June 29 Trail Challenge Weekend

I'm on holidays by myself! Made it to Trails End at Alesbury by 10:30 am and got settled in.  Met about 5 young women from all over the world who were helping Chris run the ranch in exchange for natural horsemanship lessons. Fine young women. Practised the trail challenge in an arena area and found Jet did very well. Many of the paint horse people appeared to have expensive show horses who probably spent more time in doors than out. Jet is used to all sorts of things so he marched over a railway tie bridge with no hesitation while others refused. Papers and fancy names mean nothing out on a trail! Saturday we had a trail ride together- about 20 people and a great steak supper. I knew I wanted to scatter some of Lee's ashes so spent some time with tears thinking about it all. Where? I decided at a buffalo rubbing stone. Big, heavy and ancient and significant historically A perfect place and Lee would agree. A couple women came with me and we rode 2 coulees over and found the site. I was surprised at the emotions that came up. I just let it all happen. Tears ran freely and in the end it felt very good. Another important step was taken. I poured out some ashes and one of the women took pictures.

For the trail challenge on Sunday morning July 1 I was selected to start it as I had mentioned I needed to get on the road to get to Grasslands. They set up a course and have a judge. Felt quite competitive. I announced to everyone that I was here to have fun and I would make mistakes and I cared not. Usually people watch the first ones up to get the picture of where the course is. They would make a mistake watching me!

First challenge was trotting up to and jump over a pole about 12" above the ground Jet jogged up and stopped Then he lifted his knee up and hit the pole knocking it down and then he stepped over it. Great funny start! Onto the raised rail tie area where we had to do a 270 degree turn then jump off the side and proceed to the lariat tied to a log. Well I could not get anywhere near the lariat so I said PASS! Now to the creek I jogged over through he creek, cantered and trotted along the other side and back across the creek in another spot No problems at all. Then up a big hill and we were supposed to go through a couple of hoops. No way. Forget it. Cantered back to 4 pickets where I dismounted and dropped my reins This is called ground tieing. I walked around the perimeter, then grabbed the reins and led Jet into a waiting stock trailer. When I came out everyone cheered! I had left the bus for easy access so cantered off and left.

As I drove away I felt so full of myself. I was pumped, psyched, whatever you want to call it! I could conquer the world. I had tears streaming down my face. I was on my own and I was doing it.

Spreading Lee's ashes at the buffalo rubbing stone