Dexter and I spent a wonderful weekend at the Oxley Ranch located in the Foothills west of Stavely. The Ranch is run by Jennifer White and her daughter Heather. As it turned out, Dexter and I were the only guests, so we had Jen and Heather all to ourselves and that suited me just fine.
Jen and Heather took Dexter and I on three amazing rides but my favourite was the long ride up to the "plateau". It was like being on top of the world with a breathtaking view in all directions. Aside from the view, there was a fully intact ancient medicine wheel and an eratic that had been used as a rubbing spot by the buffalo for thouands of years. It was a magical day spent at a magical place.
Dexter and I also had an opportunity to ride among the cattle on the ranch to see how he would respond. As with everything we throw at this little horse, it was uneventful and he really seemed to enjoy pushing the cows around.
What I discovered about my horsemanship over the weekend, is that I ride my horses cautiously. I've never had to use them for work; whereby you need them to respond instantly and willingly to get a job done. I admired Jen's riding ability and how well her horses responded to her. When I mentioned that nobody but me had ever been on Dexter's back, Jen offered to get on him to see how he is with someone else. Again - uneventful. What I did get to see is how much more capable Dexter can be when asked for more. It gave me a new perspective and more to work on to bring Dexter to a higher level.
Willow Creek winds its way through the ranch and at the end of a hot day of riding, it was great fun to float along with the current. Heather introduced me to the cowgirl version of a day at the spa - a wonderful mud wallow. That would have been a great picture - Heather and I covered in mud from head to toe. To exfoliate dead skin, you just lie in the creek and let the minnows do the job. While their nibbling didn't hurt, it definitely took a bit of getting used to.
Thanks to Jen & Heather for a terrific experience!
Tovie & Dexter
