As much as I’d like to share my vintage photo sitting atop a pony dressed up as a cowgirl … not gonna happen and sadly it looks like I deprived my kids of the same memory. But, I did find some really fun kid and pony images around the web.

Click to view slideshow.

Found myself searching to learn more about that lost art and found that it reflected back to the days of the Itinerant Photographer, who, like the many portrait painters, skipped the studio altogether and brought the camera directly to the customer.

Those were the good old days.

Want to contribute? Submit your own Traveling Pony photo on our  Facebook page.

While we cherish our spring and summer months, there is nothing more invigorating than a cool fall ride or a Minnesota winter outing on horseback!

It’s always important to dress for the weather of the day and we can’t stress enough to keep your apparel and shoes suitable for being on horseback.

Simply put … you need the use of your eyes, ears, hands, arms, knee’s and legs.

Find a suitable shirt, such as a long sleeve T-shirt or sweatshirt, to wear. Many riders like to wear vests when the weather gets colder. Your arms and shoulders are less restricted in a vest, and they lend themselves to layering for warmth.

For occasional riders, we suggest blue jeans or sweat pants. Please avoid pants that twist, wrinkle or bunch along the inside of your legs and at the knees.

The boots or shoes you wear on a cold weather trail ride is a major consideration. Look for a boot with up to a 1 ½ inch heel  and low tread. Winter and hiking boots are much to heavy to wear horseback riding and in the case of a fall may get stuck in the stirrups. With so many different styles of shoes and boots to choose from just make sure that the pair you have chosen is suitable for fitting into and releasing from the stirrups.

While we don’t provide riding helmets, feel free to bring along a helmet, if you own one and last but not least … don’t forget your scarf and those gloves (mittens are a bad idea) that won’t slip through the reins.

Winter hours @ River Valley Horse Ranch – Trail rides on the hour … Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm | Reservations Suggested.

Hope to see you soon!

Most of us remembered Quick Draw McGraw,  Gumby’s best pal Pokey and Bullseye from Toy Story.  Made us wonder why there were so few modern day horse cartoon characters.

During our search we stumbled across a list of fictional horses on Wikipedia. It brought back some great memories but still no stand alone horse cartoon characters.

Hmmm. Can’t believe Disney/Pixar hasn’t noticed this.  We did find a Walt Disney horse cartoon called  “A Cowboy Needs A Horse” from 1956.

Wish we could draw horses better than a first grader … we’d be all over this.

Travel by horse, when you have a choice.

River Valley Horse Ranch can attest to the positive effects that horses have on people.

In his book “Horse Behavior“ George Waring states that horses have five highly developed senses: taste, touch, hearing, smell, and sight. They also have an enigmatic sixth sense, heightened perception, which is very rare in humans.

And it’s been clinically proven that just being in the vicinity of horses can change our brainwave patterns and help us experience a unique calming effect that is exclusive to these amazing creatures.

If you are tired of being fixated on past or negative events  – “Saddle Up” for a really positive experience. You’ll feel great!

If not now … when?

River Valley Horse Ranch | 952.361.3361

That’s right, we’re talking about horses.

Horses assisting in psychotherapy is an approach that has been used for centuries and is now becoming mainstream.

Although the emotional therapeutic benefits are important, it is perhaps the physical benefits of horseback riding that most people relate to. In addition to improving strength, coordination, and balance, horseback riding can also be good for chronic back pain and arthritis sufferers. The constant rolling motion keeps the spine supple and well-lubricated. And the physical activity and emotional connection to horses often help alleviate the pain of arthritis.

All of that and fresh air to boot:)

Saddle Up!

Feeling down? Saddle up.

Provide ample fresh, clean water. Check daily that buckets or troughs are not contaminated with bird droppings, insect larvae, chaff, or algae growth. Try to keep the water cool. Horses may not want to drink warm water. Ponies and foals may have trouble reaching to the bottom of a shallowly filled trough. Make sure everyone in your paddocks can reach the water.

via KEEPING YOUR HORSE COOL IN HOT WEATHER.

No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.  ~James Allen

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River Valley Ranch is the best possible choice for horseback riding. I went there with my friend for my birthday and we had a great time! We had wonderful horses and my horse‘s name was Blaze. He was so cute and amazing to ride!  My friend’s horse’s name was Navaho he was a beautiful pinto!  Our trail guide was Emily and she was a good guide and was very nice. I hope the next time we are out we can have her guide our trail ride again. Thank you very much for such great time! I know we’ll be back!  – Taylor T.

Thank you so much Taylor!  We hope to see you again soon!

The last week of July is just jam packed with so many fun things to see and do!

You could reserve a night or two at the Nicolin Mansion B&B (based on availability), saddle up at River Valley Horse Ranch, take in a Vintage Baseball Game at the Mini-Met (tonight), visit Crofut Family Winery & Vineyard and enjoy the best days of summer at the Scott County Fair (7/27-7/30).

Best of all … it’s more than a day filled with FUN and it’s all within a short driving distance!

Gotta love the end of July!