Okay, my trainer is being super generous and allowing me to ride Nova in her comfy Lynn Palm until I can sell my saddle and buy a new one. Oh, it felt crazy to be riding english again (like, where did the rest of the saddle go?), but it also felt so good. Nova was fantastic in it, and once he gets a bit more comfortable I'm sure he'll be better at picking up his canter.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1227.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1225.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1224.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1232.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1242.jpg

 And as I had 'promised' in my last thread, Nova went to the mountains last week, and did fantastic of course. He got a bit buddy sour which wasn't surprising, but was terribly annoying. But I can't complain about how he handled everything we threw at him! We had kind of crappy weather - it rained the first night all night, then off and on for the next couple days. Thankfully we were able to get rides in each and every day. Nova got to deal with scary tree stumps/logs, big rocks, puddles, mud, RIVERS, steepish ups and downs and took it all in stride and didn't get excited about any of it. We even got to see real wild horses, twice, and one group had two young foals with them - it was amazing.

Anyway, onto the pictures! (Sorry Solaris, I didn't wear my helmet while we were there, but you don't have to worry because Nova took really good care of me.)

Tacking up the first day. Holy he looks huge here! That's Trapper (appy) behind him.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1246.jpg

Heading out on the trail! What you can't tell is he was hyped up beyond belief. A couple dogs ran out and attacked my dog (he was ok) at the edge of camp which sort of set all the horses off. Except for Rhythm - she wanted to go stomp on the dogs.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1250.jpg

This is Nova on the first day thinking he shouldn't have to cross the weenie creek first.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1261.jpg

Nova at lunch stop the first day. He was tied up with the other two but was getting Trapper in trouble so I moved him. He kept wanting to do mutual grooming with Trapper, and then was trying to play with him... With his teeth.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1269.jpg

This sequence shows Nova's first real river crossing. This first picture is us standing on the opposite side of the river from Mom and Julie after they'd crossed. Nova was thinking that staying dry was a pretty darn good idea!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1288.jpg

Here Julie and Trapper came back for us and Trapper is giving Nova some encouraging words. Probably something like "The cold water up in your nether regions really isn't THAT bad! I swear."

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1291.jpg

Still not sure about the river.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1293.jpg

We're doing it!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1294.jpg

We made it!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1299.jpg

Nova going, "You just made me cross that RAGING RIVER, so heck no am I crossing anymore water today!!!"

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1300.jpg

Ponying Rhythm for a photo op.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1312.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1314.jpg

Riding down a road. Nova got to see range cows for the first time, and with Trapper going first he handled them just fine!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1318.jpg

Later that day after we got back to camp. The stalls on our side were all empty so we let the horses wander a bit and relax.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1325.jpg

A view! Lookit! Of course, Nova obviously wasn't nearly as tired as he was trying to convince me he was, because he didn't want to stand still for the picture.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1332.jpg

The stalls.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1352.jpg

The river is a long walk from the stalls, and the wells in the camp are broken, so they hauled in water for the horses to drink - which was really nice of them. This is where we're standing, and ignore my appearance!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1356.jpg

On our last day of riding, Nova crossing his favourite kind of creek - a dry one!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/FallingForNova/Nova/IMG_1369.jpg

*Shakes fist and curses at the forum's stupid dimensions!* Sorry guys, I'm too lazy to resize all my pictures, but I have put direct links just below them if you ever want to see the full picture.

Where is that place?!  Im dying to haul to some cool trails somewhere..  It is just beautiful!

Yay, finally Nova in an English saddle --- it suits him REALLY well, it makes him look like a fancy jumper!

Lovely trail pics.  Girl, one of these days I'm going to get you to wear your helmet out there!  Muddy trails and rivers -- even if Nova takes care of you, he can still slip and fall.

Helmet nazi - out.

 He does look fancy in an English saddle. Those are some really fun pics!

FCP - :) It's called Little Elbow - it's one of a few equestrian campgrounds in Kananaskis (Alberta, Canada). It's a pretty nice place. And all the major trails are marked, so they're like idiot proof, lol! The scenery is really gorgeous there, as long as the sun is shining!

Solaris - I know eh! Nova looks great in an english saddle. I can't wait to really get him going in one. I've always said he's my english poneh. I know, I know! One of these days I'll start wearing it full time.

IrishRider - Thanks! He has always looked really english-y to me, so it was so nice to see him under an english saddle for a change.

Frizzle - Glad I could remind you of your childhood! And as I'm sure you've read earlier in this post, that we were in Kananaskis! I agree, the scenery is really amazing. And thank you for your compliment of Nova.

Nova looks great in an english saddle. It looks like you had a blast on your trail ride. Nova is very brave to go through that water. My mare doesn't care much for water. Even when it rains, she hides under her shelter until it stops. Glad Nova took such good care of you. He is growing into a lovely horse.

:) He sure does look good going english. And haha, Nova also thinks that anything wet that he should walk through is one of the 7 deadly sins! I was honestly very surprised about how well he went through the water/mud. I guess maybe he figured that if he can drink from it, it won't kill him.

Just want to add a quick update. I jumped Nova today! (Sorry, no pictures.) We started off with trot poles, and ended up with a small jump about 18inches. And the best part is he didn't even fall over it! Haha. He was cantering at it nice and forward and was really willing to go over it. I'm pretty happy with him right now! Hopefully I can get some pictures of us soon (though I'm sure I look like poop).

Thanks Jayne! The views and the trails are pretty amazing. You'll have to make a trip up to Alberta one day! There are a lot of outfitters that do trail rides.

And yet again, Nova is even MORE beautiful than before!!!! And yes he looks AMAZING in english ;) WOW those trails, beautiful!!!!

Oh Jessi, thank you! You have the most gorgeous horses, so for you to think Nova is, is a great compliment! I know, I keep looking at those pictures of him in the english saddle and am just so happy! Now if only my other saddle would sell. Argh! Like I said to Jayne, you'll have to venture up here to (cold) Alberta and see them for yourself. They are amazingly impressive!

Beautiful horse and pictures. Nova looks great under an English saddle and I bet riding in the mountains was really fun.

Just wondering: in the "weenie creek," picture, is that your dog? What breed is it? I looked at the picture and thought for a second my dog Buddy was in it, they look very similiar.

FallingForNova:

Like I said to Jayne, you'll have to venture up here to (cold) Alberta and see them for yourself. They are amazingly impressive!

ES fieldtrip!

Laura - Thanks! Yep, that black, hairy thing is my dog. He's a Belgian Shepherd. :)

Frizzle - Haha! If you guys come, I'll gladly play tour guide!!