January in New Mexico

Yes that is snow on the ground!  We had a really early winter but headed to the bosque as soon as it was dry enough to be safe!

Casanova donned his new red halter and a Santa hat for Christmas and wished everyone a merry Christmas!   He’s very happy now that it is 2012 and he’s past his little brush with cancer.

Where else but New Mexico can you trail ride year round?  In the summer we typically stay in the mountains and in the winter we travel down to the Bosque and ride by the Rio Grande!

An added bonus is seeing the geese, herons, ducks on the river and porcupines in the trees!  I’ve even read that we get Pelicans in New Mexico, I have yet to see them but apparently they come to enjoy our beautiful weather!

We love to meet new equine enthusiasts so send me a note and we’ll invite you to ride with us!

Karen, Sherry and Janice Trail riding in the Sandia Mountains

It was the middle of February and we were able to ride in the Gutierrez Open Space in the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque, with an altitude of over 8,000 feet! We navigated through some mud and leftover snow but overall what a beautiful ride! That is why we live in New Mexico! Our friend and good riding buddy Karen had some friends from Ohio visiting and it was our pleasure to escort them into the open space. They were overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains and the views offered by our well worn trail! Only 2 weeks ago, we like many others in the country experienced zero and below temperatures, freezing pipes and lots of snow, but our beautiful ‘Land of Enchantment’ doesn’t disappoint; we were enjoying 50 degree weather and gorgeous sunshine!  they enjoyed their ride on the amazing horses from Enchanted Gaits Farm and will be forever converts to the gaited horse community!

This is why we live in New Mexico, horseback riding in January!  Sure we needed coats and Rip even brought his scarf but as you can see it was warm enough to get the horses sweaty!  A good time was had by all, perfect blue sky not a cloud in sight!  We sympathize with those who are dealing with ice and snow and all we have to say is “move to New Mexico”!

Where else but New Mexico can you ride year round?  In the summer we typically stay in the mountains and in the winter we travel down to the Bosque and ride by the Rio Grande!  An added bonus is seeing the geese, herons, and ducks on the river!  I’ve even read that we get Pelicans in New Mexico, I have yet to see them but apparently they come to enjoy our beautiful weather!

Saturday June 19th found us at the top of the beautiful Sandia Mountains on the 10 K Ride.  Starting at 10,000 feet this trail takes you to the ski area and the High Finance Restaurant and has some amazing views!    About a 5 mile ride;  it can be steep and rocky on some parts but mostly cool and beautiful!  We stopped beneath the  Restaurant and had a snack while the tourists enjoyed looking at the horses and clicking away!  For the brave of heart the trail takes you right to the edge and if so inclined you can  view all of Albuquerque and the amazing drop off!  Sometimes hang gliders can be seen riding the wind currents.

The view down one of the ski runs has the Ortiz Mountains as a back drop!   The Ortiz Mountains were at one time mined for gold and turquoise.  Situated on the Turquoise Trail is Golden, NM, so named for the gold mining in the Ortiz.  Rumor has it that mine shafts still exist and a few brave souls have descended to find skeletons and Indian artifacts.   Of course the mine is fenced and off limits to exploration.

Elaine by a small stream on the Sandia Mountain Trail

Elaine in the Valles Calderas

Elaine of the Turkey Road Kill fame was taken from us yesterday after losing her valiant fight with breast cancer.  She leaves a son of  5 years old.  We are all very saddened but consider ourselves lucky to have know such a bright and joyful person.  Elaine led us on many adventures; she was always looking for a new trail adventure for us to experience.  The Hagen Ghost Town ride was one of our rides that she found in a book  on rides in NM.  Some of our most amazing rides were with Elaine and her joyful spirit leading us into further adventure.   Our Blizzard Trail is  named after Elaine led the group on a ride and ended up in a blizzard because she wasn’t ready to go home.   Knowing that her life was going to be cut short at such a young age we now understand why she never wanted to end the ride.

We will miss you Elaine but want to wish you Happy Trails !  We’ll see you at the Big Roundup in the Sky!

Elaine leaves three horses needing new homes.  Selina a Peruvian Paso, Luna, a Paso fino and a quarter horse, Pumpkin.  All mares, they are fine horses, well trained and very good trail horses.  She also has several Alpacas that will be needing new homes.  If interested in knowing more please leave a comment and how to reach you.

A mid week ride to enjoy the beautiful weather was scheduled for this week in honor of our State Representative Kathy McCoy. Kathy was instrumental in the purchase of the land tracts for the Gutierrez Open Space. We invited Rep McCoy to ride with us through the Open Space to show our appreciation for her hard work in getting the project approved and making it happen so that now we have this beautiful place for riders and hikers for generations to come.

As is customary we enjoy a short break and lunch at one of the restaurants near the hitching posts on the N 14 side of the Gutierrez Open Space.  As we enjoyed lunch and conversation we had an exceedingly lucky break to catch a glimpse of the well known long rider, Bernice Ende, who is currently on a 7000 mile, 2 1/2 year ride.  Unfortunately we didn’t get a picture of her and her Thoroughbred but that will be remedied at the potluck in her honor this weekend! 

Thanks again to Representative Kathy McCoy for all her work in getting this fabulous Open Space!

Even though the area was weather forecast was to have significant wind the adventurous  Trio: Liz, Leigh and Linda, decided to try the La Cienega Trail hoping the wind would be less.  The winds were very strong in Guiterrez

R & R

Canyon, annoying the horses no end when their hay was blowing out of their pens.

Most horses are jumpy in the wind, never knowing what is going to jump out at them from the bushes.  Paso’s are of Spanish Blood and typically have more brio or spirit;   however this doesn’t translate to spooky or crazy.  In a well trained animal there minds are so good that they typically don’t spook or bolt!

Saddled and ready we took the blacktop road to the trail.  It was a busy

Leigh and the gaiting Grace

weekend with several cars driving cautiously by.  However a brain dead skateboarder came whizzing by us at a fast rate of speed.  Thank goodness once again for good minds, the horses didn’t skip a beat!

These are not really mature horses they are all rather young.  Casanova is the old man at 6, both Rip and Amazing Grace are 4 years old.   There was no bolting or going sideways they all just kept the beat!  Another reason to ride Gaited!

Saturday March 21, the first day of spring found us on the ride through the

Boy Scout troup

Gutierrez Open Space.  It was a beautiful spring day and the ride was very pleasant with beautiful weather and an uneventful ride; which is a very good thing when you’re on horseback!  When we arrived at the fenced area between the Post Office, Ribs and Sandia Crust Pizza, we were surprised to find quite a crowd!  A local boy scout troupe in addition to some Open Space Officers were clearing a new trail into the open space.  This was a welcome sight to see this new trail head as on an earlier ride several horses slipped on the muddy hill and nearly went down.  This new trail head consists of switch backs that aren’t so treacherous!  Thanks to the Open Space Folks and the local Boy Scouts for their hard work!  We had just a few suggestions for the Open Space guys!  They are going to install 2 more tie rails to accommodate more horses, as it is only 5 or 6 horses can be safely tied, and the other suggestion was a water trough for the horses.   The water will have to be provided by the merchants as the Open Space folks have no way of funding this.  Hopefully one of the restaurants that benefit from our patronage will consider this, (hint  hint)!

We had a lovely lunch at the Sandia Crust Pizza, this is a very nice addition to the East Mountain cuisine!  I’m sure we’ll be frequenting them regularly!  We’re usually a hungry and thirsty group; not to mention we’re a lot of fun too!

Happy Trails!

After living most of my life in New Mexico I was surprised to hear of the ghost town of Hagan, NM,  not far from Albuquerque!  Elaine of the Turkey Road Kill story, came up with another good one; this time in the form of a terrific trail ride involving ghost towns, petroglyphs and suicide cliffs!

Hagan was apparently started under the assumption that the railroad would be coming through the area.   The hotel was built along with several homes and a depot for the train.

Doorway to the past

The Grand Hotel in Hagan, NM

A large adobe wall of the hotel remains showing the only one wall of what was once probably a grand structure.  The wall exhibits remains of ceiling vigas for large beamed ceilings that would reflect the Indian influence in southwest architecture.  All that is left of the depot is a crumbling structure that is falling into the arroyo.

Crumbling walls of the Depot

It was a very pleasant ride due to the beautiful weather, probably about 60 degrees and miles of sunshine!  That’s why we live in NM!  We all voted that this ride would be too hot in the summer so we delegated it a spring and fall ride.  Don’t attempt it if there is rain in the forecast as it is near some major arroyos and flooding is a distinct possibility!  The dirt road is fairly wide with good visibility for most of it which is good because we did have to move over for a few cars.  The so called suicide cliffs on the right and a ship rock like cliff on the left make for some beautiful scenery along the way!

The bird’s eye view on the crest of the hill at the beginning of the ride was amazing!  Three ski areas could be seen at once;  Los Alamos, Santa Fe and the Sandia ski trails were all plainly visible from one vantage point!  Just north of Cedar Crest and east of San Pedro Creek is a very easy and interesting ride.  Between the San Felipe Casino off of I 25 and La Madera road from N 14  is the ghost town of Hagan.  It is about a 2 hour ride from where we parked off of La Madera Rd.  There were cattle guards to negotiate around through wire gates so it would be more expedient to trailer past the last cattle guard.  I would advise to at least trailer to the junction of Puerticito and La Madera.

La Madera ride

As always the view is better over a horse’s ears!

Happy Trails!

Over Drive (OD)

Some horses can be difficult when trying to load them into the trailer;  however some horses can’t wait to get into the trailer and even want to climb in all by themselves!  OD (OverDrive) a three year old just recently gelded Paso / SingleFooter was so anxious to get into the trailer he was standing on the side rail!  Definitely not a freaky horse!  When he is older he’ll probably drive himself home!

Casanova

Then again there is the always popular and infinitely patient Casanova a Peruvian Paso outfitted with his sunhat, (necessary to prevent sunburn in our high altitude) and ready for the days ride!  But of course I spoiled him with his gourmet baby organic carrots after taking his picture,  none of those overgrown chewy ones for him!

Last summer we were honored to have Dr Mosely and Mr Eaglin from Louisiana visit us here in the East Mountains of New Mexico!  They are breeders and trainers of the single footer horses and were here to visit and educate about their horses!  Ride like the wind is how you describe the single footer horses,  some of them attaining speeds of 25 mph while in gait!