Sixth Day at Sweet Grass

July 14th, 2012

Howdy!

Today was, unfortunately, our last full day at Sweet Grass! I can't believe it's already almost over! Being out west has definitely been one of my best vacation experiences!!! Everyone was so nice to us and it was so sad that some of them had to leave today. Jake, Ben, Molly and their dad left right after breakfast, leaving everyone definitely a little bit sadder.

Soon, our frowns were turned upside down when it was time to play some Gym Kehena games (Gym Kehena, which is I think how you spell it, are basically games you play on horseback)!!!! First up: barrel racing!!! This was the very first time I’ve ever done barrel racing because I only ride English at home. It was so fun and a little bit scary too!!!

After that, it was time for some old-fashioned spoon and egg racing with real eggs!! It’s really hard to balance an egg on a spoon, in case you didn’t know. It’s even harder on a moving horse!!! I think I might have one the first time, but the second time I dropped my egg in the race to the finish! Trotting makes it even harder to balance the egg!!!.... (unfinished) 

Fifth Day at Sweet Grass Ranch

July 13th, 2012

Howdy!!

I’m soooooo sore today from sleeping on the ground all night!! But it was a pretty cool experience; sleeping in a tent with no parents in sight! Of course, that also meant that everyone forgot to wake Paige, Brianna and I up!!! We had to scramble in order to get dressed in time for breakfast!

Breakfast took a little while to get started though, so we didn’t have to rush after all! It was super yummy when it finally was finished!

Then, it was time to pack up and get ready for another long day on a horse. A lot of the kids including me went down after breakfast to help tack up their horses, leaving the parents to pack up most of our stuff. It was fun tacking up Nad, though the western saddle is way heavier than an English saddle.

All the kids got back to the dining room of Bar B in time to pack our own lunches. Then, it was time to head out on the trail again.

The ride back to Sweet Grass Ranch was definitely more beautiful, but for a major part of it, all the horses were bugged by flies. Around half way back, the flies ceased and it was a better ride. We even got to lope once, which as always was super fun!!

Finally, we were back at Sweet Grass Ranch. We only got a little time to relax because soon we were going to swim on the horses!!!

To get to the swimming area, we rode bare-back on our horses down the road that leads to the ranch. Once we got to the creek, a wrangler talked us through how to swim on a horse and we were ready to go. Only some horses swam and Nad was not one of them! So I tied her reins in a knot around her head and let her graze by the river bed. I would have to swim on either my mom’s horse; Garret, or my sister’s horse: Bailey.

The only bad thing that happened was when it was Brianna’s turn to go on Josie. Josie got spooked and started to lope up the river bank. Something happened, I think another horse tried to kick Josie, so she shied again and Brianna fell. She fell on a ton of rocks so it was really scary to watch. Luckily, she was just bruised, nothing more serious. Whew, I think it all gave us a heart-attack!!!

If you’ve never swam on a horse, you are really missing out!!! It is such an amazing experience!! Even though the creek water was freezing, it didn’t feel that cold because Garrett underneath me was so warm!!! It feels like you are just floating in the water and you can feel the horse’s legs moving underneath you!! It is truly a one of a kind experience!!! I went swimming on Garrett three times and each time was really amazing!!!

After all that excitement, it was time to head back, bare-back, on our horses. I love riding bare-back; though trotting bare-back is not fun!!!

When we got back, we had just enough time to go for a short dip in the creek! It was just as cold as ever!!! Then, it was time for dinner. After dinner, I got a candy bar from the store and headed over to finish watching Ice Age 2 on Brianna’s laptop.

What a perfect day!!

Goodnight,

Camilla

P.S. If you cannot view the pictures clearly, just click on them to show an enlarged view.

Barbie (the owner of the Bar B Ranch) making bacon

Paige, Brianna and I cleaning up after breakfast

Lunch Break!

Breathtaking view

Riding to the swimming place

Almost there!

Me on Nad

And Mom on Garrett

At the creek

Mom's first swim on Garrett

Molly on Gravy (her horse)

Paige swimming on Bailey

Jake and Erin (daughter of ranch owners)

Mallory (a wrangler) and Ben

Me on Garrett

Brianna on...some horse

Posing on Ponies

Relaxing

The Final's of a five day tournament... of checkers 

Fourth Day at Sweet Grass Ranch

July 12th, 2012

Howdy!!

Today was definitely quite an adventure!! It was also the first time I’ve ever slept on the ground.

But more of that later, today started out a little earlier for me. I had asked to tack up Nad (my horse) before my ride last night and now, it wasn’t seeming like such a good idea. I was dead tired as I slowly walked down to the corrals to meet Brianna; she had also asked to tack up Josie (her horse). We only had time to tack up Nad before the breakfast bell rang. After breakfast, we rushed back to the corrals to finish Josie.

After a quick break; Paige, Brianna and I all gathered our horses and went into the arena for some arena work. Maybe taking life long trail horses into a ring and trying to work with them on trotting and what-so-ever wasn’t the best idea. To say the least, I don’t really think I accomplished much. Oh well, it was sorta fun anyways.

After we deposited our horses with the wranglers, we started to pack. No, we weren’t leaving just yet, no, instead we were embarking in another pure Western adventure. We were going on a pack trip!!!! Okay, so it was only a trip to another ranch called the Bar B, but still, pretty cool!!!

And then, we were ready!!! The ride there seemed really long, we had to stop for a lunch break, but then we were there!!

Once there, we all pretty much collapsed on the chairs with cups of lemonade in our hands. We all were totally exhausted.

After a little relaxation, a wrangler told us that we could go out and feed the horses. All the horses really wanted the grain and were pushing and shoving to get it.

After a complete feeding frenzy, Paige, Brianna, Jake, Ben and I all headed back to the creek, making sure to go completely under the electric fence. Ben claimed to see a black bear and forced Brianna to walk all the way down a hill to make sure it was safe. Ah, I love little kids!!! They’re so funny!!!

When we got back, it was time for some more R&R, reading and relaxation.

Finally, dinner was ready! I was so starving, and it smelled so good!! It’s amazing what four hours on a horse can do to you!

After all our stomachs were full, it was time to figure out where we were going to sleep. We had the choice of an overhang with a straw bottom, the porch, a tent, or under the sky. Paige, Brianna and I were the only ones who chose the tent. After we set it up, it was already time for dessert! Yummy!

Then, after sitting by the camp fire for some time, it was time to get ready for bed. Considering there were 13 people sharing 2 bathrooms, we all got ready pretty quickly.

They don’t call Montana the big sky country for nothing! The stars were so gorgeous once it got dark enough to see them (which was around 11:00). The down side about sleeping in a tent, beside the impossibly hard ground, was that every rustle sounded like an animal. But even though there’s a root in the middle of my back, and the tent door was flapping in the wind, I am feeling very sleepy…zzzzzzzz

Goodnight!

Camilla

Getting ready for the Pack Trip

Paige in the Arena on Bailey

Me on Nad

Brianna on Josie

Bucket Head! (Jake)

One of the many deer spotted over at the Bar B  Ranch

Relaxing after a long ride on the front porch

Checking out the star map thingy (Paige on the left, Me in the middle, Brianna on the right)

Dad was the only one to sleep under the stars

Early Morning sunrise

Third Day at Sweet Grass Ranch

July 11th, 2012

Howdy!

I can't believe the week is already half over!! Where has time gone?? Well, I guess it must have flown because I’ve been having soooooo much fun. I love riding horses and during the free time hanging out with Brianna. The ranch is almost like a home now. Except that I still have to wake up at 7:00 am…

After a quick breakfast, Brianna’s dad, B.J, left Brianna by herself to get her mother at the airport. Brianna came with Paige and I on the fast ride, where we headed back to the lake we visited on the first day. We were able to lope and trot.

Then, Paige and I relaxed in our cabin until Brianna came to visit. Then we sat on the beds talking.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, lunch was served. I was starving!!!

After we digested, I played pool with Brianna again. I love having someone as active as me to hang out with!!!

Then, back in the saddle for a horseman-ship clinic. Roscoe, the guy leading the clinic, was very good around horses and the clinic was very informative.

Next, we headed down to the creek for some more Flotilla fun!! It was just as freezing as yesterday, if not colder!!!

After jumping off the bridge for one more time, Paige and I headed back to our cabin to read and relax a little before dinner. Before you knew it, it was time to eat again. But it was pouring and hailing outside. How were we going to get to the dining hall? Finally, we just sprinted out across the hall and made it to the main building, phew!

Then, it was back to being a “true” cowgirl, meaning more practice roping the fake cow with Brianna.

But soon it was time to be a true suburb girl again. Paige, Brianna and I all squished ourselves onto a sofa in Brianna’s room to look at pictures of all Brianna’s pets on her computer. She even owns a horse, named Reba. After amusing ourselves with crazy pet pictures, we amused ourselves more by watching a truly hilarious sloth, the last mammoth, a quirky saber tooth tigers and a trouble-making squirrel who just wants a acorn. Yep, you guessed it, we watch Ice Age 2, The Meltdown.

Then it was, yawn, time for bed after a quick shower.

Good night y’all!

Camilla

P.S. I’m very sorry but we have practically no pictures of today because the camera was not brought on the rides, during the clinic or when swimming in the creek. I’ll just post some pictures of the beautiful landscape instead.

Blue Mountain

Morning Mist

Leading to Open Fields

Crossing the Bridge

Horse trails

Beautiful Morning Sky

The Creek with the Crazies (the mountain range) in the background

The Ranch

The Horses Grazing in the Morning