Well, somebody is feeling better after her hock injections last week. We made it six months since the last injection on the right hock, and almost a year since the left hock! And the vet thinks her right hock, which is the really bad one, is starting to fuse already, because he had a really hard time finding a gap to stick the needle in between the bones.

That was Wednesday, and after being jailed in her stall for two days as a consequence, Mimi was more than ready to ride on Saturday. And so much for our theory that she kicks the trailer because her hocks hurt. No, she kicks the trailer because she’s ansty and impatient and pissed-off at Beamer. However, I hung what started off life as an extra rump rug I was making (large chunk of lime green fleece) from the bottom of the divider between their heads. Theoretically, if either puts their head down, they can’t see the other now, and maybe she won’t get so mad. In practice, well, it kinda worked.

Both days were really good rides. Beamer was a little bit up on Saturday, but he was nowhere near as bad as last week. We actually got some good forward motion and trotting going. He wa a bit spooky, especially when a large Harris Hawk took flight from atop a cactus we were trotting under. The bird took off, his shadow came over the ground right in front of us, and both ponies sort of veered/stopped.

Coming back, there is an area where park personnel are (once again) trying to convince us they know better than we do about how to put in a Proper Trail (they don’t) and have flags up marking what will become an alternate route. Mimi saw these flags and veered off the trail. It was a generally clear, safe area, so I let her go to see what she would do. She followed the flags is what she did! She would zero in on one, walk at it, look around for the next one, go at it, look for the next, and so on and so forth until she got us down the hill. Good girl!!! She was so proud of herself at the bottom. It felt like she had grown another couple inches. And this is on top of finding an alternate game trail around a very steep in-and-0ut ravine earlier in the ride. So she was a happy girl, having done all of this off-trail exploring and trail blazing.

Sunday was Beamer’s day. He voluntarily chose a trail the headed away from home, and into a rougher area we don’t ride a whole ton. We again had to trailblaze, as rains had washed away most traces of a trail we’ve been working on putting in. It might not have been obvious to us, but the ponies knew where they were going, and got quite disgusted if we tried to (mis)direct them.

Well, this trail he took us on is one that has some good climing involved, to the saddle of one of the mountain passes around the park. Normally, we run this trail the opposite direction, because there is a very short, very steep section that is easier to go up than down. Well, I was glad we did the opposite today. The trail we normally take down the side of the mountain was very washed out and rocky, and obviously hadn’t been traversed since the last rains. It was much better going up, and even that involved a bit of scrambling and darting around rocks.

The other side of the moutain was much better, and the ponies did beautifully on the steep section. They both planted their haunches and inches down with their front feet. I was so proud of both of them. There is nothing quite as exhilarating as that feeling you get on a safe, sane trail horse that has just negotiated a potentially dangerous obstacle.

We’ve got four weeks until Man Against Horse. I need to send entries in. I need money first. And I need to buy two new pairs of Rengades. And board is due this week. Um, ouch? I think my pony is bound and determined that I will not have money in my bank account. Blast, she heard me say I wanted to take a trip out to San Diego after the ride…

Well, let’s see…Saturday was my birthday, so it was rather odd actually getting to do something fun, like ride my pony, on my birthday versus what I typically do – school. I’ll admit, getting up at 3AM on my birthday might not be the most enjoyable idea ever, but getting up that early is actually worth it, even moreso than getting up at 4 or 4:30. If I’m up at 3, we can be out of the house by 3:30 (I’m finally getting Dad going on this idea of “pack the truck the night before and eat breakfast on the go”) and leaving the barn, ponies in tow, by 4:20, and at the trailhead by about 4:45. We’re actually ready to ride by 6, so we’re still catching about an hour of really pleasant weather before it starts really warming up.

It’s very weird being down at the San Tans that early. We’re the only ones there at that time, and it’s still pitch-black out. There was no moon this weekend, either, so it was even darker. Driving down to the park, we saw two owls! One had just swooped down to grab something on the side of the road, and the other was flying above the truck on the road leading into the park. That was so cool seeing that.

The ponies were both really good on Saturday, especially because it was super windy. It was really still about 4AM, but as the sun started coming up, the breeze picked up, and by the time we were on the trail, there was a good wind blowing. However, it felt really good because of the humidity in the air, and the ponies were feeling really good. Mimi was in Arabian Junior mode, making me really practice my “long leg, deep seat” riding.

We even took them in the Big Scary Sandwash that they hate – really deep sand and a lot of wildlife and birds that like to fly out of bushes as you go past – and it was lovely. The wind was even reaching down into the wash, so it was pleasant enough to just walk along. I took Dad to the south end of the park to show him the new construction they’re doing, putting in a secondary trailhead and a small parking lot and another stepover gate. Way to *finally* listen to us about what we need, park people.

On the way back, we saw a Very Large Rattlesnake. Actually, Mimi did. I was half-turned in the saddle, talking to Dad behind me, when she slowed down, then stopped in the middle of the wash. I turned, looked fdown, and about ten feet away was a huge rattlesnake, very softly rattling his tail, but fortunately moving away from us. She watched him Very Carefully until he disappeared into the bushes under a tree, then we continued on. He was about 5 feet long, and probably a good 4 or 5 inches in diameter, with a rather large chunk of rattles on him. Lovely.

Truthfully? I don’t mind seeing them, especially in that kind of setting – a lot of space to move, and with the snake streched out, moving away from us. But this was turning out to be quite the wildlife encounters day. And this makes two weekends in a row that we’ve seen snakes. We saw a king snake or something like it the previous Saturday.

The rest of my birthday my nice and relaxing…came home, took a short nap, my parents took me out to dinner, then I came home and watched several episodes of “Burn Notice,” my new favorite TV show, and did a little bit of writing.

The ponies got the day off Sunday, and I spent most of the day catching up on laundry.

Monday was Labor Day, aka no school for me, and the business was closed for Dad, so the ponies got out again. Beamer was very displeased with this idea…he’s gotten way too used to, “ride two days, then get the week off.” So he expressed this by being an absolute bundle of nerves, spooking at everything, refusing to move out, bucking if he was in the back and Mimi got too far ahead…*sigh*

Mimi started out slightly grumpy (I think I woke her up) but she got better, and by the time I was on her back, she was a regular handful. Forget Junior today, we were in full Arabian mode. Lots of long leg, deep seat, tigher rein. The plus side to this? She’s wonderfully collected and forward and light, ready at a second’s notice to do what I ask. The downside? She’s even more reactive, so I have to be prepared for sudden, violent sideways spooks and shies.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t really capitalize on this because Beamer was being such a pain. So we walked. A lot. My butt was numb, and knees were seizing up, and I finally got off and walked the last quarter mile in because at that point, falling off would have been more comfortable. Just about the time I think Beamer is finally commited to moving forwards instead of taking steps backwards, he pulls a stunt like this. What made it even worse was the weather was ickier yesterday – humid, with very little breeze, and hot, so walking was not what I wanted to do.

Well, he’s got all week to stew now, and maybe he’ll be better next weekend. I really hope so, and I’m not even the one that has to ride him, I just have to deal with his antics peripherally, which is annoying enough.

Good thing Man Against Horse is only a month away…I really need new Renegades.

Those that know us know that we’re people that don’t really like that much drama, especially my parents. I’m a little more dramatically inclined (the problem with doing theatre work since junior high school). The ponies are both definitely dramatic. Beamer’s personal life philosophy is, “If it’s worth reacting over, it’s worth reacting BIG over.” Mimi tends to just be very expressive, and is not one to hold back if she thinks it’s a worthy cause.

So that’s the base we’re starting with. Last weekend, we skipped riding…I’m such a bad pony mother…but it was way too bloody hot out there to ride. So the ponies started this weekend with two weeks off.

The weather sorta cooperated over the weekend. Saturday was tolerable, as the humidity was down and there was a nice breeze in the air. Mimi was quite happy to be going out…they were both turned out in the small turnout the previous night, and she came scampering over to the gate to see me. Awww, my pony wuuuuvvvvssss me. :) Beamer hid in the corner.

However, he changed his mind after he saw Mimi leaving the pasture, and he hustled over to Dad, lest he get left behind. He was still a bit reluntant heading out from the trailhead…Mr. Lazy. Mimi was, as always, more than happy to go. Y’see, there’s a reason she’s called the Go Pony.

So we’re meandering up this lovely wash, actually catching a nice breeze, which is rather unusual. Typically, this wash doesn’t get any air movement – it’s sort of narrow, high-sided and twisty. We like it, because it’s rather pretty, the sand isn’t too deep, and it’s a good place to trot. The ponies hate it because it’s high-sided, and in an area with high animal traffic. So they’re always a bit more up on this trail.

We come around a corner, and there, tangled in a greasewood bush, are bobbing Mylar Balloons of Death!!! OH NO!!! As anyone who has encountered such a thing knows, these are typically beyond most normal horses level of threshold tolerance for Scary Things. Beamer is in the lead, and he slams to a stop (fortunately we were just walking at this point), stares, then attempts to whirl around. Mimi was right on his butt, and the prospect of plowing into her was infinitely scarier than the balloons (good boy, Beamer, you’re learning…)

To compound matters, we’re sort of stuck between a high bank on one side, and a very dead, cracky, pokey tree on the other side. Beamer turns again, and tries to back away, but the tree poked him in the butt. Heh. So he’s standing there, ready to just explode…I get Mimi around his butt and get her to take a few very hesitant steps forward, just enough to get her head in front of his.

She’s doing a fantastic Arab impression – neck arched, ears pricked, eyes bulged, nostrils flaring, the Arab Snort – it was beautiful, I wish I would have had my camera. With her head in front (which means she’ll get eaten first), Beamer calms down enough for both of us to jump off safely, and I bravely march forward, dragging Mimi behind me. She’s still wary (see above Arab Impression) but as long as I’m in front on foot, she’ll be brave and face down the Balloon Monsters.

Beamer, Mr. Curious, decides that he’s not going to be left behind, and starts creeping along behind Mimi. I stop next to the balloons and start deflating and untangling them, Mimi watching very intently the whole time…she’s very curious what I’m doing, and as I start crunching them up, she has to poke her nose forward and sniff them. I get all the balloons deflated and crunched together and cram them in my pommel bag…my environmental good deed for the day is done. :) Not only did I protect other horses from the Balloons of Death, I got them out of the desert…even if the horses hadn’t spooked at them, I still would have stopped and gotten rid of them. That kind of garbage doesn’t belong in the desert.

So, as if this wasn’t enough drama…we’re on the trail back to the trailhead, and I glance down at Mimi’s face and see this bright green twig stuck to her bridle. Upon closer inspection, the “twig” turns out to be a praying mantis, clinging to the side of her headstall to hitch a ride!!! This is only the second praying mantis I’ve ever seen. My first thought is, “Great, this is the horse that hates bugs.” Second thought is, “But I don’t want to kill it, they’re good!” So, how to get a rather clingy bug off the pony’s head without crushing said bug or setting off said pony?

We stopped, and I spent a couple minutes trying to flick him off with the leather popper end of my rommel. He wasn’t impressed with my efforts, and proceeded to crawl all over Mimi’s face. And she just stood there! This is the horse that went into meltdown at Williams because there were no-see-ums buzzing around her, and now she’s letting a praying mantis crawl all over her eyes, forehead, nose, and bridle?

I was finally able to get the leather end under him and gently flick him into a bush next to the trail, and Mimi just stood there calmly the whole time. That sort of thing leads me to wonder if horses can inately tell the different between “bad” bugs – bees, mosquitoes, gnats – and “good” bugs – praying mantis (what’s the plural? manti? mantises?), ladybugs, butterflies? Because normally she’d be throwing an absolute fit, and here, she didn’t move. Amazing.

That was the end of the drama for Saturday.

Sunday was a lot ickier…humid, with not much of a breeze. We were keep the ride very short, on a loop where we could do more trotting and make our own breeze. Partway through the loop, which is actually outside the park boundaries, we have to cross the road that leads into the park. 2 lane, very little traffic except that going into the park, so not a big deal. As we’re approaching, I see two shapes bounding down the road…oh, great, more loose dogs.

Rural Queen Creek is loose dog haven…nobody puts dog-safe fencing up, so there’s always dogs running around. Mostly, they stay out of the park, but we’ve been threatened a couple times, and it always makes me a bit wary. These two appeared mostly harmless – a juvenile-looking Labrador and a Pomeranian. Still, many dogs idea of fun involves way too many teeth for my liking. So I took the offensive.

I turned Mimi right at them and starting trotting down the pavement (thank goodness for Renegades!), yelling at them. They froze, hunched down, and scattered. Headed for the trees and shrubbery to the side of the road, circled way around me, and started slinking off. Mimi and I still followed them until they took off running down the road, back towards the residential areas. Mimi was so proud of herself…she had the “Pony Stare”, the kind that makes cows wilt before her…and she was pratically strutting by the time we got back to Dad and Beamer, who were just watching the show from the side of the road.

The most impressive part was watching the Pomeranian take a flying leap off a three foot high bank into the sand wash below to get away from us.

The rest of the ride was quiet and drama free, with the exception of Beamer proving that he, too, can do a Power Trot. “Look at me go, I can extend my legs, yes I can!” When he gets motivated, he can really move. He just needs to learn discretion about when to use said power trot – ie., not on a sort of rocky, slightly downhill, twisting single track. Even if it is going back towards home. :)

And thus ends my weekend drama.