Our morning starts with a hot breakfast, coffee and then right to getting ready to ride! We go out in groups and today we are in group 4 of 6. Patt French and Val Silva our ride leaders… Since I have time I grab my camera and head out to photo group 2 heading out for their 5 hour ride. The gals are so sweet and stop along the way to allow me to take their pictures. Thank you guys!
The Parade
Rocky Mountain Horse? Is it?
Pretty pony
This is Sam he was next to me in camp, Paula’s mule, he is my boyfriend. I miss him.
Yvonne and her pretty
Our group leaves on time and we head out… Val and I in the rear looking forward to our day. Our ride will be 4.5 hours and we are looking forward to the new riding area for us. As we head out, Patt French our trail leader is tossed from her horse and it is serious. We send the nurses on the ride in to assist and we all pray for Patt. She isn’t able to get up and 911 is called for assistance. The ride continues, and well Hank is not going along with this group today, he bucks, bucks and then bucks some more I dismount and the ride leaves us behind… Well we are resourceful and take out in the opposite direction on our own. Not as much fun, but we allow the other riders to be safe and I can school my darn horse without endangering others. Our day is nice, but of course not as fun as if we were with our group. We find an active mine and have lunch while finding incredible stones everywhere. We head back and the ride comes in shortly thereafter. Time to get ready for the Mardi Gras!
The tent has been decorated and the air is filled with laughter. Let the night begin.
It seems they lost their B
Tonight should be fun.
Selfie
Love this one
So creative
My BFF Val.. love the cup its a red solo cup kindda night for sure.
The twins
You tell me this isn’t serious partying
This young lady was just beautiful.
The evening begins.
I think this is Dana… but after all the wine I might have got her name wrong… Dana is that you.
The Party starts
A fellow AZ gal…
BFF again… Hi Val
Okay the one man in the room and he wont even look at the girls. So darn funny and my entertainment of the evening.
Our Table… see my Paperboy Wine Bottle… so perfect for riding.
Again the young and beautiful… she was adorable.
Bras off….
Back on… kinda of.
So you get the idea of the energy and fun, it was a wonderful time. The evening ends around 11 and we head back to our campgrounds.
The next day is the last group ride but we awake to Pie being rather sluggish and not eating or drinking well. We elect to not go on the ride and push him. Pie is about 23 and the funniest horse I ever had the pleasure of spending time with. He has been Val’s buddy for many years and our camping buddy always.
We get him settled and drinking again and head into town for lunch, Wickenburg is our target.
Downtown Wickenburg
Upon return from our outing Pie isn’t doing much better and we get the attending Vet, Dr. Raenell Killian, after a long process of getting Pi fluids we take off to Cave Creek to get him emergency attention. Pi’s outcome isn’t good and we say goodbye to our good friend.
We want to thank all the Ladies who sat up with us Saturday night. We are forever grateful and Val appreciates you all. The campfire you built for us the dinners you delivered and the hot coffee to help keep us awake. It was a long journey for me to complete this post, I attempted it so many times, the loss of our friend is hard to tell and my dear friend Val is still suffering. When we reconnected with our friends from the ride we find out that at Saturday nights dinner it is announced that this will be the last Happy Hooffer ride. We are saddened by the news.
Riding is one of lives most incredible pleasures, you are able to enjoy places that you could not without a horse. It allows you to step away from the stress of your life and become connected to one of God’s most loved animals. The bond between rider and horse is so strong and it becomes more than rider and horse. I have heard it said that a horse is just a tool, but I say to them you are a tool……
May your views between the ears remind you to live your life like someone left the gate open……
