Juan Tomas Open Space Ride

Earlier this summer, I invited some new riding acquaintances to join me on a ride so I could show them some beautiful local places. One of my favorite local places is the Juan Tomas Open Space.

Apache and I and our trail selfie. Notice the gorgeous electric green scrub oak had leafed out!

It was a typical beautiful New Mexico day.

My two trail buddies.

The vegetation was so thick and lush. Such a joy to ride through.

As we drop down into the lower canyon, stately ponderosas become frequent.

My riding buddies were thrilled to be surrounded by so many beautiful tall ponderosa pines. One of the perks of living in the mountains.

Oh that gorgeous blue New Mexico sky!

We stopped for a few minutes to let our horses enjoy some grass.

The trail was so peaceful and quiet. We all rode separated to immerse ourselves in this tranquil place.

Their horses were a bit faster movers than Apache. But I like it that way, as Apache and I can mosy along and enjoy nature and silence together.

I love the thickly treed sections.

We rode for just over 2 hours and had a wonderful day.

Apache resting at my trailer post-ride.

Life is Good!

5 Hills Ride and a Pickle

Earlier, Apache and I invited a riding partner to join us at the 5 Hills trailhead. We saddled and mounted up and headed up the trail.

There was some yummy grass along the way so we stopped in a shady spot and let our horses enjoy a snack.

Apache and I.

Nom, nom, nom!

My trail partner and her horse Bucket.

I love exploring new trails but it's also fun to ride the tried and true...in reverse. I always ride trails in reverse to help me memorize them front and back.

Trail Selfie!

I was glad for the sections of trail that led us through trees. It was a hot day.

Most of these trails are flat or gently rolling, so it's very relaxing. And the meadow sections are beautiful.

But I love riding through the trees the best.

And then we experienced a pickle.

There was one section of trail that was extremely eroded, with steep sides simiiar to an arroyo. It looked like a possibility going in, but once we reached the end, there was a steep upward berm that didn't have anything for a horse's hooves to grab onto as the berm was crumbly sand.

So, I had to back up Apache through this narrow arroyo with steep walls, and at one point the trail split into two separate arroyos. I had to take a deep breath and pause, because Apache was shaking in fear not sure which arroyo was the safest to back up into. And because she has no eye on her right side, she depends on me to guide her.

So, I did. She totally focused on my right leg and we backed up like pros! I've seen some serious wrecks caused by impatient riders and un-trusting horses. Above all else a horse must trust that you have it's safety and best interests at heart. And a horse much be calm, patient and brave.

Apache and I can check all of those attributes off, because we rocked it. I was so proud of her, and of us as a team.

The End!

Life is Good!!

David Canyon Ride

I hadn't been to David Canyon since 2017 because the Forest Service keeps doing tree thinning and prescribed burning there and I try to avoid all that.
But I wanted to ride in David Canyon this year before my hip replacement surgery (more on that in a later post).
So I invited a riding companion to join me. It was a beautiful day!

There's this one peach colored boulder down in the canyon that always causes Apache to stop and give it a wary eye. But most of the boulders don't concern her at all.

Because I have a photographer's eye, I am always seeing great places with interesting backdrops, to place a subject. My riding companion was happy to oblige so I could get my shot.

And a Trail Selfie!

Apache and I led for most of the ride. Every so often, I turn around with camera in hand.

Apache loves to lead.

And I love to lead because it feels like we are riding by ourselves with only beautiful nature in front of us.

This makes me very happy.

The scrub oaks hadn't leafed out in their brilliant green splendor. But it was still beautiful.

Because Apache and I are always taking our time and I am always aware of my surroundings, I noticed Kung Fu Panda perched on a branch beside the trail.

I'm always amused and entertained by anything we see while on the trail.

Post-ride photo of my incredibly awesome One Eye Wonder Horse, Apache!

Life is Good!

Juan Tomas Open Space Ride

Riding at Juan Tomas Open Space is like riding in my own backyard. The trails are always comforting and feel like home.

I met my riding companion at my house and she followed me to the trailhead, just a 15 minute drive. We saddled up and headed down the trail.

There is nothing I like more than being surrounded by green trees and beautiful forest.

We were out to enjoy a relaxing ride, and we certainly did.

Trail Selfie

Apache always seems to enjoy riding at Juan Tomas Open Space, too.

My riding companion never stopped smiling.

I love the sounds of the wind blowing through the tops of the tall ponderosas.

Happy Happy Trail Selfie!

Last year the Open Space and their volunteers built a new section of trail, and it's truly beautiful. I love the way it meanders through the trees.

We rode one of the "hidden trails" through a small canyon that climbs up and out, steeply, where it dead ends.

Apache enjoying a shaded rest and a cool drink of water beside her trailer post-ride.



Apache and I getting ready to "buckle up" and head home.



Life is Good!

David Canyon Snowy Cart Ride

On a beautiful sunny January day, four of us decided to head to David Canyon to drive some horses from fun, little carts.

All hitched up, waiting to go.

It had snowed about a week earlier, and even though there was no snow at my house about 15 minutes away, David Canyon is a deep canyon and acts as a deep freezer, holding the cold air down below and keeping the snow from melting. So, we got to ride the carts through the snow on this day.

But because it was sunny, it didn't feel very cold at all. And the brilliant Fall color still holding on, sure warmed everything up even more.

Posing for photos along the trail.

Doing some off-roading.....

This is the intersection that I've ridden across countless times, but I had never ridden south of this intersection.

But we rode south on this day. And it was absolutely gorgeous!

I was basically guiding the ride as they had never brought their horses down this way in the canyon. And this was also their first time cart driving in David Canyon, too. I decided we should ride all the way to the far southern gate. I was curious to see if it would be a military gate or an Indian reservation gate.

It ended up being an Indian Reservation gate. And it was locked.

So we turned around and drove the carts back the way we came.

We rode past the intersection.

Posing for snowy photos....

I, of course, was in heaven with all the ponderosa pine trees!

The sun was hanging low in the sky by the time we arrived back at the trailhead, but what a fantastic day we had!

Life is Good!!