Kinsol Trestle Ride

We had 22 riders show up for our ride today across the Kinsol Trestle and another 14km to a BC park parking lot designed solely for equestrian use. We Also had 6 carts make the ride.

It was a ride in celebration of the equestrian trails in the Cowichan Valley. Designating trails for equestrian use is not an easy task as it involves many political meetings with many different people in many governing bodies. It is sometimes more of an endeavor than one has time for. Fortunately, equestrian use is becoming popular again, and we have more social clubs that spearhead campaigns.

At the end of our ride was the celebration. We had celebratory cake and a few people spoke to the audience we had.
A few of the key people involved in this celebration were members from;
The local governing district
The Cowichan Valley Regional District representative
A representative from Horse Council BC.

It was fantastic to see the political impact these organizations have had for our passion in life.

The parking lot was completed with a large covered shelter for us to dispose of horse poo. There were 2 corrals built, and a couple of huge hitching posts. The parking lot was designed in size for us trailer pulling horsenuts. It is a great setup built on land originally set aside for airport use. Many petitions from many different organizations to the right politicians, helped get this turned into parkland for equestrians and all other foot traffic.

Thanks to all that participated in the event.

I will post more pics later, but here's one I took while Cochise and I were crossing the trestle. We were both looking down LOL.
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AWESOME!

Hmmm, I can see why it is a wise choice to LEAD your horses.

Although people regularly ride across, I don't mind falling 5ft off my horse, but 600 wouldn't be fun. Because we were on a sponsored ride, we also had guidelines.

This whole thing just makes me feel good. Glad you got the parking lot and trails, glad the politicos were convinced, happy the weather was good, love the pictures. Thank you so much Hillbilly. I do hope you'll post more pictures.

If it were me and my horse we both would have been crawling on our knees, but we would have done it, and I'd have been grinning anyway. So happy for you.

Is this somewhere that you'll be able to ride on a regular and relatively easy basis?

This is part of the Trans Canada Trail. It's the only trail on the island that has banned motorized vehicles. It has easy access for anyone to use. Its also an easy place for anyone to ride, as it is flat, and wide. We saw so many people other than on horseback and they were all pleasant and happy to see so many of us today on horseback.

It is not really my type of riding. I went along today in support of those that have helped make this happen.
I have ridden parts of the trail in the past ( in support of the make a wish foundation) and will continue to do so when there are group rides.

The parking lot;
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The corrals;
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Nice pictures of the crossing. Glad there was railings, you had my imagination going with your origional picture! I would feel safe riding across that bridge.
I look forward to any other pictures you have.

Congratulation, it's nice to see people succeed

Boy that's high!

I don't blame that horse for pooping.

It WAS the horse, right?

Oh wow, how very neat!! Looks like it was a pretty cold day eh? September is so wishy washy. What a great event, and thanks so much for the pictures! Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

Waiting at the staging area for the rest of the riders
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Great pictures. You certainly look different than what I pictured you as, (the avatar, smiling). Still can't get over going over the tressel, I wonder if a horse realizes how far over 600 feet down is, depth perception, smiling. I really do. Nice horse you have there, always have a soft spot for pintos (paint? what the devil is the difference anyways, goes to show how much I know about horses, hee, hee), my first good horse was a brown pinto, Lightening, trusted and true. Took me over many mountains far and wide. Thanks for the pics, you ol' hippie hillbilly you!! Awesome day wishes for us all. CynthiaM.

Pinto is a color, while a paint is a breed. He's a pinto colored Mustang. The rarest of all mustangs. Paints are basically quarter horses.

Oh, ya, paint is a breed, kind of knew that I guess, way back in those cobwebs of my mind. My Sister raised quarterhorses and she had a paint quarterhorse. It looked brown to me, not painted at all . Oooooh mustang, that word conjures up such a pretty picture. Don't know why, but it does. Beautiful days, CynthiaM.

Hillbilly, tell us about your bridle.

Its called a bosal. Its braided rawhide attached to a typical headstall. I prefer this over using a bit. It puts pressure on their nose and jaw.
You need a light hand to use one, and a horse that will respond to it, as you can Peel the skin off their nose pretty quickly. You can lose control of a non responsive horse in a heartbeat.

The rope is knotted, so its more like using gaming reins.

I think you and your horse must function as one organism when you ride together.

He would laugh if he knew you said that.

I can see it in his eyes on that bridge;

"One buck... that's all it would take, just one good buck. Get on my back, Pleeeeeeze!"