Pine Canyon Ride

I invited several riding companions to join Apache and I at Lower Pine Trail Head to ride Pine Canyon.

Of course, Apache and I were leading. We know this area like our own home.

Unfortunately a couple of our riding companions have faster horses that they're unable to control down to slower speeds, so they moved up in front while Apache and I relaxed and enjoyed the nature and scenery.

Rock steps to negotiate.

Trail Selfie

Gorgeous tree-lined trails!

Me and my awesome girl!

This section feels like a tree tunnel...love!!!

In sections like this, I love to drop my reins and ask Apache to trot or lope. It's such a feeling of freedom flying through the forest! Apache is truly the wind beneath my wings!

Cedro Peak off in the distance.

This area has quite a few rocky sections, so I was glad that Apache was wearing her Cavallo hoof boots.

Riding downhill.

The beautiful east side of the Sandia Mountains in the distance.

Riding through pretty Pine Canyon.

Apache enjoying a cool drink of water after our ride.

Thanks for the wonderful ride my Apache the One Eye Wonder Horse!!

Life is Good!

Pine Canyon Ride

One gorgeous summer day, I invited several of my riding companions to join me on a ride at Pine Flats, another of my favorite local areas to ride.

Of course, one reason it's a favorite locale for me, is the many tall, stately ponderosa pine trees.

My buddy Yvonne and her mare Etta Bay.

Ginny and new riding friend, Loretta.

One happy trail selfie!

Between the ears through one of the many shaded areas along the trail.

Some sections of the trail feel like tree tunnels.

My silly Apache mare has this peculiar habit of smelling another horse's urine, followed by her very funny-looking flehmen response.

My very silly mare!

Stopping to let our horses graze in one of the many green, grassy meadows.

Always a great opportunity to visit and enjoy some fun conversation.

We rode past a previously stolen and torched vehicle. An oddity to see in the middle of the National Forest, far from any roads.

Beautiful scenery!

We found the perfect lunch stop in a grove of shade trees, with views of the Sandia Mountains in the distance.

We enjoyed our lunches along with a siesta.

Ginny knows how to relax.

Yvonne enjoying her lunch break.

Our horses enjoyed a peaceful nap.....

Back on the trail, enjoying the beauty and vistas.

Another blissful trail selfie!

At one point, Yvonne realized that she had lost her wallet on the trail somewhere. Apparently she had placed it in her back pocket of her jeans and it had fallen out while we were trotting.

So, on the way back to the trailhead, we kept our eyes peeled for her wallet along the trail.

Our little group decided to split up for a short while, so we could search on the earlier section of trail we had ridden, too. So, Yvonne and I went in one direction, and Ginny and Loretta went in the other direction.

None of our horses were in the least bit concerned when we split up.

I finally spotted Yvonne's wallet alongside the trail! Yay!

And Loretta and Ginny caught up with us and we were all happy that we had found Yvonne's wallet, so our ride didn't have to end on any kind of negative notes.

On the ride back to the trailhead, we were all relaxed and enjoying ourselves.

Once we got our horses untacked and watered, we all settled under the shade trees for some ice cold beers. Perfect way to end a ride on a hot day!

Ginny, Yvonne and Loretta.

My chosen beer. Unusual flavor...but very good.

Unusual tree, too.

Apache waited patiently for me beside her trailer.

Life is Good!

Pine Canyon Trail Ride

While my friend Latana, from Las Cruces, was visiting with me for the weekend, we were invited by our local mule and donkey club to come ride with them at Pine Canyon.
I had been wanting to ride at Pine Canyon for a while, since it’s just a 15 min drive from my house, and I had taken my kids hiking there 2 years ago and wanted to come back with my horse. So Latana and I loaded up our equines and headed over to the trailhead.

Latana and her lovely mule, Lilly.


Barb and her horse, Alex, waiting at the trailhead to start the ride.
 

Apache and I were being followed by a donkey, and my friend Sandra.



One thing I immediately noticed about the trails in and around Pine Canyon, were how rocky they were.

 Being barefoot, I worried about Apache’s feet and just let her pick her way carefully and slowly through the rocky sections. Of course, this meant that at times, we got way behind the rest of the group. But Apache didn’t mind and calmly kept plucking along.

Thankfully there were some nice sandy sections, too. And we were able to make up time and trot to catch up.

Riding through Pine Canyon was beautiful.


All of the trails are very well-marked.


There were some steep, rocky sections, too.


The leader of our ride is also the president of the mule and donkey club. And since this was a club sponsored ride, it was well managed and organized. The mule and donkey club’s president has two sons, and they all had radios and had at least one of them riding at the back of our group to make sure everyone had no problems.   

We didn’t ride this trail, but I bet the name is a good description of a rough and rugged route.
 
The trail was beautiful as it traveled among the tall ponderosas.


Mixed-use trails.

Sandra had her granddaughter on the ride and her donkey did a wonderful job carrying both of them safely.

Most of the trail was flat and among the trees.

Our entire group stopping at an intersection.


Thankfully we saw no bear nor scat on this trail.

 But we did hear, and then see a dirt bike on the trail.


And then we saw another dirt bike. Thankfully they were both very polite and turned their engines off when they saw us, and waited off the trail until we passed.

Not long afterwards, we all stopped for a lunch break.
The equines enjoyed some grass. 


Everyone enjoying a rest and some lunch.


Then back on the trail again.


Apache and I don’t enjoy nose-to-tail riding, so we always hang back on the trail.


We rode an 8 mile trail over some varied terrain.

 My friends Latana, Sandra and Barb.


Our entire group riding down the trail.
 

Riding back down into Pine Canyon.

My self-portrait: Shadow Rider


The one thing Pine Canyon lacked was gorgeous views, because most of the trail travels through trees. But I did get to see the top of the Sandia Mountains on one section of the trail.

But Pine Canyon was a great ride and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Apache and I both enjoyed the trail and look forward to riding there again, especially since it’s so close to my house.
 

                                         Life is Good!