First of all, many, many thanks to Susan and Shannon for making this possible. Without your love for our Lambert family both horses and their people this could not happen. A big thank you for making the red barn available to us for base camp each day. Secondly, a thank you to Joyce and Mary for serving as hostess with the most-est. Awesome job ladies! And last but not least, thanks Cathy and Tracy for leading the trail rides.
My crew; sister Amy, bro-in-law, Tim and their two children; Ashlee and Chase along with myself and two of my sons; Levi and Ethan arrived at Cathy and Mike's Cross Creek farm on Locust Creek Friday evening with camper and horse trailer in tow. Thank you Cathy and Mike for a wonderful campsite and the use of your pasture! Soon after we arrived, Joyce, Ralph and Kalie along with Susan, Shannon, Lucy and Lisa came by to greet us. The reunion has begun. After setting up camp, we drive by Ted and Mary's place to see if Carol C has arrived. Next up to HT to get Kalie's things, the kids have planned for Kalie to spend the night with us. We make plans to be at the red barn at 9 am then ride to Ruth's place at 10 for the first trail ride.
Maybe it's because I'm a parent but I love making dreams come true for horse lovers. I made a few plans behind the scenes to increase the odds. Cathy (and Tracy) agreed to serve as trail guides as I only knew trails across the river which we couldnt cross due to high water. Carol C was taking Venture out for the first time on the trails and as mentioned earlier, Lucy agreed to pony Dante for me. Gut instinct told me that this was what he needed. I was right. She ponied him w/o a rider, then when the time came, I mounted and off we went. Kalie on Caress, Levi on Isaac, Ashlee on Ireland, Carol on Venture, Lucy on Airy and me on Dante headed for Ruth's barn. There we meet up with Cathy on Max, Tracy on Goose (aptly named, he is up for leading any trail ride :-), Tracy's friend, Tarol on ?, Mary on Twilight and Ruth on the gleaming Mandolin. Eleven riders headed for the river trail. Meanwhile the Morgan paparazzi (sp?) has taken vehicles to be able to catch us on film. Tim said we kept them busy, waiting for us to leave on a ride, following us for part of the ride or waiting for us to return!! He and Joyce were ever ready with the cameras.
We proceed down the river trail, a perfect calm and safe trail to begin the weekend. Part way on the trail, I feel Dante is ready to go it alone w/o being ponied and we take off the lead rope. He was great! Carol had not yet trotted on Venture except for a couple of oops and at one point I look up and she's trotting down the trail smiling from ear to ear and Venture is cool as a cucumber. We cross a wooden bridge, which most of us expect a little reaction from the horses, so mentally prepare for. I look back to check on Levi, he's riding Isaac with one hand and taking pics from the saddle with the other hand. Leave it to kids, to take it all in stride.
We rode about 3 hours from start to finish and all went well. We make plans to ride out from the red barn at 10 am on Sunday. After a wonderful lunch at HT with Susan and Shannon, we visit the stallion barn and then the foal barn. Oh what lovely young fillies greet us at the foal barn. It's hard to choose a favorite, but we all pick different ones. The Courtship daughter, Wildair, is pure sweetness and at the top of my list. Later four of us embark on ride number two. Susan had promised Ashlee she'd go riding with her, so Susan on Caress, Ashlee on Ireland, Lucy on Merrily and I on Venture ride the 'dam' trail. Dear old Caress with her daughter, Merrily and son, Venture along with Ireland with only 3 months training made it a special ride.
It's time to call it a day so we load our four and head for Locust Creek. My son Ethan, is not yet riding on his own, so I promised him we'd do family time in the evenings. We explored Droop Mountain complete with campfire for making smores, while reunion goers feasted at HT.
Knowing Lucy was headed back to Georgia come Sunday AM, (btw, she wins the award for traveling the farthest distance and staying the shortest time; 8 hours one way for ~36 hours), I take Ashlee and the boys back to HT at 9 pm so Ashlee can share her scrapbook of Scally with Lucy. Finally at nearly 11 pm, Joyce decides she must go to bed so we can go home:-))
Sunday morning dawns crisp with the usual mist hanging over the valley. We are headed for the tarzan trail with 10 riders, we lost Tarol and Lucy from the day before but are now joined by Sandy on Mary's Fiesta. I give Dante the day off, since I didnt have Lucy to pony me for the first part of the ride and opt to take Merrily instead. Words fail me to describe the beauty of this ride. We ride behind Quietude through the valley then begin our trek up the mountain dodging briars, low lying branches, fallen trees, mud bogs etc. The ride was much more challenging than the day before, but we are ALL up for the challenge. We climb the last portion of the mountain only to find ourselves in an open mountain top vista overlooking the town of Hillsboro. One can see the tops of mountains far into the skyline. I counted seven mountain peaks from this vantage point.
As mentioned by others, we have a few hair raising moments but all's well that end's well. Carol on Venture and myself on Merrily were the last two coming back down the mountain when out bolts two deer from the thicket beside us. Venture and Merrily are outta here for a short time but after a one rein stop are ready to calmly join the group. Then Carol decided to shave a few years off my life as I watch Venture go from a trot, to canter to gallop when he decides if the cows are running and Carol wants to trot he might as well win the race. But she hung in there like a pro and lots of "good job, Carol" and cheers went up for her. I feel like a mother hen after having had Venture with me for 6 mos. It's so hard to let go:-))) But I was fairly busting at the seams with pride for the two of them. They are on their way, each bump in the road builds confidence and strengthens the relationship.
Another wonderful afternoon, lunching at HT then visiting the foal barn this time to see Cara Mia and the monumental filly Cambria. Oh my goodness, what a sight to behold! Once again, it's time to load up my crew and head for down time at Locust Creek. We spend the evening working on 4H projects, then a bike ride to the covered bridge while reunion goers are treated to a veritable smorgasbord at Mary and Ted's Foxbrier Inn.
I missed getting to visit with those of you that didnt lunch at HT. Never enough time to squeeze it all in.
Our last day has come to soon. Another gorgeous day dawns and we make ready for our last ride. Cathy has graciously offered to lead the way on the Shangrala (sp?) Trail which winds its way from Locust Creek to the top of Droop Mountain. A piece of heaven as we make our ascent under the cover of the unspoiled forest. This time, it's only three of us; Cathy on Max, Ashlee on Ireland (she's a die-hard:-) and myself on Isaac. I love riding Isaac, he is so much fun but like Ruth's Mandolin thinks too highly of his exalted rear-end and requires a bigger bubble than necessary. We'll work on that but he is rock steady on the trail and trained to work off your leg and neck reins.
We come back down the mountain to find the rest of our crew still fishing at a nearby pond so Ashlee and I are off to say good bye to Susan and Shannon and fit Lisa's beautiful Caprice for a breast plate using Ashlee's as a guide. Perfect timing, Lisa arrives just after we do, we fit Caprice for the bplate and say our good byes til next time. Shannon tells me I pulled it off, managing all the rides and horses without a hitch as "master of the hunt." But I couldnt have done so without everyone's help. Many thanks to all of you. It was an unforgettable, wonderful weekend!
Til next time from your Trail Boss/ Master of the Hunt,
Gary
Hi Everyone ~ Well.....we did it again. Another memorable reunion with old and new friends attending. The weather was very abiding, and the food fantastic.... but nothing was more spectacular than watching everyone ride out on LAMBERT MORGANS on trail rides our own Gary Napier orchestrated. It would not have been possible without Gary "The Trail Boss" taking time with each rider to make sure everything was just right. Gary you are an amazing man with horses.
My granddaughter Kalie rode the infamous Caress for 2 1/2 hours one day and 3 hours the next which warmed this grandma's heart to no end. When you see the video you can't believe Caress is 30 years old. She is a rare jewel indeed keeping so many of us safe on our trips to Quietude.
Lucy, what a pleasure to finally meet you. I sure hope it won't be the last. You remind me of the "real cowgirls of the west" the way you swing up on Ari with very little effort and he seems so in tune with your every move. Kalie is still talking about riding double with you on Ari. That certainly was a first for her.
Carol I hope by now you and Venture are enjoying each other at his new home with you. He was such a good boy on the trails and you have a lot of guts riding a green horse but then again......he's a Lambert and Gary trained him so what's to worry? I couldn't help chuckling when you said to me as you were heading out on the trail......"My ID's in my pocket". I love your sense of humor.
Cathy V. had everything spic and span for us at Highland Trace and Gary, sister Amy, Tim and families camped out at Cathy's "Cross Creek Farm" and pastured the 4 horses Gary brought along. Cathy and Mike have come along way with fixing up their old farm house from last year. It's gorgeous. Hmmmmm another place for more guests.
Lisa has been Susan and Shannon's right hand and has refreshed Susan's flower garden with walking paths, bench, and 3 new fish (from transplanted eggs) in the garden pond. We were glad when she said she'd stay the night with us at Highland Trace on Saturday.
Kendall Levin also came (Sally Summertimes Mom) and spent time loving on her girl and enjoying all the festivities with everyone.
Mary and Ted, as usual, made everyone feel at home at "Fox Briar" where we had our Sunday evening meal and bonfire and caught up on the news of the day. Sandy and Tom stayed at Mary's and Tom made his cowboy burgers like last year. Now, knowing what's in them.....I passed.
Colin and Ruth cleared their calendar so they could be there and just to watch Ruth ride her gorgeous Mandolin was eye candy for sure. Ruth is a beautiful accomplished rider and Kalie thinks she's tops even though Ruth wouldn't rescue her when the boys locked her in Gary's horse trainler. Ruth knew Kalie was smart enough to figure it out for herself....and she did.
You can't believe the beautiful 1 and 2 year old fillies at the Foal Barn at Quietude. Montserrat is big bold and dark with a mane about 18 inches long and she's only 2 years old. Cassidy is HUGE with white mane/tail, blaze and chrome and is big as the 2 year olds. Ya gotta see that one to believe it. Of course sweet, sweet Wildaire, the only bay is so darling. Madrid is still being so very protective of her new boy who was born on the 17th. I think he'll be quite flaxen. I swear the foals seem to be getting bigger every year.
I will let Gary and all the other attendees tell their story but just when you think it can't get any better it somehow does. I will attempt to put some of the video on youtube (sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't) for the ones who couldn't attend.
Joyce
Anyone looking for a good time that loves horses....Morgans in particular....should join us at the next Lambert Reunion in Hillsboro, WV at The Quietude Stud. I promise you....you will go home with a memory that will last a lifetime. Email me if interested and we'll make plans for you to attend.
FirstTrailRide
BigRide.mpg
9 Lambert Morgans & 1 Quarter Horse
