What Daylight Savings Means to Me

This weekend is Daylight Savings. What does that mean? (Other than losing an hour of sleep?) It means it is the official opening of trail riding for me. Sure, I can get out a little on the weekends, but now I will be able to go on a trail ride after work. It usually coincides with a dramatic improvement of the weather, too.

My plans are to ride my Cruiser on the trail for every ride between now and November. No more schooling in the arena for us! Cruiser will be where he belongs. Of course, that isn’t the case if it is raining hard. Then we will be back in the indoor arena—but I am optimistic. There isn’t going to be any rainy rides this year.

This year, I plan to get Cole out on the trail during the week, too. If I rush, I should be able to do it before sunset—if only short rides, at first. He hasn’t been that consistent on the trail in the evenings, and that put me off of doing it on a regular basis last summer. Now, I think we are ready. Besides, I am so tired of the arena. I talk big every winter about the goals I am going to reach…in my heart, I belong on the trail as much as Cruiser.

What I will begin with on Cole’s rides will be short rides on the hill until it is dark and then I will finish up in the arena. It will give him the idea that going home doesn’t mean he is done with working. He tends to get very happy to go home. This was very helpful last spring on his weekend rides, so I think it should help his evening rides, too.

Once we get a little daylight, I will start taking him across the river—gradually increasing his rides as sun sets later. I’ll increase his speed once he is consistent. I just love trotting and cantering on the trail. Cole does, too. He needs to go fast—quietly. No galloping like a crazy horse—just galloping.

My ultimate goal—by June, when my older niece is back from college, he is going to be the horse she rides when she joins me for our evening rides. No more borrowing my sister’s horse, Ranger. As long as my very tall niece doesn’t mind riding my very short horse, I think it may be a very good match—but I have to get him ready for it. He’s a lot of horse, and she is still a novice. She hasn’t been riding Cruiser because he is very prone to sudden movements—and I worry he might get away with her. Cole barely spooks, and in that sense, he is much safer for a beginner. If he could succeed in taking my niece down the trail safely and quietly, and still take me out on exciting rides, he will be the horse I want him to be.

So, Daylight Savings means wonderful rides on Cruiser and advancing Cole’s training so he can be my next great trail horse.

What Daylight Savings Means to Me

This weekend is Daylight Savings. What does that mean? (Other than losing an hour of sleep?) It means it is the official opening of trail riding for me. Sure, I can get out a little on the weekends, but now I will be able to go on a trail ride after work. It usually coincides with a dramatic improvement of the weather, too.

My plans are to ride my Cruiser on the trail for every ride between now and November. No more schooling in the arena for us! Cruiser will be where he belongs. Of course, that isn’t the case if it is raining hard. Then we will be back in the indoor arena—but I am optimistic. There isn’t going to be any rainy rides this year.

This year, I plan to get Cole out on the trail during the week, too. If I rush, I should be able to do it before sunset—if only short rides, at first. He hasn’t been that consistent on the trail in the evenings, and that put me off of doing it on a regular basis last summer. Now, I think we are ready. Besides, I am so tired of the arena. I talk big every winter about the goals I am going to reach…in my heart, I belong on the trail as much as Cruiser.

What I will begin with on Cole’s rides will be short rides on the hill until it is dark and then I will finish up in the arena. It will give him the idea that going home doesn’t mean he is done with working. He tends to get very happy to go home. This was very helpful last spring on his weekend rides, so I think it should help his evening rides, too.

Once we get a little daylight, I will start taking him across the river—gradually increasing his rides as sun sets later. I’ll increase his speed once he is consistent. I just love trotting and cantering on the trail. Cole does, too. He needs to go fast—quietly. No galloping like a crazy horse—just galloping.

My ultimate goal—by June, when my older niece is back from college, he is going to be the horse she rides when she joins me for our evening rides. No more borrowing my sister’s horse, Ranger. As long as my very tall niece doesn’t mind riding my very short horse, I think it may be a very good match—but I have to get him ready for it. He’s a lot of horse, and she is still a novice. She hasn’t been riding Cruiser because he is very prone to sudden movements—and I worry he might get away with her. Cole barely spooks, and in that sense, he is much safer for a beginner. If he could succeed in taking my niece down the trail safely and quietly, and still take me out on exciting rides, he will be the horse I want him to be.

So, Daylight Savings means wonderful rides on Cruiser and advancing Cole’s training so he can be my next great trail horse.