Sunday ride

It feels like spring is over: temps in the low 90's, gentle breezes, and that very bright sunlight. We usually don't ride on Sunday (it is still more fun to play on a workday), but I want to put some hours on Cody. If he does not get ridden regularly, he reverts to being a colt, in spite of his now 9 years.


It is a lovely time to be out in the desert. Our ride took us through what I call the Prickly Pear Forest as there are so many huge plants all together. Lots of blooms right now. I think that every pad has an average of 4 buds/blooms, and it is a shame that the whole plant does not bloom at once. Smart move on Mom's part though: more opportunity to get fertilized if you spread blooming out over a couple of weeks.


From the Prickly Pear Forest we go through the Ocotillo Forest. A lot of them are past their prime, but these plants do seem to all bloom at once. Looking over the hillside you see a red cast of all the blooms. The hummingbirds love this place as the blooms are just the right shape for their beaks.


The mesquites are blooming now too, and when you ride through a patch you can smell their lovely fragrance. Soon these flowers will be beans which are protein rich and loved by all wildlife, as well the horses and Emma, who snatches them off the bush.


The agaves are sending up flower spikes now, but it will be a few weeks before they are in full bloom. These flower spikes grow about a foot a day. This takes so much energy on the part of the plant that they die after blooming. Often they do leave "pups" at the base to continue the cycle.


When we got back I rinsed off the horses in the wash rack. I think it must feel better to be rid of old sweat and it was a nice temperature for an outside shower. Afterwards there is the after-shower-routine of horses drying each other off.