem with this, or with the steep grade. Down she went, very slowly. Pete would say about this, “I trained her up.”
Me, I educated her.

I was previously thinking that I would be able to do the Competitive Trail Ride without having to put in many miles or having to do much training. Today, I realized (and just in the nick of time) that I was wrong.

I am going to have to practice getting on and off. Getting on, I went to use the mounting block and lovely Tyra sidled away from it. And getting off, I become like a bag of potatoes. I suspect that with practice that I can rectify this.

We also need to work on sidepassing and backing. Maybe sidepassing over a log and backing around trees. I have time for this, and patience.

I do admit, I feel bad that I’m not giving Raudi equal time. I wish that I was also riding her in the CTR. But as Pete says, it’s Tyra’s turn. And Tyra is easier sometime than Raudi to work with. As Susan Harris said about Raudi, “She has opinions.” And she does.

Tonight, I took Hrimmi on a short ride, did Peaches Loop and Siggi’s trail then went around the loop, doing the review of the hood. Hrimmi enjoyed both being on the trail and walking.

The only news in the hood was that neighbors on the upper road have parked a burned out blue school bus at the base of their property. Old RVs and school buses pretty much stay put once they get here.

Tomorrow – it is already tomorrow, past midnight. And pretty soon, say in an hour, another day will begin.

Next: 172. 6/25/24: A Darn Good Ride