He Finally Did It!!

All last summer, and again this summer, Edmund's wanted to go horseback riding at one of the local outfitters, but something was always getting in the way, particularly thunderstorms. You really don't want to be out there somewhere on a horse when one of these mountain storms with heavy lightning passes through. Finally, about a week ago, E saw a window of opportunity, weatherwise, and found a more reasonable situation at Freemon's Ranch (home of to-die-for onion rings). This one-time working ranch is now a guest ranch and store/cafe/ice cream parlor, and horseback riding is a major source of revenue. They tell Edmund that during peak season they are fully booked for their stable of 28 horses; they offer rides from 1 hr. on up.

Edmund was able to arrange a ride with only him and a "wrangler", to show him the way around the property; they would have turned him loose by himself but he had no idea where to ride and needed to get oriented.

Ray and Edmund rode for 2 hr. and E was very happy with the experience, wants to do it again, more. He attributes his lack of soreness after the ride to the ATV driving, there are some similarities in use of muscles.

This is a quote from the "Recipes from the Upper Rio Grande" cookbook I just bought: "The main residence of the Freemon Ranch is believed to be the oldest building on the upper Rio Grande and may date back to the early 1870's. This ranch was originally called the Texas Club. It is now a guest ranch."

The ranch lies in the valley just below Bristol Mountain, across the highway from the Upper Rio Grande River (more about that in another segment). The hills above the ranch buildings are home to bighorn sheep, ptarmigan, and other wildlife.