Tag Archives: R lazy S Ranch

DAY ONE… R LAZY S RANCH!

Day 1.

As I write this to you, I’ve just showered and am sitting on our fabulous, fluffy topped bed while the entire herd of guests (including Hubby) are watching the kids play kickball. Now, you have to imagine, the adults are sitting on a lovely wood deck beneath the Grand Tetons while the kids are playing on a huge, green lawn below the Tetons.

Normally, this probably wouldn’t interest Hubby nor I, however, it is SO MUCH FUN to gab and joke with all of our new friends from all over the country. I can still hear them all cheering and hooting… and Hubby just came into our cabin to get his guitar so you can imagine all the fun that will be happening out there soon. I know the wine and stories are flowing. New best friends…

I think the total capacity for guests is 46 (including kids – who have their own wranglers). Looking down the rooming list, there are people from New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, Ohio, California, Alabama and Virginia.

We woke up to morning fog. It was beautiful.

MY HORSE

I’m on Petunia. She is an Arab cross who was born on the ranch. Her trot is lovely. That’s all we’ve done so far. I’m trying to make friends with her and I think I did because she slimed my new shirt when I dismounted after the morning ride. I’m sure I was just the closest scratching thing but I took it as a sign. ;)

Speaking of slimed shirts… have any of you used the new UV technology shirts? They are supposed to help you not get sunburned but also let air flow through?

Well, I purchased one (on sale – we love Riding Warehouse) and wore it today. What I liked was that I had long sleeves but the underside was mesh so it was cool. What I shouldn’t have done was wear a tank under it. I was too warm. So, if you get one of these Ariat Tek sun protection shirts (or any other brand), don’t wear any layer underneath.

Anyway, I was speaking about Petunia… I heard that they called her “Petunia” because when she was born, she was all pink. Now she is all white. And a bit plump. But, as I said, her trot is to die for.

We will lope (canter) tomorrow so I’ll report back.

Petunia (my view)

Hubby’s view of Petunia (Note my boots. Love them.)

TODAY’S RIDES

On the first day, the wranglers split us up into small groups and take us on valley rides – just to have us get to know our horses and gear.

I wish I could bring my own saddle… but other than that, I love my horse.

On a lark, earlier this year I purchased a secondhand sheepie for Western saddles. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but it did! The stirrups go through the sheepskin panels. I’m so happy!

So today, we rode along the Snake River (which was glorious – my favorite) and we rode through the meadows. I really cannot express the beauty here. It is God’s Country. The rides are not about trotting or galloping – they are about the scenery. Just absolutely glorious.

Now, I want to stress that these horses are in great shape and fed very well (and rested when needed)… so you never really need to think about your mount. This leaves all kinds of time for chatting, observing or just communing.

I kept forgetting to take photos! Today we were riding along the Snake River. I love that the best!

MY GEAR MISHAPS AND WINS

I love my new boots!!! It took me years to give up my Mountain Horse boots. I wore them out – literally.

And, I have always thought Ariats were too narrow for me.

But, I purchased (again from Riding Warehouse – linked below) a pair of Ariat zipper paddock boots and LOVE THEM. So comfy! Warning: I did have to go down an entire size… but they are glorious. (Official name: Ariat Barnyard Side Zip Paddock Women’s Boot s)

My mishap was with my ‘Da Brim’ visor attachment for my helmet.

Now, I really don’t care what others say about my gear, so the fact that I received some gentle ribbing (‘flying nun’ comments, etc) was fun. But, when a huge gust of wind came while were were vigorously trotting, the Da Brim flew off! The horse behind me didn’t flinch, but it could have been very interesting. So, for me, I wasn’t too impressed with the Da Brim. However, the wrangler said that he sometimes ties them on with a scarf when it is windy. (And perhaps I didn’t have it adjusted exactly correctly.)

These new Ariat zip boots are the bomb! So so comfy! But I did have to get an entire size smaller, fyi.

They are short boots, which I like because I have short legs. These are a 5.5 and I normally wear a 6.5.

I CAN HEAR THEM ALL CHEERING…

So, as I write this and search through my photos of the day, I can hear them all cheering and having a grand old time. I will finish this note to you, drink a very tall glass of water (high altitude) and go to sleep.

I almost hate to have one day gone already… but so much more fun and beauty to come!

The vistas take my breath away. For this reason (and many others), I come back.

Your purchase with Riding Warehouse through this link helps the Bucket Fund!

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Sometimes… I just want to be around Mother Nature. You, too?

Today was Day 4 at the R Lazy S Ranch. (No affiliation)

I have so many photos! But, unfortunately, not a strong internet connection. So I am bummed that I cannot show you as many photos as I’d like…

You see today, I felt very quiet and melancholic. I wasn’t sure why… but I think it had something to do with Mother Nature. I wanted to commune with her, hold hands with her. I wanted to catch her attention and have her whisper to me, gently. She was all around me, yet I hadn’t been infused by her…

I needed to be quiet to hear.

Mother Nature was all around, I wanted to immerse myself.

OUR RIDE

But first, we rode.

Hubby is matched with an incredible horse made exactly for him (or so it seems). Her name is ‘Rose’ – a huge red roan with total attitude and lots of GO! They are perfect together.

I, on the other hand, requested Dove… who I love. She is as sweet as can be and her trot is fabulous. However, she isn’t into loping much. So, Hubby and I have been on separate rides.

Riding separately was OK for a while, but today I wanted to be with Hubby so I asked to switch horses. I asked for a horse who had a nice lope. Well, the wranglers wanted to give me ‘Thorn’ – Rose’s best friend – but he had been ridden last week and he needed a rest. So, instead, they gave me ‘Luna’.

Luna is a small (yay!) dark brown mare with several brands (she’s been there, done that) and floppy ears. They literally flop sideways. Probably an old injury. She’s a bit older… calm and serene. And as promised, Luna’s lope (canter) was perfectly divine.

And lucky for Hubby and I, the owners’ son, Will, took just the two of us on an incredible ride – all over the Grand Teton National Park – through woods, creeks, streams, meadows to die for, glorious paths and heavenly trails. Having grown up here, Will knew the best places to ride – and the best places to lope.

G-L-O-R-I-O-U-S.

The only issue was that Luna is quite a bit slower than Hubby’s and the Wrangler’s horse, so I was always waaaay back there… but that was OK. My girl was tractable, honest, dependable and had a fabulously comfortable, albeit a bit slower than everyone else, canter.

Hubby on Rose. He was taking my photo as I took his. Note Luna’s droopy ears. This photo shows her ears at full attention. They do not stand upright.

On a wonderful ride with Hubby and Will.

Hubby and Rose. Hubby is taking off his glove so he can take a photo. JUST LOOK at this scenery!

Look at this wonderful meadow… Everywhere you looked, it was breathtaking. 2-D photos don’t do it justice.

MY TIME SEEKING MOTHER NATURE…

Although I loved riding with Hubby and Will, something inside of me wanted to seek out Mother Nature. I needed some alone time…

If I had had the knowledge and fortitude, I would have loved to have set up a ‘blind’ somewhere on the ranch to sit quietly and watch for wild animals.

Instead, when all of the other guests were around the campfire after an incredible dinner eating homemade s’more’s and listening to adults tell ghost stories while the kids were swinging into the pond via a rope … I snuck off with my camera.

I knew I was smack dab in the middle of Mother Nature’s living room (here at the base of the Tetons); all I had to do was sit back and relax, and she’d show herself soon enough…

So that is exactly what I did.

Below is my photojournal…

The sun was starting to set so I made my way up to the barn area and met this lovely boy who was quite happy to come over and visit with me.

I turned my camera to the right and took this shot of the meadow in front of the Ranch.

I walked towards this tall stand of Aspens and stumbled upon this doe! Do you see her?

She was afraid of me and went bounding out of the trees. I just barely caught this shot of her. She settled right there in the front lawn!

While I was inside of the Aspen grove, these seeds stuck to my shirt.

This is on the front lawn… the doe was behind it. I loved walking around the ranch when everyone else was at the cookout. It was so quiet and wonderful!

The sun was setting lower… so pretty.

I saw this HUGE owl fly overhead and land on the fence. Can you see it? He is turned away from me. Wow! I had never seen an owl in person before!

Mo, the mini donk, saw the owl, too. The owl was very close and Mo was a bit concerned.

I continued to walk around as the sun set. Absolutely glorious. The sky was turning orange. Really beautiful!

A MOOSE!! Right next to our cabin! It looks like daytime but it was really almost dark when I returned to the cabin – only to see this beautiful girl about 30 feet from my porch! Thank you, Mother Nature, thank you!

And then I finished the night with Chippy. He is our resident chipmunk… Chippy has a nest in the exterior rafters. We hear him constantly. He moves his things around and runs across the roof. I love having him near.

Hubby had come back by this point – and our Chippy had just gone to bed. Hubby insisted on annoying poor Chippy by taking this flash photo of him in his nest. After this, Chippy berated Hubby loudly and threw a piece of nest down onto Hubby’s arm. Ha! Serves Hubby right!

: And last but not least, just as the sun was almost totally set, Mother Nature visited again! It was almost completely dark when this doe appeared in front of our cabin. Lovely.

THANK YOU, MOTHER NATURE… I NEEDED THAT.