Field Trip (Literally)

On a beautiful Saturday morning my co-workers, Alana and Jamie, and I loaded our horses up for field trip to Alana’s new ranch. Her sixty acre property backs onto regional wilderness land filled with trails. Ransom hopped in the trailer like a gentleman and we were off. I was grateful that my little two horse straight load trailer tracked so well behind the truck as I followed Alana down the narrow road with no shoulder. It was only a short drive, but Ransom was covered by a sheen of nervous sweat by the time we arrived, rubbing off foam onto the padding of the trailer.

With the ordeal of the trailer trip over, we tacked up and headed up the hot golden slope behind Alana’s house. Ransom was borderline buddy sour as the three of us trekked through the hills, and the flies were atrocious. Alana and Jamie had come prepared with fly masks, but poor Ransom had to deal with the irritating bugs for most of the ride. He was on edge enough that I couldn’t quite relax. But as I dealt with his misbehavior, I knew this was a good learning experience for him.

We still had a blast. After climbing to the peak and enjoying the views, we took a nice hand gallop up a flat trail and visited a nearby water trough. Ransom sloshed away, happily splashing Smokey, the striking paint with two blue eyes, and Sienna the golden girl.

After a fun afternoon, we returned home just in time for a cold shower and dinner, for horses and humans.