In which we RIDE RIDE RIDE

(Massive Photo purge ahead!)

So, per my trimmer's request of "RIDE HIM" that is exactly what I've been doing!

Here is our barn of three, this past GLORIOUS Fall Sunday evening, plus a friend so all horses could go out.

FUN FUN FUN is the only way to describe it.

The horses were AMPED to go and were just as excited.

Laz, my sweet lovely, was brave, excited, rambunctious and a good boy all in one.

He kept throwing mini head snaking bucks and channeled his inner race horse while he jigged down some mowed down paths, but then quickly settled after a good 35 minutes into a steady Eddy on the trail, even leading and wanting to lead.

Could.Not.Love.Him.More. 

3 OTTBs and a X WB=awesome

A happy follower or leader-yes please!

Leading his herd!

This was our little yellow loop, that we can access off a private property. The lady gave us a happy "YES of course" to ride on her 11 acres that backs up into this trail.

Michigan has some incredible trails that are literally fairy tale like

Part of the private property

This was the stretch were Laz said "OH ya, I rememberz..I runz real real fasst and WINS thingz..letsz gooooo!"

And I'm all like "Ya, three legged horse, we walk nice or trot forward not sideways now, M-k?

Look at those Fall colors!

Proof of mega fun!

Coming back home via our road

I had opted to boot up Laz's fronts, and left his rears bare (with the exception of his hoof cast is still on RH).  Next time, I may go totally bare being the footing was quite nice and not rocky (for the exception of our dead end road in which I can ride on the grassy sides)

Laz and his X WB bestie, Justin. It's amazing how well this herd all gets along.

"We did sooo goodz"

As if that day wasn't perfect, we ended up by grooming after and watching hot air balloons in the sky.

Here is our new found secret trail from barn to trail, what we rode.

Now prior to our trail rides, I was doing a LOT of ground work reinforcement

And alone hacks with him, to encourage bravery on his own

We would just go down our dirt road and walk into some of the woody side areas so he got used to brush, etc.  He handled it all VERY well.

Piles of logs and rocks sometimes make him STOP and stare

But no bolting. I allow him to stop, we chat about it, and then give him a pat that he's always OK with me, and usually it's followed by a big SIGH

Riding alone helps him not be so herd sour! 

Not that he is in the least but I never want that for him

We are Team K.Laz!

Lots of loose rein 

Team K.Laz likes to have Mason as our protector

He scares away any thoughts of hiding monsters

The worlds most awesome chocolate Lab

He protects us from scary ass Halloween cats

Hiissssss

I'll get her!

Or, made he got a royal black cat smack down and swiped across his nose.

Awww

From barn dog to "city spoiled I get to lay on the couch and duvets dog"

Then this past Wed evening, two of us did the same trail run, but found yet another little loop to take.

We went totally barefoot (plus his hoof cast) on this trail ride and he was 100% fine

Laz WANTED to lead, so he did most of the trail. 

I like to trade off so he's versatile so we did a bit of that too.

 I mean..BE MORE GORGEOUS!!? I think not...

 Michigan right now is in her FULL glory just exploding with color

 Gilded

 The two minds meet

 Picking up the pace as the sun started to set and we were 2 miles out...oops!

We had nice trotting sessions and CANTER through the woods

Can I say how FUN that is!! The boys were just snorting with pride after our canter!

 Souvenirs!

 A few minutes before dark on our street and look at how this red tree is BURSTING with red!

 We came across two Doe tucked in the woods and do you know what the horses did?!
NOTHING but stared.

HOORAH!

 Oh happy day!

 These two were awesome together

We got home JUST before dark...as Justin turned into a Gremlin!

I went back the next day to make sure he wasn't ouchy.

I get SO nervous to push him and thought maybe the trotting/cantering was a bad idea...

 but he was FULL of energy and totally fine.

After a quick lunge, I just groomed him and loved on him.  Once I released him, he full tilt galloped back to the pasture to stuff his fat face

Aw Lazaroo!