Back at Vista Verde Ranch!! This place truly is my nirvana – I just love it.
Arrived here on Sunday and got to find out if we are getting to ride the horses we requested. I requested a new horse this time around. Felt like it was time to move on from Chalula – I have ridden her the past 3 visits. So I am on Dually and wow, I think this horse will improve my riding.
Sunday night was our reunion with everyone from the previous years. It was great to see everyone again.
Monday we got to meet our horses and this time they did the orientation with your horse a little differently – which I loved. Starting off with some ground work in the outdoor arena. Getting the horses to start listening to you by doing a little lunge work. Then we were off on an hour’s ride throughout the property, just a walking pace while we were still getting to know each other.
After lunch it was a long, fast ride – lots of trotting and loping (cantering). SO MUCH FUN!!!
Monday evening we had our first whisky taste test – we (just 3 of us, Me, Dan & Nate) stuck to only 5 bottles this time (not 11 like last time – that was too many!!!!). I still didn’t get one correct – we have to pick our favourite and then pick what each number we thought was the correct whisky. And my favourite was again the $4 bottle – I need to hang my head in shame since there were some really nice whisky and bourbons in the mix.
Then it was happy hour with the horses, or as Dan’s calling it, Party in the Pasture. We get to go find our horse and feed them treats, while we drink – what can go wrong!?! Nothing, its great fun, besides being accosted by horses that just want treats. So fun.
After dinner we got to sit down with the ranchers whose cows we will start bringing in on Wednesday – if we can find them that is. There are 500 cows (and 2 bulls) that we need to locate on 16,000 acres of national forest – this should be easy . . . NOT!
This morning we rode to our breakfast, Breakfast Ride. Up early and out on the horses by 7.30 am for an hour and half ride. It was a little chilly but fun. A little trotting and loping again.
Then me, Dan & Jen, were off on a ride with Kylie, our favourite wrangler. It was such a fun ride, lots of trotting and loping through the forest.
This afternoon, we went for a little bike ride (yep mountain bikes) and we brought back 4 cows down the road and up the drive way!!! Yep, cattle driving on push bikes – I’ve seen it all now.
The real cattle drive begins tomorrow – woohoo, bring it on.
Kristyn's travels 