Highboy at Red Mountain

 

 

Highboy and I haven't done too much riding this spring, but we did have some fun in the round pen last week.

 

We were able to do a ride at Red Mountain on the weekend with Carol and Shambhu last week, too.

We came across some hikers who took our photo together at the beginning of the ride.

 I took my traditional helmeted selfie with Carol in the background. 

 

 Shambhu spent some time sipping from the stream near the beginning of the ride.

Then we headed into Ruby Wash.  It was the greenest I've ever seen it after having so much water this spring.  We had a surprise as we headed that direction - there were two young deer taking a nap in the shade as we entered the wash.  As we got closer one hopped up the side into the cover of tree branches, and the other ran across the wash and up the other side.  We continued to approach and the youngster in the tree branches panicked then bolted across the wash to be with its sibling.  As we walked by the momma was in the tree branches and just stayed there as we passed.  The youngsters had taken off across the field, but she seemed to know we meant no harm and were just tourists.  Both horses were really good, having both seen deer before.  Highboy practically lives with antelope at our place, and both are very well traveled trail horses.  So no excitement from them, but it was sure fun to see the deer so close!

I love this tree - it's been growing out of sheer rock for years.  I love its fortitude, that it continues to persevere in conditions that are not only less than ideal but normally would prohibit actual growth.

We stopped at the livestock watering tank just south of the Wyoming border and paused for refreshments.  It was amazing to see how green it was at Red Mountain.

 The horses clearly were having a conversation at the water cooler.

 It was a great ride - I love this open space and how close it is to home.