Pleasure, Trail, Versatility, etc.

It's nice to see HILL back in the saddle! Beautiful pics, and since I've never made it to NC trail ridin'...DETAILS, please!

You look like you never got off the horse. Would like to see you in the big ring again. Always loved to see you ride.

OHM, We went to a place called Leatherwood, it was VERY nice. They had about 4000 acres of mountain land with several beautiful rides, ( see more photos in the trail ride link) Leatherwood had very good stalls for our horses and many different choices for over night guest, you can rent a house or a small apt w/kitchenette like we did ($75) it was all we needed. They also had sanded turn out lots and good hot water wash racks for our use, there was also a restaurant in the clubhouse if you don't want to cook, we ate one meal there and it was good. We were very pleased with every thing at Leatherwood. The fall color was breath taking the week we were there. WE highly recommend going in Mid TO late Oct. If you need any other info let me know or just goggle Leatherwood NC. It's about 1 hour east of Boone NC. You want be disappointed if you go.


ROOSTER

Earlier this week I watched a feature on Trail Riding at Leatherwood, N.C. on "Best of America by Horseback" on RFDTV. Looked like a wonderful place. Check your listings, they could show it again later this week or at a later date.

http://www.bestofamericabyhorseback.com/

Smitty, that is the show Rhonda saw and got us interested in going to Leatherwood, it's a very nice place for horses and riders!!!


ROOSTER

Hi Everyone...It's been awhile!! Rooster told me he was sending these pictures to Smitty and they would likely be on the board. This was as good a chance as any to get back and see what I've been missing. I sure have missed you guys!!

First of all let me tell you briefly whats been going on and why I haven't been here in such a long time. I've been sick, very sick, since June...to be perfectly honest I think it started sometime last winter because I wasn't feeling well even then. I've had a very stubborn case of H. Pylori, a bacterial infection in my stomach. I haven't been able to eat since July....well, not anything but beets, yogurt, and cottage chesse and sometimes not even that! I've been on 3 rounds of mega strong antibiotics, would get a little better, but then relapse. As luck would have it, when Rooster and Rhonda were at Leatherwood, I had just finished a round of antibiotics and was feeling better. I relapsed the next week. So, luckily their trip was perfect timing for me! I am, once again, feeling better and hoping that there will be no more relapses. Unfortunately, the infection or antibiotics or combination of the two has caused chronic gastritis to set up, so I still can't eat normally, but I am improving....it's just been very, very slow. On top of this, my computer died, so I was without a computer or internet access for practically the whole month of Nov. I'm back in business now though, thankfully!

This ride was the first time I had ridden a horse in 25/26 years! And I hadn't ridden a TWH in 36 years!! It felt like I had ridden last week....just as normal to me as walking!! I Loved It!!! I was riding Rhonda's new mare, Maci Mae...she is the real deal, pretty as a picture, so well-mannered, and a dream to ride!! I had so much FUN...I wish I could get on a horse's back every day......or just being able to groom one and hang out at a barn would be cool :) Leatherwood is in Wilkes County (NC), which is my home county, so I was very familiar with the area already but I had never ridden up there. I now live in Winston-Salem, about 1 1/2 hour drive from there. It really is beautiful!! It is in the Blue Ridge Mountains (right as you start up the mountain) and the scenery is gorgeous, especially the weekend we were there...the leaves were just beautiful!! I SO appreciate Rooster and Rhonda inviting me to join them, we had a wonderful weekend (did a little sight seeing too). It was SO wonderful to see Rooster again...I hadn't seen him in 37 years!! And to meet his wife, Rhonda, was something I had been looking forward to for a long time, we had talked online and by phone, but not met in person...she was every bit and more the sweet person I had thought she would be!! They are A#1 people for sure...None Better!! Rooster even grilled out his Famous Steaks for all of us, which included my son, Cagney and his wife, Alison....they drove up and joined us Fri night for the cookout...such Fun!! And Smitty, there is some good fishing up in this area as well. Cagney fly fishes and knows several good streams and I like to fish too, but I always walked the woods and found those streams that seem to flow out of the side of the mountain....lots of good native trout up in those mountains!! A Great Weekend, one of The Best!! I am Very Much hoping they come back again....Soon!!!

Thanks for all the nice comments!! So happy to be back!!

Glad to have you back on here Hill! Wonderful to see you back in the saddle after all these years and I hope you keep it up. It's good for you. I myself have not been on one in over 20 years or so, but I know if I ever do, I will be able to take right off just like it was yesterday. Some things you just don't ever forget how to do, and I've logged hundreds and hundreds of hours in the saddle in my earlier years.

Yes, I am aware of the fishing in that area. I am actually looking to take a trip to the New River, just north of that area in Virginia in the next year or so.

So good to have you back on here Hill and really GREAT to see you back on a horse!!WELCOME BACK !!

Lizzie & Pops

Our friend and member from South Georgia sent this one in. Wonderful photo! Sowega, feel free to elaborate.

That picture tell it's own story - happy child!

Smitty, Thanks for putting that in. That's my fourth grandchild, Elizabeth, almost 3 YOA. She "ride that horse"! We have five grand kids, the oldest is 7 and she started with Harley. They all seem to like the grooming and feeding and watering. Friends of ours have 13 minis and give us unlimited access if I just spend time with the horses so they are easy for kids to enjoy. Not a bad deal. My wife caught this shot as we strolled down the lane. I'm not sure who was enjoying it the most.

OHM's Milky Way Farm Outing
Our friend OHM & her trusty horse "Harry" give us a tour of Milky Way Farm by horseback

(Part 1)






These homes are on land that use to be part of the original Milky Way Farms. The small specks, behind the front home are deer.






Front of the colt barn foundation


Colt barn foundation


Feeder cattle barn


Scale house for feeder steers (?)


Feeder barn


Either mill or shuck house (?)


Shorthorn cattle show barn


Inside the shorthorn cattle show barn


Interior of shorthorn cattle barn






Front of shorthorn cattle show barn


Headed towards 4 old horse barns that are falling down


One of the 4 horse barns


The former Mars home toured by OHM




The famous dining table that seats 40


Race horse barn foundation. OHM thinks it may have been destroyed by fire.


Hereford barn

Enjoyed my tour OHM & Harry. Beautiful place

Two Questions:
1. Who owns it now?
2. Seems like I remember someone having a horse sale
At Milky Way for a while. Anybody remember?

They had sales in the 1960's .I have some catalogs from them . Loved the way they had a full pedigree of every horse. Magnasson had them.

Ah, but the tour is not over just yet! Here's part 2:


Frank Mars mausoleum site


View from mausoleum site


Gate at mausoleum site


Harry enjoying the grass at the mausoleum site


Harry doesn't realize he's at a historic place


Harry wondering what he's doing in these rock remains


One of the sheep barns, I think...


















Another sheep barn, I think...




I really should clip Harry's ears...






Stud barn foundation


Tack houses!


Shoeing barn


Ain't we sumptin in front of the "clubhouse"?

Jean you should post some pages from the sales catalog.

OHM,

Thanks a lot for taking the time to share those shots from Milky Way with us. I really enjoyed them and found them very interesting and also unique, since it was a historic tour on horseback. Your photography was very good and I awarded you the "coveted" WHT Blue Ribbon for your efforts. Good job once again!






Rooster & Sowega also received the coveted WHT Blue Ribbon this week for their recent contributions!

Smitty...It's an honor to receive the "coveted" WHT Blue Ribbon!

Razor...This will answer your question on the present owner. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111218/WILLIAMSON01/312010120/Milky-Way-Farms-preserves-Mars-family-s-footprint-Middle-Tennessee

Jean..Glad you enjoyed the tour, and there's more to come. If your ever down this way, I'd be happy to take you...anytime except during The Celebration, please.

If your interested in learning more on the history of Milky Way Farms, and can locate this book, Milky Way Farms, A History By Johnny Phelps...please do!

What a nice trip. Love to hear the horses feet hitting the ground. I think I saw big foot in the trees!

Hill, good to see you back on WHT and feeling better!

OHM, thanks for the beautiful pics, Harry is the perfect docent for Milky Way Farms! If you ever go back, let me know and I'll come running!

I met Harry after the Shelbyville Christmas parade - he just takes everything in stride.

Mirally...I can certainly arrange a ride at Milky Way!

Rooster...I've heard good things about Leatherwood, and thanks for the info. Sounds like the Ritz-Carlton of horse campgrounds.

Great pictures OHM, I really enjoyed the tour. Now I'll show my ignorance.... where is Milky Way Farms? I've heard the name but do not know the location. I highly recommend Leatherwood if you get a chance to go!!


Rooster