So I'm riding Pippin. Pippin is good, but she wants to GOGOGO and no one has made her obey in at least 8 years, if ever. Pippin does have some issues we're working through. The trail in that section is about 30' wide. Srsly. There's also another trail that loops up about 60' from the one I'm on, that is easily accessible if you need to take it to go around someone.

So when the endurance wanna be canters up and passes close enough that we almost bonk stirrups, I'm a little bit pissed. Pippin loses her little pea brain, and it takes awhile to get it back. Then two miles later, guess who pops out from a side trail at a canter again and nearly takes us out! Yesss... same person. This time the trails are about 2' wide and visibility is at about 10'. It isn't safe to go fast. There are riders, hikers, all sorts of things in your way to mow down. I had just passed an old guy (grandpa?) with two small boys carrying fishing poles headed towards the river - good thing she didn't flatten them!

Once again Pippin loses her little pea brain. I'm getting tired of it and get into her, much to the horror of two older ladies on cute, fat QH types who looked at me like I was Satan's bride. Whoa means "drop your butt into the ground and sit down NOW" is something I have been working on non-stop since we bought Pippin, and she's got the concept down pat - at home. But some added excitement is no excuse for it to take 6 steps to come down to a bracey, on the forehand stop.

Okay, my horse is sane again. I hear riders coming so pull to the side of the narrow trail so they can pass. It's four Charros. The first is on a little welsh-type pony (classic Sec A head, SO DAMN CUTE). Little, maybe 10-11hh? The full grown man's feet are literally inches off the ground and the saddle went from his neck to his tail. WTF. They had just crossed the river, were in deep and sand and at least 3 miles from any house. Ponies are tough, but no pony deserves that. 2nd rider in on a nice app, third on a fugly chestnut, and taking up the rear is a palomino stallion with a bloody mouth that is looking at Pippin like she's 800lbs of pure sexy fine. He starts sweet talking her and edging closer. Guy does...nothing. I'm growling at Pippin and keeping my leg on, but Pippin's ears go back, she bunches up, and I've got crap all place to go. Not even enough room to move her butt over without swinging her front right into the stud. She cow kicks at him and barely misses, but it does wake up lover boy's rider who whacks him with that stick that they all carry. I think it's one of the rules to be a Charro - your horse must be bleeding from somewhere and you must carry a big stick. Damn I get tired of seeing them on the trails.

I go to cross the river...and guess who??? Yes! Endurance wanna be, again! She tries to trot across and now I know she's new to this area, because everyone knows that about 3/4 of the way across this particular crossing it gets hella deep. (The water goes up to -my- ankles when I'm on the 13.2 arab) She goes trot, trot, plonk! I laughed. I admit it. Her horse scrambled a bit getting his footing back, and I thought she was going to buy it, but she stayed on.


I'm going to LA Zoo tomorrow. I hoping I don't run into stupid people, because my tolerance for stupidity is pretty much used up for the week.

Oh, and my cheap "crazy" 3yo pinto TWH? Is now under saddle. Today was her second ride. She's a dream!