A real trail ride today!

Jaye and I saddled up the horses and decided to leave the paddock. Usually leaving the paddock means just that, leaving the paddock, turning around and going right back in. We both understand that the whole idea of riding is doing whatever is fun, safe and the horses MUST feel good about what we are doing. So if that means only taking a few steps away and then going back then thats what a trail ride might consist of. Sometimes it means not leaving the paddock at all. But today the planets must have been aligned just right because we rode them about 1/4 mile away from the barn. And I'm pretty sure we could have continued on but there was a dog watching who I don't trust enough not to come charging at us and the footing isn't that great. Pilot has shoes, but Chance doesn't. And we both (Jaye and I) know when and when not to push. These 2 horses are great to ride together, they help each other out and give each other courage. Just like Jaye and I do. Although I think it's more one-sided in the giving courage out. Thanks Jaye!
Chance feels so good and relaxed. We had just one emergency dismount, the same jogger as the last time was coming by. This is how I am learning to distinguish when Chance is just looking at something or locked on to something so it's all good. When we are going along and I wiggle a rein or a foot and get an ear, or a head turn I know Chance is just looking and he is still with me mentally. When his head comes up, he gets big and I can't get anything from him, I get off. When the jogger was coming toward us he was locked on, I got off and even from the ground it took ALOT to get him to think about me at all. I did get his mind for a brief second but he was right back on the jogger. The happy ending to this was that when the jogger passed by he relaxed and I got back on. I don't know that I could have got back on a few months ago. And I did all this today with Chance in a rope halter. I haven't tried putting a bridle on him for a while, maybe I'll try next time. He does so well in the halter and it's not a safety issue, I think I would just like to know that the bit doesn't stress him out.
And I have to give big cudos to Pilot! Just 2 years ago he was a stallion who had not been put out with other horses maybe ever. And he had never had a rider on his back. He did so well and loves to go exploring, not to mention the hill work we were doing. Jaye has done an amazing job with him! It was a great day, I think I'll be smiling for days!