The VC Trail Ride Weekend , though small in numbers, was tremendously fun for those of us who
went. The weather turned cold that Friday night (down to the mid 20's, I heard) but during the day
it was not only bearable but great for riding.
The Leatherwood facilities are grand and the staff very friendly and helpful. They have two large
barns, an outdoor ring and a covered arena with several pastures and four turn-out paddocks.
"Our" barn was nearly full by Saturday afternoon. A large group of women come from all over the
state and spend the week with their horses! The 'cabins' are beautiful mountain chalets.
Emily, Jennifer and Teresa went out early Saturday morning and found the trails mucky but
passable.
Betsy arrived shortly after noon and found that Love would have been much happier if we had
come the day before. But, since Teresa and Emily had ridden earlier, Jennifer was the only one
who was really interested in going out again. A competetive trail rider, she and her Lippit mares
were in very good shape. Betsy felt very fortunate that Emily shared Lizzy so she could actually
trail ride Saturday. Jennifer with Zena and Betsy on Lizzy had a good mountain ride for nearly two
hours covering a small portion of the Leatherwood trails (at least , from looking at the map, there
are miles we never saw)!
After settling the horses, we retired to our rental cabin for dinner. We were all disappointed that
Ron and Suzette were not able to join us. Suzette had spent hours making plans for the group, but
this turned out to be her moving weekend. Two of Suzette's friends came with their non-Morgans,
but they rode on their own. Our original plan for a pig-pickin' under the covered shelter would have
been way too cold! As it turned out, Will came up with Teresa and is a gourmet cook - we fared
VERY well for dinner.
Saturday morning dawned cold but sunny. By the time we were ready to ride, close to 10am, it had
warmed up nicely and all four of us took a leisurely stroll up the meadow. Will came out to get our
pics - Love had settled down and turned out to really enjoy herself! We passed several trail groups
- but none had horses as pretty as ours!
The five of us had lunch together in the Leatherwood restaurant, which has very good food. Then
it was time to load up and head back home. I hope we go back to Leatherwood again, but I
recommend the spring or early summer - it gets cold in the fall!!! The facility has been sold
recently, and no one knows what is going to happen with the stables, but if we're lucky, they will
continue to run them as they do now. It's a great place to ride!
went. The weather turned cold that Friday night (down to the mid 20's, I heard) but during the day
it was not only bearable but great for riding.
The Leatherwood facilities are grand and the staff very friendly and helpful. They have two large
barns, an outdoor ring and a covered arena with several pastures and four turn-out paddocks.
"Our" barn was nearly full by Saturday afternoon. A large group of women come from all over the
state and spend the week with their horses! The 'cabins' are beautiful mountain chalets.
Emily, Jennifer and Teresa went out early Saturday morning and found the trails mucky but
passable.
Betsy arrived shortly after noon and found that Love would have been much happier if we had
come the day before. But, since Teresa and Emily had ridden earlier, Jennifer was the only one
who was really interested in going out again. A competetive trail rider, she and her Lippit mares
were in very good shape. Betsy felt very fortunate that Emily shared Lizzy so she could actually
trail ride Saturday. Jennifer with Zena and Betsy on Lizzy had a good mountain ride for nearly two
hours covering a small portion of the Leatherwood trails (at least , from looking at the map, there
are miles we never saw)!
After settling the horses, we retired to our rental cabin for dinner. We were all disappointed that
Ron and Suzette were not able to join us. Suzette had spent hours making plans for the group, but
this turned out to be her moving weekend. Two of Suzette's friends came with their non-Morgans,
but they rode on their own. Our original plan for a pig-pickin' under the covered shelter would have
been way too cold! As it turned out, Will came up with Teresa and is a gourmet cook - we fared
VERY well for dinner.
Saturday morning dawned cold but sunny. By the time we were ready to ride, close to 10am, it had
warmed up nicely and all four of us took a leisurely stroll up the meadow. Will came out to get our
pics - Love had settled down and turned out to really enjoy herself! We passed several trail groups
- but none had horses as pretty as ours!
The five of us had lunch together in the Leatherwood restaurant, which has very good food. Then
it was time to load up and head back home. I hope we go back to Leatherwood again, but I
recommend the spring or early summer - it gets cold in the fall!!! The facility has been sold
recently, and no one knows what is going to happen with the stables, but if we're lucky, they will
continue to run them as they do now. It's a great place to ride!
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| 2006 annual Trail ride at Leatherwood Mountian resort, Wendell,NC Nov 4th. |