7 replies to this topic

[renate1]

My daughter and her friend really wanted to do a horse ride while we were in Rocky so I decided to book the 8 hr horse ride to Ypsilon Lake mainly because I hate the nose to butt 1 to 2 hr rides (we actually got to trot and gallop a little on this one) and two because I'm planning on hiking to & camping at Lawn Lake later this month and wanted to get a feel for the area. Well the ride ended up being to Chipmunk Lake and not having my map with me or being able to recall how far it was from Chipmunk to Ypsilon Lake we just ate our lunch where we stopped and then headed back down trail. I know people think riding horses on trails is easier than hiking and it's true the horses do the brunt of the "oxygen" work but it's still hard on your bodies (butt, inner thighs, abs) I feel bad when the horse "goes" on trail - I've been on the hiker end of the spectrum where you got to avoid that stuff and it isn't fun - honestly I can't believe they allow this in the national parks, but they do. You get all sorts of looks from people anything from those that you can tell despise horses on the trail to those that start taking you picture because they are so enthralled to see people on horseback. Physically, this was by far the toughest day on my body and I joked to the girls when we were walking in Estes that night that I saw a turtle pass us!

My daughter's friend and her horse Scooby


My daughter and her horse Cowboy


Me and Red


Trying to ham it up for the camera and Red is not amused


Chipmunk Lake


Fairchild from Chipmunk Lake

[Lynette]

Beautiful! Even though Chipmunk is smaller, I liked it better than Ypsilon because of the views. We didn't get many views from Ypsilon because the trees are so close you are almost right at the lake before you can see it. I guess if you walk further around the views get better.

[Rhonda]

That looks like fun, but I know what you mean about how hard it is on the body. It really works out the core, and my goodness, those saddle sores.

[Scrapinator]

Looks like it was a great day. Chipmunk does have nice views.

[John]

C'mon, Red! Ham is fun! (Love it!)

[B-Jay]

Whoa! Eight hours on a horse is a long time. I can understand why you were feeling a little slow and sore later that day.

I've never been to Chipmunk Lake, but I'm thinking about checking it out sometime.

B-Jay

[Monica]

What fun! Did the girls enjoy it?
My daughter and I took a 2 hour ride 2 years ago, and it did go by very quickly and the horses were slow as molasses. We would have loved to trot and gallop.
I can imagine how sore you were.

[renate1]

Monica, on 11 August 2011 - 12:44 PM, said:

What fun! Did the girls enjoy it?
My daughter and I took a 2 hour ride 2 years ago, and it did go by very quickly and the horses were slow as molasses. We would have loved to trot and gallop.
I can imagine how sore you were.

Monica, I think the girls would have been happier with a 4 hr ride but it was a good experience and since I used to own a couple horses as a teenager, I miss riding. We try to talk Mike into letting us have a horse but he's too practical :)