Dawns Top Trail Horse Blog

08/08/2021

Never shall we go so long between visits, son. I’m loving spending time with you. Love you Michael 😘✌️😘

07/08/2021

I’ll see you in a week, big guy! Be nice to the ladies at the barn!!

02/08/2021

So, I’ve ridden since I was 10, and I learned how right at the barn behind me. I cannot believe it will be somewhere around a year before I can jump on and go again, but these old shots remind me that I will ride again. And I’ll take him on lots of walks in the meantime (the horse above was. Golden Nugget- I sold him that day 😊 He was a little sh*t!!😀

27/07/2021

My sweet, late, BFF, Terri Caudill and me (flanking the lady in the middle, whose name escapes me) at an annual “Bash” (as they called it) while we worked for a distributor of aerospace fasteners (yes - really 😎) way back in the late ‘80s. But our earthly friendship is on hold, as we lost her to complications of Scoliosis just over 5 years ago now (she actually passed just after my mom, so ‘twas a sh*tty time). I love this shot, because DAMN we had some incredible parties in the aerospace biz. Love you Terri!!!!

25/07/2021

This incredible basilica has been in Cruces over a hundred years. Now, an entire town square encompasses it, AND a jail from which William Bonney escaped to live a bit longer as Sherrif Pat Garret, hit him with a bullet. It’s all preserved so nicely, and it’s RIGHT by our house! Yes, I spend quite a bit of time there😊

24/07/2021

My new boots! I can’t ride, but I still need boots at the barn!

24/07/2021

Fun with rocks in the side yard😌

23/07/2021

Woo hoo!!! I got my T-shirt in today for what is certain to be an historic event in the paranormal communities: the 2021, First Annual Paracon. Such a con has NEVER made it this far south, so I’m ready for some fun and meeting some new friends. That event runs Oct 2 and 3, ‘21, at the Las Cruces Convention Center. Venture outside the norm, and fly that freak flag at the Las Cruces Paracon ✌️♥️😎😱🤗

23/07/2021

Know how songs can totally be a time-traveling experience!! Let’s see if you can get the next line of my newest addition to my vinyl 😁Here goes: “Take it easy on me. It should be easy to see. I’m getting lost in a crowd. Man for cryin’ out loud. I just want ya to know. I know that you have to go…”. Now what? 😘❤️❤️✌️👏😎

21/07/2021

I could NOT have been more elated when my friend and psychic medium, Robbi of brought in a surprise guest! It was none other than 😀😀😀😀 This may come as a surprise to many, but I’ve wanted to meet this sweet, thoughtful man since WAY back when I saw him on as well as every ! This is NOT a new hobby for me. 🤭 But this fabulous guest visit took me by complete surprise! Thank you, Robbi, honey, for setting up everything on Zoom or simply that we chatted about which ended up taking place over the last week😊 I look forward to seeing you and the meeting members at the best Tues Evening Zoom😊

19/07/2021

Ultra cool scribblings by Jack Kerouac in my very FAVORITE of his many books, the Scroll Version of On the Road

19/07/2021

My FAVORITE restaurant in Las Cruces! (Actually, La Mesilla, I suppose 😊)

12/07/2021

My awesome (late) grandfather, Joseph George Hagen, was the man who successfully ran this particular JCPenney store in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, for FIFTY years! I found this shot on the net while working on a huge family tree project I’ve been putting together. Grampian Joe also had an incredible hobby: he made string instruments by hand! Violins of every size; violas; harpsichords…the man was a wealth of talent. To me, he was just Grampa, and boy do I miss him.

11/07/2021

Time for my daily sunning

08/07/2021

Poor Johnnie! The bugs have been biting him like crazy here in New Mexico. He moved here from Tennessee only 6 months ago and it’ll take a while for him to get used to this locale. Until then, I’ll just clean his bites and love all over him

04/07/2021

The “Too Old For Prime Time Riders “ saddled up for the first time together again yesterday!!!! Many of us ha e either just healed from orthopedic surgery, or we’re ABOUT to! Hence the name I gave our little posse here today. It was a FABULOUS day to get out and enjoy our four-legged best friends. Hope you can, too!

04/07/2021

Got me a fab new Tshirt from the best group of riders I’ve met (and I’ve met a LOT). This campaign is called Chasin’ Miles! Not into Top Trail yet? Head over to www.toptrailhorse.com

27/06/2021

Time to ride - hopefully my rotator cuff injury doesn’t get worse!

27/06/2021

My daddy was also an Eagle Scout! He’s now past, it I’m happy to have his sash put together by my grandmother.

07/06/2021

Which color and style did YOU choose?

Ride in Style wearing Top Trail's Theme for 2021 . Do you love to ride? So do we at Top Trail. It's for you, your equine, your time, your trail — your ride. Ride solo...

03/06/2021

Johnnie better B. Goode! An incredibly windy “brown out” kept us from riding last evening . So, we just hung out for hours in the safety of the horse barn😎🐴

03/06/2021

Gorgeous yellow flowers all are sprouting up everywhere on our paddle cactus. NICE!

16/05/2021

03/05/2021

Johhnie Walker Black becomes my Johnnie B. Goode!

So....it appears someone on the selling end of my purchase of Johnnie, my 10 yr old, 15 hh, solid black TWH, made a mistake In selling Johnnie as a lost cause, because Johnnie isn’t such a bad guy after all! He had an abscess under a shoe we could NOT pull from his back right!!

Much like the lion whose endless servitude to the mouse was in thanks for the removal of a thorn, Johnnie’s attitude went from sketchy to HEY! Let’s go!!!!

You see, my fabulous farrier, Gary Hogue, was able to calm Johnnie down enough to finally remove an old shoe (which had been attached with all 8 nails!!!!!), thereby revealing the cause of his pain and bad attitude (the “thorn”); cleared out that mess of nastiness; and, left my Johnnie so HAPPY that he and I jogged around the barn - he was able match my every footfall! You could FEEL his relief.
And now, our life of riding begins. No more manners befitting of a horse one might throw away, Johnnie and I are so ecstatic to ride and share our stories of the trail with everyone.
My message to fellow riders, horse owners and those still waiting to obtain their first equine, is that it’s not always just a horse with a bad attitude. If you’ve got the ability and stamina to stand up to an animal larger than you’ll ever be in order to find out their inner issues, you just might end up with an incredible ride.
You just might end up with your very own Johnnie B. Goode!

03/05/2021

The beautiful road that leads to our new neighborhood in La Mesa. Pecan orchards as far as the eye can see...

01/05/2021

It’s always a good time to review your trail etiquette!

https://www.toptrailhorse.com/trail-upload-etiquette/?fbclid=IwAR08Y2c1eE4CvQtmKUoxicp6jPTS59p1oz8XCOdeBK8dfCJI1T9sn7aKBWg

How you record your tracks is especially important when it comes to the Top Trail Challenges. We cannot personally screen every single uploaded track but when it comes to determining Challenge and Group winners, uploaded tracks are checked closely so if a track warrants a closer look, we will invest...

21/04/2021

I have theost props for horse and animal rescues. Here's a FABULOUS one!

14/04/2021

Hey there! I've been a bit sporadic over the past year. Much has changed for us in New Mexico and everyone reading this post. Tim and I are finally settled into our new home, I've now got myself a new trail partner, and it's time to get back in the Top Trail Horse Blog scene!
I'd love it if you'd review what you've read and seen so far on this page, so I can be certain to fill it more of the fabulous horse and trail riding info page out there!
I thank you kindly!

04/04/2021

Happy Easter everyone!