I had a ride scheduled and it kept pressing on my heart to share this with Joshua. He has been showing interest in riding Chip and I really wanted the opportunity to share the “Great Colorado Outdoors” with him by horseback. I always hear from my guys, this would be Funner on a quad… but come on… I have rode one of those things… nosey,  too fast and all the animals hide.

Our ride in the Dome Rock State Wildlife Area, part of Mueller State Park. This area is only open July 16 to the first of December and is only accessible by foot or horseback. It is a 10 mile round trip and I was a bit worried how Joshua would do.. I warned him he would be tired and sore, but he was enthused byt the lunchable in my saddle bags, topped off with a bag of skittles for survival food.

The colors were beyond gorgeous, almost to the point of hurting your eyes! We rode up to the top of the ridge at first, then down an aspen filled valley to the pasture land that had the enormous rocks. There were some tight trail areas, and Joshsa was a little worried, so I told him let Chip have his head, he knows what to do…. after a little while I hear singing behind me ” Chip Take the wheel… Take it from my hands… I can’t do this on my own.. ( to the tune of Jesus take the wheel ) Very cute moment!

We had lunch at the bottom of Dome rock and then came back up a Beaver dam filled valley, many stream crossings which Joshua loved, then up into a tight gorge that forced the creek to get wide and nosey. We just got back to the trailer with it started to rain.

On the way back, Joshua noted that he felt sorry for people who lived in the City and could not get out to enjoy the woods! Sweet!

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Lace Babysitting!

Last year, we had been leasing a great little mare called Champaign and Lace, Sired by World Champion Skipa Power, and out of the great halter mare by Two Eyed Goer. She gave us a sweet little filly that got exported to Mexico.

Anyways last year we had a Competitive Trail ride (CTR) coming up, and my other horse had strained a muscle. So literally from the Broodmare Band in the pasture shape, to some few weeks of conditioning this little mare went to her First CTR. Granted this mare is bred for halter, but is a joy to ride and steady on the trail. And has the sweetest jog, you can ride for hours ever!

It was located in the Gorgeous area of Westcliffe, and she settled in great! Over the weekend she did her job and wow’d the judges. I decided to only do the “B” ride which is a one day ride, since her condition was not peaked. She finished up the ride not only a Winner in Novice Lightweight, but earned Sweepstakes, which is like day end high point. Not bad for a just out the pasture broodmare!

Sadly this mare lost her life this winter to an unfortunate accident with a t-post.  But at least she showed the world that a little Halter bred mare, can take on the trails and give it all she can!

Doing the ride!