Horse Travels

Custer, South Dakota

2012-01-21T17:50:00.000-08:00

Nico and Linda enjoying a wooded trail just off camp.

This is the second time I have been to the Custer area to ride and I just love it! In late September of 2011, the girls headed off to Custer, South Dakota to ride and see the Custer State Park Buffalo Stampede. For late September the weather turned out to be spectacular and no bugs! We booked ahead to stay at the Broken Arrow Horse Camp just four miles outside the city of Custer. The location was perfect. Nice covered pens kept the horses happy, and a wonderful bathroom and shower kept us clean. There are all levels of sites with full hook-up, fire pits and water, and very nice cabins for those who do not wish to sleep in their rigs. The owners thought of everything, even golf carts to easily transfer tack and feed.

Razzles of wild turkeys wondered through camp along with deer just off in the woods behind our site. There is plenty of riding trails right from camp so you don't have to travel far to get in miles of good riding. The trails from camp are all treed, with lovely high canopies, sunlight beaming through onto tall grasses. and lovely rock formations, mica and quartz. The footing on most trails was just perfect. The map supplied by Broken Arrow was not the most accurate, so be aware of where you are as you travel along.

The day of the Stampede we unhooked and drove out early, lots of traffic getting into the park, wild burros stopping traffic and lone buffalo along the way, including lots of people (about 10,000 in fact) come to see this event. The Longriders round-up the buffalo and drive them over the hills into holding pens where they innoculate, cull out some for sale and castrate the young bulls. It was fun, worth seeing once, but most likely I would not sit in the traffic again.

Custer State Park is huge, lots to see and do, and next time I think I will just haul over and strike out in a direction. The very friendly rangers we spoke to said you can just pull over most anywhere and head off for a ride. I have also rode to Mt. Rushmore, that is a fun ride, and in other lovely areas around Custer. It is surely worth a look!

Travel Information: Easy 6-7 hour haul from Boulder, Colorado

Bear Creek near Morrison

2011-11-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

For a nice ride, sometimes urban, other times wooded trails along a meandering creek is Bear Creek Park near Morrison, CO. A few of us headed over there last Sunday to get 'outta' Boulder. A small $5 fee gets you into the Park. There are several locations to park your rig and plenty of space to turn around. We went over to the arena near the stables (closed for the season) and accessed the trail system from there. The arena is also a nice place to warm up or do some work. Cleaning up your manure is also made easy there is an area contained by railroad ties just next to the port-o-pottie.

We saddled up and headed out, the footing was perfect fro trotting and cantering. Keep in mind there is one big hill that you might want to avoid in the winter, it's north facing slope can be iced over. Early in the season we found some icy spots but crossed safely. Looping back to the trailers we passed by a golf course, several creeks, ducks, runners, hikers and cyclists. There is also and area of large logs to work your horse on. Back at the trailers we got the horses settled and heated up some hot cocoa. Shared a few more stories and loaded up back to Boulder.

Check it out, its a nice spring, fall and winter ride in the front range.
I have been there later in the winter and the creeks can crisp over with a so light of an ice sheet.
Some horse find the sound a bit unsettling when crossing.

Try a Cow Clinic

2011-07-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Peeling out a calf, the white one was fiesty!

Looking for something fun and interesting to do, try a cow clinic. Nico and I thought it might be interesting to learn a bit more about moving cattle. Not only is it good for your horse, by desensitizing them to cattle, but it also improves your horsemanship.

We headed over to Marty Martens place early Sunday morning for something different. Jody Marken, Marty's main squeeze, greeted us and directed us to the parking area. The clinic began with Marty and Rich Scott, and about eight other participants with a brief introduction about cattle, and what we could expect for the next three hours. We also practiced the basic movements involved in turning your horse, side passing and backing up. The goal was to influence the movement of cattle without stressing them. Simple movements, perhaps just a step by your horse one way or the other was enough to direct them. We also learned to identify Learning the "bounce point" to which they react and when to back off from the cattle. We tend to think we need to charge at cattle to get a reaction, and we also tend to get too close.

Horsemanship is also very important, your horse should know how to side pass and back up. The rider should understand how to ask their horse for these movements. I noticed many of the individuals participating in this clinic needed to work on these skills. They did not understand how to use their sit bones, crossed their hands over the center line of the horse, twisted their upper bodies and also lifted their legs instead of weighting their feet into their stirrups and pressing with the lower leg and rolling the upper thigh. In order to teach these movement to your horse you need to know the basics of these movements and how to use your body correctly. There is always something to work on!

All in all a fun time, peeling out a cow or two, leading them out and around the group and into openings was a fun time. For more information on these clinics and other obstacle clinics offered please contact Marty and Jody at 720 201 4363 or 720 494 9898.

Veedawoo

2011-07-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well it was late June and the girls were off on our annual trip to Veedawoo with the horses. Mary and I left Thursday to try and get a couple of backcountry pens but when we arrived they were already full. We decided to camp just South of the spring and set up camp. Mary had one of those portable electric fence contraptions (don't waste your money on one of these) so we set it up but could not get the electric to work. We put Nico and Spear in the corral all day and kept an eye on them to see how they would do. They seemed just fine and content.

We went for a nice ride in the afternoon exploring the rolling meadows filled with Indian Paint Brush and baby antelope. Late that afternoon while we were in the trailer, one of our camping neighbors spotted the Bull moose, his route was just to the South of camp. We missed him but heard he was magnificent. As Mary and I were getting ready to hunker down for the evening we discussed whether we should tie the horse to the trailer overnight or leave them in the temporary corral. We opted for the corral since they seemed to be respecting the boundary lines.

My exhausted Abanico!

Early in the evening, before dusk, one of those wild Wyoming storms arrived with wind, electric and hail. We put the horses in the trailer and rode that one out. After the storm passed the wind continued but we put the horses back on the pen and checked them throughout the night. I think my last check was about 3:30 am and about 5:30 am I got up to take care of business and peeked out to a trampled corral and no horses, something must have spooked them, we guessed "Bullwinkle".

Those naughty boys escaped and were no where in site. I woke Mary, who at first thought I was joking, and we began to track the horses by foot. We realized that we needed a plan so we went back to camp, grabbed water, snacks and unhitched the truck. We reported the lost animals to the area Forest Service and proceeded to search and wait for other campers in the area to wake so we could leave our phone number and contact information in case someone sited them.

Mary found some tracks so we began driving the two tracks and climbing hills to get a better view with our binoculars. We discussed heading into Laramie to fill the tank with gas and decided to search a few more minutes than head out. On the way we saw one more camp and stopped to leave numbers with them. They hadn't seen the horses but were going to ride around in their truck later and said they would keep an eye out. We asked them where the road went where they were camped and they replied, "out to Happy Jack", so we decided to take it. It was a gorgeous two track which followed a creek and low gully, we spotted two set of hoof prints. I asked Mary to stop and I climbed up out of the gully. There he was, my beautiful, naughty grey gelding Abanico standing magnificently on the far ridge like a wild horse on the horizon. Spear was no where in sight. I whistled his call, his head turned and Spear ran up behind him. They were both safe, not a scratch, we breathed a deep sigh of relief. Three hours later and about four miles from camp they were found and we ponied them back to camp from the pickup.

The corral group saw us and come over to offer us one of the larger pens, they could double up. That was so generous and enabled us to get a good nights sleep the next night. The horses hung there heads, exhausted from their "all nighter", as we were from ours.

My suggestion: Don't waste your money on one of those portable pens. Get a Spring Tie and attach it to your trailer, it is more secure and the horse can move around even lay down. If you must have a pen get a sturdy metal portable one. Have binoculars, they were invaluable, don't panic have a plan of action and search methodically. Call in and report a description of the animals to the Forest Service in the area.

Ho Hum

2011-06-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

It's June and the Western states are still recovering from the EHV-1 outbreak and facility quarantines that have been in place. From large boarding facilities to backyard horses we have all been extremely compliant with state and local veterinarian recommendation so as not cause this outbreak to explode. As summer is unrolling we are all going stir crazy wanting to get on the trail, out camping and showing, and for those that run shows—on with the business. Everyone in my area of Colorado has been using caution and limiting trailering to other areas.

If you are going to be showing or traveling with your horses here are some simple things you can do to prevent the spread of any disease:

Before traveling check your horses temperature. A normal body temperature is 99-101 degrees F. Environmental factors can cause a horse temperature to vary by 3 degrees. Horses tend to have higher temperatures in warm weather and during/after exercise. If your horses temperature is over 102 F. degrees you should call your veterinarian.

Bring your own buckets for water. Don't let your horse drink from tanks at other facilities. Find a hose and fill your own buckets. Provide a secondary bucket at your facility for others to use to fill buckets. This keeps the fill tank from becoming contaminated.

Instead of using stalls at fairgrounds when traveling tie your horse to your trailer. To make your horse more comfortable you can also look into a device called a Spring Tie which bolts into your trailer frame and allows your horse to move about freely and lie down.

Even thought being social on the trails is nice, keep your horse from touching others.

Keep your horse from grazing along the sides of trails, move off the trail a bit where it is less likly another horse has been.

Let's stay healthy!

Hermit Park

2011-04-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

Helen and her Mustang Moon

It was going to be a balmy 75 degrees in Boulder on Saturday and since the horses still have their winter coats, Helen and I decided to head to the mountains to Hermit Park. A lovely area purchased by Larimer County a couple of years ago from Hewlett Packard. The word is that there are plans to add overnight horse camping facilities but no one seems to know when (I ask every time I visit). So this is currently only a day ride location.

Hermit Park is a short drive from Boulder on the way to Estes Park. After you pay the entrance fee you drive in a couple of miles on a dirt road to the horse trailer parking area. The trail accesses Roosevelt National Forest and the back side of Lion’s Gulch. The footing is a mix of old two track roads, single track through wooded areas and a bit of rocks here and there. There are two historic homesteads, one has a spring so you can water your horses there, and an old historic Saw Mill to explore. With an altitude of about 8,500 feet and a mix of climbing and flats this is a good place to get your horse conditioned.

As early as it was, we only hit a few patches of snow here and there. Most of the area was dry and the footing just right. The area has some pine beetle mitigation and slash piles that hve been burned. As you travel the loops through the forest and meadows you will enjoy views of the high snow-capped peaks.

Entrance fee: $6.00
Currently you can rent small, one room cabins with bunks that sleep 8 (includes a propane stove with port-o-potty outside), or camp in your tent in the camp sites.
Note that this is a much better access point then Lyons Gulch for horses, better footing and a lot less crowds — I might see two or three people on foot.

Teller Farms

2011-03-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

Just a short drive from where I board in Boulder, Colo. is a lovely open space with great footing called Teller Farms. The view of the front range and Longs Peak is quite something from this location. The footing is exceptional, no rocks, so you can start up your Spring training schedule with walk/trot combinations and some nice canters. It also can be easily accessed from three locations:

Heatherwood
Valmont
Arapahoe

I prefer the Heatherwood access because of its easy parking, and less bike and less dog activity. The open space runs for miles and includes trails, grasslands, washes, bridges and a creek near Valmont. There are many fun obstacles, not only the sloping bridge, but cattle, hay storage with tarps, and well drills.

So get out and have some fun at Teller Farms.

Inhand Results

2011-03-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

My furry friend and I have been diligently working in-hand as the temperature has plummeted here in Colorado. With lunging techniques, using a surcingle and side reins, we are certainly taking a turn in the right and left, so to speak, direction! After Nico's injury we had noticed a turned in left foot and shoulder along with a flare in the hoof and a lack of impulsion from the rear.

Working on the ground we have also established respect and awareness. His focus has been redirected to me and we are eliminating the attitude, so to speak. We start before a ride with some ground techniques on the halter going from left to right, lateral work and rotation. We then switch to the lunge line working both sides evenly.

We are beginning to see muscle build up in the hind end, more impulsion as he carries himself around the circle, less crookedness and lightness. His attitude towards me has also improved tenfold. In addition, my farrier has also noticed less flaring on his turned in leg as his shoulder and leg is slowing correcting itself.

Too Cold to Ride? Go in-hand!

2010-11-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

Winter's approaching and there are going to be days that it is just too cold to ride. This might just be a good time to do some in-hand work with your furry friend.

My horse Nico had a leg fracture just going on 2.5 years ago which has left him with some muscular issues. I also was beginning to feel that our relationship also had a fracture. Nico is a bit crooked, too much on the forehand, and his personality is fascinating but a bit stubborn. The front shoulder and leg that had the fracture is in a sense a bit turned in now, his hind weak and he is too much on the forehand — pulling himself along the trail instead of pushing off the hind. The result little impulsion and forwardness, dropping the shoulder.

One of my veterinarians, Diane Wagner, DVM (Elemental Equine Services) specializes in equine chiropractic and acupuncture. After we worked together to structurally correct him and help with some nerve issues she suggested that in-hand work would help reprogram his muscle memory and rebalance and strengthen his body. Riding was not quite getting to all the issues.

I also broke my leg two years plus, skiing. In comparison we both were going through the same type of recovery. I had to really work to get my muscles, hips and pelvic floor on track. And through Pilates with Julie Leiken, Equibalance, we straightened and strengthened my body too!

I wasn't quite sure how to begin. Friends recommended Lauren Carver. I have seen her clients and their horses, both young and old, prosper through the summer so I thought lets try.

We began last week with some lessons in respect, moving his body away from my circle and change of direction, then we moved on to leg yielding. Lauren noticed his right shoulder gets stuck which makes sense with his past injury, he falls in and his head is bent to the outside in the right circle. Getting him to use it correctly will be one of the challenges. But slowly we can correct this issue, strengthen his hind and back, and reprogram his muscle memory.

We begin each lesson with a rope halter and do the basics every time, add a bridle and surcingle with side reins for lunging and work about 45-60 minutes, then call it a day. I already see and improvement, and so enjoy watching him move and dance with me from the ground. Our relationship has changed already and I feel the fracture is closing where we will be able to make that wonderful horse rider connection once more.

So take some time and play with your horse, you might get a new perspective from the ground where all seeds are sown!

For more information on Diane Wagner, DVM, please visit her website at www.elementalequineservices.com.

For more information on Julie Leiken, Equibalance, please visit her website at www.julieleiken.com.

Beaver Meadows Resort

2010-08-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

The girls decided to head off for a few days to the Red Feathers Lake area of Colorado. On the way up we stopped at Eagles Nest Open Space about a 5 mile loop, or do it twice for extra mileage. Very pretty, great footing, and a bridge water crossing for the horse.

Beaver Meadows Resort, they have some simple cabins, a horse camp area with corrals, or keep your horse in a pen and you do your feeding and clean up. A fun restaurant is also onsite. Trails are right off the property or trailer off to other trailheads if you like.

Visit www.beavermeadows.com for more infomation.

NATRC: Competitive Trail Riding

2010-08-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Nico and I decided it was time to try our first NATRC Competitive Trail Ride at Island in the Sky on the Grand Mesa. My friends Jane and Jill and I arrived Friday afternoon after a 6-hour drive from Boulder. We parked in a grand meadow, though a bit muddy it was a great place to spend a couple of days. Wildflowers were in full bloom and the sun was shining. We got the horses settled and checked in with the Vet Judge and Horsemanship Judge. Number 98 was lucky for me that weekend.

Saturday morning started out with an obstacle, back your horse through the two aspen trees. Sounds easy but with all the excitement going on, and 63 horses starting, it proved to be a bit of a challenge especially for those wider end horses. Nico and I got through that first obstacle and started down the muddy trail for a 20+ mileage day. Some horses went out hot, some bucking, balking and some just normal. When that many horse are about they act a tad different then when at home. Over hill, dale, logs and along trails that became rivers of water we passed through beautiful wildflower meadows and water crossings were abundant. Our Pulse and Respiration stops were good and we finished the first day on time and settled in for dinner, the next days briefing and a rainy night (bring those rain sheets).

Three or so riders pulled the next morning. It started out cloudy as we rode out in rain gear, but the sun finally came out about two hours later. Ride managers chose, for safety reasons (mud) to change the trail and shortened the mileage that day. and began the ride with an off-side mount. Grrrr, we were at least able to use any natural aids, like ditches and rocks. It was another day of wildflowers, river trails and just spectacular scenery. A tractor was ordered up to assist in getting some of the larger rigs out of the meadow at rides end.

Jane, riding Open, Jill riding Competitive Pleasure, and I riding Novice finished up and left before awards so we could get back home Sunday night. I was tired but excited that we had completed the ride. It turns out we placed 4th!

During the first night briefing the vet judge spoke about sore backs, apparently there was quite a few in the first days check out after the ride (Abanico and I were fine). Check your saddle fit, it is a good idea to arrange to have a saddle fitter come out to your barn to check this for you . Also try to get up off your horses back when you ascend and descend hills.

If you are looking for a little competition and a way to see new trails try Competitive Trail. Visit www.NATRC.org and choose the region near you.

Suggestions: Always carry an easy boot in case you lose a shoe, where your helmet, keep a blanket and rain sheet in your trailer, stay hydrated.

Marshall Mesa to Dowdy Draw

2010-04-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day Easter Sunday, and the girls decided to do a very long 5 hour loop in the Marshall area of Boulder. We began at our friend Jill's house out on Marshall Road and headed east towards Cherryvale Road, and the giant hay meadow. We crossed streams (watch for those sneaky ducks) and ditches, then took a break at the cattle ball waterer near Cherryvale to let the horses play. Like bobbing for apples, they dip the large blue balls until they can get to the water... Jane's young Arabian, Kinney, found it a bit unsettling though! As we walked down Cherryvale Road to the open space access gate, cars buzzed passed us, totally absorbed in their mission to get whereever they needed to go with total disregard for others, so take care on this section of the ride.

The hay field is a cattle nursery this time of year, so we gave all those young mothers a wide birth—as not to disturb. Picking up a lovely canter, we swung around and headed south towards Marshall Mesa. We did some nice steady climbs, to work those hind ends, then headed west towards the old cattle tunnel that allows safe passage under Highway 93. The next ditch to cross is challenging and Nico's hind easy boot was sucked off, a bit of fishing was necessary. After we all crossed safely we continued east toward Dowdy Draw where we practiced some bridge crossings and used the outhouse facilities.

Continuing North we passed through the Dowdy Draw parking lot. It was sad to see that cars were parked in the horse trailer assigned spots, and no horse trailers were there. We ran into a very charming City of Boulder Ranger who was writing tickets to cars parked along the road and we suggested he also ticket the cars parked in the designated trailer spots. Unfortunately that is out of his jurisdiction, go figure! We suggested that perhaps the City of Boulder make up a warning or informative flyer that can be placed on cars parked in designated spots. The Boulder County Horse Association worked hard to get these few trailer spaces that are sprinkled about open spaces in Boulder County, and it is very disheartening to see the lack of respect other open space users have for horse trailer designated parking areas. As we headed back northeast, we traveled along the Mesa trail and crossed back over Highway 93 to Jill's house.

We cleaned up the horses, put them in holding pens, and then sat down to enjoy smoked salmon and dill Havarti on crackers, sipping iced coffee on Jill's front porch while enjoying the conversation with old friends and the lovely foothills view— thanks Jill!

Suggestions: shoes or hoof protection, part of this trail system is rocky. Carry an easy boot if you can, we wound up needing one for a pulled font shoe. Watch out for those ducks hiding in ditches. Beware of misbehaving dog owners, we ran into a loose dog not under voice and sight command.

Mud Season, When Will It End?

2010-03-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

Ask any rider and I am sure you will get the same answer, "I am tired of all the mud". It surely has been a challenge trying to get out and ride this winter season. Snow, ice and mud seem to be ever present. No matter where we have set our sites, trying to find drier trails is just a dream.

One of my riding gals Helen and I decided enough was enough so we headed over to the Mesa trail in South Boulder. We were a bit surprised to still find snow on the open mesa heading up to the Mesa trail, but it was soft and the footing good. We turned right on the Mesa trail and were able to do some trotting. This is a great place to start conditioning your horse as you gradually climb. We meandered through some lovely woods on soft snow pack. It was a beautiful ride, the scent of pine in the air and a few hikers with dogs (most well behaved). We looped back to the trailer on the Blue Stem trail which had a few spots with ice that we dismounted to safely navigate, but all in all a wonderful late winter ride in the front range.

Footing: Parts of this trail system can be very rocky until you reach the Mesa trail. Wooded trails have some steep steps to navigate.

Obstacles: Hikers, dogs (part of this system is voice and site command, some dogs are not under voice command though are off leash), seasonal bears and deer.

Trailhead Parking
There are many access points, two listed below:
1. West side of Broadway in Marshall
2. Dowdy Draw

Hermit Park

2009-12-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

Looking to escape the front range heat, try Hermit Park. Take Highway 36 towards Estes Park, and just a few miles past the Lions Gulch Trailhead you will come to Hermit Park, another great Larimer County purchase. The entrance to the park is on your left and requires a $6.00 fee.

Drive up the road as it switch backs for about 3 miles to the end of the dirt road. You will pass cabins that you can rent and a campground. Future plans include a horse campground, but it is slow to materialize. So, if you enjoy this area please mail or call Larimer County and put some fuel into this fire.

There are two parking space for rigs. Tack up and ride through the gate for about 1-mile to the Roosevelt National Forest access. There you will hit an old logging road that will gradually climb up to beautiful meadows, old homesteads and an old sawmill. There is a spring for watering your horse at the first homestead. This trail connects to Lions Gulch but lacks all the rocks so to me it is worth the $6.00 to park.

Boulder Valley Ranch

2009-12-03T13:02:00.001-08:00

If you live in the Front Range area of Boulder County you might want to try a ride at Boulder Valley Ranch. This open space is managed by the City of Boulder. It is a great place to get your horse familiar with bikes, baby strollers, dogs, cows, an occasional llama, bridges, gates and just about any other obstacle you could think of. There are trails open to hikers and horses only, and others that allow bikes. Dogs are allowed on trails off leash with a City of Boulder green tag, and the Beech trails are leash only, so keep that in mind if you are accessing the trails from the Neva Road lot and have a dog with you. There is an outhouse at the Longhorn Road trail head.

This terrain is flat to rolling, with a few hill climbs. Wildlife includes prairie dogs, coyotes, owls, seasonal eagles, migratory birds and hawks, summertime brings out bull and rattle snakes. There is a pond to water your horses on hot days and keep a look out for the blue herons.

Trailhead Parking
Three parking areas that are easy for trailers are:
East entrance off of 55th Street near the Boulder Reservoir
West access off of highway 36 near the septic tank manufacturer. Drive past the parking lot for cars and pull off to the side near the open space gate.
Neva Road access to the Ranch through the Beech Open Space managed by the County of Boulder.
Unless you board at the Boulder Valley Ranch you should not attempt to park there, and the lot on Longhorn Road is too small for most rigs.

Red Mountain July 2009

2009-12-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

A few friends decided to join me on July 4th to ride Red Mt. Open Space in Larimer County. Larimer County and the City of Ft. Collins purchased an amazing parcel of land West of I-25 near Owl Canyon to the Wyoming border. A pristine landscape with many archeological features is now saved from development.

The day started out sunny and warm as we meadered through red wash canyons. We did a clockwise 10-mile loop that day. As we began to climb out of the canyon the weather began to change, and as we popped up on the rim into Wyoming, the skies opened up. Typical Wyoming weather, lightening, wind, rain and sleet. Woo Hoo! Our horses decided to turn their backs to the advancing storm and refused to move. Luckily we all had some type of rain gear and got it on quick. Water poured down and filled us up from head to toe, as one of the riders said, “there’s water in places it just should not be.” My husband had come along that day and hiked the trail counter clockwise, we all ran into him at the top of the rim. He raced on and continued down the trail towards the Big Hole Wash trail and when we met up with him again at the trailers he said that water was pouring down into the wash off the canyon walls producing waterfalls, so keep that in mind should you find yourself in the canyon wash when the weather changes. As the storm passed on, the trails turned to slick red mud and we carefully descended back down into Colorado on our way to the parking lot below.

If you go:
The Red Mountain trailhead is fairly remote and closes at dark, so come prepared. There is plenty of trailer parking and restroom facilities. Absolutely no dogs are allowed on the property not even in your car, so leave Fido at home on the couch for the day. Come prepared for quick weather changes, pack water and food just in case.

Pagosa Springs 2008

2009-04-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

In July 2008 a group of us gals planned a trip to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, an area in which we had not yet explored by horseback. We planned a stay at the Fireside Cabins, easy location but a bit long on the hauling to the Piedre River and Weminuche trailheads. The horse facility was nice, with pens, pasture and a round pen and the owners kept the grounds and cabins immaculate. We spent an afternoon sitting by the river and had a group dinner at the tent down by the river. This area of Colorado is gorgeous and Pagosa Springs is horse country.

The Trails
Our first ride was Piedre River, the trail started out gradually then dropped down to the river. We then climbed switch backs, crossed bridges and explored lovely meadows where we stopped for lunch. Later the horses took a roll before loading up for the ride back to our lodging. The next day we headed back to the same area. A few miles past the Piedre River trailhead is the Weminuche Horse Camping area. We tacked up and climbed through a beautiful old growth forest, with spanish moss, wildflowers and water crossings. After returning to our trailers we took some time to explore the horse campground near the Wimenuche trail head for a future trip.

Negatives: Lodging road noise and travel time to trailheads.