Sunday, March 27, 2011 - Ride Day with Brother at Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Brother and I decided to ride at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound today, hauling the horses out only took about half an hour. We left fairly early because the weather has been unseasonably hot, though there was a little breeze that promised to help. No one else was there at the equestrian trailhead, though a couple of bikes came by and chatted about horses with us while we were saddling up. Hit the trail about 11:00 or so, took the red trail, this time clockwise (last time with Hubby we went counterclockwise, plus added the middle section of the blue trail just to make the ride longer). We also added the spur part of the blue trail just for variety, as I hadn't been on that one before. I had hoped there would be a picnic table or clearing or something at the end, but there wasn't anything. We actually went a bit off the trail and ended up along the edge of a small canal, where we stopped to rest and water the horses, which had to be done by me climbing down to the canal (it was too steep for the horses), and filling the portable bucket with a plastic bottle. They drank heartily, and it took several buckets to satisfy them. After a while, we headed back, even getting some trots and canters in. Brother's starting the get the hang of it again, it's been 10 years since he's ridden, and even then it was untrained riding, but he's listening to my advice and it's helping. Clio is having no trouble going into a canter anymore, now that's she's learned that's what we want her to do, so it was a productive and enjoyable day all around!