By Patty Wilber
My favorite volunteer activity is trail work with the Back Country Horseman, so it stands to reason that the future show ring cow horse ranch horse, Gette (who is one year old), is also expected to become handy on the trail.
To help expose her to new and interesting experiences in her formative years, last weekend, we loaded up LT and Cometa, drove over to Christie’s, and picked up Gette. We took her on a Pecos Chapter of the Back Country Horseman training ride at the Gallisteo Basin Preserve.
She loaded well, rode well in the trailer, hung out at the trailer without fretting at all, and ponied in a large group she had never met, in a place she had never been, like she was born to do it.
Me on LT, ponying in Gette, So far, Gette is very relaxed about everything.
When we stopped and tied up, which happens frequently when we are doing trail projects, she didn’t complain about her tree, or whether the other horses were too far away, and she did not paw, as many horses do during their early rides. Not even once.
She took a nap. That is what Lucy would do.
Gette sleeping during lunch.
It is looking like the trail is going to be a thing that agrees with this girl.
Gette being ponied by Jim on Cometa.
I am feeling like I have lucked out and gotten what seems to be another super level headed Appaloosa girl!
And to add color to her personality, she is starting to change (color), and will continue to do so over the coming years.
Here she is (photos by breeder Heather McLevin, Thunderstruck Ranch) as solid bay baby.
A very darling solid bay.
No longer a solid bay! Note the spots, the frosting on her hip, and that her tail is going gray.
It looks like it is going to be an easy training journey as well as a blast watching her color out!
That’s a pretty darned good baby!
I am pinching myself. She seems amazing.
Pinching is warranted in these cases!