From: HAROLD & ELAINE WILSON
10/11/05 AUTAUGA ACADEMY RIDE -1
To see the photos I took (I also added the ones Nikki took) on the ride click on http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=k4qtmvb.comvgpv7&x=1&y=-45sypi
I thought I would give you another perspective of one of our rides. Below is
the report of the ride last weekend by my friend Nikki Sweet to our AlabamaTrailRider
Group.
Kat and I arrived at camp a little after 5:00 on Friday night. It was starting
to get chilly out and a little windy. So glad we brought jackets. We were greeted
by Bubba and his wife Debra. He was so sweet to offer help setting up my site.
Got our horses unloaded and tied up. Dreamer has a thing about being tied to
a Trailer so I backed up to the fence line where there was a nice tree with
an overhead branch to picket him to. Harold was so sweet to tie him for me.
I got the horses settled. Toni & Jessica Prater (JJ as Hallee and I have
named her) and Hallee were headed out for a late afternoon ride so Kat decided
to join them. I finished up with the horses before it got dark.
Strolled on over to Harold & Lanes camp with food and stuff I had brought
for dinner. Was happy to see that Beth was able to come down and ride with us.
Kelly came into camp. Was so nice to get to meet her as well as her friend who
came in a little later. I'm no good with names sometimes. Lane had to run to
town so we had to eat without her. She makes some great Chili! Even Kat the
picky eater ate some. Lane's gonna share her recipe. She told me the recipe
ands it simple. And yummy!
We sat around the fire and had some good conversation. Talked about a little
bit of everything. I got to see the inside of Toni's sleeping quarters in her
trailer and Beth's as well. Wanted to see Kelly's but got distracted. I needed
some ideas for when we can get the inside of ours done. I love looking at others
trailers. So many neat ideas people come up with. We talked around the fire
some more then about 9:45 or so I decided to go to bed.
I got pretty decent sleep except for the horse who decided to keep slamming
his water bucket on the side of the trailer when his hay ran out. It was cool
out and I admit I was too lazy to get up and take his water bucket away. lol!
I awoke about 6:15 but layed there for another 15-20 minutes. Then decided might
as well get up. I got dressed and came outside. Was a nice cool morning. Perfect
for a trail ride! I let Kat sleep in till 8:00 but the other kids (Hallee, Jessica,
Heidi) were up when I had gotten out and about.
Harold got me a cup of Coffee and he got the fire going. The camp started to
wake up. They don't advertise camping on this ride. But there was a good handful
who did camp. And I have to say I LOVE this group of people! We talked around
the fire (which felt nice) for a bit. Then about 8:00 I decided to wake Kat
up as the trailers with other riders started rolling in. The sun was shining
and it was nice out.
Connie Lawley and her family came into camp and I got to talk with her for a
minute. Sorry we didn't get to ride with them. They went with the fast group.
I saddled Star for Kat. Yes, she needs to do this herself more often! I saddled
Dreamer cause I wanted to ride him some before the ride got going. I don't know
what was wrong but I got on and he would not move. I got him to take a step
or two and he kinda humped up but something was wrong. I changed saddle pads
thinking it was my new pad but he did the same thing. He wasn't limping and
didn't seem sore but he defiantly was not happy. I lunged him some and he didn't
seem sore anywhere. The girls and I noticed that when I asked him to back (on
the ground) he kinda gave on one rear foot. I checked them all but nothing seemed
sore and there was nothing in them.
My friend hadn't showed up to ride Jet so I decided I would ride him. So I got
him saddled. Harold, Hallee, Kat, Beth, Toni, JJ, Rich and I decided to ride
the slow ride so we waited for the group to get ahead some and we rode out.
Wasn't long before Hallee and Harold had ridden on ahead. Beth, Kat and I stayed
together and went at a slower pace and just chatted. Jet was a little full of
himself with the cool weather and not being ridden much since I got Dreamer
but he was a great boy and I love him to pieces. Only problem is he TROTS!!
But I wouldn't sell him for nothing. We got down to the River for a break. Took
some pics of Harold and Dylan by the River. Everyone mounted back up to head
back to camp. We were kinda in the middle of the group this time. It was a nice
ride. The weather was just right. Headed back to camp for a nice lunch of Hot
dogs and hamburgers with some nice desserts. I was good and had a small brownie
and small piece of cake.
Kat decided not to ride the afternoon ride and Lane wasn't able to ride the
afternoon ride either so Harold offered to let me ride Lane's horse Little Man.
Now who could refuse a ride on that awesome little horse? Beth was nice enough
to let me try out her Endurance saddle. I loved that saddle and the stirrups!
I'm defiantly getting a pair of those stirrups. We rode with the slow group
again. This part of the ride goes by the Bluff over looking the River. To me
the afternoon part of the ride was better. Lee and his Daughter Jesse and her
friend Jessica decided to ride with the slow group this time. As usual this
was fun! Hallee and I talked about it and decided we would like to ride this
part of the ride both times from now on! LOL! We got to the bluff for a break
and I got some good pics at this spot. Hope you enjoy them.
Harold and I had talked about swapping mounts at the bluff but decided to wait
till we got past the creek to swap. Harold wanted to get a pic of him and Dylan
(his Peruvian Mule, who is FOR SALE) in the creek. We got to the creek and this
was the best part of the ride. We rode up the creek a ways. It was fun! When
we got to a clearing Harold and I decided to swap mounts. So I got on Dylan
and he rode Little Man.
I had never ridden a Mule before. Let me tell ya this is one neat little Mule!
He is also for sale. Did I mention that part?? I rode Dylan the last 1/4 of
the ride and he was so much fun! If anyone is looking for a good Mule you need
to buy Dylan! Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't get on a horse that I
wouldn't trust! Much to my sadness we arrived back at camp too soon! But this
was one of the best trail rides I have been on this year. I got to ride 3 Great
Equines, ride with some great friends, ate good food and camp. What more can
a Lady ask for??
Nikki
Nikki had to leave as soon as we got back to camp. They had grilled chicken
quarters on an open grill. Beans in a big cast iron pot over an open fire. All
the fixin's. Great supper while listening to a good local band. Of course Lane
and I had to dance.
The reason Lane missed supper on Friday night was because she had to drive into
Prattville (about 15 miles away) to pick up granddaughter Heidi, Hallee's little
sister. Heidi doesn't often get to camp with us. Their dad, son Hal, came out
just after lunch on Saturday. Their brother Dylan (yes the mule is named after
him) and mom Toni arrived in time to see us ride into camp in the afternoon
and stayed for supper. After the band quit it was back to the trailer to sit
around the campfire and more friendly conversation.
The next morning Jessie Lawrence, her college roommate Jessie Lanier, and Bubba
and Debra Murphy took a short ride before we broke camp. Lane's cousin has a
nice restaurant in Autaugaville and we stopped there for lunch before we came
home.
Yes, Nikki, it was a nice ride and a great weekend!
Harold, Lane & Hallee
If you want to see the photo album of my mule, SPF MARSHAL DYLAN click on http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=k4qtmvb.q0c1vvr&x=1&y=41f500
Did I mention that I like this mule?
Please join us at AlabamaTrailRider Group, Click on: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlabamaTrailRider/
Check our calendar of Trail Rides of AlabamaTrailRider at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlabamaTrailRider/cal For info on an event click on the event.
Harold & Elaine Wilson
SOUTHERN PRIDE HORSE & MULE FARM
VISIT OUR PHOTO SITE OF PERUVIAN HORSES & MULE FOR SALE: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=63311036103&n=483863709.
Info below photos.