Horse and Horsemanship Video Channel

Stallion Springs Trail Ride

August 7, 2020 by John Leave a Comment

Stallion Springs Trail Ride

Friends and I explored the Stallion Springs area of the Tehachapi Mountains in Central California. There is plenty of room for your horse trailer at the intersection of Horse Thief and Mustang, called Buckskin Park. You’ll find a few horse pens, hitching posts, and picnic tables to enjoy. From here (our elevation was about 4,000 feet), you can horseback ride in a couple of directions. Some trails are alongside the streets, but the residents are very respectful of horseback riders and take care.

At the time of this video, some trails needed maintenance, but that won’t always be the case. Stallion Springs Trail Maps: https://www.stallionspringscsd.com/equestrian-hiking-trails

There were five of us riding on this outing. Two of the people knew the area well. Stallion Springs, and the Tehachapi area is a very horse-friendly. While we ride through residential areas, the lots are big and far apart. There are lots of oak trees. I believe there are five distinct types of oaks in the area. As we rode through one area, a group had labeled many of the plants.

Most of the group drove from places with a little elevation. Scratch lives at 500 feet. I found he was huffing and puffing going up the hills. The temps can reach the high 80s in the summer. At that elevation, it feels even warmer.

As we wound around the mountains, magnificent vistas of the Tehachapi valley would emerge. Then, we would turn around another corner and trees and mountains surrounded us.

Wildlife and the Old Golf Course

Real estate in the area took a hit a few years back. As a result, the Stallion Springs golf course lost its owner. It’s overgrown now. Golfers knew the course for its fast greens and rocky terrain.

We saw a few deer from the trail. Two elk walked through Buckskin Park as we unsaddled. There have been some reports of rattlesnakes in the area. Keep an eye out.

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Ride Your Horse on Planet Vasquez Rocks

July 31, 2020 by John Leave a Comment

Vasquez Rocks ~ Ride Your Horse On Another Planet

Tucked away in the little city of Agua Dulce, just off the 14 freeway in Southern California, are Vasquez Rocks. Vasquez Rocks got its name from the bandit Tiburcio Vasquez. Some have characterized Vasquez as a Robin Hood, while others have made him out as a womanizer. Most agree he lived outside the law. When he allegedly killed some men near Hollister, California, his gang rode to Southern Cal to escape capture. For a time he hid in the area that now bears his name. He eluded capture by using the rock formations and caves to hide.

In the 1930’s, a movie director suggested Vasquez Rocks as a shooting location for Tibet. This was the beginning of a new relationship with Hollywood. Og course it was a favorite setting for Westerns. The Texas Ranger (1931) and the Gambler (1939) used the rocky back drop to simulate the Old West.

When television arrived, Vasquez Rocks’ popularity grew. The Lone Ranger, Cheyenne, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Big Valley, The Wild Wild West, and Hondo used the rocks at least once.

In 1967, Vasquez Rocks got its big break in Hollywood. The crew of the Enterprise landed right in its backyard. It was used to fight the Gorns. They also used the rocks in the movie production of Star Trek IV as the planet Vulcan.

Our Ride to Vasquez Rocks

It has shortened the park hours because of COVID. But, because the Pacific Crest Trail runs through the park, you can get in through those entrances. There’s parking on Escondido Canyon Road. They charge no admission to get into the park.

Pertinent Information

Vasquez Rocks Website

10700 West Escondido Canyon Road
Agua Dulce, CA 9139

Park Telephone: (661) 268-0840

If you go in the summer, it can get warm so leave early. It wouldn’t hurt to take water and a light snack. There are some trail maps to follow. For most of our ride you could often see the 14 Fwy. on one side or the houses on the other. It really helped with orientation. The terrain can be rock in places. If your horse has tender feet, I would suggest boots.

Enjoy!

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Hansen Dam Group Ride ~ VIDEO

July 24, 2020 by John Leave a Comment

Working on my Video Channel

I’ve had a YouTube Channel for 12 years now. Back in 2008, I began shooting experiences with my mare Jessie. The very first video was of us working cows. A lesson my wife bought us for my birthday.

Through the years, I’ve chronicled many of our rides and adventures. Video editing software was difficult to use back then. I wasn’t very good at either shooting or editing. Over the last two years, I’ve studied video editing and production. I’ll admit, it’s still scary in front of the camera. But I have a desire to share our knowledge and experiences, and this is the best way.

My goal is to shoot quality videos of trail rides, travel, horse training, and things-you-should-know. As difficult as it is to be behind the camera and on top of a horse, I’m trying it. I hope you’ll subscribe to my channel and offer feedback and suggestions.

Hansen Dam Trail Ride

Several years ago we did an ETI Trail Trial at Hansen Dam Recreational Area in Lakeview Terrace, California. It was my first experience with an ETI trial and we had a lot of fun. Hansen Dam is easy to get to. Just off the 210 Freeway near Sylmar, there is ample parking for a group of trailers.

Gabrielino Equestrian Park is located there. A warm-up arena with good footing is next to the parking lot.

Different sections of the area offer different trail rides. In one section there is thick growth with many creek crossings. In other areas there is rocky, almost desert -like terrain. Our ride took us through both areas. We had an experienced guide, but if you’re good with directions, it would be difficult to get lost. The 210 freeway is visible from almost anywhere, and we use it as a landmark.

On one of our trail rides there, we rode under the freeway, up Little Tujunga Canyon, to a food truck is in the middle of a nursery. It’s called the Hideaway Cafe Food Truck. It serves good Mexican food and there is a place to tie up your horse.

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Horse Adventure with Extreme Cowboy Race

February 3, 2017 by John 1 Comment

Horse Adventure with Extreme Cowboy Race

We are off on another horse adventure. Yes, Ranae and I are giving the Extreme Cowboy Race a shot. I’m riding Scratch and Ranae is using my mare, Jessie. We’re giving Ranae’s horse, Dusty a break from this horse adventure. He’s getting up there in years and arthritis seems to have befriended him.

Anyway, we enjoyed the Trail Trial we did last year. Both of us like negotiating obstacles. The time and speed of this event certainly make it more challenging. Every race starts with a free ride. That means you come into the arena and do a hot lap once around before you hit your first obstacle. Personally, not my part of the competition. I’m not crazy about teaching my horse that every time we enter an arena, he gets to take off at a gallop. I have a picture of barrel horses in my head. I’ll be keeping an eye on my horse to see if it’s turning him into a crackhead.

But, hey, it’s a horse adventure. There are bound to be some challenges or it would not be an adventure, right?

The venue is great. Shades of Gold Ranch is set in the Leona Valley of Southern California. It gets a bit windy, but the venue has a wonderful arena, a round pen, and nice little warm-up area. There are also some trails nearby. We are going up tomorrow for a clinic with Bill Cameron and we may check those trails out.

But Wait, There’s More

Check out the video. If you like that, there’s an audio podcast about Extreme Cowboy Racing HERE. Do me a favor by signing up for our email newsletter at the top of the page. And, please take a moment and give a rating to the Whoa Podcast on iTunes, Sticher, and/or Google Play. Thanks

Thanks for all your support. It’s how we get to have another great horse adventure!

Working Cows with Scratch on the Bar SZ

January 18, 2017 by John 1 Comment

Working Cows with Scratch on the Bar SZ

Working cows in open country is so much fun. The Bar SZ Ranch was once the home of the famed Sire, Doc Bar. It is now an event ranch where people go for family reunions, weddings, and corporate retreats. We traveled there to spend a weekend with our horse friends and ride the ranch.

This was one of the more fun videos I’ve produced. After telling Bar SZ Ranch manager, Tim Borland, I wanted to see how Scratch did working cows, he rounded up his Kabota and we took off. With my wife, Ranae, sitting in the co-pilot seat we first went to the south side of the ranch. Scratch did well having the little tractor driving right along side of him. And, Ranae did a wonderful job of getting footage and she was bounced around by the open trails.

We found a small group that needed to be moved and circled wide. “Jerry” the bull was lounging in the spring sun. He was a bit reluctant to move, but Scratch did well. He is a confident horse and is not afraid of much once he is given the chance to assess the situation. Going over open country with the squirrel holes, uneven footing, and fallen branches can put stress on some horses. Not Scratch.

We go all the cows up and moving and then it is just a matter of not rushing them. A calf tried to duck away and we had to go back for it. Sometimes you have to dip and dodge through bushes and brambles, but most of the time working cows is all about just keeping them moving forward.

There were a couple of streams to cross. When a horse is focused on a job he rarely worries about things like water crossings.

I think Scratch rather liked the whole experience of working cows.