Trail ride down to JAW'S

Friday the 13th is always a worrysome day to go on a new trail ride. I started early as just last week Kalae decided not to load. Usually she walks right in. I am wondering if there is a squeak or noise I dont know about happening in the trailer. She always loads pretty well. Well we made it to Haiku just on time. A beautiful sunny day with minimal wind. Annette,Margot and Jen arrived shortly afterwards. Off we went heading toward the ocean on old pineapple roads now quite overgrown with grass. We came to a small park overlooking the ocean. Kalae was unsure of the sound of the waves and did not go near the edge. Next we decended into the valley just north of the park. Soon we were riding through a canopy of tall trees on motorcross trails which were wide enough. A little ducking under branches and one spot to dismount and we were at another look out almost infront of Jaw's surf break. It was cool in the shade and quite beautiful. Still heading north we climbed out of this valley into another one. Here the ride got more challenging. Stream crossings with boulders and some water. As we crossed and recrossed the stream Kalae was letting me know she did not want to cross to the other side. She was shaking and backing while everyone else was on the other side.
I had gotten us into a situation, returning by ourselves was not an option. "Only one more crossing" Thank you God! But when we got there it was clearly the most challenging crossing. It was a deep pool with a steep entrance and exit. The other horses were pawing and having fun while Kalae was reversing down the trail and shaking. She is afraid of water... I am so lucky she didnt take off and run. As I approached the pool I slipped into waist deep water (camera and cell phone actually survived (always put your electronics in zip lock bags). I dont know what happened next but she was surging through the pool, I let go of her lead as she ran past me scrambling and slipping on the steep slippery bank as I watched in horror as her belly was on the ground, legs splayed. She got up and stood still with her left hind cocked, boot askew. She walked off sound. The final exit of the valley was up a narrow rutted dirt bike track where the horses were scrambling and any miss step would not have been good. Oh MY a bit too radical for the neophytes we are. We survived the 3 hour ride. The gals helped load Kalae and we were soon home safe and sound.

Dresage Lesson With Tom Poulin

Where does the time go? I find it hard to believe that 2 years has gone by in what is seemingly the blink of the eye. That was the last time I have trailered in to the Haku Baldwin Horse Center, just up the road from me. This past Saturday Tom judges a half day show and I was fortunate enough to be able to have a lesson in the indoor in the afternoon.
Kalae was not so keen on the idea and would not load. 45 minutes later, just when help was on the road she finally got in. Not without air's above the ground, striking, kicking and taking off. She galloped out of her glove boots. So uncharacteristic of her. Good thing she got those ya-yahs out before the lesson because she had plenty "GO" when I was riding her.
A bit late for our lesson but still with some time left we started with transitions walk=halt, then trot to walk, then within the pace at trot. Keeping her active behind. SI and hen canter work. Collecting the canter to 10 m circles to 8 meter circles and walk. The focus on our changes which are late behind. If cantering on R lead, go across the diagonal, whip in L hand. Ask for the change w/ only the R leg and R rein at the same time a little tickle with the whip behind the L leg so she jumps through. Worked well!
Then half pass work - more off the L leg please! And we were done. Great lesson. First one since October.