Giddyup

We are staying an extra day here in Little Missouri State Park so Joyce can go horseback riding.

So at 8:00 am she signed up for the three hour ride that starts at 10:00 am.

The horse stable is only about 50 yards behind us so I walked over to get some pictures of her and give her the camera so she could take it with her. The ride will take them down to the base of the canyon.

At 10:00 there were about fourteen riders saddled up and ready to go. There was also a stable hand at the lead, a couple within the line and one at the end of the line. Everyone was given instructions on how to handle the horse and what to expect along the trail.

At this point the ride began and I sat on a fence post saying my goodbyes because I was staying behind. As the last of the riders began to past me things went horribly wrong. The last horse which was carrying one of the ranch hands began to buck really bad. Being an experienced rider, he did his best to control his horse but the horse ultimately won out and the rider was tossed from his saddle.

The riders name was Steve and as Steve fell from the horse he toppled backwards landing directly on his head. It was a hard fall that pushed his head back. I ran to him along with a few other people one being his wife. Steve didn't really know what happened to him and he wanted to get up but we convinced him to stay still and relax while we waited for the ambulance to arrive.

As far as I know Steve ended up with a slight concussion and is one lucky cowboy.

The riders continued on their ride after things settled down.

Joyce took pictures as they rode along. Occasionally Joyce would fall back a little so she could trot her horse Maverick.
The terrain changed as they rode along
Then it was break time. Maverick is savoring the fresh greenery.

This really looks like horse country.
More scenery!

Another shot as taken from the horse.

Follow the leader.

Up the hill from the drivers seat.

The neighbors dog, a Siberian Husky named Copper even joined in for the journey as they headed back to the stable.

Joyce really enjoyed the three plus hours it took for the round trip ride and may do it again when we get to Cottonwood campground in Theodore Roosevelt National Park at the South entrance. We will be heading there first thing in the morning because it fills up fast.

Update: We just found out that the ranch hand that was thrown from his horse suffered from a broken collar bone, and a broken finger. Lucky it wasn't his neck.