Yesterday I was off work for Good Friday, and decided
I’d take advantage of the day and go for a good ride. I live on the edge
of JenningsForest,
which is a 23,000 acre state forest in northeast Florida. The forest is divided by
several good sized creeks. I decided that I would try and figure out how
to cross Yellow Water Creek, and get to the other side of the forest and the
marked, gps’d trails. If I figured it right, I would go about four
miles to the creek, get through the creek, and pick up the 18 mile Evans Trail
loop, do that, and come home, about a 25 mile ride. Alpine is coming back
into shape nicely, and a good, slow 25 mile ride would be good for both of
us. That was the plan anyway….
It started out rather chilly here in Florida. It was 95 degrees two days
ago, yesterday morning it was 45. Alpine was, quite understandably, wired for
sound. We walked (reluctantly on his part) for the first mile, then
picked up a slow corto. I headed in the direction of the river, and after
a couple of false starts, actually found the crossing, and across we
went. We walked a lot on the other side because it’s swampy, and
after about a mile, we popped out on the Evan’s trail loop. The trail is
permanently marked, and at the spot we were, said 12 miles to the parking area,
so picked up and corto’d that way. I was aiming for a 5 mph pace,
so we combined walking and gaiting, and were having a wonderful time.
After about an hour and a half, Alpine started switching between his trot and
his gait, which is not a problem. I sat the slow trot, and stood for the
faster trot. If I post, he switches gaits, so I get to stand. We
got to the parking area in about 2 hours, and I untacked, hosed Alpine off,
made him a snack out of the grain I brought for him, and sat down to my
PB&J, and the ¼ of the apple that Alpine let me eat. He was happy,
perky, hungry, and seemed just fine for going 17 miles.
After about ½ hour, I saddled back up, trotted Alpine to
make sure he was sound. He was. And climbed back up, and off we went. We looped
back around to the trail that led to the creek (6 miles), going a little
slower. More walking, slower trotting/gaiting. I had marked that
trail with my sweatshirt so I’d know where to turn off the main trail.
We turned towards the creek, and crossed the creek. And somehow got
completely turned around and ended up about 7 miles further from home than
where we ate lunch. I popped out on a road and went “oh
crud”. By now we had traveled about 32-33 miles. The most
Alpine and I had ever done was 25. And that was before the bowed tendon
two years ago. From my calculations, it was at least 12 miles home, if we
didn’t get lost again. It was now 4pm. So, I did the smart
thing, and called in the reinforcements. My husband wasn’t happy
about having to come get me with the horse trailer, but he did. Alpine
was tired…we did more than we should have at his stage of training.
And he was very happy to see the trailer arrive!
Thankfully, he seems to be feeling good this morning.
His back is a little sore, which I kind of expected. He isn’t
conditioned yet to me riding 7 hours, and I’m a heavyweight rider.
It’s not bad though, nothing like when my saddle didn’t fit.
His legs filled a bit when I put him up to eat last night, but I turned him
back out, and they look cold and tight this morning. He’s eating
everything and it’s brother too… So, Alpine gets a few days
off now. And I do too…cause I’m sore.?
Juli and the Herd
Alpine (who doesn’t want to go riding today….)
Merlin (who is an 18 month old pest that was showing his
tush this morning, and as a result, is going to get worked some)
