What a great New Year’s Day I had for 2015!

Last Monday I was invited by Jon Tanner to join him for a New Year’s Day ride with the local chapter of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association (MFTHBA) at Antelope Island State Park. It didn’t take me long to clear it with my family and jump on board. We agreed that I would haul my horse up to pick him up and the two of us would head over to Antelope Island, a short drive from his place. In the end we invited my son-in-law, Scott Palmer, and Michael George, a friend of Jon’s, as well.

I got up at 5:30am, after a late evening – New Year’s Eve, you know – showered, made myself a breakfast, then headed over to pick up my horse and trailer in the dark. I had the forethought to prepare my trailer the day before, having shoveled off the 16″ of snow on top of it and made sure I had everything I needed already in it. I had also pulled it out of the pasture where it is being stored and the landowner had cleared a path in the snow with his tractor, so I could make an early departure without having to dig out.

I easily hitched up the trailer. Catching up Ranger in the dark, though, was another problem. The day before, the landowner had offered to feed Ranger an extra bait of hay early, so he would have something to go on during the ride. I asked him not to, so that Ranger would be hungry in the morning, so I could more easily catch him in the dark. I figured to feed him alfalfa cubes and a little sweet feed in the trailer anyway. I used grain in a bucket to help me catch him. On the third try he let me get the rope around his neck. Seems like he always lets me catch him on the third try. We’re going to have to work on that. Anyway, I caught him up, and after a little persuasion, was able to load him in the trailer. We’re going to have to work on that, too.

By 6:40am I was headed over Spanish Fork to pick up Scott. He was ready, so we didn’t waste time. By 7:00 we were headed for Pleasant Grove to pick up Scott’s horse. His horse, a 16-hand Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH), was easy to catch and load, so by 7:50am we were heading for Kaysville to pick up Jon and Mike. We got to Jon’s a bit earlier than anticipated, so we waited there a few minutes for Mike to get there. Mike borrowed one of Jon’s Fox Trotters for the ride. We had Jon’s horses loaded and were moving out by 9:40am, headed for the park, which was just a short 30 minute drive from Jon’s place. Upon entering the park, there is a guard shack, where the park fee of $10 per vehicle is collected. We arrived at the White Rock Camp Ground parking area about 10:10am. Upon arrival we found the parking lot filling up with trailers and lots of riders heading out for the trails. I would guess there were upwards of 50 riders, representing several horse and mule associations, as well as some folks just out for a ride.

By 10:30 we were saddled and heading out on the trails. We grouped up with several others on Fox Trotters and headed out at a pretty good clip. At first, Ranger had trouble keeping up, moving from a fox trot to a pretty choppy trot. I worked to keep him in the fox trot and trying to encourage him to stretch out his stride to get a faster clip. Meanwhile, Scott’s horse, Bandit, the Walker, was a bit excited and Scott was working to keep him settled. He and I ended up getting a bit behind our group. It took us about a mile to catch up with them. During that spread, Ranger started to get his gait in order and move at a faster clip, while keeping his fox trot, with which I was very pleased.

During the ride we saw several buffalo, for which the island is famous. Each year the park service holds a roundup and auctions the excess buffalo in order to keep the population in check. The park service allows the general public to participate in the drive. I am told one has to register at least four months in advance nowadays, and that the roundup has become such a popular attraction that people come from all over the country to participate. I am also told that the day of the roundup has become somewhat of a circus, due to the participation of some 300 or so riders of widely varying experience levels, both human and equine. Accidents and injuries during the round up have become something to be planned for by the park service. According to Jon, it seems that every year there are several riders and horses injured by charging buffalo.

We also saw a small herd of bighorn sheep, a coyote, and several upland game birds. The island, of course, is also know for its Pronghorn, also know as American Antelope. We saw none on this ride, but there is a substantial population of them on the island.

The use of the trails on the island is strictly regulated by the park service. As usual in a state park in Utah, as well as other states, dogs are allowed on leash only. Riders, hikers, and bicyclers are restricted to travel only on the designated trails,  departure from which can result in a fine. We passed a small group of park rangers on horseback who were patrolling the trails. I am told the park allows no more than 10 feet deviance from a marked trail before a citation may be issued. Good to know if you plan a trip to Antelope Island. There are restrooms (no water) at the parking areas and a ranger station is not far away. Jon mentioned that when the snow gets deep, the White Rock parking area is closed and parking is moved to the ranger station parking area.

Antelope Island is the largest of several islands in Utah’s Great Salt Lake. It covers about 42 square miles. The tallest peak, Frary Peak, rises to almost 4,500 feet above sea level, which amounts to just over 2,200 feet above the Great Salt Lake. There are several trails that are open to equine travel on the island, as well as several loops one can make in a vehicle. From the White Rock parking area there is a trail head with a 7-mile and a 14-mile loop. Some of the trails are closed at certain seasons, such as springtime during the period when antelope are bearing their young, so it is advisable to call ahead to the park service if planning to ride a specific area. The only time deviation from the designated trails is allowed is during the fall buffalo roundup.

For our ride we selected the 7-mile loop, but were enjoying the ride so well when we reached the loop intersection that we all chose to go on and take the 14-mile loop. It was the right decision. The longer loop enters some pretty rocky areas and offers some wonderful views from higher elevations on the island.

My horse was barefoot, but handled the terrain well, although one has to factor in the snow, which I’m sure made a difference. I only felt Ranger wince just a couple times and he never got tender-footed at any time during the entire 14 mile ride. There were several spots on the trail where melting snow had created puddles, which had then frozen, creating a slip-hazzard, as well as the possibility of a horse getting a nasty cut by breaking through the thin ice crust. On one switchback, Scott’s horse slipped and fell on his side, catching Scott’s boot in a stirrup. Luckily, Scott had the presence of mind to keep hold of the reins and was able to bring the horse to a halt with no injuries to him or the horse. Scary, though!

Also, snow packing into the horses’ shoes was something to be careful of. I took a turn at riding Scott’s TWH, Bandit, so he could take a turn on my new Fox Trotter, Ranger. While working on Bandit’s “stop pedal”, I gave him a “Whoa” command, at which time he dug in his heels…or tried to. Turns out his shoes were packed and he had been walking on a pad of ice about an inch thick. When he dug in his heels they slipped right up under him and he went down on his rump, which promptly projected me onto the trail on my rump! It was rather humorous to all, including myself, with both of us hitting the trail on our rumps. Again, I was bright enough to keep hold of the reins, and so was eligible to ride on to the trailer, rather than walking. I told everyone I was just working on perfecting Bandit’s sliding stop and thought he was doing rather well. I recommend taking along a hoof pick for winter rides.

We arrived back at the parking area about 2:30pm, where we unsaddled and enjoyed a good, hot bowl of chili, compliments of MFTHBA, and good conversation. Met some nice folks, saw some very pretty horses and mules, and some very nice saddles and other tack. All-in-all, it was a great way to spend a New Year’s Day. I hope it is a good omen for the rest of the year. Enjoy the photo gallery.

We left the park just before 4pm, after needing Scott, Jon, and Mike to help me get Ranger loaded into the trailer (again, something Ranger and I are going to have to work on) and headed home. We unloaded Jon and Mike’s horses and gear at Jon’s house and headed back home to Salem. I let Scott’s horse off in Pleasant Grove, let Scott off in Spanish Fork, and dropped my trailer and Ranger at his pasture in Woodland Hills, arriving back home in Salem long after dark, at about 7pm, just in time to get a nice New Year’s Day supper with lots of black-eyed peas and ham.

It was a very long, but good day for me, and a great way to start the new year.

Here’s to lots of horse trips and lots of blog entries in 2015!

 

 

P.S.

For those of you still wondering about my Mexico-to-Canada trip, Dad and I are making plans for at least the first two legs of it, from the Mexican border to Panguitch, Utah for this spring. We hope to depart from near Douglas, Arizona on or about April 1st, arriving at Eagar, AZ about three weeks later. That leg will be about 275-300 miles, much of which is already familiar terrain to us. At that time we will evaluate our horses, equipment, tack, and ourselves, to decide whether we can make the next leg, from Eagar to Panguitch this year. If we feel like we can do it, we will rest a couple weeks at Eagar, make the necessary adjustments, and head out around the first week or so of May. The second leg will will be about 500 miles, will follow the Arizona Trail through the Grand Canyon, and end up at Panguitch, where Dad was born and raised. As close as I can figure, it should take us about 5-6 weeks for that leg.

Stay tuned. I’ll be posting as things develop.

TH