My Daughter and I Trail Ride

We had a nice, warm weekend. My boyfriend had to work, but now that I know how both horses will do on a trail ride, I felt comfortable taking my daughter (age 10) out on Matt. Matt is her horse, anyway. I haven't done anything with Dude since last Sunday except feed and pet him. This time, I got Matt tacked up first and left Matt tied to my springy tree. Then, I tied Dude right next to him for grooming. They get along extremely well or I wouldn't do that. This made Dude more amenable to being groomed. I had to start at the shoulder and work my way slowly down his back to his hip and then down his back leg on each side to pick his rear hooves. For bridling, he wanted to back up, so I untied him completely and let him step back a couple of steps. He let me put the bridle on, then, with carrot bribes, of course. I took him out of the paddock, into the front yard for saddling and he was fabulous! He moved around less for saddling than he had for brushing! He barely walked around for girthing!! He stood still for mounting. I had a "senior moment" and cuoldn't figure out how to tighten my saddle while mounted. I had a mental picture of E's hunt seat saddle in my brain and went blank on getting my dressage girth tight. I had to dismount to get my helmet, also. When I got back on Dude stood still, but the saddle turned. This startled him a little, but not too badly. He circled a little more vigorously when I had to undo it and retighten it, than he had earlier. He continued to stand still for the third mounting. On the trail, when we came to one of the big ditches, someone had put some plywood in the crossing so our boys were hesitant. My daughter was getting alittle nervous, so I got off and led Dude and Matt through the ditch. Dude stood still for me to mount again on the trail. We had a nice ride. Some dogs started following us and we were afraid they were going to follow us all the way home. So, I asked my daughter if she wanted to turn and chase the dogs and she was all for it. Matt and Dude for for it, as well. Matt was snaking his head at them! LOL. the dogs ran off and didn't follow us anymore. It was a great, safe ride for my daughter and me. I think Dude is behaving better because he is learning that we are going to get out and have some fun and not do boring arena work. I've yet to try to canter him on a trail, but I probably will next time I have my boyfriend with me. Dude is getting what he needs -- lots of slow, relaxed work with me that lets him know I'm not a threat. I wish I had more time to do things like this with him, but with winter hours, the weekends are about all we have.