Lisa on Dixie at Jacksonville Equestrian Center
I think I have been following Lisa Westfall on her blog Laughing Orca Ranch since close to the beginning of her entry into the blogosphere. I can't remember how I found her blog, but I was instantly intrigued by her photography, her innocence and wonder, her pretty black & white Paint horse and her menagerie that included llamas, goats, and chickens (really fancy chickens). Not to mention her interaction with her great kids. I've watched her grow as a rider when she realized that she needed a different horse and found her special bond with her current horse Apache.
Lisa on Ranger at Guana Wildlife Management Area
As Lisa grew as a horsewoman, I enjoyed riding along with her virtually at all the awesome places she frequents in New Mexico. I envied the mountain trails and the aspen trees and the truly wonderful vistas that she shared on line. I, in turn, shared my North Florida rides with the tangle of green all around offset with an occasional ride on the beach.
Lisa's first ever beach ride at Ponte Vedra Beach on Ranger
I mentioned several times for Lisa to come visit if she was ever in Florida and she finally took me up on my offer. She flew in a couple of weeks ago and I was able to show her my favorite trails. It was so much fun to be a tour guide and let her ride the trails she had seen on my blog. She met and became friends with my riding buddies as well.
She got to ride one of my horses, Dixie, and my grand horse, Ranger at four of my favorite places. She rode both of them beautifully and was comfortably confident. Of course, the highest elevation she reached was 100 feet which was quite a difference to her 7 to 10 thousand feet elevations she rides at home.
She had a great time in Florida and I hope to be able to visit her wonderful state of New Mexico in the future.
Here's to friends near and far !
Special thanks to my Florida riding buddies who helped show Lisa a good time and especially to Mustang who loaned us Ranger. Cheers !
