First Day in the Saddle

I woke up several times during the night. I am trying to sleep without listening to anything, but I'm not ready yet. At about 6:30am I decided to get up. It was cold and I realized that I forgot warm socks. So barefoot and Birkenstocks it is!

There was Cowboy Coffee around the fire. It was better than the coffee at the ranch last year. I was not organized in my tent, and it took me a while to figure out what needed to go with me to the bathhouse. I got there and realized that I forgot my washcloth. A long walk back and forth. Breakfast was eggs and sausage. The cook, Katelyn, is really good. After that, it was time for putting on boots and jeans!

The morning started with a safety talk (lecture?) Then we all got our horses. I am on Apache, a skewbald pinto (brown and white). He has a swayback, too. We got to saddle them all up and then mounted up. Like last year, the getting on part was the hardest. Next was the ring test. We all walked in a circle at a walk. Then we all did a trot one at a time, then a lope. The ring was small, so it was difficult to keep the horses going.

It seems like we are all competent riders, which will make the week easier. After the test, we had time for "Reindeer Games." We played Simon Says and some other games that used our control skills.

After lunch, the ranch owner, Chuck, had us ride out to move some cattle to a closer pasture. Then, we did a trail ride for a few hours. The scenery is amazing, and photos don't do it justice. We are riding more "Ponderosa" style, rather than nose to tail. Very casual.

Back at the ranch, my first job was getting my boots off. These are boots I've had since the 80s, and they are a bit tight. I think my feet were swollen, too. It was quite the struggle!

Dinner was tacos, using the brisket from the night before. Yum. Then we played Hammershlogen, which involves a big wood stump and a hammer and nails. Everyone gets a nail and you try to hammer other's nails all the way in. I won the first round, so I called it quits while I was ahead! We sat around the fire before heading to bed.Read more