The Trail Journal | August 2022 : simplebooklet.com

ARE YOU A PREMIUM MEMBER? LOOK FOR THE FOR MEMBER DISCOUNTS!CONTENTHTA CHANGES LIVES05IN EVERY ISSUERAMBLINGS OF AN EDITOR"Ten years on the trail!" A look back on all thewonderful memoriesThese are photos from the trails submitted fromour Facebook Community for this months theme You'll be ready to grill once you take a look at these great recipes from Otzi3010TRAIL SHOTS29CAMPFIRE RECIPESTRAIL DESTINATION OF THE MONTHIRON MOUNTAIN HORSE CAMPA list of trail destinations and equine productsfrom across America TRAIL DESTINATION GUIDEEnjoy Cowboy Poetry and Tall Tales from the trailsGATHER 'ROUND THE CAMPFIREHow Horse Trails of Americasaved the future of a ranch inNew MexicoEXCLUSIVEPRODUCT OF THE MONTHMYRISTIN JOINT SUPPLEMENTS35383637August 2022 | The Trail Journal | 4

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Some days it feels like we’re herding cats… but mostof the time, we love to help our members improve theirtrail riding lifestyle… and reading through the thousandsof posts, photos, and videos they all post regularly!HTA has changed my life... From start to finish. I’ve met some of the mostwonderful people on this earth through this community.I’ve made lifelong friends who have carried me throughsome of the most challenging times in my life and beenthere through some of the best times! Some of myfondest memories that I will forever cherish are the HTAGatherings we’ve had over the years. From Tennessee toSouth Dakota, meeting our members face to face hasbeen a treat. And then there was the first ever Facebook CommunitySummit in Chicago, where HTA (along with 100 othersuccessful groups) was handpicked to attend out ofthousands of other group applicants. Ramblings of an Editor For those of you who have been along on this trailsince the beginning, you might know this story well... Istill find it amazing in it all these years later – maybebecause I never set out to create the largest trail ridingcommunity or create the #1 trail riding resource in thecountry. I often say that if I had set out to accomplish thosethings, I would have screwed it up from the verybeginning. I just wanted to create a place for other trailriders to come and share their favorite trails and findnew ones. That was it. And it’s still that way today. I justnever knew 100,000 other people would join in on thefun! I still remember when we hit 500 members… I wasso excited! Now that we’re just a few short of 100,000,I’m just as excited but also humbled. And we couldn't have made it through these last 10years without the 12 members stepped up to help memanage the Facebook Community. Sarah Jaques, NancyVandenoever, Terri Peterson, Jan Hodge, MaggieMorgan, Reuben Miller, Christina Bottlemy, Doug andVicky Elam, and Kelli McFadden (who has become myright-hand gal), all agreed to step up and help make HTAas great as it is today.10 YEARS ON THE TRAILTen years! Good grief. I remember well when Icreated this group on a whim back on August12th, 2012, and I love to reminisce about it. 5 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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That was a surreal event! I brought one admin (PosseMember Terri Peterson) and a favorite group member(Sherry McLean) with me, and man, we had fun! We werespoiled for three full days, all expenses paid, and welearned so much about running Facebook groups. We met with the Facebook Group employees andmanagers and Mark Zuckerberg (Terri got a selfie withhim!). We were able to talk directly with them about howto improve Facebook groups for all our members andlearn how to manage our groups even better. It was anevent I will never forget. one of my most cherished memories,which I will remember for the rest of my life. Our HTAtrip to Israel on horseback with Sirin Rider was anunbelievable experience. Life changing. And we’ll foreverbe tied to those with whom we shared that trip. We wereable to see and experience things I had never imagined. And we were able to experience much of it fromhorseback… simply unbelievable. Yair Sharet, the ownerand guide of Sirin Riders, was the best guide andhorsemen and became a very good friend. And AviKaraso, the owner of Karaso Bed & Breakfast, where westayed for a few nights, became a fast friend. He said hisBed & Breakfast is our Israel home. That is a gift I willforever keep in my heart. Who knew I’d make friends(lifelong friends) in Israel because of HTA? And then the stories from others of how HTA haschanged their lives. From the trails they’ve ridden to the people, they’ve met. Some people have moved crosscountry because of their connections through HTA.Others have been cared for by fellow HTA memberswhen tragedy struck on the trail. So many stories. Somany amazing people. I truly love our members. there’s no other group like it on theplanet. And the fact that I get to be a part of their trailriding life is one of the best blessings in my life. Did Imention our HTA Business Members yet? Some havechanged my life, and some have shared how HTA haschanged their lives. From trail destinations almostclosing doors until they found our HTA members toother businesses that started all because of connectionsmade in HTA. I cannot comprehend how HTA has genuinely changedso many lives! And now, we get to partner with so manytrail destinations and equine businesses across thecountry to help improve the trail riding lifestyle for ourmany HTA members. I never imagined. And Israel,In my opinion,6| August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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JOIN NOW!Shannon SchraufnagelThe Trail Journal Editor-in-ChiefHorse Trails of America Foundershannon@htcaa.orgRamblings of an EditiorJoin the #1 trail riding resourcein America! Receive discounts from traildestination & equine productsaround the country 24/7 access to the best trailriding magazine in America! what the next ten years will bring,but I do know that this community will continue to growand the connections will continue to be made, and HTAwill continue transforming the lives of trail ridersaround the country! And I hope you continue to enjoyour monthly Issues of The Trail Journal. This Anniversary Issue is a special one – I know you’lllove it. If you’d like to read all the articles uninterrupted,join HTA today! Not only will you be able to read all ourgreat articles, but you’ll also receive discounts frommany trail destinations and equine businesses acrossthe country. And you’ll help support the great trailriding community in America! Here’s to anotherfantastic ten years!Blessed Trails,www.HorseTrailsofAmerica.comI don't know5 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal5 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal5 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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TRAIL SHOTSCraig Meinders Wildcat Mountain State Park, WisconsinPhotographer: Shannon MeindersCandy PhillipsTheodore Roosevelt Natl Park, NorthDakotaTeresa Rankin and Augustus Big South Fork River, TennesseePhotographer: Carolyn PalmerCOVER PHOTO CONTESTANTSBrandon Brunner US Army Retired Fort Howes, Montana. Photographer: Becky PearlmanMeg ArmisteadMiddle Creek Saguache, ColoradoPhotographer: Brink MessickAl Stern USMCCatalina State Park, ArizonaPhotographer: Catherine SternThese are the best of the best from the past 10 years and it was a tough contest!Meg Armistead is the Grand Prize Winner with her amazing shot from Middle CreekSaguache, Colorado!10 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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RIDING THE WESTERN UNITED STATESAs Inspired by Horse Trails of AmericaBy Eugene MathisMountain National Park in Colorado, YellowstoneNational Park and the Big Horns Mountains in Wyoming,and the Dragoons and Chiricahua’s in Arizona. Between 2008 and 2013, we trail rode mostly in stateparks near our home in Illinois, with occasional trips toEminence, Missouri, and the Shawnee National Forest(NF), never dreaming it was possible to ride in moreexotic places. Our blinders were removed when friends,Carolyn and Darlene, invited us to join them in campingat Broken Arrow Campground in The Black Hills. We discovered Horse Trails of America (HTA) onFacebook about the same time and began a vicariousexploration of other destinations. Using HTA, we foundplaces we wanted to visit, researched camps and trails inthe HTA search bar, and communicated with other HTAmembers online. The interconnectedness of HTAmembers has been a real positive for us in our researchand travels. We have visited manyvdestinations, including ourfavorites: Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, Rocky.W e started trail riding in 2008 when my wife, Melissa(a non-rider at the age of 59), purchased an experiencedPaso Fino trail horse, and I gave up showing Morganhorses.Black Hills, South Dakota The Black Hills was our first big riding adventure, andit has remained our favorite, even when16 inches of snowfell on us in May of 2019! Within the Black Hills, ourfavorite trail is Hell Canyon. We like it because it is justedgy enough to create a thrill but no fear. Leaving the Hell Canyon TH, we climbed clockwise tothe west rim of the canyon and dropped just below therim onto a trail that skirts the rim. The trail consists of awall with an occasional overhang on the left and a drop-off on the right, providing an excellent view of the valleyand stream below. After about an hour on this trail, we descended intothe canyon floor and followed the stream out, viewingthe trail that we had just traversed from above. 13 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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Mount Rushmore, South Dakota We also love the trail to Mount Rushmore Riding fromthe Iron Creek TH. The granite pinnacles along the trailremind us of the spires that grace the Needles Highway,though not as tall. Getting one’s picture taken onhorseback with the Faces in the background is always athrill. Custer State Park, South Dakota Custer State Park is another favorite. The French Creekis archetypal with crystal clear water, and the scenictrail is frequently graced by inspiring granite cliffs. Ouronly challenge was the steep climb, with downfall, outof the creek valley to Fisherman Flats. Bryce Canyon Nat'l Park, UtahCamping at Ruby’s, our favorite ride in the BryceCanyon area is Peekaboo Loop. We have ridden it twice,first in 2018 with Joe and Brenda, who graciouslyallowed us to tag along with them and their impressiveRocky Mountain horses, and again last year when werode at 5 pm after the concession horses and most ofthe hikers had left the park. We really enjoyed havingthe Loop mostly to ourselves.Thunder Mountain is a unique trail that involves somemoderately challenging switchbacks and razorbacks,and whimsical orange hoodoos. August 2022 | The Trail Journal | 14

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Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, CO To ride in Rocky Mountain National Park, we stayed atWinding River in Grand Lake. There we met Jon andCarol, Coloradoans who were riding young, in-training,Missouri Fox Trotters; and they gaited at everyopportunity. We usually walk our horses in themountains, and we kept wondering how long our horsescould keep it up, but they did. Our favorite ride with Jon and Carol was the Lake Vernatrail, a steady climb with switchbacks, often winding alonga mountain with a wall on one side and a sheer drop-offon the other. At one point we encountered a fallen logacross the trail. Jon was an experienced mountain trailrider and assured us the ground on the downside was softenough to step down and go around the log. Not wantingto be left behind, we followed with some trepidation,somewhat to Jon’s surprise. The horse Carol was traininglater sold for $18,000 dollars. Yellowstone Nat'l Park, WY We camped outside of Yellowstone at the Diamond Pcampground. We took one ride outside of the park toSheep’s Head Lake, but our primary goal was to ride inthe historic park. Our first ride was the Mystic Falls loop.Going up was strenuous but relatively uneventful. Grizzlybear markings on trees gave us pause but we figured thatwith all the hikers in the area we were relatively safe.Coming down was a bit more exciting. On one of thoseedgy trails, Melissa’s horse was leading, was spooked by ahiker, did a 180 rollback, and ran past Eugene up the trail.Eugene’s horse did not go over the edge, but the incidentcreated a near panic attack in Melissa. Further on,Eugene’s horse came to a switchback near the falls andrefused to go forward. Getting off and leading her did notrestore her courage but I felt safer when she took anawkward switchback shortcut! Once was enough for thistrail; however, the view of the valley from the top and thefalls were worth it. Within the boundary of Yellowstone, we also rode theNez Perce trail, a trail taken by the Chief Joseph and theNez Pierce Indians in their attempt to escape US troopsby going to Canada. This trail was relatively flat but wasmade special by the presence of buffalo and thermalfeatures. We rode the third day from Fawn CreekTrailhead just outside the park boundary. August 2022 | The Trail Journal | 16

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The Dragoons and Chiricahua’s To ride the Dragoon and Chiricahua mountains wecamped at Lazy Horse campground in Pearce, Arizona,between the two mountain ranges. Our favorite ride inthe Dragoons was the Cochise Stronghold. The climbup the stronghold winds through beautiful scrub oakand pine forest. Imagining Cochise escaping from theUS cavalry increased the pleasure of this ride. Chiricahua Monument, Arizona The ride was described as “challenging” by othercampers at Lazy Horse. One camper related that herhorse’s front foot had slipped off the edge of the trailcausing her horse to lose his balance; she stated that shewould never ride the Monument trail again. None of thecampers who had ridden the trail previously wereinterested in going again, but another couple who hadnever ridden the trail, Rodney and Charlene, joined us. The beginning of the trail was easy and almost park-like;but about a mile in the trail began to climb and becamemore exciting given edgy, steep drop-offs andswitchbacks with good-sized boulders. Eugene’s horse,Stella, would stop occasionally and look at the trail as if toask Eugene if he were serious. We reached the highest point of the trail only to find thatMelissa’s horse had lost a shoe. Since the automobileroad to the top was too narrow and curvy toaccommodate our stock trailer, the park rangers had toclose the mountain to traffic so we could get the stocktrailer up to the top and back down with our horses.Another HTA member described the ride as “epic” andwe would agree! 17 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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Big Horn Mountains, WY To ride the Big Horn Mountains inWyoming, we camped at Ten Sleep RVPark and trailered to various trailheads. Shawn, the owner of the RV park, took uson a couple of nice rides. The first was toCastle Rock in the high desert whichseemed somewhat similar to theBadlands in South Dakota. He took us up, down, and around thevarious formations, twisting and turning.It was fun and the scenery amazing! We were there early in the year, so we could not dosome of the higher elevation rides, but he did take us ontrails where we encountered a herd of elk, snowbanks notyet melted in June, tall pines, and mountain streams. On our own, we rode in Paint Rock Canyon andMedicine Lodge, both of which were up and back trailsinside canyons. Both had steep, tall, stone canyon wallson both sides with picturesque streams that flowed downthe middle of the canyons. on their 10th Anniversary and a big thank you for all theadventures!-The MathesSending HTA a congratulations 18 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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Rogue Cowgirls at The North RimB Y H O L L Y G O O D We are a small group of riding friends from Las Vegas,Nevada. We’re also known to some as the RogueCowgirls; we even have the shirts. We ride challengingtrails and sometimes go off-road as long as it’s safe.Most of us have been friends for years, ten to thirtycombined, and have all ridden since we were little, somestarting as young as three. A few of us are members of the Tule Springs NationalMonument Mounted Patrol and Back CountryBristlecone Chapter members. We've traveled together for years, from annual cattledrives that have become a tradition to beach trips andas many small trips as we can squeeze into the year. We compete in ETS events, obstacle challenges, andeducational clinics. A few of us are retired; we ride threeto four times a week when the desert weather permits.We ride Red Rock in the fall and winter; then, we head tothe higher elevation and cooler temperatures of Mt.Charleston in the summer. We have very supportive husbands that encouragethese grand adventures. They usually end up caring forthe animals that don't make the trip with us. We've seen each other through losses, successes, newaccomplishments, new jobs, old jobs, health battles, andso much laughter and shenanigans. We're more likefamily than friends. WHERE YOU FIND ONE OF US, YOU'LL FIND THE OTHERS. August 2022 | The Trail Journal | 20

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e talk about where we haven't been yet or where wewould like to ride again. We usually have our calendar oftrips filled by March. One of our Rogue Cowgirls hadridden the North Rim of the Grand Canyon years ago, sowe knew where we wanted to go. It was a best-keptsecret. I have lived in Las Vegas since 1999 and had neverbeen to the Grand Canyon. To get to see it for the firsttime from the saddle of my horse was a feeling I can'teven describe. To say the view was breathtaking is anunderstatement. The backcountry horse camp permit allows for sixhorses and two Living Quarters trailers. Unfortunately,only three of us Rogue Cowgirls were able to make thetrip, but it was a trip worth taking. We were there the lastweek of June for four relaxing days (If you venture to theNorth Rim, you’ll want to check your water and firerestrictions during the summer months before you headthere). Myself and my twenty-one-year-old Quarter Horse,River, Julie Sprague, and her twelve-year-old Lazy KQuarter Horse, Johnny Ringo, and Tammy Smith with herfive-year-old Quarter Horse, Gunny, made the trip. Theroad trip is always part of our shenanigans with theplaylist of music, snacks, hat cans, and so much laughterthat we really could be our own show. We left early in themorning to beat the Las Vegas heat, and a short road triplater, we arrived. We went from high ninety-degree temps leaving LasVegas to cool mid-seventy-degree days and fifty-degreenights. Once we figured out where to find the BackCountry office to check in, we got to camp and begansetting up. The horses were glad to be out of the trailer, probablyas much as we were. We camped in the Back Countrylivestock area in the National Park (you'll want to makesure at check-in that they give you the combination tothe gate leading to the camp). We had quite theadventure our first night there trying to reach the Rangerto help us get it unlocked. Small oversight that made uslaugh the next morning. There was not much cell service,so we had to drive back to the lodge to call Rangerdispatch. We all determined it made for a good story aspart of the adventure. We spent an amazing four days on the North Rim of theGrand Canyon. The camp spot was nice and large, easyto pull into, with plenty of space for chairs and coolers,and had shade. We were right across from the corral,with plenty of trees for shade mid-day for the horses butnot blocking the view. The corrals were nice and big andheld our three horses with plenty of room for them toplay. They had a big water trough with a spigot right atthe corrals, so carrying water was unnecessary. Therestrooms were very clean, and the park was peacefuland quiet. We had a beautiful deer come through eachevening; she shared the hay and a spare water bucket wefilled for the high line. The Canyon Mule Rides were not far from camp, so thehorses had entertainment twice a day when they took themules out and brought them back for the day. They hadthe best-looking mules, healthy, well cared for, and suchshiny coats. We rode open trails with climbing inclines tonice smooth bridle paths. Trails ranged from easy, likethe bridle path trail, to challenging as the Arizona Trail.Uncle Jim Trail has amazing views of the Grand Canyonfrom the overlook.W21 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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The views from the saddle were just as majestic.Riding through the well-maintained and well-markedtrails made the days in the saddle so enjoyable. Wecould ride as short or long as we wanted. If you go in the We were caught in the rain on two separate rides. Onthe last day, we rode out in nice sunny weather, only forit to turn into a thunderstorm and hail. We laughed likekids and, in true Rogue Cowgirl fashion, rode the rest ofthe trail while ducking under trees for shelter when wecould. We've already made reservations to go back inSeptember with a few of the cowgirls that didn't makethe June trip. We can't wait to see the fall colors of theAspen trees and sit around the campfire, sharing storiesof our past trips and planning the next one. As we headed back to Las Vegas, we were a little sadwe were leaving cool temperatures for the heat of thedesert, but the Rogue Cowgirls will be back North Rim! ther trails were designated for the canyon mulerides. The bridle path led us to the Canyon lodge. Wefound tie rails and restrooms at some of the trail stopsalong the way. And we got a few great pics with thehorses taken at the lodge overlook. The Arizona trailwas a little steep and rocky; I recommend boots if yourhorses are not shod. We gave the horses a day off and checked out theNorth Rim Canyon Lodge. It was so quaint and peaceful,with views to leave you speechless. Every interactionfrom the National Park Rangers to the hotel/cabin staffwas pleasant and friendly; we especially enjoyedconversations with Pete, part of the lodge staff. While at the lodge, we couldn't pass by the saloon.The Prickly Pear Mule cocktails were delicious, and theold west atmosphere kept you in the spirit. The Deli atthe Pines had a beef brisket sandwich that would makeyou cry... delicious. There is a general store not far from the lodge. It hasanything you would need at camp. Summer monthsbring rain gear. There is a shower house near thegeneral store, but due to the water restrictions at thetime of our trip, they were not open, so make sure yourliving-quarters trailer tank is filled. The views of the canyon were incredible. We enjoyedthe sunsets from the veranda each night, basking in thebeauty of it all. We met lodge guests that we foundourselves sitting around the fire, chatting with all nightwhile the rain added to the ambiance. O22 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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Holly Good is a Midwest Illinois girl, born and raised. She got herfirst pony at the age of three. As she grew older, sheparticipated in 4-H, local parades, and trail rides. Heraunt and uncle taught her everything she knew aboutriding. She has fond memories of staying with them andriding through many miles of pasture. She moved to LasVegas in 1999, got back into horses, and met the bestfriends she now calls family. She is a volunteer memberof the Boulder City Mounted Posse, and a member ofThe Tule Springs National Monument Mounted Patrol.She and her friends have ridden all over; beaches, theRedwoods, and the Grand Canyon. She enjoys cattledrives, team sorting, and ETS events. She currently hasfour horses in her herd; a Polish Arab named Dancer,two Quarter Horses River and Big Guy, and a three-year-old Dutch Warmblood named Josie. She has heraunt and uncle to thank for all her adventures with herhorses and friends.Have a trail story to share? Become a Trail Explorer today!TrailJournal@htcaa.org

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By Steven Urban, The Urban CowboyALWAYS IN THE SADDLEFROM TEXAS TO TENNESSEE My group of friends made our 2022Urban Cowboy trip in June. Ourdestination was the Buffalo RiverTrail Ride in Waynesboro, Tennessee.It was 37 other friends and me fromTexas that made the 800+ milejourney. I learned of the trail ridefrom Dom N Sweetie on the HorseTrails of America (HTA) FacebookGroup. It was a wonderful choice. This campsite is along the BuffaloRiver with cool water to sit in, float in,and have a good time. Also, on thebluff is a cliff dive if you have thenerve to do it. Finally, it comes timeto get out on the trails. You can goout on your own, or you can followone of the staff guides. Well, a few of us got set up withMax, a 30-year veteran of ridingthere. An amazing man that knowsthe trails. Day 1 of trail riding goes off to awild start - my mustang got spookedand decided we were going to rodeothrough our group of riders. Thankfully, no one was hurt. I didget my 8-second ride; just no onescored. It did get a little scarytowards the end, as the left reincame unclipped. I grabbed my leadrope on that side and got my horseto calm down. So, off we head to the trails... 26 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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The scenery was just amazing. There were just somany switchbacks, ups and downs to ride on. The shadeprovided great cover to keep you cool on the ride. Icannot even count how many waterfalls we saw and hadour pictures taken. Each day was different, and Max took us on trails thatdon’t usually get ridden. One of the trails even has theBat Cave. You can enter and go about 150-175ft intowhere there is a domed area to stand up in. Thetemperature was really cool on the inside. You almostdid not want to come out. You did have to walk throughabout eight inches of water in one section. Every day, thetrails had something new and amazing to see. The time on these trails gives you plenty of time toclear your mind and become one with nature. Duringone ride, I got so relaxed and just felt the nature aroundme that my mind decided to come up with some lyricsfor a song. I did sing it for a few friends at the back of ourgroup of riders. We got a good chuckle out of it (tunenot included)…1 9Drove on out to Tennessee Found a spot to campWith my dog and horseSaddled up my horseRode on down to the waterfallsFound my friendHad a beer or two with them During these week-long trips, I like to give my horse atleast one day off. So, we decided to make it theWednesday and loaded up the truck to head intoNashville. No, I did not record the song in Nashville.Maybe someone will use it to make something with it. We spent the day touring around the Country MusicHall of Fame and Johnny Cash Museum. We had lunchat Ole Red and even got some dancing in before walkingout. Definitely worth the day trip to give the horses abreak. Outside of the trails to ride, lots of people took theirhorses to the river to ride in it and just cool off. Youcould also float it or even just sit in it and relax. Once the evening rolled around, there was a nightlyband. Lots of folks gathered to get their dancing in forthe night. It was also a perfect time to visit with othertrail riders from all over. I made some good friends withpeople from Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi,Louisiana, and Ohio. Even the kids were getting into thedancing. The staff at the campsite was wonderful the wholetime we put the group together to go. They tried to getus all together as best as possible. Jennifer, in the office,was amazing. Any request or need we had was takencare of. In your fees, the kitchen staff kept you fed threetimes a day with some awesome food. August 2022 | The Trail Journal | 27

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CAMPFIRECOOKINGEasy Steak Tacos on a SkewerFt. Otzi Ember in Stainless Steel Marinade:2 cloves garlic - mincedJuice of 1/2 lemon1/2 cup olive oil1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce1/3 cup soy sauce1 tsp red pepper flakesSteak kabobs:3/4 lb. sirloin steak, cut into 1” pieces2 ears corn, sliced into 1” pieces1 red onion, cut into 1” pieces1 avocado, cut into chunksHot sauce1 lime, cut into wedges2-4 medium flour tortillas1 jalapeño, cut into thin slices1/2 cup cilantroCombine all marinade ingredients in a bowl and addsteak, corn, red onion and avocado.Prepare grill. Once grill is ready, alternately threadsteak, corn, red onion and avocado on skewers. Placeover coals, rotating often until steak is cooked todesired degree of doneness.Place tortillas and jalapeño on grill top and heat untiltortillas are browned.Remove ingredients from skewers and cut corn off ofcobs. Add all ingredients to tortillas and finish withcilantro, squeezed lime and hot sauce. 10% OFF OTZI for Horse Trails of America Members!Contact us today!! Visit otzigear.com to learn moreabout our flat pack grills, perfect for bringing out on thetrail! Also, find us on Instagram or Facebook @otzigearWith Otzi Adventure Gear29 | August 2022 | The Trail Journal

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B Y P R E S T O N B A T E SS A V E S L I V E SHorse Trails of America I had the chance to buy theranch I had been working on. The owner lived out ofstate; it was a hand-me-down ranch from his family andwasn’t of much interest to him. I had a few years ofsweat equity as a down payment, we got along well, andhe saw I could do what I said I could do, so the ownerfinanced it… Otherwise, a fella like me would never havea chance to get such a place. I had been doing pack trips deep into the GilaWilderness Area and guiding hunts for several years,and this is what paid the mortgage for the first fewyears. I spent more time in the wilderness sleeping in abedroll than I did at home in a bed. I loved taking folks in the wilds, showing them thecountry, teaching them some skills, and seeing thewonder in their eyes. I didn’t grow up here, so I knewexactly how they were feeling, seeing it for the first time. Some of my pack trip clients often asked to do cattlework with me for a day or two. Heck, having folks payme to do my work was sure a lot easier than runningpack strings! The place came with 40 head of old but solid mommacows and two bulls that I borrowed on. I bought six12’x14’ wall tents, a 20’x30’ wall tent, and some lumber.With help from some friends, I set the tents on woodplatforms, the smaller ones were for sleeping, and thelarge one was for cooking and hanging out. The tentswere set among Ponderosa Pines on a hill overlooking asecluded valley. The next Spring, I advertised as a “Working GuestRanch,” offering an authentic cowboy experience. Lots ofplaces in Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado were doingit, but no place down here. I placed advertisements insmall regional horse magazines and papers across thecountry. I couldn’t afford the big magazines. It worked! The phone started ringing, and we had 14people that first summer. Our guests had a good time; afew came back the next year, and a few told somefriends. The next year we had over 50 people and gothooked up with some tour outfits in Europe, and thingsreally started moving along. People were loving what we were doing... real cattlework in amazing country, camping out with a chuckwagon and range teepees. It was the real deal. I threw in with some neighbors who had low country,and we ran our herds together, up high on my placeduring the summer and down low on theirs in the winter.I leased a ranch headquarters down there and continuedthe guest operation almost year-round, running about700 mother cows. In a few years, we were having 450 guests a year comethrough. Our corrals now held 50 nice riding saddlehorses. We had a stallion and a band of 25 good mares.We sold a lot of great horses to guests who rode them fora week and took them home. I employed four full-timehands and several college kids in the summer. Thetrickle-down economics from our operation was feltthroughout the community - fuel, feed, food, parts,In 1990August 2022 | The Trail Journal | 30

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repairs, ranch supplies, and everything was done locally.In 2002 we leased a hay farm 3 hours from the ranch,with more employees, more equipment, and more hoursadded to already long days… And more debt. Fixed monthly expenses were a couple grand over$20,000. Cash flowed in, and cash flowed out; at the endof each month, I still had the same two or threethousand in the bank. Nevermore and often less... Myemployees made much more than I did.We were always on the edge of financial disaster. In2006 bookings dropped. I thought I needed to advertisemore, so I increased my ads in Western Horseman,American Cowboy, and Horse and Rider, spendingthousands a month on print advertising. Bookings stillslipped.I had a loyal base of clients who came every year, and Istarted hearing from them that they couldn’t afford atrip this year - their business was slow too. Most of ourguests were married to a spouse who didn’t ride. So, atrip out here was “their trip,” an extra vacation otherthan the family vacation. The spouse was often off on“their trip”- a golf vacation or other interest.When the family budget gets tight, the extras go first, sowe felt the recession coming on long before mostpeople, but I failed to understand what was happening.2007 bookings were down by 60%, and horse sales werenonexistent. I had to lay off all our employees and fire-sale dozens of horses at auction.2008 bookings were so few that overhead was twice thatof the guest income, so we were forced to stop with theguest operation. By the end of the year, we were sellinggood-producing cows to meet expenses, credit had driedup, and the recession was really starting to roll.I’m not an office person; I wasn’t keeping on top ofthings as I should have. My banknotes were being passedaround from big bank to big bank like a bottle of Rippleon skid row.The next thing I knew, a bank I had never heard of inRhode Island, held my biggest note, and I was monthsbehind... and they wanted money. Yesterday.When the dust settled, the cattle were gone. The grazingland was gone. The hay farm was gone. Most of ourprivate land was gone.We were left with our 160-acre headquarters in the heartof the Gila National Forest, which included eight cabins,the old cookhouse, a few barns, and a hand house. Wealso had a dozen horses left... and still, plenty of debt tokeep us motivated.We started doing weeklong horseback excursionsthrough the National Forest. Many of our old clientssupported us, and we got some new ones, but it was avery limited market we were targeting. We only hadguests about half the weeks we were open, losing moneythe other weeks. I was able to keep some part-time helpemployed, and most of the bills paid, but it was tough.Things didn’t get better... In 2015 a woman called and asked if she could bring her own horse, and stay in her trailer but use the corrals,cookhouse, and shower house. We had nothing going on that week so – sure, why not... she and two friendscame, they had a great time and it was a good deal for us. No driving 5 hours to the airport to pick people up,no spending hundreds of dollars on food and hours cooking it, and no waste. "How can I find more people likethose?" I wondered... People who traveled with their equines who would want to “Rent The Ranch”.

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had just recently joined Facebook and did a fewgroup searches. Right away, Horse Trails & CampingAcross America (Now known as Horse Trails of America)came up. There were just a few hundred members at thetime, but I got a good feeling about the group and likedthe way it was managed. I contacted the gal who started HTA, ShannonSchraufnagel; I told her about my situation and asked if Icould post about my ranch in HTA. She told me to grab ahandful of great photos that showed off our ranch andpost about them every day... I made a few posts, and the response was immediate!The next season, 2016, we had enough groups bookedthat half of our season was our regular all-inclusiveweeklong rides, and the other half was “Rent The Ranch”weeks. The more we did, the more we learned, and themore I liked it. I’m no young colt. I’ve spent the last 45 years workingfrom my saddle and needed to slow down. This seemedit just might be the ticket to be able to slow down butstill keep the ranch going... The guests had a great time, and in return, they postedtheir adventures on HTA - word got around so fast!In 2017 we stopped doing our inclusive rides altogetherand just started booking “Rent The Ranch” weeks.We started taking reservations in November for thefollowing season. Six months later, on opening day in May 2018, we werebooked for the entire season. I opened the reservationbook for 2019 on November 1st, 2018, at 7:00 AM...IThe season was fully booked four hours later!

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would never have believed Facebook or HTA wouldhave changed our lives, but they sure did. There is noother way I could reach my specific group of potentialcustomers. Printed advertising costs a bundle and isout of date, reaching only a very small portion of theriding world. HTA reaches a huge majority of thetraveling equine community.And HTA has helped so many small businesses directlyand indirectly... Just as an example, there is a smallHorse Hotel in Roswell, New Mexico, about 7 hoursfrom us. So many of our guests use them as a stop overto and from the N Bar that they are now full everyweekend.HTA is a group of good people sharing their favoritetrails and helping others find adventures with two andfour-legged friends across this great country...And all of this makes me smile. HTA (Shannon andKelli, along with the HTA Posse) change lives every day.HTA - Thanks so much for being there!-Preston BatesN Bar Ranch, New MexicaI

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GATHER 'ROUND THE CAMPFIREBefore 2012 I was dreaming of hitting the trailsThen one day I hit “Create a Facebook group”And I had no idea what that would entail! Within days the group began to growOne thousand, two thousand, ten and moreI didn’t know where this would lead but let’s go! It was exciting to see trail riders so manyCome and share their photosFavorite trails and great camping stories The Posse helps keep the peaceWhen wildfires do sparkWith humor and sense and ease! Some days in the group it’s been crazyBut most of the days it’s been funBut the Posse likens it to herding cats aplenty! Friends we’ve made from state to stateMany memories we’ve gatheredAcross this amazing land so greatWe’re all so different in many waysFrom the horses we rideTo the saddles we trade But there’s one common thingBetween all of our membersIs the love we have for trails and camping In the solitude of natureWe seek peace and quietWith friends we greatly treasure My life has never been the sameAfter I hit that Facebook buttonAnd I’d never want it to change For the love I have for all our members! -Shannon Schraufnagel"HTA Posse Boss"Do you have Cowboy Poetry or Tall Tales from the Trails to share? We'd love to read it!TrailJournal@htcaa.orgWhy I Love HTA August 2022 | The Trail Journal | 40

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TRAIL DESTINATIONWe are located in the Jefferson NationalForest & part of the Mount RogersRecreational area, which gives you hundredsof miles of trails to ride at your leisure. Ridethrough lush forest trails, rocky runningcreeks, and branches. Ride by the cliffs, or enjoy lunch under themalong the branch. We offer campsites withelectrical hookups, water, and internet, abathhouse, a 78-stall barn, and a tack roomand dump station. All the campsites are near running water,shade trees, a bathhouse, and a barnsurrounded by beautiful mountains. We havetrails that go on for miles and a campgroundto keep you comfortable. Our weather is pleasant, and the scenery isbeautiful! So, plan your next trail ride withus! We'll make sure it's perfect in every way!But call or email us today - we book up fast,especially in the fall!Of The MonthIRON MOUNTAIN HORSE CAMP August 2022 | The Trail Journal | 35

The Trail Journal | August 2022

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