Hibeamer's First Real Trail Ride (Eight year-old Standardbred gelding  who did not make it to the races)

In August 2002, Keith took Hibeamer to do some trail riding on the high desert east of the Sierra's along the California Nevada border near Bodie, California.  This was his first trail ride since we started him under saddle a few months ago.  Until then, all he had done was take a few short rides around the farm.  During these rides he showed a lot of good attitude and his gait was very smooth, so Debbie felt he might make a good trail horse.  Well - here was a chance to see if she was right.

We camped, as we have for the last 15 years or so, a few miles east of Bodie, along Bodie Creek.  This year the creek was dry due to a lack of rain, so to water the horses, we had to take them to a spring-fed pond about 1/4 mile south of camp.  The first day he just did not want to get his feet wet and drink, so we took a five gallon bucket and filled it and he got a good drink.  The second day, he walked right into the pond like he had been doing it all his life.  Later that day, I rode him thru the pond to the other side - no problem.  We finished up the ride going toward Bodie, then down the canyon leading to the stamp mill and old toll house where Mark Twain spent some time working. 

The third day we headed up one of the mountains to a grove of aspen trees for lunch.   While we were having lunch we tied Beamer to a tree where he stood the entire time without moving or fussing and seemed to really be enjoying himself.  On the way back, we got to test his ability to forge his own trail down the mountain thru the sage brush.  As usual, he did a perfect job - never stumbling.

The next day, we decided to take a longer, more difficult ride to Mexican Springs, four or five miles southeast of camp.  After watering in the pond, we headed east about a mile where we had to pass thru a wire gate and by some big tanks for watering the cattle.  He was a little spooked when I dragged the gate, but got over it right away and went thru.  He did a pretty good check of the water tank and then went right up and started drinking next to the cattle - once again - no problem.   By now, I knew we really had a great trail horse.  The ride up the draw was pretty rough and steep.  Add to that, the rocks, rough spots, cows and a big bull to stare down and it must have been quite an eye opener for Beamer.  On the way up, we spotted a herd of wild horses.  They sort of stalked us as we went.  What a beautiful sight that was. We had lunch at Mexican springs and had to tie the horses to bushes.  Once again - not a problem.

On the fifth day, we headed for a spot that we hadn't been to in all our trips around Bodie.  It was about six miles north down a large canyon where rough creek and another creek converge.  Some of the going was very tough and we sometimes had to forge our own trails.  About noon, we finally found the creeks and followed them down thru some of the most spectacular country around.  This was another first for Beamer, fording a running stream, but as usual, he did it without hesitation.  Then, the next obstacle, downed trees.  You guessed it, he stepped over and around the maze like he had done it all his life.  The final day of riding was just a short ride over the lower Mexican Springs trail where we had lunch overlooking Mono Lake.

Well - that's the story of Beamer's first trail ride.  He performed like a champion and seemed to really enjoy his new "job".  After all that work, he slimmed down and really started looking good.  The last night, we were joined by a bunch of the cattle and they went right over to visit with Beamer.  One of them stuck his nose under the electric wire that we use to make portable paddocks and Beamer gave him a big kiss on the nose.  It was a sight to see.

Well - Debbie was right - he turned out to be an outstanding trail horse.