Repeatability

Hah! I totally rode my horse - who is definitely in heat - on the short loop again! And she was actually better than Monday! Cersei came with us. She's gotten very serious about her job. No more dashing off ahead and behind; she sticks with us on point or heeling the horse. I think even Dixie appreciates having a dog to defend her from the evil rabbits. :)

So we call the short loop the Pueblo Loop, because it circles around the adobe house nearby. Google Earth says it's 1.8 miles, and it's almost totally flat. There's another loop, the Scenic Loop, that's about 2.5 miles, and it goes down the side of the southern hill, along the base, and back up to the top. The Mines is harder to see from sat maps, but I'm guessing it's about 3.25 miles. The Canyon ride is about 5 miles, but it's scary scary stuff for Dixie - there could be wolves around the next corner, and how would she see them in time? And of course Palomino Valley is very hilly and about 9.5 miles. I have plenty of options for rides, with either deep sand or rocky stuff to get her legged up.

I think next time we go out alone - probably Friday or Saturday - I'll shoot for 5 miles at a good steady walk. Either the Mines, or Pueblo plus Scenic. I don't have a watch, so I'll have to remember to bring my phone and see how long it takes us. I know the distances, and if I take her out alone I can get a good sense of how fast we go on average. Then I can add either miles or speed and work out a better plan.