- Trail: FS-050 Holbrook to Motley Reservoir | Alstead Lane | Holbrook Creek Road to Granny's
- Miles: 5.32
- Riders: Self
- Horses: Drifter | Jack (at liberty)
- Dogs: Groot | Harley
Notes:
A great ride and a successful day.
With help from my neighbor on the hill, Jim R., we mapped out a route on my Avenza app in hopes of finding my way to Holbrook and the road leading to Motley Reservoir (what I used to call Reed's Pond).
The plan was to take only Drifter. After saddling and loading him, I left the back of the trailer open while I ran inside to gather a few supplies. When I came back out, Jack had loaded himself. I didn't have the heart to make him get back out, so I shut the door and off we went.
I don't like to pony a horse if I don't have to, so I turned Jack loose to roam alongside us. It worked out perfectly.
We followed FS-050 until the road crossed "the ditch." It looks more like a road than a ditch, but Jim explained there's a pipe underneath it and the "ditch" can hold water if needed.
Once we reached the top, I opened Avenza and realized Motley Reservoir was practically right below me. I texted Jim to see if the gate was open. It was. He told me to hang a left and ride down to his shop site.
We dropped off the hill...and promptly ended up on the wrong side of the fence on Gene and Marilee's property.
Jim called Gene, who met me above their place and graciously opened the gates so I could get onto the county road and ride home.
Getting through William's place could have been a real challenge. Wild turkeys were flapping around, deer were exploding out from behind the woodsheds, and large pieces of equipment were scattered everywhere, all looking like potential horse-eating monsters. Drifter handled it like a pro. He kept one eye on those turkeys sailing overhead but never lost his composure or considered dumping me.
After I got home, Jim offered to drive me back to retrieve my truck and trailer from the trailhead. I put the horses away, climbed into the Subie, picked up Jim, and headed back for my rig.
That's when I realized I'd left Drifter's halter hanging on the side of the trailer.
By the time I got home, it was gone.
I drove back and searched the road without any luck, then posted on a local Facebook page that I'd lost it.
The next day, a gal contacted Micha, my sister's neighbor and a friend of mine. She had found the halter but didn't realize it belonged to me until she later saw my Facebook post. Thanks to a small-town chain of connections, the halter made its way back home.
So, long story short...I got my halter back.
It was a fabulous day. We beat the 100-plus-degree heat down in the valley, I discovered there may actually be hope for my directionally challenged brain after all, and even though I still managed to end up on the wrong side of a fence...there's always next time.
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| Jack self loading - goofy horse |
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