Wonderland Arena

06/05/2026

OBSESSED with this postural glow-up.

Classical training on a western horse WORKS.

Stop chasing fads, and pick up a book. You won’t regret it.

This isn’t MY stuff. It’s stuff that belongs to all of us, passed down from the life’s work of those before us.

06/04/2026

I saw this and had to share. And no shade to the show horses, 🩷 I still love you too. That still takes heart and soul; just a different kind. But Trail Riders, you are……

Not Just a Trail Rider 🙌

Every time I meet some horse person, I throw out the same question: “What do you do with your horse?” And nine times out of ten, the trail riders—those rugged, dirt-caked souls—mutter some spineless garbage like, “Oh, just some trail riding.” JUST? Are you kidding me? Stop groveling, you absolute legends. You’re not “just” anything—you’re the beating, badass heart of this whole equestrian game, and it’s time you owned it like the warriors you are.

Let’s cut the crap. Trail riders aren’t some sad little side act to the horse world—they’re the main event. You don’t prance around for ribbons or grovel for a judge’s nod like some over-groomed show pony. Your arena isn’t a sandpit with perfect footing—it’s a 20-mile gauntlet of jagged peaks, swollen rivers, and trails so wild they’d make a dressage diva faint. You don’t ride for applause; you ride to *survive*. And that’s something those “elite” competitors—those pampered, trophy-chasing snobs—will never understand. They wouldn’t last ten minutes out there before their precious ponies bolted and their egos imploded.

Because here’s the dirty truth: trail riding isn’t a hobby—it’s a crucible. You don’t train a trail horse; you forge a damn titan. Creeks in flood? Steep drops slick with mud? A deer carcass stinking up the trail while a pickup screams by with its horn blaring? That’s a Tuesday for you. Your horse doesn’t just handle it—it laughs at it, because you’ve got the guts, the grit, and the raw horsemanship to make it happen. Meanwhile, the arena crowd’s busy shampooing manes and whining about a scuff on their boots. Pathetic. Their horses would p*e themselves at the sight of a squirrel—yours stares down the abyss and keeps walking.

And don’t get me started on the chaos. When a storm rolls in and lightning cracks the sky, you’re out there, soaked to the bone, keeping your horse steady while the wind howls. When a shadow turns into a llama with murder in its eyes, you don’t flinch—you ride through it. That’s not just skill—that’s dominance. Mastery. A middle finger to every prissy rider who thinks a blue ribbon means jack squat compared to a muddy, sweat-drenched day in the saddle.

So quit apologizing, trail riders. Stop acting like you’re less than the glitterati who think horsemanship is a manicured trot and a scorecard. You’re not second-class—you’re the backbone, the blood, the unbreakable spine of this whole damn world. Every scratched-up boot, every soaked saddle pad, every mile of untamed hell you’ve conquered is a badge of honor those arena clowns can’t even dream of earning. You’re not just riders—you’re warriors, legends, the true kings and queens of the horse world.

Now saddle up, ride hard, and shove it in their faces. Let’s see who’s still standing when the trail gets tough. Spoiler: it’s you. Always you. Shared from Mark Patterson

06/04/2026

Always an incredible event!! Go solo or go with friends!! JUST GO!!!

💖

06/02/2026

As we travel with our horses this summer it’s just good to be aware!!!

Something that we horse people need to be very aware of with ticks.

If you are waking up with severe stomach issues (pain, vomiting, diarrhea) and it lasts longer than a virus should,

And your doctor seems stumped or no causation can be found

Please, please push to be tested for Alpha Gal.

Because if you actually have it, and no one catches it for quite a while, it does damage to your heart.

Alpha Gal causes all or some of the following symptoms...

hives, mouth swelling, diarrhea, vomiting, severe stomach cramps, unexplained swellings under the skin, anaphylaxis, shortness of breath, aching joints, headaches.

It's a nasty nasty thing

Some people seem to get a "light case" and some people get punched with a very hard whammy from it.

The results are not only, oh you cannot eat mammal now. It often involves shampoos, candles, being around cats, lotions, medications and surgical procedures, bee stings, food fumes, and so very much more

05/30/2026

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122232744410279224&id=61558376720918

The Horse People

(By Doug Russell | Colorado SxS Adventures)

You want to know who deserves a little extra respect on the trail?

Horseback riders.

Not because they own the trail.
Not because they're better than us.
But because they're trying to control a 1,000-pound animal with a brain of its own.

Think about that for a minute.

When we see trouble ahead, we hit the brakes.
When a horse sees trouble ahead, it might decide to become trouble.

A horse can spook. A horse can bolt. A horse can react to things we don't even notice.
And when that happens, somebody can get hurt in a hurry.

Now, I don't know where you're from, but here in Colorado, the off-roading community shares the trail with non-motorized users every day.

Hikers.
Mountain bikers.
Hunters.
Fishermen.

And horseback riders.

That's just part of riding in Colorado.

These public lands belong to all of us, and learning how to coexist is part of being a responsible trail user.

That's why whenever I come across horseback riders, I slow way down.
Sometimes I stop completely.
Sometimes I shut the machine off.
I wave, smile, and let the rider tell me what they need me to do.

It's not about who's right.
It's not about who has the right-of-way.
It's about making sure everybody gets home safely.

The truth is, horseback riders were exploring these mountains long before any of us showed up with side-by-sides.

Most of them love the same things we do ....
The scenery. The solitude. The adventure. The freedom.

They're not the enemy.

They're fellow trail users.

And whether you're driving a SxS, Jeep, ATV, dirt bike, mountain bike, hiking, or riding a horse...
The trail works best when we give each other a little grace.

So the next time you meet a horseback rider on the trail...

Slow down.
Be patient.
Give them space.
Let them know you're there.

And remember ....

A few extra seconds of courtesy can prevent a lifetime of regret.

If you're a horseback rider, tell us what you wish motorized users understood.

If you're a SxS rider, tell us how you handle horse encounters on the trail.

Let's learn from each other.