Beach Bingo

My second and last beach trip of the spring was supposed to happen this Tuesday, but an unpleasant weather forecast changed it to Sunday.  One thing after another made it so none of my riding friends could join me, but our neighbor from across the road (Mary) said she’d like to come just for the walk, and to take pictures.  Mary sometimes takes care of Zephyr for me when we’re away traveling.

We left the driveway around 8:45am and made decent time getting to Scarborough, arriving at 12 noon.  Low tide was at 1:30 so I tacked up quickly.  I just replaced the battery on Zephyr’s heart rate monitor belt transmitter (bottom right photo) so I did take the time to make sure it was working before we left.

There were a bunch of other riders already there, and more arriving every minute.  We ended up with probably 8 other riders on the beach with us... but thankfully never WITH us.  When I ride alone I like to be alone... strangers never go the right speed.  At one point, two horses cantered by while we were trotting, and Zephyr was a little jumpy, but then I guess the exposure is good for him.

When we first got out to the beach there was a family with a kite just off camera to our right.

 

<< I like this picture... check out the tongue...

One of the horses that arrived just before us was a big black Percheron.  Mary was quite taken with it:

After our brief photo session, Zephyr and I headed down towards the pier.  He was willing and forward, but wasn’t interested in galloping.  We mostly trotted on this first trip, an easy 9-10mph trot.  I don’t have any pictures from that trip down because I left the camera with Mary. 

On the way back, we were enjoying a nice relaxing canter when my phone rang.  I could tell that it was my best bud Steph so I decided to see if I could answer it without Zephyr breaking stride.  It was strapped to my leg so I reached down, unvelcroed the top tab of the phone holder, and was able to answer it without dropping it.  Yay!  She asked what I was doing and I said “cantering down the beach”.  It took a minute to convince her that I was actually STILL cantering down the beach.  I had to hold the phone down near Z’s shoulder so she could hear his feet on the hard-packed sand!  She was impressed, I think, but we agreed that we should probably talk later because of all the dogs and little kids I was having to pay attention to avoiding.

After the first trip down and back, it was time for a drink of water and a bite to eat.  Hay for Zephyr, chocolate pudding for me.  I had a sandwich (prepackaged, eww) but it was exactly low tide and I wanted to get back out there.  Wasn’t too hungry, anyway.  A young boy and his father came over to say hello... the dad was wearing a walking cast up past his knee but his son REALLY wanted to “go pet the horsie” so over they hobbled.  Zephyr pretty much ignored the kid, just kept eating.

After lunch, Mary got some video of us.  Unfortunately I didn’t realize she was there, so we’re really far away!

We went down to the pier again, and all the way back Zephyr kept pulling hard to the left.  I assumed he wanted to be further from the water but I “let him have his head” a couple times and each time he made an abrupt U-turn back towards the pier!  Apparently he didn’t want to go home. 

At some point, the inevitable happened.  He stopped and dropped a load of manure, which I then was responsible for picking up.  I hopped off and dug out my plastic shopping bags, scooped the poop into one of them, double bagged it and tied it on my saddle.  Just as I was doing so, four riders walked their horses past and asked if Zephyr was a Morgan.  I said no and explained about his breeding (Arab x Rocky Mountain) and gaits (walk, foxtrot, rack, trot, extended trot).  They ohh’d and ahh’d.  I think they were a little surprised that I was actually picking up my horse’s manure... there was so much of it all along the beach that I’m sure nobody else was.  It was like beach bingo... which square will the horse poop on?  I mean, yeah, the tide was coming in but if horseback riders don’t follow the rules they agreed to when they applied for their permit they might someday lose the privilege!  Of course from then until I found a trash barrel I had to ride with one hand on the manure bag... not an easy feat at a canter.

Just as we got back to the path to the parking lot, this is what we saw:

I was pretty freaked out, thinking he’d spook, so I let him make his U-turn and we made another trip to the pier.  When we got down there I stopped him and turned him back towards the trailer, and he wouldn’t walk forward.  When I let him have his head, he turned around and started walking toward the pier.  Very strange... normally the pier freaks him out a little bit.  I pressed the issue and off we went back towards the trailer.  On the way back, the parasailer passed us and Zephyr didn’t even blink.

According to the GPS we did 15 miles total, almost entirely at a trot or canter, so he was pretty soaked in sweat when we got back to the trailer.  Mary had gotten cold and was reading in the truck, so I pulled his tack and walked him back to the beach for a quick roll in the sand.  He drew a crowd of about 30-40 people, many with cameras, as he rolled over and over again for a couple minutes.  Then got up and found another spot to do it again!  He was a sandy beast when he was done.

The trip home was uneventful.  We stopped in Topsham for a quick Ruby Tuesday’s meal with my parents, and were home by 8pm.  My back muscles are a little sore today but I’m happy.  :-)

Pine Point Paradise

I took a vacation day today to drive down to Pine Point Beach in Scarborough. I haven't been down since the '06-'07 season, I think, so I was really looking forward to it.

My friend was supposed to bring her new horse along for the trip, but she got sick the day before and couldn't make it. I decided to go anyway... Zephyr and I have spring fever! Then yesterday morning I slipped on some ice and fell hard, but the doctor said there was no sign of concussion and gave his blessing on the trip.

I got up when my husband left for work, and Zephyr and I departed at a leisurely 8:30am. I had to stop several times for errands and gas, but still made it to the Scarborough Town Office by noon to get a beach permit. We were at the beach by 12:30 and saddled by around 1:30 I think. I gave him some grain slurry and hay, then electrolytes. There was no rush, low tide wasn't until around 6pm so the water was still high and I could hear the waves breaking on the beach pretty loudly.

I have a nice thin rope halter these days, with a 10-foot rope knotted onto it, so I left that on him and put the bridle over top. I walked him down to the beach so he could remember what it was all about with me on the ground giving him confidence.

He did great! Within mere moments we were both in the water... not deep, but there. I was feeling pretty smug and smart that I'd worn my tall rubber chore boots so I could go in the water with him.

Unfortunately, he was doing SO well that I got a little over enthusiastic. I was fine until a really big wave came and dumped cold seawater into the tops of my 16" tall boots! Of course I scurried right out of the water to dump them out but nothing came out... it had all soaked into my socks, orthotic insoles, and the neoprene insides of my boots. Oh well, gotta laugh. My feet didn't fall off so it wasn't the end of the world.

Once I determined that Zephyr was fine with the water being so high and loud, I mounted up. He was definitely more reluctant without me on the ground with him. Sometimes it got a little frustrating, but only if I really pushed the issue and made him walk on the shiny wet sand.

We walked and trotted down to the pier a little over 2 miles away, then on the way back got in some good long canters. He was definitely better going away from the sun, the wet sand didn't shine as much.

After our first trip to the pier and back, we went to the trailer for lunch. Hay and water for him, tuna sandwich and water for me. I took the saddle off while we ate, to figure out why the heart rate monitor belt wasn't working. The transmitter battery seems to be bad, so I'll need to get that changed.

Back out on the beach, the water was now much lower and Zephyr was much happier to just motor along at a nice 9-10mph trot without freaking too much over the seafoam and water. There was a lot more flat non-wet beach to take him onto if I needed a break, too.

On the way back, we met a very nice lady who offered to take our picture. Unfortunately there was a teenage boy and his unleashed dog who kept chasing us, so it made for an interesting photo shoot! I'm surprised the dog isn't in either of these shots.

The whole rest of the way back to the trailer, Zephyr just kept getting stronger and stronger. About halfway back, after a really nice long relaxed canter (maybe a mile worth), I asked him to walk for a bit. Then asked for a canter again and he jumped into his old extended trot. I haven't felt that trot in so long it took me by surprise! It feels like somone jammed a rocket under his tail and lit the fuse. His whole body drops down a few inches, his neck comes down, he tucks his nose in a little bit, and his hindquarters thrust with such amazing power that quite honestly it scares me sometimes! It feels like he might take off... a trotting runaway! I've been more relaxed riding a GALLOP than I was riding this trot today. Just blew my mind.

After two trips up and down, we had done 11 miles and I think it was around 4:30. It was time to go. I rode him back to the trailer, untacked, and brought him back to the beach to roll. And ROLL HE DID! Very thoroughly!

We both had a marvelous time. It only took 3 hours to get home so I was back by 8pm. Unloading gear went pretty fast and now I'm ready for BED! All that sun, exercise, and wind... tires ya out! Still, I hope to go back soon. Horses are allowed there until May 1st.