Big Jim's 1st Trail Ride-Usery Park

When I got to Terri's this morning riding Santannah, Terri had decided she wasn't going to take Big Jim out on the trail.....she wasn't ready. She wanted to ride around her property and get a little more familiar with Big Jim. So we did and he was doing mighty fine. So.....I pushed the issue and told Terri we needed to head out on the trail because Big Jim is a trail horse and lets get him out there. She reluctantly agreed (I've been there,know the feeling). Off we went. We saw a lot! Rabbits,quail,bikes on the trail,dogs at fences and on the trail,other horses and hikers. Big Jim did well with all of it. He even had his first experience with cactus and that was sooner than any of us wanted. A big piece of jumping cactus jumped up and grabbed a hold of Big Jim's front leg. He bolted so Santannah bolted. I was doing the one rein stop with Santannah looking over my shoulder to see how Terri and Big Jim were doing and they were headed up the mountain. I'm doing the one rein stop and yelling to Terri to one rein stop that horse......she did and Big Jim just calmed right down even though he still had a few spines in his leg. Terri feels much more confident now that she has taken him out and she knows she can stop him. Luv the one rein stop,used it many times! Terri and Big Jim will be great riding companions and the best thing is Terri feels that way too! Thanks to the hiker who stopped to take our picture.