Horse camping is a great way to have fun with your horse. Just make sure he's prepared for different types of containment, including highlining.

Photo by Becky Pearman Photography

If you're a camping enthusiast as well as a horse lover, overnight horse camping could be the perfect combination of your interests. If you're interest in events such as endurance riding or competitive trail riding, horse camping is often part of the experience.

No matter why you're hitching up and camping out, the key to having a good time is making sure that both you and your horse are prepared.

One of the ways to be prepared is to make lists.

"I have a camp list for horses and a people camp list that I use," says Bonnie Davis, consulting editor for The Trail Rider.

Horses
This is my basic camp list for horses. As I load an item in trailer or towing vehicle I check it off list. Before leaving, items are reviewed to make sure everything has been checked off and loaded! Add your own items too!

• Highline ropes
• Lead ropes
• Highline lead ropes
• Extra ropes
• Hammer
• Insect spray
• Bickmore
• Grain bags
• Rags
• Nails (various sizes)
• Saddles
• Saddle pads
• Gloves
• Water cans
• First-aid kit
• Bridle(s)
• Extra head stalls, reins
• Saddle bags
• Hay nets
• Knot eliminators
• Water tubs
• Pails
• Horse blankets (summer & winter)
• Manure rake
• Feed (weed free when required)
• Extra set of shoes
• Horse shoe nails
• EZ-boot
• Salt blocks (Mineral & plain)
• Broom
• Funnel
• Hooflex
• Spurs
• Halter(s)
• Extra halter Grain
• Horse’s medication
• Grain tubs
• Coffee can (for measuring)
• Baling wire or string
• Burlap bag(s)
• Hay hooks
• Tree savers
• Hoof cleaning tools
• Brushes Folding rake
• Duct tape Flashlight (extra batteries)
• Garbage bags Shovel
• Papers (ownership, vet, etc.)
• Leather sewing kit
• Water

Emergency road equipment-road flares or stands, spare tires for both trailer and towing vehicle checked to make sure they have air in them, jacks, lug wrenches to fit lug nuts on both trailer and towing vehicle tire nuts, chocks, large piece of canvas or folded lug tarp to put on ground when wet or snowy.

An overnight downpour has turned the trails to mud. You know you’ll be cleaning horse and tack if you go for a ride, but your horse is eager to stretch his legs, and you want to get out, too.
However, you can avoid one thing—that muddy, dirty tail. A simple mud knot will keep your horse’s tail relatively clean and protect it from anything the rain has turned into a tail-catcher.
Here, Andrea Scott Klug, who teaches, trains, and rides hunter-jumpers in Bradbury, California, shows you her step-by-step method for tying a secure mud knot.

Step 1. Holding the tail in your left hand, put your right arm underneath the tail.

Step 2. Loop your right hand back over the outside of the tail in a clockwise direction, and bring your hand underneath the tail so that the tail is looped around your lower arm.

Step 3. Hook the end of the tail between the first two fingers of your right hand, and pull the end through the opening you’ve created with your arm in slipknot fashion.

Step 4. Give a jerk on the end that’s still in your right hand to tighten the knot, which at this point should be about four inches below the end of the tailbone.

Step 5. Fold the knot that you’ve created up to the end of the tailbone, wrapping the end of the tail around the tailbone and tucking it in.

Step 6. Finish the job by putting a rubber band or tape around the tailbone at the top of the knot.

Overview: Just north of Yellowstone National Park in Montana lies the vast Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Containing almost one million acres, this wilderness is the largest single land block above 10,000 feet in the contiguous 48 states. This region also boasts the highest mountain in Montana, Granite Peak, which rises to 12,799 feet in elevation. And nearly 1,000 miles of trails lie within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

Outfitters: If you’d like, Hell’s A-Roarin’ Outfitters in Gardiner, Montana, will guide you through this vast area. Your hosts will be owners Warren and Sue Johnson. The Johnsons have been outfitting for three generations. Their son, Jeremiah, is a saddlemaker and an outfitter. Their daughter, Aimee, helps with the business.

Guests may stay right at the Johnson’s picturesque lodge overlooking the Yellowstone River valley and participate in rides ranging from an hour up to all-day picnic rides. The Johnsons provide pack trips to a base camp in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area. At the base camp, guests are provided with wall tents, woodstoves, wholesome meals, cots with foam pads, and a primitive shower.

Top day ride: Make sure your horses are in shape and used to difficult trail conditions. If you get in trouble, there may be no one around to help. For a Rocky Mountain high, take a day ride to the 10,016-foot Hummingbird Peak. Go about a half-mile south from camp to the intersection with Trail # 84, then take that trail going left. It’s a climb of 2,800 feet and about 2½ hours to the top. The trail goes through subalpine and, finally, alpine conditions.

We tied our horses and walked the last distance to the mountaintop, where we enjoyed expansive views in all directions. Peer into the cirque-like Telephone Basin, across the Buffalo Fork, and to the Absaroka Divide.

Horse packing: We packed in ourselves. Our route into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness was via the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park and the Hell Roaring Trailhead. Since it was July, the wildflowers were out in full force. Brilliant shades of yellow, pink, and blue were splashed generously across expansive meadows. Below our trail, a scarlet rivulet of Indian Paint Brush cascaded down a dry streambed.

Horse camping: Beaver Creek Camp is located where the trail crosses Beaver Creek. From our starting point, we rode about 14 miles, dropped 200 feet to the suspension bridge, then climbed up to 7,500 feet elevation. This camp is an excellent spot to spend several days. There’s ample grazing, and water is nearby. It’s centrally located with a number of day rides radiating out from camp

Horse-camping tips: Keep stock in electric corrals, picketed, or highlined 100 feet from streams and 200 feet from lakes. Protect trees, leave a clean camp, and spread manure. Limit group size and the number of days at one campsite to reduce impact on the land. If additional feed other than grazing is needed, use processed or certified weed-free feed to help limit the spread of noxious weeds.

Be bear aware: Be grizzly bear aware! Grizzlies and wolves frequent this region. Sleep at least 200 feet away from your campfire and cooking area. Hang your food and garbage at night. Keep food odors off clothes, tents, and sleeping bags. Avoid fresh, perishable, or smelly foods, such as bacon and sardines. The smell of fish can attract bears. Don’t clean fish in or near camp.

Kent and Charlene Krone combine their interest in photojournalism with a passion for horses. They enjoy sharing their horseback adventures in the United States and Western Canada. When riding season starts, you can usually find them on the trail, checking out new places to ride.

RESOURCE GUIDE

Gallatin National Forest
Bozeman, Mont.
(406) 587-6701
www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin

Hell’s A-Roarin’ Outfitters
Gardiner, Mont.
(406) 848-7578
www.hellsaroarinoutfitters.com

Montana Horses, Inc.
(888) 685-3697; (406) 285-3541
www.montanahorses.com

National Geographic/
Trails Illustrated Maps
(Order Yellowstone National Park, Tower/Canyon map)
(800) 962-1643;
www.natgeomaps.com/trailsillustrated.html

When you’re hunting for a new equine trail partner, look for an experienced horse with a mellow, kind, forgiving attitude. For trail riding, also look for a horse that’s been out and about, hauled around a lot, and will enjoy the ride with you.

When you visit a prospect, ask the following questions before you mount up—and before you buy.

(For Julie Goodnight’s 10 steps to horse-buying success, see Ask Julie Goodnight, The Trail Rider, May ’13.)

1. Why is the horse for sale? You’ll see the warning glances if there has been an issue or training problem with the horse. There are lots of legitimate reasons to be selling a good horse, but the answer to this question can possibly throw up some red flags. Trust your intuition.

2. Is the price firm? Assume that the price isn’t set in stone unless otherwise stated. If you’re shopping for a horse that’s in a $5,000 range, don’t hesitate to look in the $10,000 range. You don’t know how long the horse has been for sale and how urgently the seller needs to sell.

Many riders purchase a horse that seemed affordable at the time, then realize that sending a horse to a trainer is much more expensive than purchasing a trained horse.

Try to find the safest and best-trained horse your money can buy. You’ll love a horse that makes you feel safe. One trip to the emergency room can more than make up for the money you saved buying a “project” horse.

3. How long have you had this horse, and what have you done with him? Again, the answers to these questions can potentially throw up some red flags and/or give you greater insight into the horse.

Does the horse enter the trailer willingly? “You don’t want to buy a trailer-loading project,” notes Julie Goodnight.

Photo by Heidi Melocco

4. What do you know about the horse's history before you got him? Ask what kind of training the horse had and what was done with him (showing, group trail riding, ranch work, camping, etc.). The more you can learn about the horse, the better. Often, there are situations where the history isn’t known; this could end up creating more questions than it answers. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it makes further scrutinizing even more important.

5. Has the horse ever colicked? If the answer is yes, find out how often the horse has colicked and how severe the episodes were. Horses that colic frequently may be more likely to die of colic complications.

6. Does the horse load into a trailer easily? Ask how often the horse has been hauled. Does he enter the trailer willingly? Does he tie well? These are good things to know before you make a decision—especially if you want to load up and hit the trail most every weekend! You don’t want to buy a trailer-loading project.

If the answers to these questions are satisfactory, go back and ride the horse at least three times before purchasing, and make one unannounced visit. It’s important to see what the horse is like when the owners haven’t had a chance to prepare him before your arrival.

Julie Goodnight (www.juliegoodnight.com) lives in central Colorado, home to miles of scenic trails. She trains horses and coaches horse owners to be ready for any event, on the trail or in the performance arena. She shares her easy-to-understand lessons on her weekly RFD-TV show, Horse Master, and through appearances at clinics and horse expos held throughout the United States. She's also the international spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association (www.cha-ahse.org).

Heidi Melocco (www.wholepicture.org) is a lifelong horsewoman, equine journalist, and photographer based in Longmont, Colorado.

If you’re looking for a riding instructor, you’d want to work with someone who has lots of horsemanship knowledge and experience. You’d choose an instructor with proven teaching skills who could relate his or her knowledge to you in a meaningful way. You’d expect this someone to be respectful and professional.

“Anyone can hang out a shingle and call himself or herself a riding instructor,” says Christy Landwehr, CEO of the Certified Horsemanship Association and a Master Level instructor herself. “I go to a stylist who has a certification to do my hair, so certainly I want at least the same level of expertise from someone who’s teaching me or my child how to ride a horse.”

Given this explanation, if you teach riding yourself, this certification process might be worth your time.

Validated Skills
As one of the largest and oldest certification programs of its kind, CHA is the original. While the association doesn’t claim to teach clinic participants how to become instructors, Landwehr notes: “You can’t help but learn how to teach riding when 10 riding instructors get together and teach four lessons each during a five-day clinic, with instant feedback from one another and the clinic staff.”

CHA offers an extensive menu of certification clinics designed to offer something to everyone — including arena instructors, trail guides, combined trainers, recreational vaulting coaches, therapeutic riding instructors, college and university programs, seasonal riding-program instructors (summer camps, dude ranches, etc.), and even equine-facility managers.

CHA revolves around a public safety and awareness platform. “We want to help the public identify teachers who have a validated skill set,” says Landwehr. Certification demonstrates to both potential employers and customers that the instructor has been tested and proven against a respected standard, under independent evaluation.

CHA Clinics
The Certified Horsemanship Association offers two- to five-day certification clinics open to riders/instructors 18 years old and up.

“During the program, you’ll be evaluated by a written test, by a riding test to ascertain your skill level, and by teaching at least four lessons, one of which is a ground lesson, with CHA-certified clinicians evaluating you for your teaching ability,” explains CHA Program Director Polly Haselton Barger.

If you like working with active learners, have teaching skills in your background, and have time and energy to start your own business, consider becoming a riding instructor through the CHA.

At the end of the clinic, you’ll be assigned to a certification level based on your evaluations by the two CHA clinicians. “Levels range from one to four in both Western and English riding,” Barger explains.

Instructors may recertify at the end of the three-year certification period by providing documentation of at least 25 hours of continuing education and work within the industry. However, if you’re interested in raising your certification level, you must attend another CHA certification clinic and be reevaluated.

Certification clinics take place all over the United States and Canada. Host sites set their own prices according to the amenities they offer, but in general the clinics run from $500 to $800 for the five days, which usually includes lodging and meals.

Trade Perks
Achieving CHA certification brings instructors some neat perks. For example, some insurance companies offer a discount on premiums. Most important though, Barger says having a CHA certification raises the level of professionalism in your horse community.

You’ll also receive a subscription to The Instructor, published by CHA, a biography and photo listing on the CHA website, use of the CHA logo on your business cards, and professional insurance and sponsor discounts. You’ll also have an opportunity to attend an annual educational conference, plus regional conferences.

Renowned clinician and trainer Julie Goodnight is a CHA certified Master Instructor. “Through this organization, I have learned so much about safety, professionalism, and industry standards,” she says. “CHA has just completed a new edition of their excellent manual, The Composite Manual of Horsemanship, which I edited. It’s a must-have for all riders and instructors.”

Emily Esterson is a freelance writer, editor, and dressage rider based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jenny Sullivan is an equine-industry writer, editor, and horsewoman based in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

I understand what she means. It's great to spend time in Wellington, Fla., where the equestrian section is a unique community that now is talked about worldwide. Drive around and you'll be in awe.
As I got ready to say goodbye to Wellington for 2013, I reflected, as I often do, on  its uniqueness. When I visited Canadian dressage star Ashley Holzer (more about her later) Saturday morning, the scene in her neighborhood five minutes from the showgrounds was pure bliss. The sun sparkled, the palms swayed slightly and people were riding everywhere in what looked like horse heaven.

This morning I was in Grand Prix Village, next to the showgrounds, and saw beautiful stable after beautiful stable (not to mention the mansions that go with them). The grounds seem always to be garlanded by colorful flowers making a Florida statement, and ringed by impressive hedges that offer privacy. And I'll admit to some sadness as I watched the big tractor-trailers loaded with fabulous horseflesh pulling out to head north.

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the focal point of equestrian existence for many here, is unique, with acres of arenas. There's always a festive air for "Saturday Night Lights," the big grands prix that draw thousands of spectators. More than an hour before last night's $500,000 FTI Consulting 5-Star Finale Grand Prix, the stands were packed. A live band entertained and the mood was anticipation as the climax of the jumper competition drew near.

To decorate the ring, giant date palms were added (my progress to the parking lot on Friday was held up as a truck laden with the huge trees attempted to maneuver the narrow path leading to the arena).

Brazil’s Alvaro de Mirando won the $500,000 FTI Consulting 5-Star Grand Prix on AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

There was a stellar 40-horse field for the finale, but halfway through the class, there was only one clear round, Athina Onassis de Miranda of Greece on Camille Z.

Last year's winner, Colombia's Daniel Bluman, had  a foot in the water with Sancha LS. Margie Engle was going well down the last line aboard Royce as the crowd cheered her on, then dropped a rail at the final fence as a heartfelt groan echoed from thousands of fans around the arena.

Had course designer Alan Wade made the route too tough? Nope, he's a genius. Nine more clear trips joined Athina's in the second half of the class, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling jump-offs of the season.

Kent Farrington had the fastest time of the tiebreaker on Blue Angel, 43.52 seconds, but it was only good enough for fourth, as the rails clattered down from the last fence.

"My horse was trying her guts out the whole way around," said Kent, who had won a class earlier this month with the mare.

"You have a group of riders like this competing for $500,000 and everybody's going to put it all on the line," he explained.

"That's my style as well, and if I win, I'm going to go all out and if I don't win, it's not going to be from lack of trying.

"We pulled out all the stops. I took a big risk at the last fence doing nine strides, which is sort of a big stretch for that small a horse. I knew if I did one more, I'd be second or third anyway, so I'll take the risk and if I have one down, I'll be fourth, but if she happens to leave it up, then maybe it's our day."

Don't feel to sorry for Kent, though. After the class, he was presented with a blown-up version of the check for $50,000 that he will get for winning the FTI Rider Challenge, based on his results during the circuit.

Athina's husband, Alvaro (Doda) de Miranda, a Brazilian Olympian, went after Kent and knew what he had to do with AD Rahmannshof's Bogeno. His wife had gone clear in a leisurely 54.46 seconds, but she was smart not to push it--she wound up third.

Ben Maher rode through pain to finish second in the $500,000 grand prix on Cella.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

Doda clinched the win in 43.96 seconds with a powerful round. But the bravest effort belonged to Great Britain's Ben Maher, who finished second on Cella. Ben was diagnosed with several fractures of his vertebrae following a fall last week in the warm-up area, and he took the difficult decision of riding in pain, all braced and wrapped up. His effort in 44.88 came before Kent and Doda went, so if he had gone later, maybe he could have found a slightly faster route.

Doda was a gracious winner, and did not neglect to give his wife kudos, noting she devotes nearly her entire life to her horses. I thought his mount was amazing, though I was having a lot of trouble typing his name, so we talked about this big bay.

Listen: Alvaro de Miranda

It may not surprise you to hear that George Morris has been working with Doda and his wife. Oh no, George said he wasn't really working with them, he was "a sounding board."

Here's how the sounding board sounded, "Whoa, whoa; leg, leg, gallop!" all delivered in the inimitable Morris vocal style.

Both Doda and his wife are very grateful for his help, and they have some powerhouse support as well from Rodrigo Pessoa and his father, Nelson. The Brazilians have medaled at the Olympics before, and I would bet they'll be likely to do it again in Rio three years from now. Doda noted that the Brazilian Olympic Committee has earmarked show jumping as one of the country's few chances for a medal on its home turf.

Jessica Springsteen put in an impressive performance on Vindicat W to win the $33,000 1.5 meter Suncast Classic.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

In the afternoon's 1.5 meter Suncast Classic, Jessica Springsteen showed she has really gotten together with Vindicat W, the horse who clinched the team gold medal for the Brits at the London Olympics. She has gained rapport with the horse in the half-year or so that she has owned him, and in the Suncast took the measure of such stars as her trainer, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward during the12-horse jump-off. The combination of Jessie and Vinnie is particularly impressive on the turns.

I had thought, however, that she might be in the $500,000 class instead of the Suncast, but she explained why she wasn't entered, and then talked a little about her winning trip.

Listen: Jessica Springsteen

The WEF ended today with the handy round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. It was held on the grass a half-mile from PBIEC, at the Global Dressage Festival grounds. Not many people showed up to watch; it was, after all, Easter, but those who did were treated to a special experience, as horses jumped many natural obstacles, including a little bank.They ascended a hill to trot over birch rails at the top, and finished with a flourish over a jump that used giant champagne bottles to demarcate the more difficult option from the lower parts of the fence. Riders get bonus points for trying the higher options and for galloping and making "handy" tight turns to show off their mounts.

Jen Alfano won the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the reliable Miss Lucy.

© 2013 by Nancy Jaffer

They did a classic round at PBIEC yesterday, with the top four all within two points. Jen Alfano, known as a derby specialist with Jersey Boy, winner of the 2012 hunter derby finals in Kentucky, was up on the calm redhead Miss Lucy.

"She's so NOT a chestnut mare," said Jen, and anyone who has had a temperamental female horse of that color knows what she means. Miss Lucy stood fourth on 186 points going into today's round, four points ahead of the amazing Inclusive, ridden by Tori Colvin, who was penalized for a light rub yesterday.

Tori's plan for today?

"I was just going to go as handy as I can and jump the big ones and if I have a rail, I have a rail, because I kind of had to move up, not down," the talented teen said.

Her plan worked. The three at the top after the first round, Brunello (Elizabeth Boyd), Skyfall (Louise Serio) and Taken (Kelly Farmer), all dropped today, to fifth, 12th and 11th respectively.

Jen, as she so often does, nailed it with Lucy to win on a total score for both rounds of 384.5, while Inclusive was reserve champion with 382. Former national equitation champion Kristy McCormack moved up from seventh to third on Temptation with a score of 380.

If you've never come early to a hunter derby, you might be amazed to see grooms, riders and trainers leading their horses around, not only looking at the jumps and sniffing them, but in the case of straw bales and greenery, sometimes trying to nibble them.

The idea is to give them an introduction to the course. While veteran Louise Serio said she thinks sometimes it's more for the riders' benefit than that of the horses, she noted that the horses had only competed at PBIEC this season and had never been over to the other showgrounds.

When you think of where the idea of hunters came from ( I know, I know, they bear no real relation to horses who follow the hounds), the "course walk" procedure seems to be a little weird. Jen Alfano and I discussed it.

Listen: Jen Alfano

It's not all fun and games at the WEF. There are some very real issues facing the show horse industry. Last week, the U.S. Equestrian Federation held the first of its Town Hall meetings at the showgrounds. The idea is to educate people in the sport on equine welfare and "Meeting the Needs of the Performance Horse in a Changing Environment," and get some feedback as well.

Hunters particularly have been singled out on drugs and medications issues, but the USEF says the situation should be addressed across all breeds and disciplines. Six other such meetings will be held across the country through the summer, so if there's one in your area, you might find it interesting to attend.

I asked USEF President Chrystine Tauber what she thought about the first meeting and the response from owners, trainers, riders and others in the industry.

Listen: Chrystine Tauber

By the way, if you've given something to your horse to make it go like a zombie, beware. Officials will be on the lookout for that and those animals could be candidates for a drug screening, as well as being marked down in their class, Chrystine told me.

Oh, real quick, back to Ashley Holzer. She had been without a grand prix horse when owner P.J. Rizvi started riding Ashley's Olympic mount, Breaking Dawn. But then GQ, a Small Tour horse, owned by P.J., came back into the picture.

He had suffered a bone infection two years ago, and it was so bad that when the vet said he would never be sound, Ashley warned P.J. she should be prepared to put him down. P.J. wouldn't hear of it.

"No expense was too much for him to become a lawn ornament," said Ashley.

The one day, an incredulous Ashley got a call from P.J. saying GQ was sound. P.J. showed him here last week and won, smiling all the way, but left the ring bawling with emotion at the enormity of the moment.

So P.J. is focusing on G.Q. and Ashley is back riding Breaking Dawn, though she noted P.J. at some point will take over on him again.

But until then, could she possibly ride him in next

year's Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games?

"I'm not saying anymore," said Ashley, who is out of the prediction business and playing it day by day.

I thought that was a good story; the moral: Never give up on someone you love.

I'll be putting up more photos a little later at facebook.com/equisearch and facebook.com/practicalhorseman, so do take a look.

And next Sunday morning I'll have another postcard for you, this one on the always memorable Gene Mische American Invitational in Tampa.

Until then,

When it comes to scenery, it doesn’t get much better than the Rocky Mountains. And when it comes to a guest ranch that focuses on horses and trail riding, it doesn’t get much better than Drowsy Water Ranch (www.drowsywater.com) in Granby, Colorado.

Last September, my friends and I spent one glorious week at DWR.

Rocky Mountain Grandeur

Located at 8,200 feet above sea level, DWR is just a few miles outside the small town of Granby, but there’s a sense of being far from civilization.

Chalk that up to the fact that DWR is nestled in a picturesque valley and covers 640 acres. It borders on thousands of acres of Bureau of Land Management land, as well as the Arapahoe National Forest. The mountain ranges surrounding the ranch add to that snug, “tucked away” feeling.

The Fosha family bought DWR in 1977, but the ranch has been in business for almost 80 years. At peak season, DWR accommodates as many as 50 guests per week.

However, we came during an “adults only” week at the end of the summer, and there were just two dozen of us. It felt like our own private getaway.

Depending on the size of your group and any specific lodging requests, you may stay in Horse Thief Den (the main lodge) or in one of nine cabins nestled along the banks of picturesque Drowsy Water Creek.

Accommodations have comfortable Western-style décor, and the staff provides daily housekeeping. We four had a two-story, four-bedroom, two-bath cabin idyllically situated by a small pond.

We even had a woodstove, which made things especially cozy on the crisp September nights. (DWR staff made sure we were well-supplied with kindling and split wood.)

We quickly became familiar with the lodge’s dining room, eagerly anticipating the cheerful clanging of the “gather round” bell 15 minutes before lunch and dinner.

The staff doesn’t ring the bell for breakfast, but we had no trouble showing up on time. There’s something about homemade cinnamon rolls warm from the oven that inspires punctuality!

Quality String

Riding is the main focus at DWR, and it shows. This is truly where the ranch and the Foshas—Ken, Randy Sue, Justin, Gretta, and Ryan—excel.

True, it’s industry standard to match horses and riders, but DWR does a better job of it than many guest ranches. Owning a string of 130 well-trained horses definitely helps.

The Foshas put extra time into providing instruction following basic natural-horsemanship principles. Their focus is not only on safety, but also on making sure guests have the best possible riding experience.

In addition to careful matchmaking between horse and rider, they offer lesson rides and loping clinics, so riders feel competent before hitting the trails.

“Our goal is not only to help people have fun, but also to become better riders,” says Randy Sue.

“We’ve found it makes for a better experience to take the time to offer more instruction,” adds Justin, who has a Master of Business Administration in marketing and serves on the board of directors of the Colorado Dude Ranchers’ Association.

I’ve been on numerous riding vacations in several different states, and I found the horses at DWR were the best of the best. I was impressed by the variety; the DWR string includes everything from Quarter Horses and Paint Horses to draft breeds and draft crosses.

My horse was responsive and alert — a true pleasure to ride. I never felt like I was on a “dude” horse, and appreciated riding a horse that was accustomed to the elevation and terrain.

Golden Trails

Some of the surrounding trails are remarkably steep and twisting, but the wranglers made sure we also had opportunities to speed things up when the terrain allowed.

The only time we were in a large group was the morning of the breakfast ride, when everyone rode up to a scenic plateau overlooking the ranch valley and enjoyed breakfast outdoors.

The rest of the time, we went out in small groups. This made it easy to ask questions of the wranglers and learn about the area, once prime hunting grounds for Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute Indian tribes. The first white men didn’t show up here until the mid-1800s.

Our trip coincided with the aspens turning. We rode beneath towering golden canopies and along winding trails scattered with their leaves.

The aspen stands on the mountainsides literally seemed to glow with an intense light. Combined with those Colorado blue skies, it made a stunning backdrop.

Our favorite ride was the all-day trip that took us to the top of Music Mountain, at nearly 11,000 feet. The views at the summit were spectacular as we talked, joked, and ate our sack lunches. A brief hailstorm blew in after we mounted up again, but we stayed dry, thanks to the slickers tied to each saddle.

The most remarkable part of the ride was coming down the Aspen Slide. (Think The Man from Snowy River, only in slow motion.)

Recent rains had made the trails muddy and slick, so we had to fan out and zigzag our way down

the steep mountainside, riding through a blazing-gold aspen forest.

I was never so grateful for a surefooted horse. After we finally made the descent, it was awe-inspiring to look back up the mountain and realize what we’d just accomplished.

Cynthia McFarland is a full-time freelance writer who writes regularly for national horse publications and is the author of nine books. She owns a small farm in north central Florida. A horse owner for more than 35 years, she enjoys trail riding on her Paint Horse gelding, Ben.

Health papers in order and everything checked off the list, we load the third horse into the trailer. My riding buddies, Cinette and Laurel, hop in the truck.

We’re off on a seven-hour drive from our home in Ontario, Canada, to Pure Country Campground in Brookfield, New York, for a four-day camping trip to explore new trails.

A few raindrops hit the windshield as we turn into the driveway of Pure Country Campgrounds. The camp host, Jim Weidman (Jimbo), greets us. He’s a jolly, roundish man with an infectious mile. He suggests we let the horses stretch their legs in the central riding ring.

A quick tour of the facilities reveals firewood, phone, and Internet service, plus contact information for a nearby veterinarian and a farrier.

I also find that we have full use of the main pavilion. This pavilion houses an industrial kitchen and four bathrooms, each equipped with a hot shower. Never before have I camped with my horse in such luxury.

Cinette prepares the stalls with hay bags and water buckets, while Laurel gets her cabin ready. I set up the camper and heat up dinner — a premade stew cooked the day before and frozen. We set up a cook tent to eat in so that we’re protected from bugs and rain.

The horses quickly settle into their covered box stalls that Jimbo has prepared for us. Then it’s early to bed for us, too. We want to hit the trails early.

After a rainy night, the horses are dry and appear well-rested. We’re thankful we spent the few extra bucks for covered stalls. Ignoring the constant drizzle of the gray and gloomy day, we tack up, ready to hit the trails.

Challenging Trails
We wade through a flooded-out logging path, then spot the official

trail markers. We’re on the right track.

The 130-mile Brookfield trail system, originally built by prisoners and maintained by the state, has recently taken on an Adopt-a-Trail Program. Jimbo has adopted the lower portion of the system, close to his private campgrounds.

We choose to ride a short loop off the main path that we find on the map. We want to start out slow, as Cinette’s horse, Blaze, is coming off an injury, and Laurel’s horse, Lefty, is a little anxious, experiencing his first trip.

The trail begins fairly easy, but gets surprisingly challenging, with steep hills and thick mud. Still, it goes well, despite a slippery bridge—more nerve-wracking for us than the horses.

We head in what we think is the direction back to camp. Then we take a quick GPS calculation, realize we’ve taken a wrong turn, and make the necessary adjustments.

The trails here aren’t very well-marked; you never know when you may lose your bearings. If you ride on these trails, I recommend bringing along a map (in a zip-close plastic bag to keep it dry) and a GPS.

A Sunny Ride
Day 2 is cool, but sunny. We pack our lunches, halters, and lead ropes and head out to the trail early in hopes of reaching Lost Pond. A local Standardbred driver passes us with horse and buggy.

After a nice warm up, we canter up the hill to the trails. As a group, we’re doing much better. Blaze seems sound, and Lefty is doing well. I switched back to my old saddle pad, which seems to be staying put.

The boggy ground shows signs of the wet spring where loggers have put down rocks to get through the deep mud. Eventually, the trail dries and winds us through the forest to hitching posts and a picnic table overlooking the pond, where we stop for lunch.

I untack Bailey Boy and tie him to the hitching post, then relax with Cinette and Laurel over lunch.

On the way home, the trails are rocky in spots, and I’m glad I had Bailey shod on all four feet. At one point, the trail turns into nothing but a series of flat-rock steps with a small waterfall flowing down them. Pretty, but slippery.

The sky is clear and offers awesome views from the trail’s highest points. With only a few GPS and map referrals, we make it back to camp unscathed.

Our Last Day
On our last morning, Cinette and I accept Jimbo’s offer to try the versatility cowboy course that’s onsite.

We listen intently while Jimbo explains the obstacles and rules to us. It’s not an easy course.

When the whistle blows for Baily Boy and me, we head out with high hopes. We master the steps, the car wash, and the canter poles. But then I have to pick up a bucket of water and pour it into a barrel. This doesn’t impress Bailey one bit. Then I have to dismount to get through the noodles.

We gallop to the finish line to stop the clock.

Our times aren’t in contention with the big guns, but our fun meters have risen for the day.

We load up the horses, say our thanks and goodbyes, and hit the road for home. On the drive home, all we can talk about is, “Where else can you do so much with your horse and have so much fun?”

This place is one-of-a-kind.

For more information on Pure Country Campgrounds, including a listing of upcoming events, visit www.purecountrycampground.com.

As the owner of Clix Photography (www.clixphoto.com), Shawn Hamilton travels worldwide to cover equestrian events. Her images regularly appear in top magazines. She lives with her husband, four children, and five horses on a farm in Ontario, Canada.

A scene from the film Tombstone (1993) recreates a visit to this same ranch by Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and his “immortals.” Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) lays suffering from tuberculosis in an interior bedroom as Earp departs, taking one last look at his best friend from the doorway leading out to a porch. The actual house, I now see, has no porch. Otherwise, it’s exactly the same spread where the historic Doc rolled out of bed in 1882, coughing, to saddle up and ride. The imposing Charlton Heston aptly plays ranch owner Henry Hooker, who came from a line of Englishmen known for their courage and fierce belief in liberty. According to one descendent, the first Hooker immigrated to Connecticut in 1633 and was said to have “carried a gun in one hand and a Bible in the other; preaching on Sundays and fighting Indians on weekdays.” That’s basically what it took to build up Arizona’s first

permanent ranch.

Henry Hooker (1828–1907) was well known for his hospitality, and today, I enjoy my own dose of “Hooker hospitality” when the man’s great-great-great- grandson, Jesse Hooker Davis, greets me with a handshake in the driveway. Like most cowboys, he dislikes the limelight. His private ranch is not open to the public, but he graciously agreed to my visit thanks to an introduction by his friend Scott Baxter. Davis and Baxter collaborated on Baxter’s book about old Arizona ranching families, 100 Years, 100 Ranchers (Prisma Graphic Corp., 2012), and Davis appreciated my interest in his ranch’s history and ongoing legacy.

Though he spent his youth visiting the ranch of his ancestors, Davis grew up in San Diego. Now 39 years old, the burly former running back for Cornell University moved back here permanently in 2003. He had been working in the hotel/restaurant industry and was looking forward to the day he’d own a string of bungalows on a Mexican beach, but a visit to his ailing grandmother, Jacqueline “Rinki” Hooker, changed everything. The ranch was ailing, too, since she was basically living in Tucson. The livestock had been in the care of a foreman for years, and the 4,000-plus-square-foot hacienda, corrals, bunkhouses, carriage house, and barns on the 160-acre original homestead had sat mostly unoccupied.

Jesse Hooker Davis (foreground) branding a calf, Sierra Bonita Ranch.

“She was just trying to hold onto the ranch,” says Davis, who was inspired to take charge. As soon as we step toward the house, I begin to understand how the Sierra Bonita survived the terror waged by Apaches—it’s literally a fortress. Davis’ tour of the hacienda ends with a visit to the high-ceilinged room where Doc Holliday once lay. The makers of Tombstone made replicas of the exact adobe brick walls, headboard, and dresser when they filmed on location near Tucson. I can almost see the real Doc languishing, pale and sweaty, in this very bed, as he did in real life and vividly on screen.

“Can you sense the spirits of all who have been here?” I whisper to Davis. “I think they watch over me,” he nods. “Or, at least I ask them to watch over me. Other people have sensed them, too, but they don’t like it quite as much as I do.”

Davis raises American Quarter horses on the 45,000-acre Sierra Bonita and has kept Henry Hooker’s original Hereford cattle, whose bloodlines date back a century. He runs a commercial cow-calf operation and works horseback with the help of three hired men. Davis’ cows begin calving in November, and each season’s rainfall and market fluctuations dictate how many, and when, he sells. “I’m the last of the Mohicans,” says the single Davis about losing his grandmother and father a few years ago.

“It’s my turn to take care of the ranch.” It’s been a steep learning curve, but nine years after settling in, he’s as much a part of the place as the once majestic adobe brick corral. The ranch has been listed as a national historic landmark since 1964, and isn’t going anywhere thanks to Davis, who hopes to pass on the legend of the Sierra Bonita to a seventh generation.

Mother Nature equipped our horses with highly effective “clothing” to keep them warm and comfortable in even the coldest, snowiest winter weather. The long hairs of their winter coats stand on end to create an insulating layer of warm air around their bodies. When a layer of snow accumulates on their backs, their coats’ natural oils and thick hair prevent the moisture from reaching the skin.

Horses even have a built-in wicking system: When their coats get wet, their body heat pushes the moisture out ­toward the tips of the hairs where it then evaporates into the air. When the air temperature is below freezing, this moisture may even form icicles on the tips of the hairs—still a comfortable distance from the skin.

For those of us who choose to work with this incredible system rather than replace it with body clipping and blanketing, one of the biggest challenges we face is drying off our horses when they get too wet. Whether your horse is sweaty from a hard ride or “soaked to the bone” by rain, his wet coat temporarily loses its ability to create a warming air space around him. Throwing him into his stall—or, even worse, turning him out—on a brisk, cold day (temperatures below 40 F and/or windy conditions) without drying him off first may cause him to become chilled and burn extra energy trying to keep warm. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours towel drying him or leaving him under fancy heat lamps. The simple wicking technique I’ll share in this article requires very little time and a minimal budget.

Wicking Coolers
The only essential equipment you’ll need is a wool or polar fleece cooler. Both are excellent wicking materials ­designed to create an air space around your horse. His body heat warms up this air space, which then draws the moisture away from his skin to the ­outer surface of the blanket. When you see moisture droplets beading on the outside of your horse’s cooler, that means it’s working.
Heavyweight wool coolers are handy for extremely cold days but, if you’re on a budget, one lightweight one will do the job for most conditions. In my experience, polar fleece doesn’t wick quite as effectively as wool, but it is more durable and easier to work with because it’s machine washable and moth-resistant. Coolers are also now available in various types of high-tech synthetic wicking materials. These work well, too.

Cotton, on the other hand, is not a good wicking material. It holds moisture against your horse’s skin, making him clammy. (If you know any hikers, you may have heard the saying, “Cotton kills.”) So, although Irish-knit coolers have been used on horses for years, and they’re fine for warm, sunny days, I’d avoid putting one on a damp horse in cooler weather.

Here’s how to use your cooler.

Drying a Warm Horse

You know your cooler is working when you see droplets beading on the outside surface.

© Amy K. Dragoo

After a winter day’s ride, your unclipped horse may be damp with sweat even after he has cooled out—that is, his body temperature has returned to normal. The key to helping him dry is to enhance, rather than interfere with, the coat’s natural wicking process I described above—without making him so warm that he begins to sweat again. It’s very common for riders to pile too many blankets on their horses after a workout, thinking that their mounts are cooling off as quickly as they are themselves. But equine body temperatures don’t drop as quickly as humans’ do. A horse’s just-worked muscles can easily heat up again to the point where he “re-sweats” if you cover him with blankets, particularly if he is unfit or his workout was harder than usual.

To prevent this from happening, end your ride with 5 to 10 minutes of walking, either under saddle or by hand, to bring your horse’s breathing and skin temperature back to normal. Watch his nostrils or sides to monitor his breathing and feel his neck and shoulders with a bare hand to check his temperature. There is usually no need for him to wear a cooler while you walk him under saddle; you can add a rump rug or quarter sheet for the last few minutes of your ride if it’s especially windy or cold. (If you cover your horse before his body temperature returns to normal, he may become too warm and break out in a “second sweat.”)

After you’ve cooled him out, dismounted and untacked, give him a quick brushing to “straighten” any hairs that were matted or mussed by sweat and tack, then dress him in your lightweight cooler. Secure it well enough to keep it from shifting as he moves around in his stall. Some coolers come fitted with chest and belly straps for this purpose. More traditional, square coolers need to be closed in the front with a blanket clip—a large metal utility-type clip—and held in place with an elastic surcingle. (Both are available through tack stores and online catalogs.)

If you plan to turn out your horse after your ride, cover the cooler with a lightweight, water-resistant, breathable turnout sheet. This will protect the cooler from rips and tears and help hold it in place. Things tend to slip around more when horses are turned out, so fitted, secured coolers are best in this case. The turnout sheet also will provide some defense against the elements while your horse’s natural “weatherproofing” system is being restored to normal. But it won’t prevent your horse from drying off thoroughly. (On the other hand, if you put on just a turnout sheet without a cooler underneath, you’ll lose that valuable air space above the skin and slow the wicking substantially. I would only recommend doing this with a horse that is just slightly damp in the flank area, for instance.) Some manufacturers now make breathable, water-resistant turnout sheets with mesh linings that create the air space necessary for wicking moisture. These can be used on damp horses without a cooler underneath.

With this clothing secured in place, you can leave your horse to dry off on his own, so long as you’re sure he’s completely cooled down and not overblanketed. (To check this, slip a hand under his cooler to feel his chest and flank areas. They shouldn’t be any warmer than your own skin. The first few times you use the cooler, you may want to check him again after half an hour or so.) Depending on how wet your horse is, it may take him an hour or more to dry off completely after a ride. I

often go back to work after a midday ride, leaving my horse’s cooler on until I get home in the evening. If you ride late in the day and need to turn out your horse for the night, it’s OK to leave a cooler and turnout sheet on overnight. When you do remove his clothing, “fluff” up any matted or flattened hair with a stiff brush to restore its normal texture. (Like wet hair, matted hair loses its ability to trap warm air around the horse’s body.)

Additional Drying Tips
On most days, the process I described above should dry your horse sufficiently. However, if he’s extremely wet, you may want to do a little manual drying before applying a cooler. I’ve had the best success with a household-cleaning product called ­Micro Fiber™ Miracle Cloth. It is made of super-absorbent fabric that holds many times its weight in moisture. You can rub it over your horse’s dampest ­areas, such as the saddle and girth area, ears and flank, wring it out when it’s ­saturated and rub some more.

In rare cases, an extremely wet horse may saturate a cooler with sweat before he’s completely dry. This will slow down the drying process. You’ll know it has happened when the cooler feels wringing wet. Leaving a saturated wool or polar fleece cooler on your horse is still better than exposing his damp body to wind and cold. However, if you have more than one cooler, replacing the saturated cooler with a dry one will speed things up.

Placing handfuls of hay or straw underneath your horse’s cooler or between two coolers can enhance the wicking even further. Not only does the hay or straw absorb some of the moisture, it adds an extra layer of air space around your horse, helping to draw the water droplets to the outer layer of clothing where it can then evaporate. Be sure to put hay in front of your horse as well, so he’s not tempted to reach around and eat what’s under his cooler. It’s usually not a good idea to try this on horses turned out together, as it encourages them to nibble at each other’s coolers.

Drying a Cold Horse
All of the above techniques also work for drying a horse brought in soaking wet from rain. However, if the weather has chilled your horse, too, he won’t have the added benefit of body heat to drive the moisture away from his skin. So to keep him from getting too cold and to speed up the drying process, you may need to use a heavier cooler or an additional blanket layered over the cooler. A little extra ­rubbing with the Magic Cloth will help, too. As your horse dries, be sure to monitor his temperature carefully, feeling his chest and flanks for overheating and watching for shivering that would indicate he’s too cold. In the latter case, you may need to replace the first cooler with a dry one or add more layers to warm him up again.

Dr. Heather Hoyns is an equine veterinarian with her own practice, Evergreen Equine, in West Windsor, Vermont. She also has competed in trail and endurance riding since the late 1970s. Down-to-earth stable management techniques help her make time for conditioning two horses for 50- and 100-mile rides, in addition to working a full-time job. She explains, “I’m a fan of the KISS principle—Keep It Simple!” Among other recent successes, she and her 14-year-old partner, Just Bill, won the second day of the 2006 Mustang Memorial 50/50-mile ride in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.