Summer Riding Photos 2017

Thank you all for sending in your fantastic Summer riding photos. What a treat to see fun horseback photos from across the country and around the world! Enjoy seeing what your fellow Eclectic Horsemen are up to!

Fabian Saak on the LR Ranch in Lower Saxony/Northern Germany. It's me on Una Rosa es una Rosa, a horse I've bought from Clint Mortenson from Mortenson Silver & Saddles in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She flew back with me to Germany in 2014 and works now on our ranch here with cattle and donkeys. The pics were taken when I was riding with Felicitas Funke-Riehle from Ketchum, Idaho who wrote the book Gathering Remnants - A Tribute to the working cowboy. We had a lot of fun working the donkeys that day.

Trevor and Emma Ellis, on their Heber City, Utah ranch.

Linda Mannix, coordinator for the Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering, on her horse "Tio" A trailride in scenic southwestern Colorado, near Durango. If you look hard you can see the La Plata mountains in the background.

Tim Trabon, Kansas City, Missouri.

Nehalem Bay Oregon. Couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day!! Photo by Therese Waldow

This trail is 10 minutes from my house in Boise, Idaho. My husband the non-rider in the background. From Sue Bee.

Love to take some of the herd out for a run whenever we get the time - Sally & Jody Hunter - Lone Pine NZ Stud & Horsemanship - Ninety Mile Beach, Northland, New Zealand

Nazareno CA II ( PRE ) ridden by Sal Landa of CornerstoneHorseFarm.net

Riding the foothills of the Flint hills in Kansas with grandson's on working cattle ranch. Roxanne Hill

At Point Reyes National Seashore, California. From Paula Bradley.

My grandson Isaac Travis on Quarter Horse "Booty" learning to handle reins on his own and release at the right moment. Fun thing to do on Summer vacation at Nana and Papa's. Merry Christiansen

Randy on Mickey at Little Harbor, Catalina, Island. (campground on back side of the island). From Mary Stein.

Jani & I heading up to the Fox Pens, Catalina Island. From Mary Stein

From Marla, Point Reyes, California.

Lost River State Park, West Virginia. Lynetta Loy and Doublecreek's Sharae.

Lisa Fong, Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Fritz & Bendit in the hills of Northern Bavaria (Germany)

Linda Mecord and "Cisco" in the South Fork of the American River at Cronan Ranch, Cool, California.

Here's my other favorite summer riding photo. Riding my neighbor's hay fields in early May with snow on the La Plata Mountains. The reason I like this photo is that it shows one of basics of good horsemanship: a relaxed and forward walk. The swing of the mecate and shoo-fly match the step of the right hind foot. Cadence and footfall are so important to horsemanship and this shows the amount of movement which happens all the way through the horse. From the hind foot to the horse's nose. We should be equally relaxed and fluid, as we ride them. Thanks for your concept of "summer photos". I've had fun looking at quite a few! Linda Mannix - Coordinator Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Located in Kentucky and Tennessee between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.

Kim Robitaille "Two Minds - One Ride" Lyons Legacy Certified Trainer / Instructor

The first week in June I rode my horse across Michigan with my cousin. We started at Lake Huron and ended here at Lake Michigan 11 days later. What a blast. Had not seen or rode horses with my cousin in 25 years so we decided to make it a trip of a lifetime! Kelly Preisser

Trail ride through Taylor Creek Canyon in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico with Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch. From Kelly Burns.

Kay T Parmelee and this is my horse Champ. We live in Cave Creek AZ. We belong to the ETS Organization (Equine Trail Sports). In this picture we are competing in the obstacle challenge! Good fun!

Went on a hunt with my wife. Of course I used my ranch cutter saddle. In honor of the hunt, I did wear some tan Wrangler jeans.....Had a great time! John Toli, Franklin, New Hampshire.

A couple of weeks ago we had some friends coming over, with their horses, and had a nice two-day trail ride. We live in a “triangle” between two rivers, with plenty of trail ride options. The sleepover was at our ranch, I did my best to provide some, hopefully, close-to-chuckwagon meals, for the more authentic experience. The weather was perfect, riders were enjoying the scenery and, hopefully, horses were enjoying the nature and slow pace of the ride, too. So, here’s few photos from our ride :). Best regards, Doroteja Vascer, Slovenia.

HollyRichter-1

Holly Richter, a ride along the San Pedro River in southern Arizona’s borderlands.

Heidi Boggini, Otter Creek Horse Camp, upstate New York

Danica Bradshaw, Mattawan, Michigan.

TimTrabon

Tim Trabon, Kansas City, Missouri.

Andy Guest State Park, Virginia. Georgia Ray and Pizzazz.

A little peak at Bubble Pond in Acadia National Park seen between the ears of one of my Icelandics (we have an interesting herd of equines we use for lessons and personal use; this guy is the sweetest soul on four hooves. One of the rare, and truly confident babysitters. He's a gem.) I can't wait to go back to the park. It's our annual get away from the farm weekend.... Gena McGrath, Durham, Maine.

Me and my colt, Dove, working hard on getting him going under saddle. We are based in Escondido, California. Dove and I have been together since he was a yearling, and he comes from the Mahlstedt Ranch in Circle MT. Elizabeth Cate