25 mile ride at Rosaryville

This is the beginning of Week 11. I took Red to Rosaryville State Park and went for a twenty-five mile ride. We averaged about 7 mph and did the 25 miles in 3 1/2 hours. Red seemed fine. He canters and trots, picking his own speed for the most part. I think he got a little tired but finished well. He finished better than I, because as we approached the van to go home, just walking, he suddenly jumped to the side and dumped me hard. I was completely taken by surprise and called him a few nasty names. Another rider on a Western pleasure horse trotted over to see if I was OK and I nodded, "Yes", while explaining that I thought Red had just "gotten me back" because we had just finished a twenty-five mile ride. My back was sore and I was hoping several Advil would do the trick. It does feel better now. Earlier, we had been galloping away from a property that we hunt, down a section of power line that we do not usually cover which was high with grass and he had jumped sideways again. This time at a puddle and I hit the ground a little more softly this time. What is it with Thoroughbreds that they can switch their whole demeanor in an instant and be airborne in a millisecond. All I can hope is, if the Mongolian ponies dump me, that it is closer to the ground from a 13 hand pony than from Red, who is 16.2 hands high. I am a little sore, but good news is that the 25 miles was pretty easy. So, we are going to register for the 50 mile ride in June and keep training! Red is awesome.
Today on the remote power line stretch, I viewed  a fox "couple" and 5 kits. I made the pass twice and they were out sunning both times, the cubs playing in the dirt. Very cool and because we have had such trouble with trappers this year, it was wonderful to see a whole family. Closer to out regular hunting area I viewed a bald eagle in the new-mown- hay fields by Donnie Christmas' farm. He circled once as I rode by, then landed again. There must have been a mown-over snake or something. They are impressive birds. There were also wild turkey that flew up and luckily Red did not spook. We see a lot of them. Oddly I saw very few deer. Came head to head with several groups cycling and realized as I kept riding the perimeter of Rosaryville that the bike-riding trails are better maintained than the horse trails. Many old ones are becoming completely overgrown. As I passed Greg Bush's house his brindle dog happily joined me for the last leg of my ride. I finally called Greg to let him know and swung by his house as he blew his hunting horn. His dog ran home thankfully.
So, I can do twenty-five miles fairly easily. Now I have a month to get myself and Red fit for a fifty-mile ride.