1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 January Voice RS | Page 87

West Fork River winds its way down
the crooked narrow valley, crossing
the riding trails many times. During
flood time it has deposited huge
piles of sand and gravel along its
banks. The river is fed every few
hundred yards by small cold springs
that emerge from beneath the sand
bars, bluffs and small caves. The
caves are found in abundance along
the limestone bluffs. These springs
make the river cold downstream.
We rode many narrow valleys, most
of which had cool spring branches
in them. The narrow valley trails
were cool andpleasant, being shaded
by large hickory, oak, walnut and
sugar-maple trees. On most of our
rides we seldom saw another per­
son. About the only reminder of mod­
ern civilization was an occasional
WATER HAUL — The riders are pictured crossing a stream on the start of another day of trail riding,
jer
plane high overhead.
Left to right are Lloyd Hill, Beverly Santens, Sally 1 'ill and Fred Lesh.
Late in the evening, when the set­
ting sun would be casting its long
fingers of light across the valley,
we would return from the swimming
been abandoned. Mother Nature has hole to camp. We wrere tired but re­
experience we took them to the swim­
ming hole bareback, using only a moved in and grown stands of small freshed, and certainly in no hurry
halter for reining. They both turned timber. Many of the little abandoned to fall asleep. We lay on the cod.
out to be regular “ducks.” BLUE fields are covered with wild black­ and gazed at an occasional •
DIAMOND seemed to enjoy it the berry vines which were loaded heav­ star shining through an opening
ily with ripe berries. While we were the foliage overhead. This,
most. His antics in the water were
riding we came upon the camp of with the many nature sounds c
a delight to watch. As soon as he
reached the water he would proceed two families in the river bottom who forest, gave us a feeling of serenir,
to enthusiastically duck himself. He were picking berries. They had come and enchantment.
The nights were cool and pleas­
would move out to where the water several miles just to pick the ripe
came up to his neck and would sim­ fruit. At one abandoned log cabin, ant even .hough the temperature
Beverly tied BLUE DIAMOND to reached the nineties during the day.
ply sit down on his rump and let the
cool water flow by. In addition to one of the remaining porch posts, The cool river air made us reach
enjoying the water, the horses took climbed the rickety steps, and stood for blankets long before daybreak.
on the front porch and picked all the Being out in the open, we naturally
to the rough trails like pack mules.
awakened early and were greeted
They were slow and careful in the ripe berries she wanted to eat.
rough spots, and on the flat trails
in the river bottom they swung into
their famous free and easy-going
running walk.
At an early spring show I had
told Lloyd and Sally Hill of Elling­
ton, Mo. about our summer plans to
camp and trail-ride. Quick as a flash,
Sally said, “Let us know when and
where, and we’ll join you!” We were
pleased to find them in camp when
we returned from our first day’s ride.
They had brought along their two
favorite Walkers, LUCKY GO BOY
and MERRY’S FLAME. The Hills
are the most ardent trail riders I
know. They were f amiliar with many
of the trails in this area. Their com­
panionship and knowledge added so
rfiuch to our enjoyment of our trip.
The National Forest in this area is
not contiguous territory but has some
small farms where the river valley
is wide enough to permit. These
farms are owned by local residents.
HORSE PLAY — Both horses are pictured lying down In the "old swimming hole” for a little fun after
Many of the small farms have long
a long day on the trail.
January, 1969
87