The Wooden Adventure

Our first official trail ride, Buddha loaded like a champ and enjoyed munching hay from the bag without any problems.  We arrived at the park and proceded to unload the horses, groom, and tack them up.  Buddha always has to lounged - to get the "stupid out" aka pent up energy - and he usually tears around at first and then settles into a nice quiet trot.  My niece and I saddled up and we're walking very nicely UNTIL they spot a large foreign object in front of us.  It's called a bridge. Both horses stopped on a dime and developed hooves of concrete!  They evenually would take a couple steps forward - with our urging - and then step backwards even quicker and farther.  I really thought Bud would be the brave one since he ALWAYS  wants to be first.  After a lot of cooing and coaxing we finally made it to the middle of the bridge.....where both horses decided that this distance was just fine and they refused to move.  We then decided we had to pick our wars and dismounted and walked them over the rest of the bridge remounting on the other side.  A little later down the path we both noticed a rather bright  orange construction hat lying on the ground.  She asked if I saw it and I nodded.  We were totally ready for them to freak - but they simply walked right past it and continued onward.  There is just no telling what will spook a horse.

Now, on the way back to the trailer, we had to go over the bridge again and were wondering how they would do this time.  We remained in the saddle and Bud literally tried to jump into Pardy's lap!!  It was hilarious and happened so quickly that we made it to the other side in record time.  The horses both turned back to look at the dreaded bridge and seemed  satisfied  they had conquored the wooden beast.

                                         Buddha and Pardy boarded and ready for adventure.