Myra Addington let her 2 1/2-year-old gelding learn from the leaders. Her husband, Bruce, was busy teaching his 3-year-old gelding, Kid Rock, how to occupy different positions among riders. The Addingtons own and operate Fair Winds Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. Their daughter, Julie, was usually well behind the group, teaching her inexperienced 2-year-old, Special K, the intricacies of trail riding. The Addingtons' trainer, Chris Tipton, could be seen on and off trail, exposing his young filly to all types of situations. Fair Winds Farm has about 65 Rockies and Kentucky Mountain/Pleasure horses. They bred and raised the four horses they took to Vermont.
H.T. and Wilda Derickson, co-owners of Van Bert Farms (also in Stanton), were probably the most experienced riders in our group. Wilda was a social butterfly, making her way up and down the trail line to converse with all the riders aboard her 5-year-old championship show mare, Meet Virginia.
Robert and Lyngle Lawson, owners of Stone Ridge Farms near Paris, Kentucky, could almost always be found in middle of the pack. Robert was on a 2-year-old gelding he'd selected from the 50 horses on their farm. His goal, besides having a good time, was to essentially break in the young horse for future trail rides. Lyngle's 6-year-old mare added immensely to her vacation from school teaching.
Beth Flege, the only single among us (except for a young student rider attached to Cedar Grove Farm), made the most of every trail ride. She rode a different horse each time out, practicing her riding skills. Her favorite mount turned out to be Chief Wahoo, a 6-year-old gelding from Van Bert Farms.
If there had been a vote, veterinarian Dan Moore and his wife, Cheryl, would've gotten the "most congenial" award. They were content to ride anywhere in the pack, offer advice on the condition and health of others' horses, take photos with fellow riders' cameras, and help whenever asked. Dan rode his all-time favorite 6-year-old mare, Cocoa Caliente; Cheryl rode Baby Doll, also a 6-year-old mare.
Nancy and I were on our favorite trail riding horses: Duke, a 6-year-old gelding, and Sundance, a 7-year-old mare. Duke is more horse than a novice like me should ride, but has proven many times how smart and savvy a well-trained Rocky can be. All a rider has to do is give him his head and trust him. Sundance is everyone's dream trail horse, beautiful, competent, surefooted, and "dead broke."
Mike Hartong used a couple of his horses. One was on his 5-year-old gelding, Major Impact. The other was a 2-year-old, CGF High's Choco Dancer, typical of Cedar Grove's horses-bred, born, and raised by loving hands of Mike and Kathy. Kathy skipped the trail rides, saying she was happy keeping everyone fed and handling logistics from her little red pickup truck.
Nan Woods usually rode her 15-year-old Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse/Mountain Pleasure registered stallion, Mountain Bourbon. A gigantic, muscular stallion, he easily led all the young Rockies through the trails all day long.
A highlight of our trip turned out to be a hayride. Every year, Nan harnesses four of her awesome gray Percherons to a beautifully crafted flatbed wagon. Driven by her farm manager, Darrell Kittredge, the wagon is filled with guests, eats, and drinks. Then the wagon gently slips through the late afternoon onto a county road that deposits us on the banks of a soothing fresh body of water. There, we stop to refresh our drinks and take in the beauty of the surroundings. Off the wagon, guests gather at the water's edge, take in the cool breeze flowing off the lake, and gaze at the colors of the trees dancing across the water's surface.
There are times in everyone's life where situations occur that create memories of a lifetime. For this group of horse lovers, this trip to Vermont was such a time. The fun, fellowship, and synergy of the group pulled everyone close.
So, whether you ride a Rocky Mountain Gaited Horse, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse, or some other breed, come from Kentucky, Texas, Ohio, or other parts, don't hesitate to ride the trails of Vermont's version of "God's Country" especially in the fall when the leaves are at the peak of their beauty.
Both Cedar Grove Farm and Heavensent Farm are private. If you're interested in purchasing a Rocky Mountain Horse, contact Cedar Grove Farm, (802) 592-3560; www.rockymountainhorsevermont.com.
