Thursday and Friday

  Since Phoenix and I were becoming frustrated over barrels, we decided to take a break and go for a fun trail ride.  I tacked Phoenix up in her Western gear and we headed down the road.  We walked down the rocky path and Phoenix let me trot her after about halfway.  We jumped over a few logs on the side of the road and continued on past some workshops and a church until we reached the main road.  After crossing the road, I let Phoenix out to a trot and eventually a lope.  Throughout our trail ride I randomly checked her and asked her to stop or change gaits to make sure that she was listening. As long as she was listening well, she was allowed to continue running (It was a blast running in the desert and through the dunes).  

  I'm finding myself more relaxed every day and am enjoying Phoenix more and more.  She was great on our ride and listened well.  We trotted and walked home, where I untacked Phoenix and hosed her down.  I also hosed off her pad since it was getting crusty and I hung it up to dry.  When I placed Phoenix back into her stall she immediately rolled and caked herself in dirt.  

  Phoenix was a little more challenging on Friday, though we still had fun riding on the trail (for the most part).  We rode western in split reins again and everything started off fine but she barely wanted to walk down the road and Phoenix kept stopping and refusing to go forward. 

  Several times I had to dismount and walk her a little ways or slap her in the butt with one of her reins to get her to keep walking forward. After we got past the halfway point though, Phoenix was fine and I trotted her into the desert where we loped around for a while. 

  We had some extra time after our normal path so I ran her back towards the road and into the large dunes. Phoenix loves running up and down them. On the way home she was totally fine and actually wanting to run faster but I kept her at a walk or trot. 

  I believe she has made some buddies at the ranch so she is becoming a little barn sour. We will just have to work on it because we both love trails.