Our next stop in Flagstop
Summer Stage Stables
The horses got a large paddock with a shared water tank. The paddock was pretty full of manure. We pulled two wheel barrows of manure out of it before we put the horses in.
There was no shade for them either, but it was just for one night.
The stables boasts local trail rides. We tried both local trails and didn't like either of them. Both trails take you parallel to a freeway. Riding yards from semi-trucks going at high speeds does not make for a relaxing ride. There were several sections of the trail where you were riding with barbed wire on one side and an overgrown tree on the other. I got pretty scratched up because I would rather get scratched by a tree than have my horse caught in barbed wire.
We were a day ahead of schedule, so we had to decide - do we stay an extra day in Flagstaff or stay an extra day with family in Phoenix?
Summer Sage staff doesn't muck or feed, so we opted to move on. Before we left, we took another wheel barrow of manure out of the paddock.
On our way to Phoenix, we enjoyed the scenery.
We stopped to ride in the Coconino Nat Forest.
There is a large parking lot at the trail head for the Bruce Brockett trail with plenty of parking for horse trailers. There is a single pit toilet. No water or picnic tables.
There were several families hoping to hike to the creek and play in the water. It is roughly 3.5 miles from the parking lot to the water and they were carrying coolers, water floats, and chairs. I felt a little sorry for them.
Starting the ride
The temperature was in the low 80's.
There is no shade on the trail. The trails are well marked and easy to follow. There was cactus growing on the sides of the trail. After our ride, we had to check the horses for cactus needles. I pulled 3-4 needles off of each pastern area of my horse.
The horses and us get the next three days off. We are visiting Ari's sister as well as his nieces. The horses get to rest up from trailering at Clover Equine horse motel.
The horses are each in a nice shaded paddock with a run out. They are next to each other so they can keep each other company.
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