Last Sunday I was invited to come back down to San Acacia for another ride in San Lorenzo Canyon. I almost didn’t go because it had already been 5 days that I had been suffering with a horrible cold and I was still feeling under the weather and didn’t think I’d be up for the hour and half drive and a 4 hour ride, too.
But my friend Shannon offered to come pick me up and I figured I could hack and sniffle just as good in the saddle as I could in my own bed. And I knew I’d be happier in the saddle than I would ever be just laying around feeling sorry for myself at home. So, off I went!
While it was only 40F in our mountains on Sunday, it was supposed to be 62F down in San Acacia that day, so I wore several layers, thinking I could peel them off as I got warmer. But the sun never fully emerged and the cold wind blew like banshees all day, so I ended up never removing any of my layers after all and was grateful to have my riding gloves and my leopard print covered helmet and the fleece lined scarf I borrowed from a friend, as well.
There were 8 of us riding that day and the goal was to scout out some new trails using GPS. We were specifically wanting to create a new beginner trail in a seldom traveled section of San Lorenzo Canyon, named Troll Acres. We were there help explore, and to help gauge whether the potential trails would be safe for beginners, and just to enjoy being in the saddle with friends. In addition, D had also promised those that joined him on the ride, the chance to possibly have some of the more interesting landmarks named after them, too.
(D took these photos of me(at the top), Marilyn, Dora(waving) and Shannon riding down one of the hills)
We started off at the mouth of one of the canyons and quickly climbed up along the narrow ridges to the High Ridge Trail, high above the canyons, with views stretching for miles. The views were incredible, but the wind was pretty horrible. At the top of one section of the High Ridge Trail, we had to stop so that several folks could adjust their saddles and cinches because of the steep incline we had just climbed up. It was pretty awful having to stand on the narrow ridgeline while being blasted by the wind. Poor Splendor really wanted to turn her butt to the wind, but I had to keep her straight on the trail for fear of slipping down the cliffs.
Soon, we were traveling again and I was looking forward to when we would finally drop down into the canyons and washes where the wind wouldn’t be able to reach.
(Dacodah and Tim are at the front with the GPS. Splendor and I are at the very back)
When we did finally drop down off the High Ridge Trail, we were soon bush-whacking, only using the GPS to track potential options for new trails. It was really fun and adventurous making our own trails and seeing new scenery and sights along the way. If only the day would have been sunnier, warmer and less windy, it would have been perfect.
We entered into a tiny, narrow canyon, that we named Dark Canyon.
At times it was barely two arm’s length across and had trees lining the sides, that we had to lean low and squeeze past.
There were old broken branches, logs and boulders strewn across the trail and it was fun and challenging weaving through, around and hopping over them.
It was far from a relaxing stroll down a flat, grassy lane, but it was exhilarating and intense to just focus on whatever the trail presented us with and the sense of accomplishment after completing each obstacle and challenge was immediate and satisfying.
(Friends Shannon and Dora behind Splendor and I on the trail)
Even Splendor seemed to enjoy the job she was given and I was quick to give her recognition for a job well done with petting, verbal rewards, cookies and carrots. I love that, even though she is one of D's trail horses, Splendor isn’t herd sour and doesn’t follow along blindly behind the other’s horses’ tails. She is sensitive and willing and will go in whatever direction I ask, even it’s in a different direction than the rest of the horses and riders. Riding Splendor feels like a true partnership and makes the miles go by quickly and joyfully.
At one point, we were searching for a way around a fence and decided to ride up to a high perch, which meant we had to ride down an even steeper hill on the other side.
(D and Tim (behind the juniper tree) riding up from the edge of the canyon after using the GPS to scout for some potential new trail directions)
(Friend, Marilyn riding her mare Zia)
When we got up there, though, we saw an old homestead down below that D said was over 300 yrs old. I couldn’t wait until we made it all the way down there so we could do some exploring.
Not far from the homestead was another narrow canyon (you can see it on the far left of the photo above) that we would soon be riding into where we would all take some photos, too.
But I was really looking forward to exploring the old homestead.
But first we had a ways to go to ride down off of the hills and ridges.
(Starting our descent)
(Getting steeper)
(Riding towards Bald Hill)
(Riding past Fungus Ridge)
(Winding through a sandy wash in a small side canyon)
Here is a video I took while riding through this section of trail.
And after a while of riding we finally arrived at the mouth of that little canyon near the old homestead.
(Friend Marilyn takes some great photos)
(Friend Shannon poses for a photo in the canyon)
(A slab of rock above the canyon)
(Splendor and I at the mouth of the little canyon)
While everyone else was talking and taking photos, I rode Splendor out of the little canyon and went looking for the old homestead. B, another friend, decided to go to, so he could find a place to go to the bathroom.
(Bonner on his horse Ozzie)
He broke into a canter in front of Splendor and I, and Splendor did, too, even though I didn’t ask her to. But I didn’t pull her back because I didn’t mind and I was laughing as we ran over the hills and through the sandy wash, because Splendor obviously didn’t know where we were going or why, even though I did. I think she gave me a canter because that is what she thought I wanted. I often praise her, and give her a cookie, when she moves into a trot or a canter when I ask her to, and it’s so fun that I‘m usually laughing and rubbing her neck, so I think she is trying to please me.
But just before we reached the old homestead, B turned off and went through some bushes and I slowed Splendor and we walked around the old homestead while I stopped and took photos and tried to imagine what it must have been like to live in that desolate, rugged place so long ago.
After a while, we turned around and headed back to the little canyon at a trot, until we were back inside where everyone was taking turns riding into the back of the canyon, and maneuvering into a nook so that D could take a photo. D saw me and called out to me to bring Splendor back there, and at first I declined because it actually seemed rather pointless. But finally I rode Splendor back there and got her turned around in the tight space and smiled for our photo. It was actually a good trail obstacle to practice and I’m glad that D encouraged me to try it in the end.
(Sorry, I don’t have that photo yet….so this photo of the canyon wall will have to suffice)
Soon, we left the little canyon and we all rode over to the old homestead to explore and take more photos and then we rode behind it and climbed the steep hill and rode up and down and through washes and small canyons, and explored another couple hours while D and Tim used the GPS to mark the trail.
(D discovered a new species of one-antlered horse-like creature in this area of San Lorenzo Canyon. Here he is riding the creature for the first time)
(My friend Shannon, practicing her Indian Water Bottle Ambush Maneuver. Oh to be that flexible again!)
(She did it! Thanks to her patient, and not very tall mare, Spirit!)
The sun finally came out at the end of the day and was dropping low into the sky when we started to head back out of Lorenzo Canyon. The last couple miles of our ride was through the wide, flat sandy wash beneath towering canyon walls.
(Do you see those cliffs in the photo above and in the photo below this next one? Have a look at the photo below, and you will realize that photo was taken while we rode the High Ridge Trail in the morning, looking down on this same section of dirt road/sandy wash trail with the cliffs above, that we rode at the end of the day. Pretty cool, huh?)
Splendor knew we were on our way back to the trailer and she asked to trot most of the way back, and I didn’t mind letting her most of the time.
(Marilyn and Zia, in front and me and Splendor behind)
While Splendor is a pretty awesome horse. One who is trustworthy and a great confidence builder, she’s not perfect. Splendor has her moments when she gets grouchy at other horses who crowd her from behind. And she has been known to kick out on more than one occasion. She always warns first by pinning her ears and shooting them a hairy eyeball before she strikes. I’m pretty good at diffusing the reaction before it turns into a kick, and I’m quick to move her out of the way and warn the tailgater to stay back.
(In this video you can hear me warning Splendor not to even think about kicking the mare who had moved up beside us. Splendor hadn’t even lifted a hoof yet, but she was giving that mare her pinny ears and trying to twist and shake her neck towards the other mare.)
The only other thing imperfect thing that Splendor does sometimes is get impatient when we stand around for a long time. She will sometimes paw the ground or try to pace in circles, instead of standing still. This is pretty rare though, and she’s a very patient mare, so when she asks to move out, I often will oblige, both because she enjoys it and so do I.
This is something I want to work on with my Apache mare this year because when I ride her she would much rather walk then move out, which is a shame because she has the cutest little trot which feels a lot like gaiting, and a wonderful rocking horse canter.
Anyway, as we all rode back out through the canyon floor we took lots of photos because the light of the sun on the rocks gave them such a beautiful warmth.
And then very quickly we rode through the mouth of the canyon and I turned around and said farewell to San Lorenzo Canyon…..until next time.
