Bull Pasture Mountain trail ride with Johnny

 

 

 

Nine of us left Free Union, Va June 15 for an adventure.  We hauled large trailers with horses up the mountain to a lovely ranch called Bull Pasture Mountain Ranch. There we settled into the 3 day weekend by first locating our tent, cabin, trailer or the lovely ranch house lodge where we would bed down.  Our horses had the choice of pastures, pens or stalls.  So as not to miss a moment of the gorgeous location we went for our first trail ride almost as soon as the horses came off the trailers.  It was easy to follow the marked trail done with colored streamers and clothes pins attached to sturdy branches.

 

Upon return from the first mountain top ride, we were called to dinner at 7:00.  The hardy dinner and  bonfire warmed our tummies and bodies as the mountain temperatures dropped.  Riders soon drifted off to bed with anticipation of a full days ride ahead.

 

 

 

 

The second day of riding gave us 5 hours in the saddle, with a mid-day break for lunch.   Voilà, there in a clearing was a buffet in which  a welcomed lunch was served while our horses rested under the trees enjoying a quiet graze after lots of work.  The afternoon ride was planned with two lengths.  I chose the shorter knowing that at 3000 feet and lots of steep trails in the morning my guy needed to save something for the next day.  And, at the end of the day it was more good food, bonfire and sleep.  Our last day followed a hardy breakfast and allowed us another few more hours of perfect weather and gazing at wonderful scenery on our mounts that would never leave our memories.  With the minor loss of a shoe we all fared well on the mountain.

 

Our location in the Blue Ridge Mountains just next to the George Washington National Park is a worthy destination for fishing, hiking and my favorite riding my wonderful quarter horse, Johnny.  I must book the trail ride in the fall with the enjoyable Hyman family who were such fine hosts.

 

Horse Fly Net®  2012