Horse Camping ~ Trail Ride ~ Mud Puppies

 

We left that first pond and rode through the meadows and forest, enjoying the sounds and sights of nature. I don’t think there is anyplace else I’d rather be, than on a horse’s back traveling among the beauty of Mother Earth.

I’ve been feeling rather melancholy since I returned home after last weekend’s horse camping trip. I’ve come to realize that the weekend was just too short. A week would have been better….no…..a month. No. A lifetime! Can you imagine living a life where you could just saddle up and ride right out of your own property onto thousands of miles of gorgeous trails?

I was telling a friend about my horse camping weekend, and she’s the type that gets regular manicures, loves to go shopping, and always wears the “In” styles of clothing. After gushing about what a terrific weekend I had, the first thing she said was, “I bet you were so glad to get back home and sleep in your own bed and get a shower in your own bathroom.”

I think my jaw dropped. She totally didn’t get it. I could have stayed there forever. My cot was comfy, I had a shower available in Deb’s lodge, and I even had a great outhouse, too. (My friend shuddered at the word ‘outhouse’. lol!) But best of all, I had access to wonderful horses, and gorgeous trails to ride at any time. Could life get any sweeter?

 

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Anyway, we rode through several beautiful and magical aspen glades, my favorite places to be during our trail rides.

Rosie and I are well suited together. She dislikes horses following her on the trails. She will pin her ears and kick any horses that get too close. I also tend to not like having anyone riding behind me. Not only do I feel crowded, but if something were to happen, I’d be hemmed in with no escape. In fact during this ride, Bella spooked at one of the dogs rushing out from the bushes beside us. Bella jumped backwards and sideways, but I was able to quickly direct Rosie backwards and out of the way. If there had been someone behind me following closely, it could have been a train wreck.

But the main reason I like traveling in the rear, if I’m riding in a group, is that I prefer the semi-solitude that position provides.

Some of my best rides on Baby Doll were when we rode alone. It seemed like we were more in tune with each other and she paid more attention to me since we were less distracted.

It’s ironic that my fall and subsequent injury caused when Baby Doll teleported, happened when I was riding with my neighbor, and not when I rode alone, yet, I’m afraid to ride alone now. Even when I ride Apache at home, I always have one of my twinlings stay with me. I hope someday I will feel brave enough to ride alone again.

(Deb showed us this huge nest high up in an Aspen tree. She told us that she had seen Golden Eagles raise their babies in this nest. How awesome is that?!)

Does anyone else like to ride alone, too? Do you sometimes feel afraid to ride alone? Where do you ride alone where you feel the safest?

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There I went off on a tangent again. See? I told you I was feeling rather melancholy lately. My mind is always wandering…..thinking.

So, we finally reached another pond. This pond was much smaller and seemed shallower, so a few of the riders in our group decided to encourage their horses to wade in and splash around.

Looks like Jasper’s preparing to do a split. lol!

   

I briefly considered wading in, too, even though Rosie didn’t seem too keen on getting muddy.

Jasper made sure to share some mud with Callie, too.

I had just turned around and put my camera away when just behind me I heard screaming, yelling and cussing!

When I turned back around I realized that the screaming was coming from the riders around the edge of the pond. And the yelling and cussing were coming from Colleen!

Apparently, once Colleen and her gelding Jake were in the middle of the pond, good ‘ol Jake thought it would be a grand idea to just plop down in the water and mud and enjoy a nice roll.

Colleen definitely did not agree!

She managed to get him standing up, while not getting rolled on and drowned in that pond, but boy howdy! Was she stinkin’ mad at that naughty boy.

I think he was feeling pretty upset with himself, too.

Jake: “Uh Oh! I just wanted a nice muddy roll. I forgot I had a monkey on my back. I’m in big trouble now.”

Or maybe Jake just said, “Ooops. Did I do that?”

Poor Colleen was soaked with water and covered in mud, from her thighs down to her toes.

 

She had to take off her boots to pour out the water and mud.

What a tough cowgirl she is, though. She rode the rest of the day, without complaint, coated in stiff dry mud…..and who knows what else got sponged out of that pond, and into her jeans and boots. gah!

 

And we had to keep riding down the trail as we had a mission to complete: to visit with The Mother.

 

 

To Be Continued………………..