Trail ride report

Ginger is mushboy's quarter horse mare. She is in her mid-twenties, I can't tell you her real age or she will give me heck, and has lots of experience. She is also a bit ring sour...you try to saddle her in the arena and she will stomp her back feet and act like she wants to bite you. Ginger has perfected every trick in the book to get out of ridden, it comes from dealing with youngsters.
As you can see in the photo Ginger was actually delighted to get out for a trail ride. She loaded and unloaded like she loves to go in the trailer. When the DOR went to saddle her up, she just stood there like a good girl. She even kept her threatening teeth to herself when the DOR mounted. Off they went. Ginger has a really nice western jog that she preferred to do (go figure I would rather walk) down the trail.
The DOR and a friend rode out on BLM land in the lower valley. The area has two lakes and follows along the Yakima river on one side. As you can see, Ginger is alert and happy. Ginger has cushings (horse diabetes), so she is still a bit woolly. She is on medicine and doing well-in fact she is already shedding, usually that does not start until June.
Here she is staring at a deer that was bouncing through the field. There were several deer sightings, ducks, pelicans, rabbits, and all kinds of birds. Ginger never startled at anything.

If you are into geo-caching and want to look in the lower Yakima valley, here is the DOR's friend stashing one for people to find.

The day was so pleasant and Ginger was such a delight that the DOR lost track of time. The ride went a bit longer than planned and poor Ginger worked up a sweat. She finally got too itchy and did what I thought she would do after 10 minutes into the ride...she tried to lay down! Ginger acted like she was going to nibble grass and dropped down to her front knees. The DOR dropped her stirrups, started really kicking Ginger and lifting her head-Ginger got back up and then started jogging to the trailer. The DOR said that Ginger was just trying to see if her old tricks would work...they didn't.
Well I have to give the old girl her due she took good care of the DOR, went on a long ride her first time out, and was unfazed by anything on the ride. Thanks Ginger!
The DOR talked to a trainer on Sunday about having me go up and work on trails. How is that going to work? After all I have massive muscles and need a special saddle. What, he has a saddle that will fit me? Oh cow poop, it looks like I may be headed to the trainer's ranch in the mountains. He has elk living there...what is an elk? The plan is that I will be out on the trail everyday. Why did I let the DOR know my saddle hurt? I could have just sucked it up and did a trail ride once in a while and the rest of the time just short toodles in the arena...now I am going to have to wwwwwork.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR