Linked "Julies Horse Journal"

Went for a ride today at 12. Its a little cold 42 but the sun was behind the clouds and I could see the filtered light starting to push the sun through. I got there and they told me that Sheila was there and that some dog had just chased the big Rooster and almost got him. Bob was saddling up to go out on the trail for a ride. I was getting excited. The previous ride was arriving at the wooden launch and I knew it would be a good day. They asked me who I wanted to ride. I said anyone who needs to go out. Blue came over and showed me some love. I mentioned "blue", a girl named Heather wanted to ride Blue. Im totally cool with that. I said anyone else, how about Domino? Sure enough he came walking over.

Sarah and Akiva and Blueberry

I wasnt very good with him today he was acting ornery. He went outside the dirt road and grabbed grass, he stopped on the path a few times and walked slow. As we did our first trot he ended early and I was diappointed.

  The guides Anja and Sarah all discussed that we could do a cantor ride today. Enja mentioned that at the end of the ride was best as we had seen the dirt bike and four wheeler at the beginning of the lttle desert. I wondered about Domino on the trail cantering. I knew Duke was amazing but Domino was just ok on the trot. Well we were coming to the end after the lake, before the last bridge and long walk and Anja said lets do it. I wondered if I could have Domino at the end so he wouldnt hold anyone up because he's been actin up today.

Sarah said he'd be fine and she positioned herself behind me with Akiva. It was a great idea! Sarah dont forget to Kiss, I asked what is kiss, she said make a kiss sound. We started up the trot. I can say Im not very good at getting things going. I could see that Blue in front of me was moving just ok and that Anja on Winston was way ahead. I was bumping and bumping with my heels down and I was trying to stay seated and do a good job. As I was trying to stay on Domino I was holding on and we were moving fast.

Akiva came up on Domino's right side, I saw his ears go back and it felt like he went into flight. Suddenly I am flying in mid air like the feeling of suspension or when the rollercoaster goes quickly and I feel that I am flying in the seat. Domino was a light as a feather, all 1500 pounds of him. All the people behind me made sounds. It was because that big guy was practically dancing up the hill toward the bridge with me as light as a feather on his back. He must have made the ground shake and the other horses feel small. Akiva was trying to race him and it was lots of fun to see him respond.

CANTER: n : an smooth 3-beat gait; between a trot and a gallop [syn: lope] v 1: ride at a canter; "The men cantered away" 2: go at a canter, of horses 3: ride at a cantering pace; "He cantered the horse across the meadow" Canter \Can"ter\, n. [An abbreviation of Caner bury. See Canterbury gallop, under Canterbury.] 1. A moderate and easy gallop adapted to pleasure riding. Note: The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely tiring to the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by the restraint of a powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great part of his weight on his haunches . . . There is so great a variety in the mode adopted by different horses for performing the canter, that no single description will suffice, nor indeed is it easy . . . to define any one of them. --J. H. Walsh.