Horsing Around at the Pokagon Saddle Barn

[ozma914]

The saddle barn up at Pokagon State Park is still open on weekends after Labor Day, usually until the weekend of Halloween (depending on the weather). But for some reason a lot of people don't know that, and since it's where my wife works:

The Pokagon Saddle Barn is still open on weekends after Labor Day. There. The first trail ride leaves at 10 a.m., and the last at 5 p.m. When you consider they start setting up an hour early, and have to put everything away after the last ride returns, that makes for a long day.

Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to take a few photos while everyone was opening up the barn for the morning. Not to worry: I was on the not-getting-stomped-on side of the fence:

 

When the gate is opened in the morning, some of the horses come running.

 

Some of them kind of just ... hang out.

 

In fact, if you look at this photo carefully you can see Emily way off toward the back of the pasture, where she had to go chase a few of the horses down to the gate.

 

And here Emily has caught up with one. Don't let the size difference fool you: The horse knows who's really in charge.

 

Emily's boss was also there that morning, wrestling the horses into submission. And no, I'm not exaggerating.