Zuni Mountains Horse Camping Trip, Day Four

On Day four of our Zuni Mountains horse camping trip, we contemplated going out for a quick ride of an hour or two, but we all decided to have a leisurely morning instead, and then prepare for the drive back home.

My campsite.

Our set up at the campground.

While I got busy packing up, I decided to try out the new leather hobbles that I had bought for Apache.

The hobbles were not an issue at all for Apache and she got busy grazing grass while I packed up her portable corral on the back of my truck.

With all the riding we've done over this past year, she is sure looking good!

After everyone got packed up, we drove down the long, dusty gravel road through the National Forest.

Driving through the steep walled canyon, on the one lane gravel road, with an impressive droop-off on one side, was a bit concerning. If another vehicle came towards you from the opposite direction, there wasn't much, if any, room at all to move over and out of the way.

Thankfully, no vehicles approached us on the road and we made it all the way out to the interstate highway, and then back to our homes in about 2 hours.
It was a fun weekend of camping, riding and socializing.
Life is good!

Zuni Mountains Horse Camping Trip, Day Two

While I ate my breakfast on day two of our horse camping trip in the Zuni Mountains, Apache laid down in her portable corral for a mid-morning nap.

Yes indeed. Life is good.

After breakfast, everyone got saddled up and some of us posed for photos.

Since I had helped my friend Penny make a HellHat, we decided to have a photo taken of the both of us wearing our HellHats.

And then we headed down the trail.

Trail Selfie!

There aren't any official trails in the area where we rode all weekend. There were just a lot of old forest service roads and logging roads. And sometimes we just bushwhacked and meandered through the trees and meadows.

Our group just riding through the forest.

Beautiful green meadow up ahead.

We rode for a couple hours and then came back for lunch. Then we all pitched in to help our friends move their horse corrals beside their camper so they could install a shade awning for their horses.

Apache didn't need a shade awning because I picked out a campsite with her comfort in mind, and two large ponderosa trees to keep her cool and comfortable during the heat of the day.

Later that day, we noticed that a lone cow had arrived near the old wooden corrals.

This lone cow would provide a source of entertainment for the rest of that evening.....

After we all shared a potluck dinner, we gathered at the edge of the meadow to watch Cow TV. (That's me over on the far right)

Nothing like good ol' Cow TV on a Friday night!

Zuni Mountains Horse Camping Trip, Day One

I love camping. 

And I love camping with my horse.

There is something un-explainable that happens when it's just you and your horse out in the forest relying only upon one another with only the items that you have brought with you. It's you and your horse and only your very basic needs out in nature surviving. There aren't any other distractions. Add in, being able to explore an all new environment with all new trails and terrain together, and all this combined helps create a very special bond.

I love creating my very own perfect campsite for just me and my horse.

I love how my mare watches everything I do, and how she nickers to me when she needs or wants anything. I love being close enough to hear my horse breathe and munch hay.

Yes. I love camping with my horse.

Over the summer I joined my local riding club for a horse camping trip in the Zuni Mountains, in western New Mexico. A group of us convoyed together for the 2 hour drive.

The drive was pretty easy as it was all Interstate. And once we arrived at the PO Flats campground, we set up our individual campsites, ate some lunch, and then saddled up to do on an afternoon ride. 

Even though the drive was easy, we did leave pretty early in the morning and my face looked tired. But I still took a trail selfie anyway!

I love my Apache's mare's double mane.

We rode past an old settlement and an abandoned cabin.

My favorite part of the ride was traveling through the aspens. I love aspens!

There is something about their white textured bark with the black details. And the way their leaves quake and whisper when the wind blows through them. And the way that the sun creates dappled glowing light as it shines through their leaves. Aspens just make me very happy.

It was so relaxing just meandering through the low meadows.

The meadows were filled with tall, lush, green grass.

We all rode out to see an old cabin up on a hillside.

If only it's walls could talk.

Nice group photo in front of the old cabin. Apache and I are on the far right.

After we rode out to the cabin, we turned around and took a different route back to the campground.

Hmm...is that the Loch Ness Monster in that pond?

Nah....just a fellow rider's dog taking a swim.

Our afternoon ride was only 2 hours long, but it was a perfect way to begin a 4 day weekend of camping and riding. 

We got back to the campsite just in time to prepare for dinner.

Some of the folks in our group set up their rigs to create a cozy, protected eating and visiting area right in the middle. So, that's where we gathered for most of our meals.

And we sure did eat well!

More to come!