Sopping Wet Group Ride

I took Strom out for his first "group ride" today. 4 other horses, 3 mares and a gelding. He has not met any of the horses previously. We were going to go for a nice, easy, "greenie" ride in the Arcata Community Forrest (a new location for him too) with a new rider and her new horse (they are not the best match...green and green often making black and blue), so there was not a bunch of fast riding planned. ACF has a LOT of hills too, so long, slow walking on hills would be perfect for him and strengthening those gaiting muscles.
When I picked him up at Terri's, he didn't want to load. He and Eowyn are in total love and she was screaming at him not to leave. But finally he got in and off we went. It was cloudy but warm and dry when we left and the forecast called for only a very slight chance of misty showers. I got there before the other gals and got him nice and cleaned up, booted, tacked up and settled. Then the other horses began arriving and of course he had to tell everyone that he was there and the COOL DUDE. This is the only time he really makes any noise. He doesn't talk on the trail, but tied up to the trailer where he can't see, but hears and smells the other horses, he talks to them a lot. So far I am not sure how much to correct him for it or not, since he is absolutely behaved in hand or under saddle... The new gals who hadn't seen him before, of course were oogling him and admiring him. A KMSH is not common around here, actually any gaited horse for that matter, and one so good looking and a stud on top of it was plenty of reason to come drool...
Out on trial, he was very well behaved. We had to wait a few times to try and get the green rider up on her antsy horse, which ended up not working, so she traded mounts with one of the other gals. That helped. So off we went. Then the rain began..first a little sprinkle, then showers. Pretty soon it was POURING and we were getting sopping wet. Luckily it wasn't too cold, so we were not too miserable. But the ponies were wet and shaking rain out of their eyes, and the riders were grumping about everything squishing and squashing. We were passed by the park ranger on an ATV twice,with headlights on, and Storm didn't bat an eye. We also were passed by two different hikers with umbrellas, which I was sure would spook him, but he only looked at them suspiciously and kept on walking... What a GOOD BOY! The footing was pretty good though (rock base..ACF is often the local winter riding grounds, as well as the beach, as the footing stays good no matter how much it rains) and we finished the 1hr loop out there and all headed back to the trailers. All in all it was a wet, but very good ride for the two of us. Monday I will take him out to Trinidad Beach I think :)