The Saturday before Easter was a Scheduled CTRF trail ride. CTRF stands for "Christian Trail Riders Fellowship" It is a group of folks that vary in age and in number of riders from year to year- and- even in individual rides. They wish to promote the Gospel on horses and being available for service to it's members or those they know of that are in need in the community.My very first trial rides were with this group and also my first horse camping trips.
Milo McIver State Park was our destination today. It has 951 acres of lawns and wooded areas open for dogs, bicycles, hikers, campers, rafters, kayakers and equines. It also has a 27 hole "Disc Golf Course" on site, as well!
All in their respective area's.
This is an old Historic farmstead Barn, on the State owned property...they keep it for owls to roost in. The property also has many bat houses with a "bat trail" for those interested.
Another Equestrian group, O.E.T. "Oregon Equestrian Trail riders" does much of the trail maintenance at this park. I plan on joining them this year to volunteer . I ride so many of the wonderful trail systems they service.
We members of CTRF get to where we are scheduled to ride and it's "Foot In The Stirrup" by 10am , always.This time, we arrived, set up our sign in the back of my truck, and were very surprised to find no one else was arriving! I thought it may be like this for the day before a holiday.
We did have our feet in the stirrups by 10am and I have new ones, to boot! 
As we went along..the horses refreshed at the watering holes. This particular ride has many opportunities for this with the Clackamas River close by and many various creeks, as seen above. 
I found a tree stump to prop my little camera on this time...set the timer and-there we all are- the group of 3 for the days ride!
We did have our feet in the stirrups by 10am and I have new ones, to boot! I found them online at "Easycare". They are like riding on platforms...and my feet never got burning hot, like they used to with a normal sized English iron.
When you trail ride as much as I do, this is the best alternative to traditional.
As we went along..the horses refreshed at the watering holes. This particular ride has many opportunities for this with the Clackamas River close by and many various creeks, as seen above. 
I found a tree stump to prop my little camera on this time...set the timer and-there we all are- the group of 3 for the days ride!
That was a great trip,
ReplyDeletewonderful day, great photos.
Have a wonderful week
Mary ElizabethBlog.
the horses are so beautiful. looks like a wonderful ride.
ReplyDeleteI love the soft focus images. It's so clear to see you have a real affinity with horses.
ReplyDeleteI love photos of that between horses ears perspective.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful country!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip! I'm a horse lover, owned two at one time, still miss them and yours are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOooh...I have looked at those stirrups. They are OK on your english leathers?
ReplyDeleteHi there Kacy, it's been a while since we've "talked". Glad you had such a marvelous time at the beach with your friend. Sounds glorious!
ReplyDeleteGlad you have some campouts scheduled with your riding club. We are members of a christian riding club too. Our local club is called Son Rise Trailriders. We are a chapter of the Adventist Horseman's Association. You can google it if you'd be interested in finding out more.
I'm glad things are going so well for you lately...hopefully you've come out on the other side and it's better from here on out.
Washashe is a beauty. It's wonderful that there are a group of you to ride together like this.
ReplyDeletei so enjoyed my ride with you...beautiful trails...loved all your photos and commentary.
ReplyDeleteGood times, good company, what could be better? Looks relaxing. You've really inspired me, I think I may look into where I could trailer my horse to for trails. I think she'd enjoy that and I know I would.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day out. Sometimes actually more fun with less people.
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish I had been with you! What a wonderful ride you all had!
ReplyDeleteHorses are such a spiritual animals, arn't they? When I'm alone in my barn, mucking or grooming, I do a lot of "GOD" talking. It just seems to go hand in hand. Hope you had a wonderful easter!
misha
I've been wanting to try a trail ride in that park. Would you say it's a good spot for someone with a spooky horse who doesn't like to cross water?
ReplyDeleteYou're so fortunate to have such a wonderful location to ride with Christian friends (Iron Sharpens Iron)......which brings me to your new iron stirrups! They are very nice.....I bought a western version of them and my feet actually stay in (I'm so short my stirrups cannot go any shorter without trimming the fenders off, so my saddle shop suggested the irons)....I didn't even think about them being cooler in the summer months! Beautiful photos and post as usual! Luanne
ReplyDeleteSO, now you're ready to do an endurance ride! those stirrups rock, i can't live without them! funny, i got an endurance rider in germany to "please use my stirrups" cuz she was actually doing 100 miles in normal english irons. no freakin way. she saw the light and now she has her own. bet she paid waaaaaay more than you did though, cuz easycare stuff is not cheap in germany.
ReplyDeletecool that you can be part of a christian trail riding group.
now go join PNER if you haven't already. oregon's where it's at!
~lytha
Very cool idea.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteOh Kacy, I am so happy to see you back in the saddle and enjoying life again!!!! Who knew that all you needed was a little bit of sun and a new barn???? LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy those new trails, my friend....
What a cool outing! I LOVE trail riding with other people - can't wait until Isolde and Kalahari are old enough to carry riders of their own, and we can set out with the fabulous four and their four riders!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful horses and a great ride!
ReplyDeleteI use stirrups with platforms, too, called EZride, I think. Probably the same kind. Very comfortable.
Based on my admittedly extremely limited knowledge of all things equestrian, these look more like floorboards than stirrups! Seems like it'd be hard to stay in 'em on rough terrain or at a fast gait. But obviously they're not or you wouldn't be using them I guess.
ReplyDeleteI am curious about the connection between stirrups and foot temperature though. How's that work?? Or is the connection really between the boots you'd wear using one versus the other?
*sigh* Despite what my Sepia Scenes this week might suggest, I'm a complete idiot when it comes to horses. I can recognize one at a glance, and know enough not to get behind them. And that's about it.
Awww! I love it when you share photos and trip reports from your rides, Kacykins! This ride sounded right up my alley. I would have loved this!
ReplyDeleteYou and Wa look so AWESOME together, too.
Oh! And I have those exact same stirrups! They came with my Aussie style Endurance saddle. I love them! My legs, hips and knees never hurt even after hours in the saddle on long trail rides.
You are going to love them, too, especially with all the riding you do.
I only wished I would have upgraded to leather, so that they were softer and the black paint didn't chip off.
But otherwise, they're great!
Your photos are always stunning... love the stirrup one! How does your foot get hot with an english iron?
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys had a blast.