We’ve made it to Montana, and it’s everything I possibly I could have imagined and more. It’s no wonder they call it Big Sky Country, the scale of the landscape is enormous, and the scenery takes your breath away. Just on the drive from the airport to the Ranch the kids were in awe of the long grass waving in the wind, and I was so stoked that they still even noticed things like that – the hippie in me breathed a huge sigh of relief, and have continued to breathe nothing but fresh mountain air since we arrived.
They don’t call it God’s country without good reason.This afternoon we went on a family ride up into the mountains, and saw a moose.
Amazing, still can’t quite believe it! Adam has worked here at the ranch for going on 13 years, and was an incredible guide, pointing out trees, flowers, wildlife, said moose and more, not to mention being wonderfully patient with Harry and Lily who chattered away incessantly, asking questions nineteen to the dozen! By the end of our ride they were both loping like old hands, we’ll be wrangling soon! He may not be the Jake Gyllenhall I was secretly hoping for, but he was terrific, regardless!
Adam on Bud. He sources most of the 150-odd horses at the ranch locally, advertised on the internet in the classifieds, or on Craig’s List. The ranch is on about 9,000 acres, and the horses all go out at night to graze, and are taken to and from the corral in a huge group by the wranglers each day, a sight to behold.
Ponies waiting to be ridden
Each horse is freeze branded with the Ranch logo; they stopped using hot iron branding a while ago.
They all have shoes all round, look incredibly healthy, and were remarkably sure-footed on the mountain trails, thank goodness!
Harry’s ride, Sylvester who was like Nana the dog in Peter Pan, and could not possibly have looked after him any better.
Here is my EN ears photo for the week:
On wednesday we head to Kalispell for Rebecca Farm,but in the meantime, here’s the view from my cabin
Cowboy up, and Go Eventing!
