Bobby and Jenny outside the front entrance of the five-star Lodge at Kananaskis in the beautiful Kananaskis River Valley.We were just setting out to spend the day in Banff after visiting with Lesley on her last night before she went back to Toronto.
Bobby and Laredo.
Jenny and Walton.
Looking through Lefty's ears.
Front to back - our guide Troy, Bobby, Jenny and two Muslim women who were along for the ride, as well. We rode a one hour loop around the marsh in Banff. The weather was spectacular and the fall colours were brilliant!
Hi Dale, too busy to sign in properly, but just catching a glimpse of these lovely photos makes me happy that you've had a good time with `lesley and the kids too. How lovely to go riding in such beautiful surroundings.
ReplyDeleteLast time I got on a horse it was having PMT or something and decided it didn't want to be ridden...just because...Still, I was feeling even meaner that day and made sure I had a really good ride. The horse enjoyed itself too eventually ;-) I love riding.
Oh great! You got to go riding. I'm so happy.
ReplyDeleteIt was great you guys could join me at the hotel .... and thanks for all the lovely hospitality on Thanksgiving week-end. It was wonderful to see you and the little (and not so little) ones.
Lesley
XX
I never did get the hang of riding, but the little caravan of riders looks so peaceful.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you've all been enjoying yourselves.
xx
AM
Oh Dale what bliss! It's too long since I've been on a horse, and the trail-ride and equestrian school operators here are very cautious and afraid of litigation, so we always have to wear helmets. Nice and safe, but not the same as having a long canter with the wind going through your hair.
ReplyDeleteGlad you seem to have had a great Thanksgiving. Hope it was healing.
ps: Vally - a horse with PMT? I know what you mean though - there are some who are so fed up with being handled badly that they just do whatever they can to p**s any new rider off. I especially love the ones that want to take you under low-hanging branches and close alongside barbed wire fences, and they're often so tough in the mouth and flanks you have to move heaven and earth to correct them. It sounds like you had the right skills to show it who was boss though! I'm glad everyone was happy in the end.
ReplyDeletenot to mention the sudden stop followed by a sharp left...
ReplyDeleteAnd Bobby loved it, Lesley!!
ReplyDelete...and the sudden drop of the left shoulder, specally designed to eject unwanted riders....
ReplyDeleteNice to see everyone happy and relaxed, i've never been on a horse but Chantal used to ride alot as a child..
ReplyDeleteTell a lie, i've been on one of those arcade slot machine horses..does that count?..
Of course that counts, Gypsy!
ReplyDeleteI'd have given my left leg to ride one of those when I was a kid.
Dale,
ReplyDeleteIs there a post missing between this one amd the last or is my computer fritzy and not loading in properly? The horse back riding journey looks like a great day!
~Lace~
Dale it was just last week..
ReplyDeleteHi Dale,
ReplyDeletethis is fantastic to go with your kids on a riding trip. I never sat on a horseback, but Charly love horses and the riding. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in this special way like in Canada or the USA. Therefore I forgot to wish you all the best for this day, sorry.
Here my shout to you.
Love
Stefan
LOLOLOL Gypsy.....has the the arcade recovered from the shock...I'm sure the horse hasn't! Next time it sees you it'sll block its slot...hmmm...maybe I should rephrase that...
ReplyDeleteLOL Val!
ReplyDeleteDale - what a wonderful way to spend an autumn afternoon. I'm so jealous! It's been raining here for three days now and looks to keep it up all week. The trails that I like to ride here are flooded! Go figure. If this was snow, we'd have three or four feet of it!
I love to ride, but haven't been since last Spring in Costa Rica. The first horse tried to throw me, but didn't. Needless to say, the caballeros found me another steed - but they were properly impressed (and relieved) that I stayed on the first one! So was I, actually... :)
I've ridden in several places and usually the horses are PMT....Vallyp, is PMT PMS for equines? - anyway - stubborn, ornery and mean - until you show them who's in charge, that is. (which never worked for me.... I stayed stubborn, ornery and mean for the duration...:(
With the one exception tho, this last time riding, I didn't see or experience any of that with the Costa Rican horses. Maybe they're just laid back and manana, like so much else down there?
Glad to hear and see that you had such a nice holiday, Dale. I, too, hope it was healing.
Oh the memories! (of riding, beautiful trails. sigh) :o) Looks like heaven.
ReplyDeleteOkay. Have to ask. In the last photo. Click on the photo. Get the BIG view. Does the woman in the brown sweater have on PJ bottoms? Is that sort of common? It seemed so weird.
Well, Gypsy and Val got me LOL.
So happy it was a fine weekend.
(p.s. Lace .. i think the other posts went into archive.) ?
Val - I am assuming PMT is your term for our PMS?
ReplyDeletePrementstral Syndrome...
Some syndrome.
And I have ridden my fair share of horses with attitudes!
With an attitude.
Lesley, we checked out Boundary Ranch, but it had closed for the season, so I asked about Warner's in Banff. Found it up and running still. Bob was typically balking at first, but raved on and on how much fun it was after the ride was over. ;)
There's no hang to riding at first, Anne-Marie - except to hang on!
As for litigation, Margie, we had to sign a waiver (that wouldn't hold up in court, mind), but I have experience and went into this fully aware of the risks and responsibilities. I learned to ride without a helmet, although when I'm training or jumping I wear one.
And, surprising enough, these mounts are quite well trained and responsive to an experience rider, yet babysit those who have little or no experience. I was quite impressed.
Yes Lace, my previous posts have been archived.
(That sounds oh, so librarian of me...)
Tink, the two ladies riding in front of me were Muslim. They had their faces completely covered and wore leggings that did resemble pyjamas. LOL
Their husbands stayed behind while they did the ride with their children. I thought it was great - and they had sooo much fun. I couldn't understand a word they said, but the universal language of fun spoke volumes.
I love all your comments and the little ditties that go along with each one. We all have such interesting tales to tell!
Oh and, Rachel, do you ride at all in Iowa?
ReplyDeleteI am also quite ignorant when it comes to the midwestern states.
I should do a bit of research.
I heard Banff is THE BOMB. I wish I could get there!
ReplyDeleteIs there a little deer there, maybe, named Banffbi?
Naw.
--Dan L.
So when can you and me do that again? It's been too long
ReplyDeleteahh ... thanks Dale
ReplyDeleteI figured the Muslim part, but the clothing on the bottom half had me scritchin' me head.
:o)
Be well!