Being back at Vista Verde is GREAT!!!

This ranch is simply amazing. Everything they do here, they do it so well! No stone is left unturned.

We arrived on Sunday afternoon after enjoying the most delicious Mexican food from a little permanent food truck stop – teeny tiny little place but such good shrimp tacos.

After saying hello to some familiar and new faces here at the ranch, it was off to be fitted with our saddle and speak to the wrangler to see which horse will be the best fit for the week – and they picked a perfect fit!!

I have been teamed with a sweet, responsive but mellow paint, called Hot Rod! She is gorgeous.

First day we had an orientation ride to see how we got along with the horse, so far so good.

The trail ride that afternoon was incredible, lots of trotting and loping (cantering). I am slowly finding my confidence.

We also got to enjoy Happy Hour with the horses to finish off our Monday – spectacular to say the least.

Tuesday we rode out to our breakfast. We picked the earliest start to give us the longest ride.

We had another ride later that morning after breakfast where I discovered that Hot Rod occasionally liked to jump over a few muddy creek beds – that was fun. Right before she was about to launch, the wrangler yelled – hold on to the saddle horn!!! Thank god for the saddle horn.

We finished Tuesday with another beautiful meal and the barn dance – a lot of fun learning how to two step and line dance.

Wednesday was INSANE!!! We went up the mountains and into the forest looking for cows to bring back to a pasture where they would spend the night until we came back to get them the next day.

We climbed so high and went bushwhacking in the middle of the forest. It’s suffice to say that I am testing my limits here and its great.

Only found a few cows but we had so much fun.

Today was spent looking for more cows and bringing back the cows we got back to the ranch – a real cattle drive. So much fun.

It’s music night tonight, so there will be more dancing.