May Editorial

My Favorite time of the year…

Welcome to the Recreational Riding Issue of the NWHS. The outdoors is alive this time of the year. Trail rides with your special friend bring glimpses of new life. The scenic views this time of year are spectacular and birds seem to sing with new enthusiasm. It gives me a sense of relaxation and wonder as I enjoy God’s creation.

It’s not just the riding that is relaxing. I find a great deal of enjoyment just spending time with my horses and caring for them. After a hectic day it feels good to come home and just brush my horse. My favorite weekend getaway is taking the horse, camper and dog and heading for the nearest trailhead. My recipe for relaxation includes long days spent exploring on horseback, evenings by a crackling campfire with some quiet guitar music, and gazing into the starry sky, accompanied by the sound of crickets chirping. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Our goal with the recreational riding issue is to give you some ideas and resources to make your horse-experiences in recreational settings more enjoyable. There is an article on gaited breeds for those looking for a more comfortable ride. There is information on self defense for the trail rider written by a former mounted police officer. In addition, there is an article by the Chairman of Back Country Horsemen of America on things you can do to help insure that your grandchildren will have continuing access to trail riding. We have included a resource page referring you to many additional resources for recreational riding opportunities.

Our newly designed Online Equine Marketplace will soon be launched. It will feature free text ads along with inexpensive and efficient online ordering.

Have a great spring and remember to ride those trails!