Another rural ride...

  It was 95 degrees at 9:30pm last evening, so we decided not to subject the horses to the usual local playday. Rising about 6am this morning. I didn't get much sleep last night, but we decided to go for a long ride while the temps were in the lower 80's. The horses were fed early, then brushed and fly sprayed, then tacked up, and stood waiting for our party to join us for the ride.

  Kela and Lorgia were going to accompany us on our leisurely adventure. We filled our cantle bags with water frozen over night and extra bottles of water to refill the containers as it melted. Added a couple of Clif Bars to the bag, my iphone and off we went. It was already hot by the time we left, but a cool breeze was blowing, so it was bearable for most of the ride.

All the horses were light on their feet and feeling good themselves. I know they appreciate getting out of the pasture for a change of scenery. Happy dog tailing us down the road again. He's such a hoot. He picks and chooses a path that's just right for him. lol Always following the shaded areas and the shadows of the horses. At times he jogs up just ahead of us and sits patiently as we ride by, picking up our trail. It's a little nerve racking when we get to a intersection. Not because of the horses, but watching the dog navigate just the right time to cross.

Happy is learning really fast and he's smart enough to watch how the horse respond to our cues. I would normally be afraid of a dog and traffic, but this dog was living on the streets before he followed us home. Seemingly picking up enough street smarts to notice cars whizzing by and staying back out of the way.

Upon our arrival at the entrance of the park. There were joggers, bikers and the hustle of people throughout the park. It give the horses quite an education. Nothing seems to bother them most of the time. An occasional land shark or boogie monster pops up, but for the most part, we have a pleasurable ride through-out the parks interior.

Makayla and Handsome

 As we embark on a new adventure, we find ourselves winding our way through fields of "Texas Wild Flowers. There like a large canvas of brilliantly painted textures and colors. We stop to take pictures of the horses, lazily grazing in the green grasses, for a much needed rest stop in the hot sun.

Jerzey and Patrick taking advantage of the lush grasses.

 Our journey begins again. As we travel on towards the woods and trails deep with-in the park area. There are many hills to climb, as well as creeks and bridges to cross.
                                      

Lorgia and Two Socks

                                                                

Flower among the fields.

Taking a water break.

Makayla, Happy and Handsome

Standing on the cliff over the water.

Jerzey gets backwards on the trail. When I was taking pictures of the cliff over-hang, I thought she was going to try to walk down the, "near vertical bank"..so I snatched her head around. lol

  Over two hours into our ride, we headed in the direction of home. It was getting extremely hot. The breeze that had been blowing most of the morning, was gone! The horses weren't quite as spry as they were in the earlier hours. Slowly meandering their way, the dog dragging up the end zone, we took it easy riding in.