Wednesday Walks: Splish Splash

Last week, Butterball got to go on a great adventure. My friend has a house on a lake about 45 minutes outside of Gainesville. And she sent me pictures of horses riding in from the boat ramp on the lake. I roped my friend into checking it out with me. I did say multiple times I had NO IDEA how it was going to be other than the lake is a nice sandy bottom, relatively clear lake. She made it extra adventure-y by zoning out and missing a turn and having to turn around in someone's yard. 

I can see why the zoning out though, it was a beautiful drive

I managed to get there on the first try, but did get a little worried when I pulled through pretty narrow metal gates into a long, single track sandy road that led to the boat ramp. I consoled myself that people with boats managed to turn around, so surely I would be able to turn around the two horse trailer. And indeed, there was plenty of room at the end. When I got out of the truck, there were a million bugs that looked A LOT like MOSQUITOES all over the truck and trailer. I braced myself and started rifling for bug spray in the tack room before realizing they didn't seem to bite. Okay, we can co-exist then. 

Butterball was a bit confused about what he was doing at this new spot all alone and for once didn't want a drink. We made our way in hand down to the boat ramp. 

His little ears go a bit sideways when he is unsure. So cute. 

Then he got his drink from the lake

After getting his feet wet at the ramp, we walked over to a more gradual sandy lead in to the lake. 

Unsure ears again since there were little tiny waves

But it just took him a minute to get comfy

I took my shoes off at the shore and didn't actually fear for my toes, he's such a good boy. I should've brought water shoes, not a single pair of boots that I didn't really want to soak. 

We wandered back up to the trailer after that. 

Speckly pony from splashing around

My friend arrived shortly after we walked back up. Butterball got a quick brush and then got his hackamore and the bareback pad. The one fault of the bareback pad is it is hella slippery when the top of it gets wet. Which it did. Oops. But all good, I did not unintentionally dismount that day, although I did come close at one point. 

The boys were actually quite goofy about the concrete barriers. I was surprised when Butterball balked, but then realized it wasn't about the water in the distance, it was about the weird concrete barriers. But we made it past and then back into the water. 

The black ear tips are just THE CUTEST

This was the best group photo I managed

The boys had a fabulous time. Other than keeping them out of each others laps, which they both seemed to really want to do, we gave them very little direction. Without me asking, Butterball walked out about as deep as he could walk without starting to swim. He moseyed around, drinking some, holding his chin in the water some, and then pawing a good bit. This is what soaked the bareback pad, but that's the whole reason I was in it. Eventually they seemed to have had their fill and we headed out. 

We headed down the dirt road to the boat ramp and then spotted an entrance into a state forest right across the road. But there were also cows. In the woods. That kinda sorta chased us. I regretted the bareback pad and the rope halter at one point, but it turned out fine. Butterball doesn't truly want to go anywhere when he spooks, which is great. 

There were a few flies, but it wasn't terrible, so we took a solid 20 minute walk down a relatively shaded track before turning around and back tracking. Then the ponies got groomed and got to graze a bit before we loaded up and headed home. 

Overall it was an absolutely delightful June morning, I would 100% go back. Out of respect for the people who live there and/or use the boat ramp for boats, I won't ever go on a weekend, but we had the place to ourselves this weekday morning. We did pick up the poop that they left in the grass, so hopefully this continues to be allowed.