Copper Canyon Trail Ride

 

 I shared a ride with Colleen and Loeta up to Starry Night Ranch. We arrived at Starry Night Ranch in Llaves, NM before noon, and we unloaded our horses into their corrals at the ranch so they could stretch their legs and get a drink of water.

Then we loaded all our horses into Julie’s stock trailer and drove down to Abiquiu, NM, about 45 minutes away.

We unloaded our horses, got them tacked up and rode into Copper Canyon.

(Julie in the tack room, Colleen and Loeta to the right of Apache) 

 

At the entrance to Copper Canyon.

 

Riding in the arroyo that travels through Copper Canon.

 

 

 Apache and I enjoying the huge, white rock walls that line the beginning of the canyon.

 

My friend Latana and her mule Tecumseh standing beneath the impressively formed rock walls.

 

The views were pretty incredible as we rode further into the canyon.

 

We explored little side canyons and discovered exciting formations, like this large hoodoo, Apache and I are standing beneath.

 

My friend Karen and her handsome boy Rio, in a side canyon.

 

And the end of one side canyon, we discovered a shallow cave.

 

Not sure which photo is my favorite, so I decided to post both. I like them both!

Julie and her mare rode up to the top of a saddle ridge and I thought it was a perfect photo op! 

 

 Around every bend in the canyon, there was some new geological formations to enjoy.

 

In another side canyon, we rode up the high rock wall to a ledge. Latana and Julie waving hello!

 

Down one particular side canyon there was an abundance of beautiful rock formations and more hoodoos.

Latana and her mule really show the size perspective in this amazing location.

 

I took a group photo surrounded by these impressive rock formations.

 

 After my friends rode on through, Apache and I followed suit.

 

It was fun to just meander around and through this side canyon discovering beautiful and unique new rock formations.

 

The experience was like riding on a different planet. I can imagine a Star Trek episode being filmed here!

 

Some of the rock formations reminded me of sand castles.

 

And some reminded me of what it must feel like to ride a horse in Egypt!

 

The bright blue sky and white fluffy clouds made the perfect backdrop for all of the beauty surrounding us.

 

We didn’t ride for very long in Copper Canyon because we got a late start and it had gotten very hot, windy and dry. We were all feeling like roasted prunes, so we turned around and headed back out of the canyon.

 

Julie was a lot of fun, and even though, she has some of the most spectacular riding right out her front door, she seemed to really enjoy exploring a new locale.

 

On the way back to where we parked the horse trailers, we planned to cross the highway and ask the winery across the road if we could have permission to ride on their property to have access to the Chama River. Unfortunately, those plans didn’t work out because their property was fenced in at the river to keep cattle out of the winery. 

So, we returned to the horse trailers, expecting to remove our equines’ tack and load ‘em up……but our plans changed when we returned……

 

When we got back to the horse trailers, I tied up my horse, loosened her saddle and turned off my GPS.

We had only ridden about 5 1/2 miles by that point.

Copper Canyon Adventure

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But unbeknownst to me, Julie had decided to ride on ahead, to the east, by herself to scout out a different trail that would allow us all to cool off in the water with our horses………

 

 

We followed the narrow tributary, riding through the water. All our equines enjoyed taking a drink and getting their feet wet after riding through the hot sand in the canyon arroyo. 

 

Loeta and her Paso Fino gelding made for a pretty picture.

 

We didn’t ride any further because the Chama River was moving fast past the tributary we were in.

If it had been slower moving, I would have liked to ride out in deeper river to see if my mare would have just stood in the water without trying to lay down. She loves to wallow in the water getting her belly wet, so I really have to pay attention when I ride Apache into water. But someday I want to swim with my Apache mare.   

 

Apache was thankful that we parked beneath a nice shady tree.  

 

We loaded up the horses and drove west towards Georgia O’Keefe’s beloved Pedernal.

 

Below Pedernal lies Abiquiu Lake.

 

One last view of the beautiful Pedernal before we arrived at Starry Night Ranch.

 

Someday I hope to ride to the top of Pedernal with my Apache mare…..