What's this green stuff?

Monday, September 1st  90 minute ride  95° 
Rode with Bill & Majesty and Glen & Pumpkin

Our insurance agent needed us to sign some paperwork and said he would drive out to our little town. So naturally, we invited him to join us for a horse ride.  We drove to the other side of our valley (a mere 11 miles away) and experienced a vastly different landscape.

Morgan: What is this green stuff?
Me: Grass Morgie. Give it a try.
Morgan: Nom, nom, nom, nom

Morgan spent most of the trail ride tasting the local vegetation ... but she always asked permission before snacking and never stopped moving unless I asked. 

I spent most of my time listening to my iPod and dancing in the saddle.  That takes some serious concentration and talent.  

Morgan and I lead the way most of the time and I'm glad to report I only lost the trail once (maybe twice). I did not admit this to the two guys following us ... what they don't know won't hurt them.  Besides, they were too busy chatting to notice me forging a new trail.  

Tried riding Morg with no reins for most of the ride.  She did exceptionally well.  I only picked up the reins three times and for less than a minute each time.  She responded to all leg cues and a gentle push on the side of her neck if I needed her to adjust her position.

Shooters in the Sand Dunes

Wednesday, July 16th  Left at 7:42 pm  Arrived at 8:32 pm  100°
Rode with T & Red for 20 minutes, then Solo for 30

A familiar sight ... Red's rump and Morgan's green lips

Headed out the North driveway and out into the open desert.  Realized Morgan hesitates less if we go straight rather than turn left ... interesting.  Her hooves do not seem to be bothering her much any more.  We started towards the sand dunes, but heard gun fire coming from the other side of the dunes and decided it would be better to drift east and not cross the dunes.

Wait, we're going down this road by ourselves? Um, why? 

Because Morgie, it's still light and we're not done having fun!

Circled back around to the house, but I wasn't ready to call it quits.  T & Red were headed to the neighbor's house to practice jumping, so Morg and I accompanied her to the corner.  A truck with four men passed us along the way ... the shooters from the dunes.  They waved as they drove by, at least they were polite lawbreakers.

From there Morgan and I turned west and followed the main street.  A dirt bike traveled past us which made Morgie raise her head and tense, but she kept moving forward.

What is that hideous thing?

Um, we'll just call that "nature's planter box" and move on, k?

We turned down a quad path that we had followed before since it was starting to get dark.  I missed the turn and ended up facing a fenced property.  Hmmm.  We followed the property line, went between two houses and found our main road.

Thought we were going home.  Home is not in the sand dunes.

Yes Morg, but you're so awesome I bet you could climb that in less than 10 seconds.

Instead of turning towards home, I pushed it a little longer and went up one sand dune, came down the other side, then found our favorite road home.  Had a glorious exhibition of controlled speed for a quarter mile.  Then we decided to cross the open desert where we trotted, zigged, and zagged between the bushes all the way home.  Simply delightful!

We made it home!  Kiss my kissy spot ... right here!

Two kisses (and a carrot) for putting up with me tonight