Cantering in Tyrrell Park - Spring Has Sprung!!

Checking Trails at Tyrrell

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking near Beaumont, Texas
Barry, Kellie, Susan and I went riding in Tyrrell Park Sunday.  We loaded up and hauled out!  We tacked up and we headed for the woods over by the stables to check to see how much water/muddy was in it.  Too muddy so we went around the park and into Cattail Marsh.  We went down the gravel road to Willow Bayou.  Biscuit cantered like a good boy down Willow Bayou.  Wow wee it was fun.  We went quit a ways cantering at the right speed.  He didn't try really to speed up and slowed when I asked him to.  Good Biscuit.   We crossed over the bridge and Kellie was behind me and said, "There is a boat...hurry up!!"  Elan was on high alert when he saw a pontoon boat!

We came down off of the bridge and made a U-turn to go down Willow Bayou.  Elan was still on alert and Kellie said "it is gone, silly".  I said "No it isn't!" and the boat glided under the bridge full of people!  The horses were quiet flummoxed by the sight of a boat!  The rounded the corner going down the bayou and they all leaped a tiny impression.  Biscuit, not to be out done, JUMPED it and threw in a little buck to boot.  What a pill.  We went down the canal and he wanted to run/trot up and down each hill.  I refused to let him because he was fighting me.  I tried to let him go into a canter but he threw his head around and wanted to gallop.  So sorry...walk was his option then.  We went all the way down to the ride away.  We went to the left to go back up the other rideaway and went about 100 yards or so but it was entirely too wet.  We turned and went back.  Biscuit got to trot some.  Some more head tossing and some more "you will do what I say Biscuit".  We made it just fine.  We got back to the bridge and the boat was still there...Elan was again on alert.  He doesn't forget squat.  This time I went first and went all the way to the left and around so Biscuit didn't jump.  He probably wouldn't have anyway but I wasn't going to be unseated either!

We went all the way down to the back of the park to Hildebrandt Bayou.  Wow wee...lots of green now in the bayou.  It was gorgeous and I am sure next week will be even better!

The Marsh Area on the south side of the park.

We trotted and did short canters all the way to the bayou.  It was so fun!  It looked beautiful back there.  We got down to the back and took some pictures.

Biscuit is examining the new grass

Denise & Biscuit - he is watching Barry going into the woods

Susan, Sababba, Denise & Biscuit - could the horses be any cuter? 

The world between a horse's ears - the best place to be

Kellie, Elan, Denise and Biscuit Hildebrandte Bayou in the background

Barry and Sarge - Sarge is our fearless one

We got down to the back of the park and Barry and Sarge were trying to go through the tangles of what used to be a trail.  He went down one area and come out in another.  We all decided to go down it as far as we could go.  It was over grown and branches everywhere.  Sue grabbed one and thank God it broke because it would have smacked me in the face!  I checked the Garmen and we went 3/10ths of a mile into the brush.  The City of Beaumont said they would clear the trail with a bull dozer in April.  Woot!  We can't wait.

We started back and did some trotting.  We got about half way back to the bridge and all of the horses clustered up close to each other ... there is safety in numbers.  I asked Elan if he wanted me to carry him...LOL he was right up against me.

I took some more pictures.....

Barry and Sarge by the overflow canal that is now covered in water lilies

Part of the marshy area...it will be gorgeous when the trees leaf out.

Barry and Sarge

We went over the bridge and Elan was still looking for the boat...which was STILL there.  Must have been catching a lot of fish!  We dismounted and cleaned hooves.  Biscuit was really good about picking up his feet.  We mounted and off we went.  Trotting, a tiny canter and Biscuit wanted to shake his head.  Nope.  We slowed.  I then trotted to catch up with Kellie and Susan.  Barry was way back from us when I got to Kellie and Susan and he took off on Sarge and let him really rip.  Sarge was running as fast as his two little legs could go.  He is magnificent.

There were two little alligators sunning themselves and Barry went down to the bayou and back up.  Sarge was blowing and snorting a little.  He was so excited.  He loves to go.  He is truly a man's horse.

We went further down and I took these pictures

Can you see the little alligator in the water?

Willow Bayou

We went down to the big ride away that goes across the woods and the retention ponds.  It was high and dry.  We were looking for ways to make the ride longer!!!  There was only a little water getting up to the road.  Nothing bad or that will give anyone any problems.

We went up the gravel road and there was a huge flock of Pintail ducks in the retention ponds.  Barry went on top of the levee road to check out what kind they were and he said "Pintail" and since he used to be a duck hunter I guess he knows.

Biscuit stumbled really bad on a rock and when we got to the parking lot at Cattail Marsh where the equipment goes in he started limping really badly.  I got off and checked his feet.  FULL OF BIG CHUNKY ROCKS.  I cleaned out his feet which was pretty easy since his feet have a nice concave  shape to the bottom!  I mounted on a little hill of mud and off we went.

Barry brought his own truck so he could leave to visit his dad in the hospital and after taking the saddles off of the horses and putting those up, he left.  The horses always seem upset over the kids playing basketball.  The sound of the bouncing ball really seems to put all of the horses on high alert.  Their ears are up, they are looking at the kids running around and they seem edgy.  I got the boys loaded up and tried to take off.  My back wheels were just spinning....we were HEAVY!  I backed it up and then was able to take off.

I got back to the barn and unloaded the boys and gave them a bath.  They were disgusting dirty.  I put them back in the trailer and fed them and hauled them to the pasture.  Biscuit was dry by then and looked gorgeous.

Sarge and Biscuit in the Brenderup.  What cute butts!!!

He looks so pretty when he is clean!

What a pretty boy

Thanks Biscuit!!