Post by racaille on Mar 4, 2012 18:32:47 GMT
The OH and kids have gone to the UK to visit the witch She Who Must be Obeyed the MIL so after a huge amount of hard work on the apartment getting it ready for the season (still lots to do) I decided to treat myself to a long ride.
I wanted to go to another village the long way round so went through the garrigue, which is the name for the low, spiky wild vegetation round here: scrub oak, juniper and box, as well as the usual Provencal wild herbs.
I didn't take my camera as it was overcast at first, but then brightened to a lovely warm and sunny day. It was such fun just pottering....
Paco was very odd on the way home though. Even though I chose a path that I haven't used before, as soon as we looped round in the general compass direction of home, he was on turbo mode. Every canter was a steam train ride and I had to work quite hard to stop him, even in the Dr Cooks which is normally a good brake. Even his walk was super speedy. Can a horse sense direction?
How did he know we were heading home if we were on a new path?
Anyway, it was lots of fun and I was much cheered to see that spring is here, the almond trees are fluffing up with blossom.
The poor hunting dog is a bit knackered after a five-hour walk/gallop though! ;D
I wanted to go to another village the long way round so went through the garrigue, which is the name for the low, spiky wild vegetation round here: scrub oak, juniper and box, as well as the usual Provencal wild herbs.
I didn't take my camera as it was overcast at first, but then brightened to a lovely warm and sunny day. It was such fun just pottering....
Paco was very odd on the way home though. Even though I chose a path that I haven't used before, as soon as we looped round in the general compass direction of home, he was on turbo mode. Every canter was a steam train ride and I had to work quite hard to stop him, even in the Dr Cooks which is normally a good brake. Even his walk was super speedy. Can a horse sense direction?
How did he know we were heading home if we were on a new path?Anyway, it was lots of fun and I was much cheered to see that spring is here, the almond trees are fluffing up with blossom.
The poor hunting dog is a bit knackered after a five-hour walk/gallop though! ;D
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
. 
But we've been together nearly eight years now and there is a good level of trust between us - and it is mutual as I do ask him to do some scary things sometimes. I even scared myself a little yesterday as I rode P along a very narrow ledge with an eight metre drop on one side 
