Trail Ride
06/16/00

Atop my blazing chestnut
I sink deep into the saddle
Trying to calm her for a moment
She’s raring to go

She jigs in place, impatient
Full of energy
Tossing her chiseled head
Switching her gleaming tail

We step off, onto the trail
Her strides powerful and smooth
Her head held high
Neck arched gracefully

Her fluted ears pitched forward
Muscles tense, waiting to spring
Nares flaring, eyes staring
In high spirits

We head down the road
As she slowly relaxes
Her attention shifting
To the tempting greenery

We move into a
High-flying trot
And she focuses on the ride once more
Steady rhythm, steady beat

I let her go
She switches gears
Bursting to a rocking gait
Soaring

So easy to ride, a trail glide
Feeling so free, so alive
A surge of power
But still holding her back

Her mane billows towards me
Flipping about in the wind
In perfect form
Blue-ribbon form

I pull her up
To her dismay
But she listens anyway
Refreshed

Her head lowers a bit, relaxed once more
I hear her calm hoofbeats
Her kinks worked out
And I can enjoy the scenery

The world is so much more beautiful
From atop a horse

Author's Note
The events described in this poem really did happen. I wrote the piece after a great trail ride on my horse, Dice, after a long period of just easy/light riding. She's rather impressive when she's not trying any silly stuff.