Trail Log: 5-10-2026

 

This is not Shiloh res. - Shiloh was dry as a bone

• Trail: Lost Canyon - UTE Ranch- Shiloh Reservoir - Colorado 
• Miles: 6.43
• Riders: Self - Celia
• Horses: Jack - Liberty
• Dogs: Groot - Harley

Notes: Rode through the Ute res land (snuck through rather as apparently it is not legal to do so) and rode to a small pond full of water to a larger reservoir that was dry as a bone. We did see a large osprey next in a snag. Jack was a little gimpy again. I should have booted him up but the ground is pretty soft where we rode. I worked on his feet a little when I got back and I think they just need some dead sole removed that is putting pressure on his sensitive live sole. I really feel like I don't know what I'm doing half the time but I keep going back to the fact that he is 100% more sound than when he was being shod by those that supposedly DO know what they are doing. 

This will be my last trail log until I land at the next place to camp for a while. I think that might be Montana in a week or so? 

Osprey coming in for a landing

Trail Log: 5-9-2026

• Trail: Lost Canyon NF - Mancus Colorado
• Miles: 12.54
• Riders: Self - Celia - Cole
• Horses: Drifter - Liberty - Shaunta
• Dogs: Groot - Harley - Mira - Gunner

Notes: I made it to Colorado late Thursday. We spent Friday settling in at Boyd's cabins (Canyon Hideout). I extended the round corral for my horses using my hot fence. They are happy to be on green grass. Boyd's property runs down a canyon and borders NF. Celia and Cole took me on an awesome ride up the canyon to several Anasazi ruins. We deduced the ruins were set up for hunting camps perhaps. I would assume they are too far from water and too steep to be dwellings but I have no idea. The Anasazi were cliff dwellers so maybe they did live in these structures built into the cliffs. They were awesome. 

Cole and Celia climbing back out of Pig Rock

Drifter was full of himself. Cooler temps and green grass seem to have brought him alive. Plus - he is turning 6 years old this year. It has been my experience that some horses lose their minds around 6. He definitely has the stamina now to go all day over steep terrain and not break a sweat. His hard barefoot hooves just float over rugged terrain. He is a lot of fun to ride even when he is feeling frisky. 

We got caught in a little rainstorm but it wasn't too bad. We will ride again tomorrow weather permitting. Cole set up his portable Starlink - so I am taking advantage of that while I can. Updates will be limited from here on out. 

Ancient Anasazi backup lunch for when the hunt goes bad

Trail Log: 5-6-2026

• Trail: Aguila - back Gate - State Land
• Miles: 7
• Riders: Self - Celia - Nina
• Horses: Jack - Liberty - Barbosa
• Dogs: Groot - Harley - Pilot

Notes: Last ride for the season before Celia and I head north. We went to the Coyote for lunch after and said good-bye (for now) to Nina. 

Trail Log: 5-5-2025

 

Eagle Eye

• Trail: Aguilahood - Back Gate State Land
• Miles: 6.25
• Riders: Self - Celia
• Horses: Drifter - Liberty
• Dogs: Groot - Harley

Notes: Typing on this laptop sucks - stuff just randomly disappears. We are getting ready to head to cooler ground so I've been buttoning down things here and packing. I shut my main PC down and transferred all data to my laptop - which I do not like typing on. I don't know what keys I hit that deletes everything I've typed but it is maddening. 

Both Liberty and Drifter where freaks for whatever reason. Liberty was extra watchy but that can be expected since she is young and hasn't been ridden for a couple of weeks. Drifter didn't really have an excuse. I tossed on the saddle and he frogged around like he'd never been saddled before. Whatever it was...he got over it. I met Celia off Naked Pete Rd, we rode back to my house - dinked around in the arena for awhile until we felt neither of us were going to get bucked off... and then rode out in the desert behind my place. Both horses finally dropped their heads and all was good. 

Trail Log: 5-3-2026

• Trail: Aguila Hood
• Miles: 7
• Riders: Self - Celia
• Horses: Jack - Dirt
• Dogs: No

Notes: Rode around the hood. Apparently I didn't take any pictures so one I took of Jackson.