HORSE RIDING

A few years back my wife, Helene Blake, got a hankering to do some horse riding. Well, that has evolved into a whole new world for us. I guess I can say we have now ridden all over the world, since we just rode this past December in Australia. Mostly however we ride around Houston for an hour or so at a time and then, once a year, a big ride in Wyoming. We met up with a wrangler and his wife at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo who operate rides out of Lander, Wyoming. I strongly recommend their rides to anyone interested in a little safe adventure. Skip and Vivian Ashley operate Western Encounters.

You can reach them at:

They have a webpage at : http://www.webcom.com/treasure/western/western.html

Their rides are for experienced riders, but you don't have to be an expert. I'm sure not and I have enjoyed my rides with them. They last a week and cover a lot of ground. There are about five different rides but they change them every few years. They provide all the food, and good it is too. Sleep in fine tents, sort of like tee-pees with thick foam rubber pads under the sleeping bags. They even provide hot showers! How? You say how when you are out in the middle of nowhere? Guess you'll just have to go on a ride to find out. Here is what we have done:

1. The Pony Express Ride. This is a week in which you rider over some of the same trails used by the pony express (surprise, surprise!) but also follow some of the only Oregon Trail. Great scenery. Some cantoring and a little gallop now and then.
2. The Outlaw Trail. Well, shucks this is supposed to associated with the "hole-in-the-wall" gang but it's really just a great ride through a variety of Wyoming, including the Great Red Wall. Yeah, the gang is supposed to have operated from the same region but the true attraction is the great scenery, great rides, including some hard runs, and great comaradery. .

This summer we will do another. Great food. Great nights and good riding. More stars than you ever believed existed.

Well, guess I gotta mention Australia. Skip and Vivian set this one up also. We rode for a week in the north-eastern part of New South Wales. Covered about 20 to 25 miles per day. Good horses but a modified English saddle, to which I had some trouble adjusting having only ridden western. Saw some kangaroo, parrots, lizards, snakes, cows, rabbits and, and, ....... Australians. Spent nights in "pubs" located in small towns. More like inns really. Fun, but not as good as Wyoming.

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