Daisy Clipper Farms

07/10/2026

I need suggestions here! I have removed the beginning of this bluebird nest 10 times over the past four days and they keep rebuilding it. How are you guys keeping birds from building nests underneath your gooseneck? I’m just lucky that they hadn’t laid any eggs in it or I couldn’t have removed it.

07/10/2026

07/10/2026

It’s my favorite season….DAPPLE season! Leave Riddles a ❤️ if you think she’s stunning!

07/09/2026

Let’s talk favorite trail snacks. My blood pressure has been elevated the past few months, so I am cutting way back on salt. My favorite trail snacks have always been salty ones 😢 I packed strawberries last time and they leaked and saturated my bag in red strawberry juice. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Who has a favorite trail snack that is low in sodium and will pack nicely into my little thigh bag without a lot of mess?

07/09/2026

Rocky Mountain horses rock

07/09/2026

Wasp nest #2 in our Lakota trailer. I will never leave the windows open again while it’s parked. Do yourself a favor and go close yours!

07/08/2026

I learned a valuable lesson this week. This right here is exactly why you should always shut your trailer windows when you’re parking it for a little while! Yikes!

07/08/2026

Stop spending money on tiny bottles filled with fly spray that don’t work.

Mix Permethrin 10, peppermint essential oil, citronella essential oil, lemongrass essential oil, and water in a 1 gallon sprayer.

The oils help repel them and the Permethrin 10 kills any flies or ticks that are stupid enough to land on your horse. Your hands and wrists will thank you for not having to pull the trigger 1,000 times. Your wallet will thank you too. This mix is also highly effective at killing carpenter bees that are eating your barn. Spray it in their holes and watch them fall out!

On Amazon:
1 gallon of Permethrin 10: $75
Peppermint oil: $8
Citronella oil: $9
Lemongrass oil: $10
$102 for a 1-2 year supply of fly spray.

07/08/2026

Is it worth the haul? DuPont State Forest edition.

Thinking about riding DuPont near Cedar Mountain, NC? What horseback riders need to know before they hit the trail - in about a minute.

Things to know:

✅ mix of easy and moderate trails - some short technical spots but nothing too puckering
✅ lots of waterfalls, lakes, and creeks
✅ cool sites like a covered bridge, cemetery, and old airstrip with phenomenal long-range mountain views
✅ over 80 miles of trails
✅IMHO the most well-maintained trail system in Western NC
✅ Great summer riding - typically 10 degrees cooler than surrounding areas
✅ two lots have designated horse trailer parking - Guion Farm and Lake Imaging
✅ bathrooms at Guion Farm parking lot and port-a-potty at Lake Imaging parking
⚠️ decent cell service with some dead zones
⚠️ boots/shoes recommended
⚠️ shared trails with hikers and bikes - expect a LOT of hikers and bikers, especially on weekends
❌ no camping here - but there are several AirBnBs nearby - some with direct access to trails. You can also camp at nearby Holly View Farms and trailer to trailhead

Is it worth the haul? Absolutely! DuPont is a fantastic system to explore! Over the years, it has developed somewhat of a bad reputation among horseback riders because of how popular it is with mountain bikers. There is not doubt that your horses need to be good with bike traffic in order to safely ride here, but I have found that 99.99% of the bikers I encounter here are courteous and respectful. I believe that respect and courtesy should go both ways - if I’m honest, I’ve encountered as many rude equestrians as mountain bikers here. Speak to each other! Say “Hello” and be respectful of each others’ rides. If you’re not familiar with the trails, reach out to someone who is to pick routes that will help you have a fun, safe ride that will limit the bike traffic you encounter to whatever you and your horse are comfortable with. Don’t discount DuPont - it is such a unique system with incredibly diverse trails.

Have you ridden here before? What did I miss? What are your favorite trails?

Save this reel for your next ride.

07/07/2026

This is one of my favorite videos of Squirrel and Zakhar from last year. He would pester her to death like a typical gelding and she’d hold a grudge like a mare 😂😂😂