Trail Log: 11-13-2024

 

Nice buck and doe

• Trail: State Land - Burro Canyon
• Miles: 7.19
• Riders: Celia - Self
• Horses: Dirt - Drifter
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Pre-shooting practice ride. We looped behind burro canyon and came across through the saddle to avoid the super steep power line road. It's a very pretty - my favorite spot in this area. It is the first area I ponied Drifter too when I first got him at 8 mos. old. He's a fun little horse to ride. We rode back down a section of a wide wash...rounded the corner and came face-to-face with a big buck. Him and Drifter had a Mexican standoff...which held him their long enough to get a picture. A doe, equally as big - lay under some brush and didn't make a move. Pretty cool to see...

Celia and Dirt

Trail Log: 11-12-2024

 

• Trail: State Land - Aguila    
• Miles: 3.93
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Just a quick ride out my back gate. I should probably combine these short rides into one log...

Saguaro with "crested" arm

Possible Desert Tortious house

Trail Log: 11-9-2024

 

Random picture of my place that has nothing to do with this post

• Trail: State Land - Aguila
• Miles: 5.64
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Threw on the endurance saddle and went for a short jaunt to see if I could find a saguaro skeleton Celia and I had marked earlier in the week. I over-shot it at first but managed to find it! 

    

Trail Log: 11-5-2024

Celia and Copper

 

• Trail: Tiger Wash - North toward Browns Canyon
• Miles: 5.19
• Riders: Self - Celia
• Horses: Jack - Copper
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Celia picked up a mare to either keep as a grandkid horse or resell. We took her out on Tiger Wash to see what she knows. I thought she did good for not being ridden in who-knows how long and in totally unfamiliar surroundings. She's a cute little mare and has a fabulous trot. Jack just got new shoes yesterday. Its the first time in a LONG time he's been able to walk out of a fresh shoe without having to be laid off for three days. I could tell he just felt better...happy feet. 

Trail Log: 10-26-2024

 

• Trail: State Land - Cattle Lease - mile post 78
• Miles: 9
• Riders: Self - Cindy - Fred - Mike - Jenny
• Horses: Jack - Shooter - Cowboy - Sorrel - Black

Notes: More of a cattle gathering than a trail ride. I didn't grow up on a ranch or around cattle other than when it came time to butcher 'em, cut'em up, wrap'em and put 'em in the freezer. With that said - Jack and I stepped out of our comfort zone a little and helped gather/process cattle. Knowing very well what I don't know - I mostly just stayed out of the way. I did get to do the vaccination part. Aside from screwing up a couple injections before getting the hang of it - I rather enjoyed getting to stick them in the neck with a dull needle. Call it retribution for all the cows that have tried to stomp me to death over the years.

Jack - there was a time when he would not turn his back on a cow

10-17-2024

Dry but pretty

• Trail: State Land - Burrow Canyon
• Miles: 7.56
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Made a loop toward the power line and behind the backside of the mountain dropping into Burrow Canyon. A good thing about this unusually hot/dry year is there isn't that much vegetation for the snakes to hide in. I'm still surprised we didn't cross paths with them taking this cross country route. A bad thing about the dryness is the ground gives way underneath your horses hooves where the critters have been burrowing. There's no warning...your just trotting along and bam...your horse sinks in a hole up to his knee. Jack fell on his nose twice and he never goes down that far. 

Every home should have a hitching post in the driveway

Trail Log: 10-16-2024

Waiting to hit the trail

•  Trail: Aguila - State Land
• Miles: 6.0
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Drifter
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Cooled off enough you don't have to ride at 3:30 in the morning! Getting the horses legged up. Took Drifter out on his own. He does really well. There was about 15 minutes where he wanted to haze off toward home but he lined out fairly quick when he realized that was too much work. 

view from my outdoor dining area