FROM CAROLINE LAWRENCE

HELLO FOLKS !
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A GREAT BASE CAMP FROM WHICH TO EXPLORE THE GORGEOUS AREA. WE HAD A WONDERFUL WEEK AND WILL BE BACK.

MANY THANKS TO THE GENTLEMEN (RUDY, MIKE & PHIL) WHO HELPED US SWITCH OUT THE GOOSENECK HITCH AFTER MY HUSBAND LEFT IT LOCKED
AND HEADED HOME WITH THE OTHER TRAILER. THEY WERE TERRIFIC AND SO VERY KIND.

FROM NANCY & TOM ANSTAETT 

I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR KINDNESS AND EFFICIENT SERVICE AS WE PLAN OUR TRIPS TO EAST FORK STABLES EACH YEAR. THIS IS OUR 7TH YEAR IN A ROW. WISHING YOU MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS!

From PRISI SELFRIDGE, LUKE EIDSON,
JANE KIKER & LINDA SELFRIDE

HEY! JUST A NOTE TO ONCE AGAIN SAY THANKS!! WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. I CANNOT EXPRESS FULLY HOW HELPFUL WE FOUND THE NEW MAPS AND THE NEW TRAIL MARKERS. WE NEVER GOT LOST, NEVER FELT LOST OR CONFUSED AND NEVER RODE LONGER THAN WE INTENDED TO RIDE. THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK DONE TO RE-WORK THE OLD MAP AND THE OLD MARKERS.

WE STAYED IN THE SCOTT HOUSE THIS TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND OUR HORSES WERE IN THE NEW BARN AT DEER GAP AND THAT WAS TRULY LIKE OUR OWN PRIVATE PARADISE. THE TWO SAFELY FENCED PADDOCKS WERE A BLESSING TOO, SINCE WE HAD SOME YOUNGSTERS WITH US THAT NEEDED TO KICK UP THEIR HEELS BEFORE HITTING THE TRAIL.

THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT NEW CHANGES, WE ENJOYED THEM ALL!!
IT IS ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR A FAMILIAR SMILE ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE AND SUCH A GOOD FEELING TO WALK IN AND BE GREETED BY SOMEONE THAT KNOWS YOUR NAME,

THANKS SAMANTHIA & PETREA.
AGAIN, THANKS FOR GIVING US A GREAT VACATION!!!!

From JIM AND PAM MIXON

THE MIXON'S LEFT A DAY EARLY TO RUN HOME AND COVER UP 24 TOMATO PLANTS. WE JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND ENJOYED ALL THE TRAIL RIDING AND THE HOSPITALITY. HAVING THOSE GREAT HOT MEALS ALL READY TO EAT WAS A GIFT FROM HEAVEN. THANK ALL OF YOU.

From ROBYN R. ARNOLD of LEWISBURG, TN

MY HUSBAND AND I AND FOUR FRIENDS VISITED YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS PAST WEEKEND DURING THE WILD FLOWER RIDE. THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL TIME! WE COULD TELL YOU STAFF WORKS VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THE CAMPSITES, BARNS, TRAILS AND BATH-HOUSES. THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT--THE BEST I'VE HAD AT ANY TRAIL RIDING FACILITY. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH STALLS.. YOUR FRIENDLY STAFF WAS VERY ATTENTIVE TO OUR NEEDS FINDING A STALL FOR OUR MARE THAT CAN NOT BE TIED. WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR BREATHTAKING TRAILS WITH US !

THE RIVER RIDE – A TRUE EXPERIENCE
BY: LISA PRUITT

WE WERE VERY EXCITED, WE WANTED TO RIDE.
AS WE MOUNTED OUR HORSES, WE WERE BURSTING WITH PRIDE.
BIG HUGE GRINS ACROSS OUR FACES
“DAMN” WE WERE GLAD TO BE IN THIS PLACE-

THE SIGN SAID “TO THE RIVER THIS WAY”
THE LADY IN THE OFFICE SAID IT’D TAKE HALF A DAY.
SO OFF WE WENT – RIVER BOUND
FOUR HOURS LATER – NOT A HUMAN AROUND

THE TREES WERE PAINTED WITH RED STREAKS,
SO WE MUST HAVE BEEN IN FOR SOME PRETTY BAD PEAKS.
WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO IT, WE’D COWBOY’D UP,
THEN WE GOT WORRIED AND IT STARTED TO SUCK.

WE GOT OUT THE MAP BECAUSE THE HORSES WERE TIRED
“WHERE THE HELL ARE WE?” THE MEN DIDN’T KNOW
DID THEY ADMIT IT? “HELL NO”
JUST FOLLOW THE TRAIL, WE’RE ALMOST TO THE RIVER
“OK” WE SAID, AND OUR MUSCLES THEY QUIVERED.

FINALLY WE MADE IT TO EAST FORK RIVER – A SIGHT TO BEHOLD
WE WOULD NEVER COME THIS WAY, HAD WE BEEN TOLD.
ENOUGH OF THE RIVER, LET’S HEAD BACK TO CAMP.
THE TRAIL WAS TREACHEROUS BUT WE PUSHED ON
OUR HORSES WEREN’T READY FOR SUCH A LONG RIDE –
I AM STILL AMAZED THAT ME OR MY HORSE HAVE NOT DIED.

THE TRAIL TOOK ACROSS THE RIVER MANY TIMES
THE LOOK OF DESPAIR IN ALL OF OUR EYES!
I BEGAN TO GET THE CREEPS AND WAS BLAMING THE MEN
“THEY DIDN’T KNOW!” CRIED MY BEST FRIEND

OVER THE RIVER ROCKS, SAND, SHARP ROCKS AND SLICK BLUFFS
MY HORSE FINALLY GAVE UP, HE’D HAD ENOUGH.
I HAD TO GET OFF AND WALK MY HORSE A WHILE
THERE WAS NO WAY IN HELL I WAS ABOUT TO SMILE

I WATCHED FOR THAT PATH THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE STABLES
AND NEVER LOOKED BACK
FINALLY WE WERE OUT AND ON FAMILIAR GROUND
THANK GOD WE MADE IT, MY HEART BEGAN TO POUND.
I HAVE DECIDED MY LOVE FOR HORSES IS GONE.
THE THOUGHT OF RIDING MAKES ME GO PALE –
BY THE WAY, MY HORSES IS FOR SALE!