horses

Sombrero Ranch (Estes Park CO)

Published June 23, 2012

Day Two ended with a surprise ‘Old West’ activity for my East Coast friends – a trail ride in the Rockies!

One had ridden a plow horse as a child, one had ridden at an Arizona Dude Ranch 15+ years ago – and one had never previously been on a horse. No better way to start than with a 4-hour trail ride over mountain terrain. Yeah, 4 hours. Ouch. LOL>

Ranch cowboys selected the horses, then we lined up and mounted our rides. Fannie, Shooter, Simba and my horse PeterPan, started the three+ hour journey through the Estes foothills. Wagon-ho, 90+ degrees on a dusty trail. Truly ‘Old West’ style fun! 🙂 Oh, and payback to the host — Peter Pan was both a biter and kicker, so got to ride in the back (and eat dust for hours :().

FOOD! No better way to fuel a body than with a chuck wagon dinner. Steak, beans, fried potatoes and lemonade. FAAANNTASTIC finish to our ‘Old West’ day in the Rockies!

Hey wait there’s more – ahhh…the Holy Grail. Parked in the campground was a wagon used on my fav childhood (book &) TV series, Little House on the Prairie. Truly a FAAANNTASTIC finish to day!

https://www.sombrero.com/custompages/estespark.asp

: surprise activity for East Coasters

: once on a plow horse, once on an AZ Dude Ranch, & Dan (never been on a horse)

: luckily, ranch cowboys matched us with horses

: 90-degrees+ and a dusty trail ahead

: Peter Pan (good horse but I prefer Ro)

: Did I forget to mention – it’s a 4-hour ride? Ouch.

: Chuck wagon dinner

: Steak, beans, potatoes & lemonade — FAAANNNTASTIC!

: stage prop from ‘True Grit’ (John Wayne version)

: nope, not from ‘Stagecoach’ – much much better…

: Little House on the Prairie!

hike #5: Teller Farm (East Boulder CO)

Published February 12, 2012

A week later but still a lot of snow on our roads from the Feb 3^rd mega-storm.

No need to travel far for our weekly snow trek – er…hike. Been passing a trailhead sign on those work days when I take back roads to avoid large road traffic delays. Teller Farm – seemed good a time as any to explore.

Cows, horses and cow pies – all new experiences for Ro. Check, done 🙂 Growing up on a farm, should have remembered cow pies; unfortunately, I didn’t catch on until well into Ro’s first taste – yuck!

In addition to snow & cow pies – (Lucky for Ro) he met several dogs on this hike too. Hooray! Strangely, lil’ guy never warmed up to cows – though was super interested in all horses near the end of our trail. Horses roll over, frolick, play, enjoy snow – cows lumber and stare. OF COURSE Ro likes horses – like a brotha from another mother 🙂

4^th consecutive week for Ro ‘ice walks’: Wonderland Lake, Golden Ponds, Waneka Lake – and now Teller Lake. Go Sno’ Ro!

protrails.com – Teller Farm