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Hobby Horse: OK, so group rides can be fun after all

By SUSAN LAGSDIN/North Country Rider
Aug. 18, 2008

Susan Lagsdin is a member of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington and executive director of Write on the River. She and her Arab cross, Stella, split their time between East Wenatchee and Twisp.

Mid- June, late morning at the Northrup Canyon Equestrian Trail south of Grand Coulee. It’s sweltering in the brief shade of the canyon wall, and five of us strangers are introducing ourselves at a picnic table, waiting for a big red stock truck to round the bend.

After 35 years of riding solo, today I have joined the dudes — the people who have signed up to rent a horse and ride by the hour.

I’m here for three reasons. 1.) Though I recently guffawed at a sincere suggestion that riders save gas money by parking their trucks and trailers, and instead rent horses upon arrival at a vacation spot, I’ve realized a more intelligent response would have been to consider the possibility. 2.) I’m curious to feel what it would be like, after all these independent riding years, to be again in a line of slow moving, guaranteed-safe, no-hassle horses — with the popular and reputable Northrup Canyon trail riding outfit, which is booked most weeks from March to November. And 3.) This is some of the prettiest scenery around.

So I’ve made my arrangements, put on my best boots, and squeaked my mind open to the chance that this could be interesting.

The truck jounces in, and the stomp of eight horses unloading ensues. Our host, Double Diamond Guest Ranch owner Kathy McKay, greets us happily, asks us to sign waivers and gives us a choice of mounts, by color. I quickly pick out Leo, rangy and black. I sit quietly in the saddle, horse still haltered to the trailer, waiting my turn for stirrups to be adjusted. I feel about 12. Which isn’t a bad thing, necessarily — a 50-year “back to the future” scenario.

McKay gives some basic instructions as we get ready to ride:

“The reins are knotted twice. The first is a riding knot. Loop this over the horn and the horse will walk and stop when he’s supposed to. The second is a grazing knot. Loop this over the horn and when we take a break the horse can eat grass …”

Already I’m feeling a tiny self-righteous twinge of complaint.

Then off we go! Five dudes and two shepherds. I’m feeling like this is all a big mistake. Moi? On … Leo? Here in the dude string?

But these horses are working us up some pretty tough trails. They’re muscular, shiny with health, well-groomed. We trot a few yards in unison. Leo is pretty smooth, doesn’t miss a beat on unshod hooves over trails he’s got memorized.

“Don’t get too close to the horse in front,” McKay gives occasional advice along the trail. “Let them grab for grass as long as they keep moving … stay centered in the saddle … don’t thump with your feet or pull on the reins …”

The girl in front of me is blissed out; it’s been years since her last pony ride and she’s in heaven. And behind me is Lisa, summer wranglerette in a tank top, an interning equine science major from Montana. She’s watching the line and calls out advice to straighten a right-canted rider.

McKay, who lives a family ranch life filled with horses, is in the lead. When we take our break, she tells me how each of these horses was chosen and trained, what personality quirks they have, how they self-select every morning by galloping into the corral to be saddled. They work hard for their hay, but it’s an easy gig compared to racing, roping or high-level dressage.

“I just love all these guys,” McKay says. “Every one of them is super.”

She’s chatting with me, but she has her eye on every horse, every rider. And she’s quick with admonitions:

“You might want to bring him back toward us.”

“He’s fine, just let his head go.”

“Don’t worry; they’re buddies.”

I’m smiling, surrounded by massive basalt cliffs, the scent of horse sweat, sage and wildflowers. We leave the old homestead site and hit the trail again, looping back to the truck.

Leo’s slick with the heat, but he keeps on going, and his good steady work ethic lets me gaze all around at all the dramatic canyon scenery, enjoying the low murmurs of my trail mates and the continual grin of the 20-something rider who maybe has found her dream horse.

It was a hot day, maybe a little more dust than I’d choose. But I was actually a darn good dude, and it was an unexpectedly entertaining two-hour ride — Leo and his cohorts may not keep me from lugging my own horse to distant trailheads, but they’ll do nicely for a whole lot of riders who want to see some pretty country tucked away up Northrup Canyon.

• Susan Lagsdin is a member of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington and executive director of Write on the River. She and her Arab cross, Stella, split their time between East Wenatchee and Twisp.