Admitting there's a problem is half way to solving it...

I always said when I started this blog that I’d be nothing but honest and true to my word, so when it dawned on me yesterday just exactly how I’d been feeling of late, I wanted to share it with my readers, but felt apprehensive to finally put pen to paper (fingers to keys) and admit what’s going round my head. However, I was soon stopped in my tracks and in more ways than one. 

When I admitted to my good friend and instructor how I’d been feeling she simply said “I can tell.”. and then I told a livery and she said “It’s winter, we’re all feeling the same.”. Then finally I shared a small update on my Facebook page and suddenly I was inundated with messages of support and people telling me they’ve been feeling the same. 

Without realising, I breathed a sigh of relief. Not because people were feeling the same, but because I’d just admitted something I wasn’t immensely proud of and it’d been accepted by those close to me like it was nothing. In real life it’s not much to admit, and to my non-horsey friends it means nothing, but to others it’ll be a pretty big deal - or so I thought. 

I’ll try keep this short, I promise. 

As you all know, roughly 18-months ago I purchased a pony, Ziggy. He was unrideable and would do nothing but stand on his hind legs and bolt every time you got your foot in the stirrup. When it came to managing to get on him, he couldn’t comprehend the fact you had to sit up and be taller than him - he was a nervous wreck and so many times I wondered why the heck I’d agreed to buy a pony with so many problems when I had so little time. But I did. I took that chance and slowly, but surely, he began to come round. 

Fast forward a year and we’d achieved some fantastic unaffiliated dressage results, been XC schooling, show jumping and even hunting. He was a gem in every way and always aimed to please. BUT. There’s always a but. He's complex. He’s spooky, he’s sharp, he’s quirky and I can never quite work out what he’s thinking. But he’s talented, and that’s always what had stopped me from selling him.

Before I left for America we were getting somewhere. We were hunting twice a week, jumping the biggest we’d ever jumped and finally I felt like it was all clicking into place. Then I left for a month and by the time I arrived home the dark nights were upon us and the mornings weren’t much better. 

Slowly, without realising it much at first, Ziggy’s spooking got worse. Considerably worse. It wasn’t constant, it wasn’t always expected and it was at the most silliest of things; from a butterfly, to a pole on the ground he’d previously trotted around for 10 minutes. At first I brushed it off and just put it down to him being fresh, but over the next 2 months it got much worse. 

In the meantime I met someone who rode him for me and who proved he is talented at jumping - with a gutsy rider on top. 

Without realising, I started to favour riding Ceaser again and where previously I’d split my time equally between the two I started to notice Ziggy was being left in his stable more and I’d brush off riding him. However, when I did get on him I enjoyed it 75% of the time. I enjoy nothing more than the feeling he gives me when he learns something new like his walk to canters. In fact just last month he did his first flying change and as I fist pumped (don’t try this at home kids) the air in happiness, I finally felt like we were achieving something. But days like that were marred with the constant spooking, the constant nervousness and him being on edge whilst being ridden. At the same time though, he’s the first horse since Sara I’ve felt confident enough to push myself on when jumping. He’s the first horse that’s managed to gain my confidence back jumping after my fall, and so… in reality, I couldn’t put my finger on what I was feeling. I just knew I wasn’t enjoying him like I should be. 

I wrote this on my Facebook update, but I want to delve deeper into it. Ziggy isn’t Ceaser. He doesn’t give me that comfortable, arm-chair feeling Ceaser gives me. When I say arm-chair, I don’t mean comfy, I mean he doesn’t give me that comfortable, knowing feeling you get when you sink into YOUR chair. He doesn’t give me the feeling you get when you put on your pair of favourite shoes you’ve had since forever! He feels like those new pair of shoes you’ve bought that are comfy but just aren’t quite your old pair. He gives me the feeling of the sofa that’s next to your comfy chair, but you can’t sit there but someones in it. 

Don’t get me wrong, there’s so many feelings he does give me and when we’re having a good day I feel like the world is our Oyster and we can achieve the unthinkable. I shouldn’t compare him to Ceaser, I know it’s unfair, but it’s also hard. 

I’ve tried several things to stop the spooking; from ignoring it, to not making a big deal out of it but letting him know it’s wrong, to patting and reassuring him it’s okay, to telling him off. No strategy has worked and lately I’ve been thinking it’s me. As I watch the “gutsy rider” ride him, I see nothing but a well-behaved, talented young pony that could do so much. As I ride, I feel like I’m on a 3-year-old that’s just been backed. 

I flick through Facebook at night and I see my friends 5-year-olds jumping round courses and competing at Novice and Elementary dressage and I wonder where I went wrong. Is it something I did to Ziggy that has put us so far behind? Did I not push him enough, did I push him too much, did I not ride enough, did I ride him too much? The list of questions I’ve asked myself is endless. Why is he so spooky? He knows me by now, he knows our arena, he knows our routine, but still a mere butterfly or pole on the ground can cause him to drop his shoulder a considerable amount and bolt. 

As I’m writing this and I read back through it, I feel like I sound like I don’t enjoy him. I love this boy to bits. He’s probably one of the most affectionate horses I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He wont hurt a fly and loves nothing more than cuddles and to be groomed. Several times when we’ve been jumping he's gotten me out of a few tricky situations where I’ve failed to see a stride or have gotten my line wrong. Out hunting he behaved like he’d lived with hounds all his life. When we’re competing he acts like he’s been competing all his life. He looks to me for support and if I say it's fine he trusts my instinct and goes. If I say no, he'll wait. He's the type that would be everyones dream. But for some reason, we can’t crack the spooking at home. 

In the last two weeks it had made me more and more miserable. I had plans to hunt this winter with him and I wanted to get him out doing some affiliated dressage as soon as possible, but we just weren’t getting anywhere. The excuses about dark nights and it being cold started to come out and I’d ride when I felt like it. I declared I was giving up, selling him and buying something more reliable that didn’t require as much work. My work schedule means that sometimes I can be away from home for unto 4/5 days a week and sometimes if I’ve got an early start of late finish I don’t have the time to ride. Ceaser slotted into my routine perfectly, but Ziggy was struggling and I had doubts this was all going to work. Would he be better off in a home that could give him more? Would I be better off with a horse that little bit older that didn’t require as much bringing on?

Then last week, I messaged my good friend and instructor Fiona and asked her to come and give me a jumping lesson on him because I needed some help. To prove what he’d been doing he tripped on a bit of rubber, which consequently hit the arena fence, which caused him to violently drop his shoulder and then spook; throwing me off balance once again and nearly resulting in me hitting the deck. Thankfully I’m becoming used to the art of staying on and as I got my stirrup back I shouted to Fiona this was getting ridiculous. 

So, we went back to basics, trotting around the arena, doing lots of transitions and circles, changes of rein and so on - all in trot. Guess what, he didn’t spook once. Then I began to relax and the next time we trotted around the poles on the ground he once again violently dropped his shoulder, shot to the side and tried to run. With that I stopped, waited for Fiona to join us and before I knew it I was admitting I’d lost my confidence - not to ride him, not to get on, but in myself and my ability to deal with this. Before I could even think about it the words were out my mouth but I felt a sense of relief that I’d finally admitted what was wrong. 

Fiona asked me one question. She asked if I’d relaxed, and when I said yes she said she knew. I asked her how she knew and she told me she’d watched me stop riding and then Ziggy spook. As soon as I took my leg off and stopped concentrating he spooked almost immediately. I guess I’d done it without realising, but it didn’t help the fact I didn’t think I was capable and I was heavily doubting my ability to take this pony any further. 

After a pep talk (and arse-kicking), Fiona sent me on my way and we worked on popping a course of fences in a controlled manner. Soon enough, the hour was over and Ziggy hadn’t spooked once. In fact we had a fantastic time and I found myself smiling over the fences - something which doesn’t happen often. 

So I guess, somewhere in the middle of all this I lost my confidence in myself and my ability….and Ziggy followed. Now it's time to get it back, not just for me but for him too. 

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Tickled Pink - Stay dry this winter with Golly Galoshes

As mentioned before, every so often a gem of a press release drops into my inbox and I don't mind sharing it for all to see. 

I was excited to have this particular one sent to me last week, as an avid user of Golly Galoshes I love to shout out about them whenever possible. 

Spoil your horse this Valentines Day AND give your washing machine time out, by grabbing yourself a set of these ‘Hot to trot’ Pink Golly Galoshes!

Golly Galoshes are clever waterproof and breathable gaiters, designed to keep your horses’ bandages and boots clean, dry whatever the weather this winter.

Kiss goodbye to dirty and muddy boots and wrap them up with Golly Galoshes instead. When they start to get a little muddy just pop them in washing machine on a normal wash or rinse off with the yard hose - it's that simple and you don't have to worry about clogging your washing machine with mud from those boots and bandages again!

I also pop them over Ceaser's mud fever boots when he's in the field, meaning less washing and more time doing something we love like riding!

Available in a variety of colours including classic Pink, Black or smart Navy and with a reflective strip down the middle, Golly Galoshes are perfect for using as Hi-Viz additions.

So this Valentines, gallop off into the sunset with a set of Golly Galoshes, because you will fall in the love once you’ve tried them!

Prices start from £25.99 per pair Miniature Pony through to £34.99 for horse sizing. 

www.gollygaloshes.com

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HorseWorks, Wyoming - Living life as a Cowgirl - part 5

I can't believe it's all coming to an end and this is the last and final instalment in my Horseworks adventure. However, it doesn't end there! Next up is my adventure in New York, which I'll get around to writing in the next few days. Thank you everyone who has followed, supported and read my Horseworks story, you've no idea how much I appreciate it.

Here goes....

Friday

Today started off slightly slower, with Hannah, Jess, MaeCile and Nate all out and with just Kerry, Hugh, Kathrin and I left we took the time to slowly make our way through chores and I packed the remainder of my stuff before we left for Cody to pick up our hire car for the weekend to go to Billings. Driving away from the ranch and unsure whether I'd return again was a particularly hard moment. I had made sure I made my way down to Tina to spend some final moments giving her (unwanted) cuddles and telling her I'm sure I'd see her again one day. I spent a few moments alone just looking around, listening to the wildlife and breathing all that I'd experienced here in. Ive always thought that when people come back from trips telling their friends they've had the opportunity to learn new things about themselves is complete rubbish - but is genuinely how I feel. 2015 has been one of the most challenging years to date for me as I've made those drastic changes I began this post with, but sitting here, it felt like I was finally ready to head back to England and face whatever life was about to throw at me next.

Once we arrived at Cody we headed to Mc Donalds and then to pick up our car. Hugh and I sat in the front with me in charge of the music and him obviously in charge of driving. We had a fun car journey with Kathrin sleeping (that girl sleeps anywhere!), Kerry in the back giving directions and Hugh and I singing along and taking stupid snapchats.

Once in Billings, Montana, the 4 of us checked into our hotel room (we all shared for cost reasons, which was interesting!) and attempted to book tickets for the evening rodeo. However, we soon discovered there was $6-8 booking fee per ticket if booked over the phone or online, so Hugh and I got the map out and drove to the rodeo grounds to buy the tickets in person. It wasn't far and we could at least then gauge an idea of where we were going that evening. When there we both decided to book us into the most expensive seats and right at the front, with assurance from the lady behind the counter telling us we would have the most amazing night in those seats. I was ridiculously excited as this was another big thing on my bucket list that I was so keen to cross off. It's been a goal of mine to go to a rodeo for as long as I can remember and I could not believe it was finally happening!

Before long we were back and getting ready with several groans from Hugh that it took girls so long to decide what to wear. Admittedly I think I changed my outfit a few times, but finally we were all ready to go and meet up with Hannah and Jess who were also staying in the same hotel as us.

The rodeo was amazing and the lady behind that counter was right - we had a fantastic evening being so close to where everything was happening. We could literally lean down and touch the horses and regularly got face-fulls of dirt when the horses or bulls went past at speed. Somehow the rodeo clown ended up picking our tourist look about us out and introduced us to the rest of the crowd as being from Britain which was entertaining. My mouth hung open in complete awe all evening as we watched bull riding, bronc riding, team roping, calf tie down, barrel racing and then kids having a go at catching and riding an unbroken shetland. Much to my mothers disappointment it made me even more keen to give barrel racing and possibly bronc riding a go. I guess I must just be bonkers!

Following the rodeo Hannah and Jess told us about a bar, Daisy Dukes, they were heading to with some cowboy friends, so we of course joined them! Some local cowboys took it upon themselves to teach us to dance and were very friendly. I was more interested in dancing like I knew how with Kathrin and Hugh all evening and had such a laugh. We all had a lovely evening and I particularly enjoyed the line-dancing; having done a fair bit as a child I felt like I knew what I was doing - which is a first when it comes to dancing!

Saturday

This morning started off very relaxed with us all leisurely getting up and taking it in turn to shower before heading out to breakfast. As it happens the restaurant said we would have to wait at least 30 minutes for a table so decided to order breakfast to go and sat in Jess's room on the bed watching a film with our breakfast on our lap instead. Soon enough it was time to head back to Cody where Hugh and I were staying in a hotel for the evening because I had to leave at 6am the next morning to catch my flight to New York. It was a nice drive back again with me in the front deciding which music to put on, Hugh driving, Kathrin fast asleep, Kerry giving directions and Jess who was catching a lift back with us also zonked! Before long I was also fast sleep and poor Kerry and Hugh had to navigate us back to Cody just between the two of them.

After we picked our car back up, Jess took Hugh and I back to our hotel for the evening whilst the rest of the group went to the cinema. Hugh and I managed a lovely couple of hours nap - or more, I napped for a few hours whilst he caught up with some sports on TV! After catching up on the sleep we had decided to meet as a group again and go for one last dinner with me there. It was finally hitting me that I would be leaving tomorrow and really didn't want to. I was dreading going to New York alone and having to spend 3 days a tourist, alone with no company, but also slightly excited at seeing the City that never sleeps.

We decided on a steak house restaurant that served some lovely food and caught up about what had been our favourite part of the trip. Mine had definitely been the rodeo as well as wrangling alone with Jess that day. Unfortunately following dinner it was time for Hugh and I to head back to the hotel, some sad goodbyes and lots of promises to everyone, with Kathrin in particular that I would stay in touch. It was nice to have company for the evening as I can imagine had I been alone it would have been a rather emotional evening at the prospect of leaving a place I had come to love.

*

Never in a million years did I expect I would be given the opportunity to visit such an eye-opening, beautiful and breathtaking place in the middle of America, nor end up loving it as much as I did. Both MaeCile and Nate are two of the most welcoming people I have ever met and upon getting home MaeCile reminded me that Horseworks would always be a home away from home to those who wanted it to be. Honestly? That's the only way to describe it. Your stay at Horseworks doesn't feel like a stay in someone else's home, it doesn't feel like a stay in a hotel - it feels like you're in the comfort of your own home, but with the extras that this fascinating part of the world has to offer.

I've crossed various bits off my bucket list - some more comical than others and some goals that have always been childhood dreams I never envisaged I'd ever get the opportunity to have a go at. Horseworks does exactly this for you; it opens your eyes to the bigger picture, it gives you the chance to explore not only your abilities but also you as well. When leaving the ranch, I didn't leave with sadness nor regret for anything I hadn't managed to do - I left with the sense of peacefulness and tranquility this place has to offer and the feeling that no matter how far into the future, I would be back. MaeCile is right, this place has become a home away from home for me and in 10, 20 or even 50 years time when I look back and remember the memories I created at Horseworks, I'll always look back with a sense of achievement and euphoria - for MaeCile, Nate and Horseworks made many of my wildest dreams come true and for that I owe them more than they can ever imagine. A place where dreams do become reality and a place where friends become family - Horseworks will always hold a special part in my heart.

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HorseWorks, Wyoming - Living life as a Cowgirl - part 4

If you missed parts 1, 2 or 3 of my Wyoming adventure then you can click on the links to read them!

I can't believe the end of my adventure is near - but for now, enjoy part 4 of my trip!

Sunday

We all had such a good day together in Yellowstone National Park today. Despite spending a whole day out on the park we only managed to drive around half of it. If you're thinking of visiting, I'd definitely recommend doing an overnight stay somewhere in the park so you can get to see as much as possible. We all thoroughly enjoyed our day and definitely saw some special sights that I couldn't wait to show everyone back home the photos of. Yellowstone is simply a breathtaking place that has hundreds of little secret pulling in places which all give you the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the place. I've never been to a place so fascinating and mesmeric in all my life; the waterfalls, nature, animals in their natural habitats and everything else, it was so tranquil and peaceful.


We walked several miles and by the end of the day my feet were beginning to complain that they would much rather sit down, but we saw things today that will stay with me forever and what made it even more special was being able to share it with the rest of the group.

Monday

Today was categorically awesome. After two of the group members went out wrangling this morning with Hannah and Jess it transpired that none of the horses were on the property, meaning that the fence we put up last week still wasn't stopping the pesky bunch from escaping.

So, it was back to the hay field to wrangle them home which we all knew would mean an opportunity to have a canter - perfect! The horses almost cooperated and only veered off slightly, but despite that it was fun having to go and fetch them again. I think its safe to say that today we rather went for it and got our chance to give our mounts a good leg stretch. Tina loved it, she never ceases to amaze me  as she heads up the front of the herd and manages to keep up, despite being several hands smaller than the rest.

Tina quite literally just went for it. This pony just knows what she's got to do and just does it - no questions asked. You can tell she loves her job and thoroughly relishes in being up at the front herding the rest of the horses. It's starting to hit me that in less than a week I'll no longer be on the ranch and I'm going to have to say say good-bye to this pony I've fallen in love with. There's nothing I wouldn't give to be able to take her back to England, but unfortunately with transportation and quarantine costs so high, it just wouldn't be possible. Plus, she wouldn't have a "job" back home in England like she does here; I'm not sure she's the type to be someones family pet.

The moment we began wrangling the horses home we all began to cheer at the opportunity to do something we all could only dream about doing back home. I couldn't help but laugh out loud and smile to myself as the feeling of being in control of all those horses and playing a part in getting them from one place to another in such an old fashioned way is just overwhelming.

After lunch a yellow school bus full of children from the local came for their last session with MaeCile. They were given the chance to groom, tack up the ponies and then were asked to check each others tacking up skills and point out any faults. It wasn't about picking faults, but more seeing where they could improve. MaeCile and Nate are huge believers in encouraging rather than demotivating those who want to learn and as I looked around the group I could see each child watching and listening to MaeCile like she was the only person in the corral - all with admiration and keen to learn.

The children were split into two groups, with one being the beginner group who we were asked to lead, whilst the others practiced leading the colts and foals. Before they had arrived, Jess and I had been tasked with catching and putting halters on the colts which made for an interesting half hour! None wanted to be caught and thought it was a fun game running around the corral and hiding behind their mum's!

Finally, after lots of walking, chatting to the children and posing for various photos it was time to put the horses to bed and head back up to the ranch ourselves. We were all very tired and so decided tonight was going to be a movie night and all us girls could have the opportunity to drool over the cowboys in "The Longest Ride". I don't think I realised how tired I was until I woke up wedged between poor Kathrin and Hugh on the sofa to the credits rolling and everyone declaring it was bed time. The both of them had acted as rather comfy pillows for me and I'd had the best 2 hours sleep after sinus pain and no sleep the night before!

Tuesday

Another important goal of mine on the famous bucket list was to learn to barrel race, so you can imagine my delight when after groundwork Jess started to put some barrels out and promised to show us how it was done. She started by explaining the do's and dont's of barrel racing, when you would get any penalties and explaining the pattern. Surprisingly there was more to it than I initially thought and whilst a friend and I have previously described it as similar to Pony Club games, I was keen to learn it was actually very different, with a high level of skill required.

Once we had all memorised the pattern and gotten our competitive hats on we decided to have a few goes whilst each person took it in turn to take photos on my camera. I was rather keen to have a canter through the sequence but unfortunately the ground was quite slippy, so we had to stick to trot. Nonetheless Tina proved once again what an agile and keen pony she is and took it all in her stride.

All too soon it was time to head back to the corral and by this point I was feeling even more poorly and sleepy than I had the day before. I knew what was wrong and after speaking to MaeCile she suggested someone take me into Cody so I could go to the Doctors and get some antibiotics. Hugh very kindly offered to drive and Kathrin as a doctor, came along for the drive and to pick up some bits from town. They were both very sweet with Hugh offering to come in to see the doctor with me, whilst Kathrin went off shopping, however I decided it was best to leave him in the waiting room, but was thankful for the offer of company. As it turns out I did need antibiotics and was sent on my way with a diagnosis of tonsillitis and sinusitis, accompanied by some antibiotics and a $150 bill that I now had to claim back from my insurance. I think it all adds to the experience of this trip and was rather keen to share my experiences of going to an American doctors when back home. Once again, they all loved my very British accent and I lost count of how many times they laughed at the way I say Paracetamol. Unfortunately our wait in Walmart for antibiotics was seemingly a long one, which was frustrating as we were supposed to be going out for a sunset ride. However, after a quick text to Hannah and Jess it turned out they were also running late and this was cancelled meaning I could take my time looking round the shop - with a very frustrated Hugh in tow that he hated shopping with girls!

Wednesday

I am rather conscious that I've started every day off with "today was amazing" or "today was the best day ever". I think for anyone thinking of booking a holiday to stay with MaeCile and Nate who is reading this, you've got to realise that everyday spent on the ranch really is something special - and I'm not just saying that because I've been given the opportunity to write for them, or because I want so desperately to go back (I do, but, that's a different story). Horseworks is a typical working ranch that portrays real life living in Wyoming. You could easily pick to go to a ranch with a hot tub and en-suites in your bedrooms, but would you be getting a real taste of cowboy and Wyoming life? The simple answer to that is no. No two days are the same on Horseworks, but equally no day is boring or mundane or even not worth documenting. It's all been so special for me up until now and each day I learn something new about this beautiful country and the culture around where I am staying.

Today was another good day, we were all up bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for early morning chores and the excitement of riding somewhere new. We tacked the horses up and then loaded them into the trailer with the plan of heading over to the Cassie trail for a ride. A beautiful trail, surrounded by stunning scenery and nature at its finest, the Cassie trail is something special. The views reminded me a lot of Cow Camp and I eagerly got my camera out at several opportunities to grab some photos and help remember this extraordinary place.

The flatter land on the Cassie trail allowed for some fantastic canters, both individually and and as a group. It was great to have the chance to canter out as a group as this is something we haven't done much of apart from when herding the horses. I always think there's something extra special and exciting about being able to canter out in a large group. I suppose it's the thrill of hearing the hoofbeats coming up behind you and sharing that moment with those around you. Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves and it made a nice change to rise away from the ranch a little more.

All too soon our ride was over and we arrived back at the trailer just before lunch. The plan for the rest of the afternoon was to finish our chores and then prepare to go out in the evening for our last night out as a whole group as two of the team were leaving on Friday.

We all had a lovely evening out at the Cowboy Bar in Meteetse again. Over the last two weeks I'd gotten several opportunities to have bets with Kathrin and Hugh and each time I'd just say "oh buy me a drink" so I used tonight as my chance to cash these in. The three of us spent the evening playing pool, laughing and joking and watching another of our group member get friendly with a local cowboy. It's not at all relevant but I want tonight documenting as the night I managed to beat Hugh in a game of pool - never in my life have I beat a man at Pool - and if he says he let me win, this is definitely not true!

As I sat down to give my feet a rest it dawned on me that in just a few days we would all be splitting up and going back to our everyday lives. Clare and Charlotte were heading back to England on Friday, I was heading to New York on Sunday and the rest had a couple of days left at the ranch, but were then moving on to different adventures. It was bittersweet to reminisce about the days we had spent together, enjoying our once-in-a-lifetime trip and all the memories we had all created and shared with one another. I would definitely miss this.

Thursday

Today we were given the chance to have a small lie-in. When I say lie-in, this means chores and everything must still be done by about 8:45. I wanted to shower before everyone else, so I was up at the crack of dawn again but at least feeling refreshed and ready for our final day as a group.

We all were keen to have various photos taken of us donning the cowboy hat and boots, so I offered to be photographer and asked people to pose in different positions whilst I snapped away. Kathrin very kindly offered to take some photos of me and Tina which have come out lovely. I particularly like the more natural ones of us both in the corral - it is going to be a bittersweet and tough time leaving this pony behind.

Several photos and poses later it was time to go out and wrangle the horses back one last time. We had all had so much fun doing it previously that we asked if we could have one last go. Thankfully MaeCile is very understanding of our requests and asked Hannah and Jess to let some horses out the night before, then push them further afield early that morning. Today we were being left to it and it was up to us alone to wrangle the horses back to the ranch. The girls were there if we needed them, but this time we were effectively on our won - yeeha!

Upon finding the horses I could feel Tina begin to pull and I knew that she knew what was coming up. Everything started off well and as a group we seemed to have everything under control - however I spoke too soon and before we knew it the horses found a gap in the fence and made their way up a rather large mountain until we could no longer see them. At this point I knew there was no way Clare would want to go up there and it wouldn't have been fair to expect her to on her last ride. Thankfully Jess and Hannah intervened and some of us began to make our way up the mountain to get the horses. I had ended up at the back and as I watched their horses slip and slide on some rocks I was sceptical about whether we would all make it up there; Hugh was also behind me on Cav and so I made the decision that I'd stay behind with him and leave the girls to it. We stayed at the bottom of the mountain waiting to see if the horses came back down and having a chat. It was nice to have 10 minutes to chill out after such a fast ride previously.

Once the girls had found a route for Clare to head to the hayfield we all began to make our way down. It was still pretty steep and I hope that Clare is proud of her willingness and determination to cover some of the ground we did. I know if I had a fear like hers I wouldn't have attempted half the mountains she did. Soon enough we were back in the hay field and ready to start again. We hoped this time it would go better than before, but unfortunately the horses weren't making life easy and found another gap in the fence, this time making their way to the old ranch. Intervention from Jess and Hannah was required again and before long we were on the right track, until they left us to it again and only three of us were left wrangling. Somehow the rest had gotten left behind and decided just to walk which made for a rather frustrating few minutes as Kerry, Hugh and I realised we were doing this alone and tried to work out the best possible plan. In the end we kept on pushing and the horses ended in a neighbours field which Jess then caught up with us and said we were leaving them there. Phew! A huge part of me was disappointed that we hadn't been able to accomplish something like this alone, but it takes a lot of practice to learn to wrangle successfully and I hope if I return to the ranch in the future it is something I'll be given the opportunity to have a go at again!

Eventually we made it back to the ranch, all rather tired and sad that our time as a group was over. The two were leaving at 4am the next morning and Kathrin, Hugh, Kerry and I were heading off to Montana to go to a Rodeo before I left for New York on Sunday. MaeCile asked if I would consider allowing everyone to look at my pictures on the book screen as a slideshow which I was pleased about. Jess put some cowboy music on and it was nice to sit wedged between Kathrin and Hugh again and watch our adventure as a group unfold once more right from the beginning.

*

Part 5 is the final instalment of my Wyoming adventure, but also one of the most exciting as I get to cross yet another thing of my bucket list. I'll be posting it in the next couple of days!

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