Horsing Around With Mules

Miss Lucy brushing her little pony

As H. so impatiently pointed out in the comments from Monday's post, I hadn't gotten back around to talking about the riding part. Well, after the hours and hours and hours of captive trail work were completed, the Cotton Mill Preserve opened up to volunteers for some well earned trail riding. Some foolishly brought their bikes for the ride. Who wants to work more after working so hard on the trail? We smarter (lazier) folks brought our powered rides. Hay powered and all foot drive that is.

H. and Monkey bringing in the boys

Master Hunter tacking up

Miss Lucy, still brushing

Crow and Ian watch as Amy and Copper are followed by the 3 asses (Willie, Clay, and Merle)

Crowvision: Master Hunter waiting for the others

Crowvision: Miss Lucy's interpretive dancing

Crowvision: There's a Monkey here somewhere

Crowvision: Following the Monkey trail

Master Hunter led off the expedition taking us around the field and through the creek backwards to Lucy's Loop staying mainly on the double track. Crow loves a trail ride, especially somewhere new, and has a hard time not kicking the pace up a bit (I don't know where he gets that behavior from) and we ended up trading spots back and forth with Master Hunter.

McP leading the way around Lucy's Loop

Eventually, McP (Ian, the Gov'na) took the lead and took us towards middle road. Crow started up the steep rocky climb like Pantani only to realize the hill was much longer and steeper than his out in the field fitness could muster, and he started to slow. Luckily he was able to make it before my saddle slipped completely off (his chest is wider than his belly so the girth slips back) and I paused at the top to reset it. Pretty much the only near calamity of the day aside from the Monkey getting stepped on by Crow. After which he'd dive off the trail into the brush when he'd hear us approaching from behind. Lesson learned by the smart little Monkey.

H. is all smiles as we wait for the group to catch back up

The Smiling Mule Man

McP grabbing a quick trail snack.

The Mule Man and his ladies.

Look at the size of those ears! Willie has some big ears too.

Heading back to the barn.

Amy and Miss Lucy.

Is that eternal cell phone at head gRant on Willie?

After the trail ride it was time to play on some of the jumps set up in the field. Master Hunter started us off by showing the grown ups how it's done.


Hunter picked out this shirt just for me. Hours before the trail ride even. This kid hangs around his Dad too much. I still have the thank you letter with smack hung up on the fridge. He rocks a 64'er on the trails now, he's gonna be tougher to beat next time at the DSG night time trail.

Old Crow