Out on the trail

Spade was so funny today. The only way that I can describe it is how a little kid acts when you come to there house for the first time they want to show you everything. Today Talicia and I went out on the trails in the Sam Houston National Forest. Last month I finished breaking and training Talicia's little paint mare and today was the first time she has ridden her since almost a year ago. I knew going in the woods with two green horses was a little crazy but both have great handles on them and great one rein stops. Spade has been great the last few days and I knew that if I took him out on a trail ride then it would give me plenty of opportunity to work on what he learned without drilling him in the arena. What I didn't expect was how much he would love it. Before we headed out I worked with him on parking next to the fence or a gate. He is a little reluctant to man made objects. I finally got him to park and relax. I then stepped off and opened the gate. As we walked down our drive way we came to the mail boxes. I saw him eye balling them, at least it was in interest instead of fear. Now that he is really trusting me he is like a little kid digging in everything as to say "mom what's that?" I love it. Anyone that knows my herd knows they are very nosey animals. But nosey at least means they aren't afraid. Any way as we walked by the mail boxes he acted like he wanted to investigate. So we spent the next few minutes approaching the mailbox and standing by it. Then we walked on. As we got closer to the highway cars were whizzing by. The first car Spade bounced his head likes "whoa what was that?" and then again hurried in his walk to investigate. Another went by and I felt him get really confidant. I was a little concerned about walking out across the road with both being so green. But with Spade being so confidant I went first so I could see if there was anyone coming. Plus I wanted to protect the safety of Talicia since she was just getting used to Cyri her little paint. Nothing was coming so we both started to trot across the highway together. Spade stepped over the shoulder stripe and moved to the double yellow line and planted it. I am thinking "hurry up Spade we are going to get run over because of a little line! " Both horses hesitated and then quickly stepped over it. With a quick glance at the opposite shoulder line we ducked into the trail. As we went down the trail he got very excited. He didn't jump around or anything there was just a bounce in his step. We would approach standing water and he would wiggle his self around trying to avoid it but once those feet got wet he would paw and play. When we would come to a log across the trail he would not even hesitate. He just bounced right over it. The brush pulling at the saddle and his tail seemed to be old hat to him. I felt like he was saying "see mom this is what I am used to...this is fun!" I can't tell you how solid he felt. The only thing that was obviously new was his understanding of the bridle and that when I am on his feet are my feet. I was very proud of him. He was even picking his ground so that we would be safe. He would dodge potential hazards that I didn't see. The only times he spooked was one time he was looking very cautious at a pool of very scary looking water. I really looked unsafe. As we walk around the edge of the pool he was looking hard to the left and a small twig reached out and ran down his right side. He leaped forward and scared me to death. Out of habit I one rein stopped but there wasn't really a need. He had already realized what had happened. I walked him back and forth through that spot two more times with no problem. Then we were walking and the brush started to rattle. In my left eye I started seeing quick movement. We all looked. All I saw was a brown shadow rushing through the woods. It was so fast neither of us could tell what it was. It was either a large fox or a fawn. Whatever it was it blasted through the woods and crossed the clearing not 30 feet behind us. I felt Spade suck his tail in his butt I told him "easy" and he relaxed and we both watched this thing run through the trees. Again I was shocked that he would be so calm. After walking 20 more min we started heading home this was when he got really nice. He felt like an old kid horse. I released my very long reins and he just walked along with no problem. We got all the way back almost to the highway again and this time I moved into the ditch to see traffic and heard a semi coming. I was really worried. So Talicia and I stood side by side and as the truck blasted by Spade didn't flinch. He walked out and we looked again. This time we could go. The response he gave me excited me. My seasoned horses would have at least jumped. He had done so good all day when I got back home I gave him a bath. We are going out again tomorrow so I can't wait to see how he is then. This might just be the place that I train him. He learned many cues today just out of necessity. What will tomorrow bring?