Reality and Redirection

When Quest first arrived about a year ago, my original goal to ready her for endurance rides- my discipline of choice. While she was always honest and never put a foot out of line, the little mare arrived not very confident with limited trail experience and was herd bound. Not knowing her full history, we took things slow and did our homework. Months of trail hand walking on the trails and streets, solo and group rides, leading, following, passing. We encountered a plethora of new sights, smells, and sounds....there were deer, raccoons, rabbits, birds; pedestrians with barking dogs, bikes, baby strollers, power wheels, wagons; ATVs, dirtbikes, semis, dump trucks, cars; construction chainsaws, nail guns, and sanders. We started with walking only, then added trotting, eventually cantering- this past week, hand galloping.

Zoom zoom happy ears

We still have a long ways to go but Quest's confidence on the trails has grown in leaps and bounds. She finishes our 6-mile loop rides easily with energy to continue on for much much more. In my mind this is the perfect time to start getting us out on different trails and off property for more miles and experience but it will not be happening until I figure out an affordable and practical trailer/rig situation.

So for now the plans to get us into endurance riding will be shelved indefinitely. Moving to a barn with access to more trail miles isn't a viable option at this point in time either given the locations/costs coupled with my work hours and current living situation. Options have been exhausted and I've come to terms (somewhat) that this is reality. I'm a go-getter and doer so this has honestly taken me a long time to realize that I couldn't do anything about the situation to fix it or make it better.

But I do have a horse that is sound, fit, and game for anything.

I've decided we will spend our remaining months of summer on the trails and exploring as we go along and redirect our focus to getting started over jumps during the fall and winter. The jump equipment at the barn is extremely sparse but we will make do with what we have to get it done. I'm also hoping tp set up formal lessons at least once a month to get instructor eyes on the ground...finding an appropriate instructor is easier said than done though.

Such is the state of things but I couldn't be happier with how far my horse has come along and I will focus on the positive. It's onwards and upwards.