Road to the Tevis Cup Post # 18: Back on the trail

I’m a bit late with this post, because I’ve really had nothing to say. After waiting several weeks post smoke exposure (see my post on (not) riding in smoke from wildfires), Fantazia and I gradually increased trotting in arenas and on the driveway. I was going to wait a bit longer to go out into the hills, but it poured rain (and hail!) yesterday. We woke to crystal clear air and a beautifully washed landscape. I couldn’t wait to get back on the trail.

ready to go back on trail — Fantazia ready to go back on the trail today, fat and hairy, waiting for me to use the bathroom…

I guess I still haven’t got much to say. This will be a short post!

We’re missing the Sesenta Años Pioneer ride in Santa Ynez next weekend that was originally on my schedule. I’m hoping to have her ready for a 50 in a month, but not sure if that will be possible. But getting back on the trail, in the hills, where Fantazia can really move, was the first step.

In front, in back, to all sides of us, the hills were sparkling clean and the mountains touched with yesterday’s snowfall…

It was a great ride. Four miles, an hour and 20 minutes. A little over 1300 feet of elevation gain (barn around 800 feet, our high point today was around 1,830 feet). Fantazia is fresh after weeks of no-to-light work. She wanted to gallop up all the hills (some of which are very steep). I am hoping her lungs have fully recovered from the many weeks of hazardous air (AQI). Galloping up hills is a cardiovascular workout. Fortunately she is smart enough to stop and breath when she gets tired.

Unfortunately, it’s been cold enough that Fantazia has already grown her winter coat. It was cool and breezy today, but she still sweat. I will have to clip her neck and chest before we go back on the trail.

The cooler weather means a hairy horse, and yesterday’s beautiful rain meant a *muddy* horse.

Next steps

Fantazia and I will go back to our conditioning routine of alternating arena work, road work, hill work, and rest days. We’ll probably do 10 miles or so of trotting interspersed with walking on the road on Thursday or Friday. Then we’ll go back on the trail Monday for a more strenuous ride.

Hopefully the snowfall will have dampened significantly, if not completely put out, the fires that have burnt record amounts of California. Before the Sequoia Complex Fire, I had planned to go up to Shake Camp and ride to Maggie Lakes. Now that’s all ash… and snow. But there are plenty of places I can trailer to and ride into parts of Sequoia National Forest that aren’t closed or too high for this time of the year.