Trail Log: 3-21-2026

• Trail: Aguila-Hood
• Miles: 5.10
• Riders: Self - Celia
• Horses: Jack - Dirt
• Dogs: no

Notes: A quick early morning ride around the hood to beat the heat.  

Trail Log: 3-19-2026

Celia and Liberty

Trail: Back Gate - State Land - Aguila

Miles: 3.80

Riders: Self - Celia

Horses: Drifter - Liberty

Dogs: Groot - Harley

Notes: Celia got her new filly back from Yucca where she was in riding for a month or two. She hauled to my place and we rode out my back gate. This was Celia's first ride on Liberty.  Steve and Celia know how to pick them...Liberty is going to be great! I rode Drifter - who usually grouches at other horses but for some reason, he seems to like Liberty. I guess horses are like humans...some you tolerate...others not so much. 

Drifter - the little black hellion

Harley and her new puppy-pool

Trail Log: 3-15-2026

Dirt - Jack - Shaunta

• Trail: Flagstaff Hunting Unit
• Miles: 12.97
• Riders: Self - Celia - Cole
• Horses: Jack - Dirt - Shaunta

Cole and Celia

Notes: With the extreme heat, we headed to the mountains! Celia picked me up and we hauled to her son Cole's house in New River. Cole hauled us the rest of the way above Flagstaff to scope out a potential elk hunt area and look for sheds. We didn't find any sheds but we did see a lot of elk sign including scat and rubs. It was awesome to get into the timber. The temperatures are drastically different between Aguila and Flagstaff. We left home sweating to death in tank tops and made it to Flagstaff wishing I'd brought a heavier coat! It makes me wish I'd bought property in that area where the seasons are milder but dang...I love my place. 

In lieu of the Beanee Weenee pic. BW's are MIA

Trail Log: 3-10-2026

Nina and Barbosa - first CSJ competition

• Trail: Aguila-hood 
• Miles: 5
• Riders: Self - Nina
• Horses: Drifter - Barbosa
• Dogs: No

Notes: Went for a little ride after shooting practice. This picture is of Nina and Barbosa on her very first CSJ shoot and Ben Avery. She did such a good job. Couldn't be more  proud of her and her horse Barbosa. 

Trail Log: 3-7-2026

Jim and Whiskey

• Trail: S. Eagle Eye - Tiger Wash
• Miles: 6.17
• Riders: Self - Jim - Celia
• Horses: Drifter - Whiskey - Dirt
• Dogs: No

Celia and Dirt

Notes: We unloaded at the spot formerly known as the first windmill and loped up the wash before popping out and heading toward Browns Canyon. It was gusty at times and more so on top the ridges and hills. Celia and I carry apps that track our mileage. Jim does not - but if Celia and I rode 6 miles - Jim must have rode 12. He's like taking along your bird dog that lopes out a head of you and circles back now and then. A couple times I thought we lost him but we'd hear his whistling in the distance and he'd eventually pop back up. 

Loping down Tiger Wash

Trail Log: 3-6-2026

Trail: E. Hwy 71 - Mile Post 99 - South

• Miles: 5.12
• Riders: Self - Celia
• Horses: Jack - Dirt
• Dogs: No

Notes: Finally, we get some time to ride. Celia has been busy with her Canyon Cowgirl Leather business and I've been busy doing other stuff. We drove east on 71 until we found a State Land gate that looked promising. We picked a good one! Cool rock formations and lots of vegetation. It was windy outside of the canyon we rode up but as long as we stayed between the hills, it was nice. We explored the area and marked it for further exploration. Celia saw one little snake but didn't get a good look at it to tell what kind.  

Trail Log: 3-3-2026

Drifter waiting patiently for the videagraphy to end

• Trail: State Land - Back Gate - Tank
• Miles: 5.19
• Riders: Self - Jim H
• Horses: Drifter - Whiskey 
• Dogs: Groot - Harley 

Notes: I have been helping Jim shoot videos for his Webcast "Hansons Horse Sense." I took him behind my place to the tank. It is a nice spot with pretty views. Other than shooting at the wrong time of day (sun glare) they turned out pretty good. 

Jim and Whiskey 

Trail Log: 3-2-2026

The "bromance" continues LOL

• Trail: State Land - Back Gate - Aguila
• Miles: 6.10
• Riders: Self - Dan L. - Mike D
• Horses: Jack - Bullseye - Big Drifter
• Dogs: Groot - Harley - Boo

Notes: Mike came to visit so we took him on a ride out in the desert. He rode Big Drifter - who was originally his horse before Dan and Robyn bought him last year. Mike hasn't ridden much outside the arena  and is a fairly new rider at that. He started mounted shooting and riding at the same time. He is super competitive and has moved up quickly and just one his first overall-overall at the last ACMSA shoot...which is amazing.  

Harley follows along very well!

2-26-2026

Flag pole looking good! 

• Trail: Aguila - Back Gate - State Land
• Miles: 5.5
• Riders: Self - Celia 
• Horses: Jack - Dirt
• Dogs: Groot - Boo

Notes: About a week prior to this ride, I found an odd, Styrofoam  item that turned out to be a sensor/detector/meter for atmospheric monitoring. About a quarter mile east and a week later, I found the weather balloon it was attached to. Weird...

Watering the dogs

Weather balloon