Chatfield

A little while ago, a friend on FB started a group called "Girlz Ride Out" to facilitate local riders "meeting up" with other riders to explore trails in our area. A couple of weeks ago, a friend asked who was riding where. I answered with information about doing the Buffalo Creek ride and a woman (AY) answered and asked if she could join me. I gave her some information about where we were riding and the time frame, and in the end she decided to ride to Horsetooth on her own. We did, however, make plans for riding at Chatfield on Saturday.

We parked at Waterton Canyon (she beat us there by almost 45 minutes) and after getting Ashke saddled up, we headed into Chatfield. J, A and Iz had some issues with one of the bikes, so they were a little bit behind us. We rode down the South Platte river trail and discovered that the park had done a bunch of trail maintenance. The fallen trees brought down by the beavers, the beaver dam across the South Platte and the undercut river bank were all gone. The path was three foot wide, covered with crusher fine gravel and beautiful to ride on, even if it wasn't as challenging. I immediately started planning a moonlit ride sometime in either October or November.

It was a really great ride. Ashke and AY's horse, Quincy, got along awesome and Quincy has a huge walk, nice jog and solid canter. AY was easy to talk to and seemed to enjoy my company as much as I did hers. Ashke was so happy to have a trail companion, that he was doing cartwheels in his mind.

They both had so much fun in the river.

The second time, they both splashed so much that my legs were wet to the knee.

They were so funny together.

 After the river crossing.

Quincy is a QH/Appy cross. And he can motor.

Me, AY, and Iz on her bike. The rabbitbrush was high.

 I love riding through the prairie grass when it is thigh high.

For once, Ashke wasn't stressed about being second. 

Quincy was, so we alternated to work on our stuff.

Like working on cantering nicely upon request, rather than bolting off down the trail after your new found friend.

We cantered a lot on our way back to the trailer.

I showed AY a new trail back, since she was thinking to riding out alone on those trails. She's new to Colorado. I look forward to sharing all of my favorites with her.

We finished with 11.25 miles on the ride. We could have made it longer if we had planned better and brought lunch. :(