Horses

Stories from a mountain horse

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Mia Anstine
Gman4

Geronimo, aka G-Man, aka Toughest horse on the mountain.

I stand here enjoying the sun.
I chat with a friend and talk about the fun.
I wish he could share with me and tell it all.

Can you imagine the stories he has to tell?
Can you imagine a life lived so well?
A horse.
A guide.
A mustang.
A huge heart.
A fighter.
A winner.

The “A Squad”.
He’s been to the top of each mountain.
He’s a hunting machine.

His face is gray with age and experience.

The years. The miles. The tales he has to tell.

A warm sunny meadow on a summer morning.
A frightened woman and her first ride.
A cheering family as her fears subside.
A hunter who is determined.
A loaded pack-saddle and switch back trail.
A bull bugle on a moon lit night.
A celebration near the camp fire after a stalk and ride.

Cold mornings covered in frost.
Thick snow, ice, climbing and never lost.
The sweet, fresh blades of grass breaking through the snow.
A race for the honor and winning it all you know!

Elk, deer, bear, turkey, grouse, once in a life time moose, all special hunts.

All memories that make him proud to have the gray faced wisdom of seeing it all.

Now, relaxed, sunning, taking it in.
You are still a champion and I know you are proud old friend!!!

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Mia & the Little Gal at the Women’s Outdoor News
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Categories: Horses, hunting | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

From a mountain top I am connected to all things

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Mia Anstine

Time to catch up. I’ve been up on top of the world for quite a few days. It’s a place I love. If you’ve been “On top of the world” you know what it feels like to be so close to the Heaven’s.

Alwyn Torquil Francis Ladell
There is something very spiritual about the mountain top experience … and it’s not less oxygen!

Looking out over the wide vistas, and climbing above the clouds, forces us to consider the bigger questions. It strips away the cares and concerns of the little people in the mundane world below and helps us contemplate the bigger picture. There can be an exaltation, like that of being strongly moved by certain passages of music, in such places. Sometimes there is a closeness to those who have gone before, which can be very emotional, but the magnitude and beauty tends to drive out sorrow with reassurance. It speaks a language we can’t articulate, using symbols to communicate with the higher consciousness – and this expansion of consciousness is something we need to hang on to when we return to the daily routine. When starved of spirituality in the material world, if we can recall that mountain-top experience, we have a life-line to the Divine.

“Prayer is the uplifting of the soul to God” – Saint Nilus the Elder (d.430), On Prayer.

It is my goal to share with others. Now, I am happy to share some of the awesomeness of the outdoors. Enjoy….

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Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

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Categories: Big Horn Sheep, elk hunting, Horses, hunting, Ladies hunting, Women in the outdoors | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mia & the Little Gal: Adventure Camp post up at the WON

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Mia Anstine

Women's Outdoor NewsGuess what?!
A new post is up at the WON. Head over there and let us know what YOU’VE been doing this summer.

Mia & The Little Gal: A very special adventure camp

The Little Gal and I have been experiencing an amazing, whirlwind of a summer. We hope you have been enjoying yours as well. We already shared some of oursummer vacation with you, but summer did no…
Read more of this post at:  http://www.womensoutdoornews.com/2012/07/mia-the-little-gal-a-very-special-adventure-camp/

Getting kids outside!

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Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

Advertisements on this site are random and do not express or represent the opinion of Mia Anstine.

Categories: hunting, Outdoor life, kids in the outdoors, shooting safety, firearm safety, range safety, kids shooting, Horses, The Little Gal, The WON, Archery | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

6th Annual Special Needs Horseback Ride

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Mia Anstine

Hunt elk, bear, mule deer and merriam turkey with Wolf Creek Outfitters, Inc. - WCOI am proud to be a part of WCO, Wolf Creek Outfitters, Inc. We feel it is important to give back to the community. We offer a horseback ride each year to the Special Needs children of our community. This year’s ride was as wonderful as the past. We had plenty of help and were graced by the presence of Royalty. Archuleta County Fair Princess along with the Red Ryder Rodeo Queen and Red Ryder Rodeo Princess donated their time to assist with the kids. They along with the help of others made the ride safe, fun and successful.

We had so much fun and so many pics. Here are a few to make you smile! 

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 Smile!

Getting kids outside!

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Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

Advertisements on this site are random and do not express or represent the opinion of Mia Anstine.

Categories: Horses, kids in the outdoors, Outdoor life, Ranch, WCO | Tags: , , , , , | 5 Comments

WCO – 2012 Jicarilla 4-H Horse Camp

Posted on July 14, 2012 by Mia Anstine

Hunt elk, bear, mule deer and merriam turkey with Wolf Creek Outfitters, Inc. - WCOWolf Creek Outfitters, Inc. was proud to be a part of the annual Jicarilla 4-H Horse Camp in Dulce, New Mexico. The camp is offered to kids in hopes to uplift them as well as the community. The tribe has a high incidence of suicide and substance abuse so they have designed the camp to offer the children education and insight. The camp teaches respect, responsibility, team work, communication and about substance abuse & how to avoid it.

Wolf Creek Outfitters brings horses to camp each year. The children pet, talk to and then ride the horses. For most it is their first ride ever, and very exciting. The ride is more than just taking a walk on a horse. The kids are learning the whole time. We help emphasize proper care and handling of animals. We explain that many animals will treat them the same way they treat the animal. In addition, the children are taught how to saddle a horse. They have to work together, as a team to get the pad and then heavy saddle up onto the horse and cinch and buckle it.

Various games are played at other stations. All teaching respect & communication. They also learn about the horse, the tribe’s heritage and self-pride. Wolf Creek Outfitters and our team enjoy helping in the cause.

Teaching the young & helping our neighbors.

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Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

Categories: 4-H, Horses, kids in the outdoors, The Little Gal, WCO | Tags: , , | 5 Comments

Winter Elk Hunt

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Mia Anstine

I had to opportunity to use one of the landowner tags that wasn’t taken for a muzzleload hunt in New Mexico. This would mean I can use a muzzleloader, crossbow or compound/traditional bow. I only had the weekend to hunt, but took advantage of the opportunity none the less. I chose my TenPoint Crossbow for the hunt.

It snowed and snowed the night before my hunt. We woke up before light the first morning and headed to look for an elk. The tag was E/S (either sex), meaning I could take a legal bull or a cow. I chose on day one to look for a bull. Hank and I hiked through the snow in 27 degree temps all morning.Mia Anstine, Prois The area we were hunting had NO fresh tracks. With the storm all the animals were hunkered down, except a few random coyote tracks, ours were the only fresh in the snow. We headed back to the truck and decided we would saddle horses and ride another area.

With only two days to hunt, we decided we could cover a lot more ground on the horses and locate where the elk were hunkering down.

It was 28 degrees and the wind blew through us. We bundled up and mounted our horses for the afternoon. After we crested the first hill, we saw two bulls bedded about 1000 yards away. I would need to get a lot closer to get a show with my TenPoint. We decided we would play the wind and circle around. Next thing we knew, we saw a spike run from the trees, and then a cow was standing directly in from of us. The wind circled and swirled. We knew the stalk was going to be tough, but we dismounted and slowly began to circle toward the bulls.

It seemed like forever as we hiked, sweating in the 28 degree weather and wind. We got closer and closer and then the wind changed direction. We must have been 200 yards from the bulls. We never saw them, but we could hear them slip through the brush. They winded us. We looked at each other, shrugged and I sighed. We went ahead and eased our way up to where the bulls were. We peered over the edge of the hill. There they were, 250 yards away, a nice 6×6 and a small 4×4. They trotted across the field and eased their way to the other side. We sat and grinned as we watched. I “picked up” my fake rifle and pretended to shoot them as they “laughed” at me knowing I couldn’t reach them. Hank laughed as he always thinks I’m crazy!

We giggled and hiked our way back to the horses and rode toward the truck as the sun dropped, somewhere behind the gray skies.

Day two brought us similar experiences. We spotted, we stalked and toward the end of the day as we rode across a field, I spotted what I thought were three cows in the trees less that 100 yards away.

I dismounted from Cowboy, aka “Mr. Man”, and snuck a little closer. Mia AnstineTwo of the elk were back behind the oak brush, but one was up front. I could see the whole body but not the head. I asked Hank “Can you see if it’s really a cow?” He looked and looked. I found my mark and waited for the word. He kept whispering to wait. We couldn’t get a clear view of the head. Then he said “NO.”

As Hank spoke, the elk stepped and turned. It heard him and jumped and ran. It was a spike. WHEW! Thank you again, to my guide, Hank. A spike is not a legal antlered animal. It was extremely exciting and I was thankful that I have learned to be patient and to listen. We had a lot of fun hiking and riding through the sagebrush and snow. The wind… You can have it! Haha! I can’t wait for my next adventure.

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Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

Categories: elk hunting, Horses, hunting, Ladies camo, Prois, TenPoint, Women in the outdoors, Women's hunting gear | Tags: , , , | 7 Comments

WCO Hosts 5th Annual Special Needs Ride

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Mia Anstine

www.wolfcreekoutfitters.netThursday, July 14, 2011, Wolf Creek Outfitters, Inc. (WCO) hosted the special needs children of Pagosa Springs for the fifth annual special needs horseback ride.  Each year our team gives the kids the opportunity to watch, pet and if they desire, ride a horse.  This is a day the WCO team looks forward to each year.

This years horseback ride was attended by fourteen children along with their instructors and a couple of parents.  The morning began with greetings, and instruction followed by meeting the horses.  Many of the children have been to this event in the past and are very comfortable around the horses.  Others take a little warming up and then before you know it they are off on a ride.  Enthusiasm exuded from the children as they spent the morning with giant smiles on their faces.

Special needs group excited after day of riding horses.

The children took short rides around the arena and then if they were up to it got to go out on the trail.  It is the 5th year and one attendee still had yet to gain the courage to climb atop a horse.  He loves them so much and enjoys coming to see them.  He trys to gain courage each time and then opts to help out each by leading a horse.

The team braces a wheel chair bound friend as he enjoys ride around the arena.  It is not only fantastic for the rider, but rewarding for the proud helper as well.

Special needs children interact with horses

Hank thanks him for his help.  It is a pleasure to have him involved as always.

 Hank thanks an attendee for his help with the special needs horseback ride.

Another child and his mother attended the event.  Both are deaf and had a fantastic time interacting with the horses.  The boy uses sign language to communicate.  They were ecstatic to get to ride Huckleberry.

Yet another boy wants to help as well as ride.  The team dubbed him the ranch hand for the day.  He was up and ready to help out with everything.  He was even excited to hop on Jake the mule to go for ride!

Special needs attendee rides Jake the mule.

At WCO we are honored to be a part of such a great event.  It is so rewarding to meet these great kids and to see them come back again and again each year.  The horses love them as well and we are so proud to have such a great team of horses that take care of this precious cargo as they head out on the trail.

The group of children at the special needs event head out on the trail.

Categories: Horses, kids in the outdoors, Outdoor life, Ranch, Special needs ride, WCO | Tags: , | 7 Comments

WCO – Jicarilla Youth Horse Camp a Success

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Mia Anstine

www.wolfcreekoutfitters.netAt Wolf Creek Outfitters, Inc, WCO, the team has a goal to educate children in hunting, fishing, horses and the outdoors.  We strive to build their enthusiasm toward becoming more involved in outdoor activities.  There is no way an I-pod, cell phone or computer can ever top a great experience in the outdoors.

July 7th and 8th, 2011 was a huge success for the WCO team as it sponsored and attended the Jicarilla Youth Horse camp in Dulce, NM.  The camp was attended by nearly 50 children including this years Little Beaver representative and the Rio Arriba Fair/Rodeo Princess.  WCO was happy to meet them and impressed as they showed off their horseback riding skills.  The team listened as the current Little Beaver and a former Little Beaver representative spoke about what a great honor it was to be chosen and how wonderful it was to learn to connect and ride their horse bareback.

The elders who helped with the camp taught the kids the traditions from their past.  They put a focus on the connection they have with the horse and an emphasis on the importance of it to their culture.  They went to great lengths to share their heritage with the next generation. 

The kids and the WCO team learned Apache words related to horses and riding.  The WCO team came home with words like “tashunke” – horse, “nashishe” – pad and “shinte” – tail.  It was a great experience to learn bits and pieces of a culture and language that is so close to home.  The WCO team was greatly impressed by the stations set up and the ways the group taught history, leadership and connection to the children.  After they learned so many great things, they were excited to enjoy a horseback ride. 

WCO gave the kids the opportunity to ride a horse after they learned a lot about them.  We are happy as well as proud to be a part of such an impressive opportunity for the kids. 

Kids were so excited after learning a bit of language to come and ride the horses.

Kids were so excited to learn the importance of the horse and also to have the opportunity to ride them.

There is no way and I-pod, cell phone or computer can ever top a great experience in the outdoos.
There is no way an I-pod, cell phone or computer can ever top a great experience in the outdoors.

One group of kids that were exstatic to get a chance to ride a horse.

Categories: Horses, kids in the outdoors | Tags: , | 2 Comments

WCO Heads to Horse Camp

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Mia Anstine

Wolf Creek Outfitters, Inc.One of our favorite things here at Wolf Creek Outfitters (WCO) is teaching the children.  We feel it is important to pass on the western heritage to the next generation.  We take pleasure in sponsoring youth events as well as special needs events and rodeos. 

Today we are headed out to horse camp with the Jicarilla Indians.  The camp is a two day event in which sponsors come together from  New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona to keep the horse culture alive.

The tribe encourages all kids ages 7 and up to attend this educational event.  They set up six stations for kids to learn all about horses.  The youth are divided into groups and rotate through stations which include “Horse Hoof Health”, “Cultural Horse”, “Crafts & Games”, “Building Leadership”, “How the Horse Works” and “Horse Riding”.  

The WCO team is ready to go!

The WCO team is ready to go!

WCO has loaded up horses and they are ready to head out.  They of course will be at the “Horse Riding” station.  The WCO team is happy to help teach nearly 50 children for the next couple of days.  It is great to be able to give them the opportunity to go for a horseback ride.  Helping pass on the heritage.  –WCO

Categories: Horses, kids in the outdoors | Tags: | 2 Comments

A Fun Winter Day

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Little Gal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An original by: THE LITTLE GAL

An original post from: The Little Gal

 

As many times as I’ve gone with my mom and Hank I have to tell you about one of my favorites from last winter. We went on a very sticky adventure in the fresh snow. I was riding my horse Ruger and I just knew my day was going to be great. When we got there I wouldn’t have thought I was going to be in a winter wonder land. We all loaded up on our horses and were off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for lion tracks

Riding up the road

 

 

We got out on the trail and the snow was whiter and fluffier than the clouds. All of us decided to go up one road. The trail seemed as if it was never going to end.

While we were heading up all of a sudden one of our hounds, Fat Tire, took off after a bobcat. We would have followed him to try to catch it but bobcat season had already ended the week before. So Hank went to get Fat Tire while my mom and I kept going up the trail. One of the other dogs, Wrinkles, followed Hank. So we headed up with our last dog, Trixy.

Mom, Trixy, and I got to a little watering hole and just kept on trucking.  What we didn’t know was the higher we got the deeper the snow.  Well, maybe we knew snow gets deeper, but not just a little deeper, but WAY deeper. My mom was riding ahead of me and all of a sudden her horse, Cowboy, sunk right up to his chest. Then I sunk on Ruger as well. It was just that little part that was tricky.

Pretty soon, along came Hank with our other two dogs. Now that he was caught up we decided to go up to one of the two radio towers that were closer than going back the way we had come.  We called one of our friends to bring our truck around to the other end and we headed up the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frost covered trees

We passed frost covered tree as we rode

 

 

We were getting closer to the top. We ended up going through quite a few deep holes and then headed up the last hill.  When we got to the top we were in snow that was shoulder deep to the horses.  It wasn’t looking good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep snow

The snow was too deep

 

 

We decided that we better turn around or we were going to have to push through snow that was too deep for the horses. We changed our plan and turned around, heading down the way we had come.  We went at a good speed.

 

When we got to the spot where the road had started Hank rode up a side road. My mom and I stayed to rest and eat lunch. We snacked then I played in the snow. I started throwing snow on her shoes and she kicked it back.  So I piled it higher and she kicked it back more.

Our snow fight turned in to rolling up dirty snowballs. Soon I made a huge one that I couldn’t even push.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big heavy snowball

A huge snowball I couldn't even push

 

I decided to turn this snowball into the body of a snow mom! My mom helped and she and I rolled up muddy snow balls and stacked them making a mom and daughter snow team.  We laughed and played while we waited. I was almost done with the face on the second snow women when Hank called.  He said he was on his way and told us to go on and head to the truck. We hurried and finished the people and left our snow women.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow women

Our snow women

 

We were riding along and all the sudden our little white dog came running up. We knew Hank was close.

Hank caught up and right when he caught up to us a whole herd of deer crossed right in front of us.  We were so excited to see them. Soon another herd came out but this time it was a herd of elk.  It did the same thing, crossing right in front of us as we rode along on our horses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elk crossing

The elk crossed right in front of us!

 

 

 

We rode through the mud and back to our truck.  We laughed and smiled at how lucky we were to see such great things today. We got to the truck and headed home. I was so happy to get to share such a fun time in the outdoors with my mom and Hank.

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Don’t forget to read about Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News

Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows

Categories: Horses, kids in the outdoors, The Little Gal, Women in the outdoors | Tags: | 1 Comment

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