On a beautiful Autumn day, I invited my friend Renee to come ride with me at Fourth of July Canyon/Albuquerque Trail in the Manzano Mountains, an easy hour drive from my house.
Renee had never ridden in the Manzano Mountains before, so she met me at my house and followed me to the ABQ Trailhead near Tajique, NM.
After saddling up, we headed out on the trail, eagerly looking for the famous Fall color that Fourth of July Canyon is well known for during this time of year.
Renee and Stella at the trail head sign.
Apache and I on the left and Renee and Stella on the right with a gorgeous background of red maples.
Typically, I do a long loop ride up ABQ Trail, to the Manzano Crest Trail and back through Fourth of July Canyon. But this was going to be a very relaxed, scenic ride with no agenda accept to just enjoy and take photos of beautiful Fall color.
Renee's mare Stella had only been started in the saddle this year and she had only been ridden out on a handful of trail rides. So, Renee didn't feel confident enough that Stella could handle some of the steeper, narrower trails with drop-offs that my usual loop route entails, so instead, I planned an easy and fun out-and-back route for us on two different trails.
Apache and Lisa ABQ Trail Selfie
We rode for about 20 minutes before seeing a bright burst of red in front of us.
This gorgeous red maple just begged for a photo with my beautiful Apache mare and I.
Red wasn't the only colors we saw that day! There was yellow, too!
Apache and I leading the way.
Check out that natural stone wall on the right.
Renee couldn't stop smiling all day. There was so much beautiful nature all around us!
My Happy Trail Selfie!
Apache enjoying the beautiful orange and yellow Fall colors.
Time to duck!
Apache and I leading the way....
The leaves were so colorful. It was like riding through tunnels of color!
And the beautiful Fall color never stopped!
Autumn Trail Selfie!
In the past, I was often told that my mare was too slow and that we needed to speed up.
But apparently, we have just been riding with the wrong people....people that like to ride fast through the forest, zipping past nature and wildlife, barely even noticing the beauty all around them. People who ride fast forward moving horses that don't want to rate them down so they can enjoy a relaxing, slower pace.
No thanks.
I don't ride to get someplace fast. I trail ride, to enjoy and appreciate wildlife and nature. And after getting to know the many trail partners I have ridden with over the years, I now know that it's important to choose your riding partners carefully. My previous riding companions were not a good match for me or my horse! My mare and I are perfect just the way we are and I don't need to change Apache or I just to fit in with other riders and their horses.
Renee and her mare are wonderful riding companions. They have a very relaxed pace and are even slower than Apache and I! I enjoy riding with her because of her enthusiasm for nature and wildlife and realizing how blessed we are to be able to ride such beautiful places on our amazing horses! There's a lot to be said for joyful appreciation and enthusiasm. It is infectious! And I just love to surround myself with people like that!
An artful array of nature between the ears.
Riding through the ponderosa forest with flashes of Fall color through the trees was just magical!
And then....we were truly blown away!
The trail travels through a stunning explosion of Fall color!
Apache and I soaking in the gorgeous color!
Renee and Stella surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful color!
The bright sun shining through the colorful leaves makes everything glow!
Truly stunning!!!
Riding on a carpet of color, while surrounded by a tunnel of color!
Yes! Life is awesomely good!
Can trail riding get any better than this?
Renee was thoroughly enjoying herself and kept saying she could not imagine a more wonderful and perfect way to spend an Autumn day.
Even looking up towards the brilliant blue sky was achingly beautiful!
Riding through a mysterious dark section of forest with the sunshine beaming through the branches.
Riding through a magical tunnel of colorful leaves!
Apache and I love to lead because the view always changes.
And I love riding with people that don't enjoy tucking their horse into another horse's tail for the entire ride.
It's so good for a horse and rider to ride separate, and have a bit of space between other horses and riders. It helps a rider and horse become brave and confident. And requires them to build trust with each other.
And riding separate gives the wonderfully, amazing feeling of riding alone, but with back-up in case it's needed.
Oh. My. Gosh! The Fall color just kept getting better and better!
I have made it a point to ride in Fourth of July Canyon every Fall. And in my memory, there has only been two Fall seasons where the leaf color has been so spectacular. And this year was one of them!
Renee and Stella riding through a tunnel of amazing color!
We rode to the National Forest/Wilderness/Indian Reservation gate and then we turned around and rode back the way we came.
Orange on one side and red on the other.
Renee and Stella way in the back, just enjoying their own ride.
Apache and I leading the way, loving life!
We met a few hikers on the trail that offered to take photos of our happy, smiling faces!
When we arrived at the spur trail sign, I led the way up the Fourth of July Canyon Spur Trail towards Fourth of July Canyon for another out-and-back ride.
Next up:
Fourth of July Canyon Spur Trail Ride
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