{"id":2305,"date":"2015-03-24T16:03:55","date_gmt":"2015-03-24T23:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sbbch.org\/?p=2305"},"modified":"2025-04-26T16:31:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T22:31:28","slug":"sbbchi-succor-creek-annual-fun-ride-and-public-outreach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/?p=2305","title":{"rendered":"SBBCHI Succor Creek Annual Fun Ride and Public Outreach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Get Your Backside in the Saddle<\/h2>\n
\"The<\/a>

The Outfitter<\/p><\/div>\n

If this keeps up we might need a bigger parking area. New faces, including the two legged and four legged kind, participated in the SBBCHI annual Succor Creek fun ride. In an attempt to stimulate interest in new membership, the fun ride has been opened up to the public. Over 20 riders managed to get their butts in the saddle on an early Sunday morning for a stunning ride through the Owyhee desert.<\/p>\n

Amongst the riders were a few members who had recently undergone joint surgery of one kind or another; myself included. I\u2019d had a total knee replacement, Bill Conger had a double total knee replacement and Phil was recovering from shoulder surgery. I figured between the three of us, we had enough artificial parts to build one outstanding bionic Squaw Butte member!<\/p>\n

\"RearView\"<\/a>We split the large group into several smaller groups. Smaller groups are often more manageable with less impact on the terrain. The natural varied paces of the horses usually determine the groups traveling dynamic; the Passo\u2019s, Walkers and Rob\u2019s mustang taking the lead. My horse will walk at whatever pace I ask him too and that is normally in the back of the herd. I can better keep an eye on everyone (not that anyone needs keeping an eye on \u2013 but it makes me feel better) and snap pictures without interrupting the flow.<\/p>\n

We left the trailers at approximately 10:30 AM. Light jackets against the morning spring breeze were sufficient for comfort.\u00a0 Several of the members were well on their way as I waited for the last foot to stick a stirrup. I resisted the urge to call out: \u201cMove \u2018em up\u2026.head \u2018em out!\u201d<\/p>\n

If it weren\u2019t for Lou Ann \u2013 I\u2019d be the most directionally challenged of the bunch. Lou makes me look like an orienteering master! Less than a mile up the road we met Lou Ann coming in from the wrong direction. Well\u2026it wasn\u2019t wrong, exactly, even if it was not the ideal way to enter Succor Creek from Meridian. The important thing was she got there, not how<\/em> she got there.<\/p>\n

A young cowboy, a guest of a member, bailed off his horse, slid into Lou\u2019s driver\u2019s seat and backed her rig off the road. He jumped out, dashed to the back of the trailer, unloaded Lou\u2019s gelding and saddled him before the rest of us could say \u201cBob\u2019s your uncle.\u201d Turns out 25 year-old Warren works for a Montana outfitter. He all but threw Lou into the saddle and we were off once again. Sort of like an equine pit-stop.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Chick’s<\/p><\/div>\n

My small group caught up with the Chicks at the gate leading to what I call the \u201cOn Top:\u201d an ATV road running north and south above the campground and below the old Indian Cave.\u00a0 Chick and Lorraine lost Sammy, Chick\u2019s beautiful Arabian grey of natural causes earlier in the month. Lorraine was riding an up and coming bay Arab\/Quarter cross, Casanova. This was Casanova\u2019s first ride outside the training arena. Casanova was a bit nervous. Not uncommon for a young horse amongst a large group of riders. Chick and Lorraine would switch saddles and do a little Pirelli while the rest of us went on. It is against my nature to leave a member behind, but Chick felt Casanova needed some alone time to get beyond the skittishness magnified by the group.<\/p>\n

Dripping sweat and labored lungs brought us to the apex of the first of several steep climbs encountered on the ride. I barely got out the words, \u201cEveryone check your cinches,\u201d when I caught sight of Warren methodically going from rider to rider checking cinches and tightening as needed. This must be what it\u2019s like in the days of Lord\u2019s and Ladies of the manner. \u201cOh, George\u2026I wish to ride today. Prepare the Black for western discipline.\u201d A meticulously groomed and gleaming black stallion magically appears in the outer courtyard awaiting your riding pleasure. Upon returning home, you toss the reins to the always dutiful George and your horse is miraculously returned to his paddock, freeing you to enjoy mint julips on the terrace with Captain Butler and\u2026.<\/p>\n

I glanced back often hoping to catch sight of the Chick\u2019s. I reached a vantage point that allowed a glimpse of two tiny riders in the bottom of the canyon. Both riders aboard and clipping along at a good pace. No need to fret any longer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A string of bandits<\/p><\/div>\n

We followed the trail across the On Top to a gate leading down to the \u201cHole in the Wall.\u201d Roger dismounts to open the gate. All riders get through ahead of a barrage of ATV\u2019s; one after another filtered through the gate \u2013 14 in all. I thought this might be where we\u2019d lose our young Cowboy. A curvy girl peering from behind goggles did a double take from the back passenger seat of a Yamaha four wheeler. Warren damn near lost his seat as he pushed the front of his felt hat off his forehead. \u201cWell hello! Looks to me like that little gal \u2018d be a site happier on the back of this horse than the back o\u2019 that four whiller!\u201d\u00a0 From the sheer velocity of her head whipping around and lingering glance, I believe he might be right. The boy was not lacking in confidence.<\/p>\n

We met the larger group on their way back to camp. Janine and Lou Ann turned back with the others. I wanted to show Marina, Rogers\u2019s granddaughter, the Hole in the Wall. Linda, Devon, Mildred, Roger, Marina and Warren and I continued to the Hole in the Wall. In a normal water year, a waterfall pours over the top of the rim rock pooling in the center of the crescent shaped rock formation. It was not a normal water year. The Hole in the Wall was bone dry; as dry as I\u2019d ever seen it.<\/p>\n

\"Mildred\"<\/a>

Mildred<\/p><\/div>\n

We rested the horses, snapped a few pictures and mounted for the ride back to camp. I marveled as Mildred popped into the saddle. I remarked to Warren, \u201cI sure hope at 80 some years old I can still get my butt into the saddle like that.\u201d While secretly thinking: Who am I kidding – I wish I could get my butt into the saddle like that today!<\/em> Mildred is my idol and inspiration. I handed her a can of Beanee Weenee\u2019s. \u00a0She scrunched up her nose. \u201cYou expect me to eat these nasty things?\u201d No Mildred, I\u2019m pretty sure those things would kill you \u2013 that can is at least 15 years old. We\u2019ll be lucky if it doesn\u2019t explode before I snap a picture.<\/p>\n

Marina put her horse\u2019s feet to work as he danced and fought the bit. This was one 10 year old who wasn\u2019t letting her horse get away with bad habits. The horse jigged to be up with his buddy, Rogers big bay gelding. I stopped asking Marina if she was doing ok when I watched her collect the horse and make him do everything but what he wanted until he stopped misbehaving. Well done, Marina.<\/p>\n

We arrived back at camp just as Rob took the last of the burgers and hotdogs off the grill. Some might call it late \u2013 I call it perfect timing. As always, the spread of food was impressive.\"Potluck\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I passed Bill coming back from watering his horse. The conversation went something like this:<\/p>\n

Bill: Does your knee pop when you ride?<\/p>\n

Me: Not when I ride \u2013 but when I walk sometimes. It doesn\u2019t hurt, just feels weird.<\/p>\n

Bill: Mine feel like they are loose and shifting around, especially when I\u2019m on the tractor.<\/p>\n

Me: Come to think of it, mine do that when I\u2019m on the tractor too. And it did start to do it about the last \u00bd mile of our ride today.<\/p>\n

Bill: I don\u2019t like it. It bugs me.<\/p>\n

Me: Do you think it\u2019s normal? *Please tell me you think it\u2019s\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 normal.*<\/em><\/p>\n

Bill: God, I hope so.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The haul back home over one of the roughest, tire popping, gravel roads in Oregon affords ample time to contemplate on the success of another Backcountry Horseman outing. We met some wonderful prospective new members we hope to see more of in the future. We reflect on the sadness of our four legged partners we have lost and look forward with hope in the new mounts that will fill the empty hoof prints they left behind. We glean inspiration from Mildred\u2019s agile horsemanship.\u00a0 Determination from the likes of Phil and Bill\u2019s tenacity; Hope in the future from Marina\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n

No matter the age of the rider or the number of plastic parts they might boast, you just can\u2019t keep a good Backcountry Horseman\u2019s butt out of the saddle.<\/p>\n

\"Boots\"<\/a>Click for full set of Pictures on Picasa<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Get Your Backside in the Saddle If this keeps up we might need a bigger parking area. New faces, including the two legged and four legged kind, participated in the SBBCHI annual Succor Creek fun ride. In an attempt to stimulate interest in new membership, the fun ride has been opened up to the public. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,2],"tags":[39,41,42,26,31],"class_list":["post-2305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-around-the-campfire","category-fun-rides","tag-horses","tag-outfitters","tag-owyhee","tag-sbbch","tag-trail-rides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2305"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2328,"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2305\/revisions\/2328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sbbch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}