A Horse is A Horse

For 30+ years, I have managed to admire horses from afar.  They are beautiful creatures, I just never had an innate desire to ride on one.  I used to ride past a house when I was a child where they owned horses.  I even got to name one (Rocky Road, BTW, because his coloring matched the ice cream).

All that aside, I am an adventurous person.  So, when the suggestion was made to have an off site team builder at a Tennessee State Park that offers trail riding, I said sure.

There are two things that this state has in abundance:  Cedar Trees and Rocks.  These two things are very important when we get to the trail riding...

When we arrived at the riding stables, we were greeted by our guide, Jamie and Lady, an Australian Shepherd.

  

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One issue about which I was concerned was the actual process of getting ON the horse.  I have previously mentioned my issues with arm strength.  Thankfully, the stables had that all figured out.  The "loading dock" is horse height.  You simply swing a leg over, and voila, you're on the horse.  

Speaking of the horse:  say hello to BB (short for Big Baby...hmmm).

I was assured by the woman running the stables that BB was calm, never gets in a hurry, and is well-behaved.  I am still wondering if she really knows this horse.  To add to the fun, just before we left, she also informed us that the horse riding behind us has recently taken to biting BB on the butt.  Sounds perfect:  I could just imagine it...riding on the trail, horse getting bitten, and me falling and smashing my head on a rock.  Great.  Just frickin' great.

During the ride, BB decided that he needed to walk as close to the aforementioned trees as possible.  Not only that, the rocky path ensured that he would have to adjust his stride over and over again...meaning that I would have to adjust to him.  Easier said than done.  Every time he shifted, I was sure that I was going to meet the ground in a most painful way.

Each time I pulled back on his "equestrian steering devices" (thanks MJansenMiller), I got the stink eye from the horse.  He apparently didn't appreciate being directed to stay back from the horse in front of us, nor did he like to be directed to stop eating the various plants on the path.  Meh.  I was just following instructions.

Thankfully, the whole biting thing was an unfounded concern:  the team member riding the horse behind me owns eight of her own and is very experienced.  

(I have to point out that the trail pictures were taken by someone else...no WAY was I letting go of those reins)

After about 10 minutes of riding in abject fear, I began to relax.  The others were joking and laughing, which really helped.  BB and I got used to each other, and that certainly made me feel much more comfortable.  I also learned that the horse liked being petted...to the point where he would slow down and raise his head so that I could do it again.  The trail was mostly wooded, which helped protect from the blazing sun that was out yesterday.  There was a breeze blowing through the trees that was simply divine.   

When we returned to the stables, I was actually disappointed.  I wish the ride had been longer.  The experience was much more relaxing than I thought it would be.  

Am I a horse girl in an instant?  Not sure.  I think I am going to have to take a few more trail rides to find out.