Horseback Riding Through a Field of Flowers
@DeborahDiane (40288)
Laguna Woods, California
March 20, 2016 6:52pm CST
Very early every Sunday morning, before we go to church or have our grandkids to breakfast, I go horseback riding.
In the spring, especially after it has rained, we ride along trails that meander through fields of wild Marguerites, mustard, California poppies, geraniums, lantana and a few other types of flowers. I took the above photo this time of year, but a couple of years ago. An article by @Horse reminded me of all the wildflowers we enjoy this time of year. Of course, up in Northern California, where he lives, there are many more flowers and they are around for a longer season.
This morning, this is what the fields looked like when I went riding. It was so peaceful and pleasant. We saw dozens of wild rabbits and a dead rattlesnake was laying across one of the trails. Frequently, we also see hawks, crows, dove, butterflies, hummingbirds and coyotes.
Later this morning, we took one of our daughters and her two children to the golf course clubhouse to have breakfast on the patio and celebrate her birthday. I'll have to show you a photo of the view from the clubhouse tomorrow.
It's been a very pleasant spring day. I hope it was for you, too!
27 people like this
25 responses
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Mar 16
@just4him - I try to spend at least a couple of hours outside everyday. I believe it is very healthy for us to get all the fresh air we can, plus a little sunshine every day.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
I love spending time in nature. No matter how much time I spend outside, it never seems to be enough! LOL
1 person likes this
@just4him (317040)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
22 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane It's good to spend time outdoors. I don't spend enough time out there.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
21 Mar 16
How peaceful @DeborahDiane . I miss not riding anymore but because of my spinal injuries, I can't. It's a bummer.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
I can understand. I would miss it, too, if I had to stop. I have known other people who stopped, as well.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136100)
• India
21 Mar 16
That must have been indeed a peaceful ride. Not everyone gets this opportunity and you are truly blessed. The only ride I got to do was in Kashmir where I had ridden on a mule - a dangerous ride through hills and dales but the sure footed mule went through it unscathed. Only thing was I had to put up with my behind that had gone sore. (lol)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136100)
• India
22 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane There are conducted tours who will arrange this ride for you.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
What a wonderful experience to go for a ride in Kashmir. I would have loved that experience!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Mar 16
@allknowing - I don't know if I will ever get to go to Kashmir. If I do, I would love to go for a ride!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
Oh, it would be a nice place to shoot a move ... wouldn't it? Maybe someday someone will use this location to make a movie ... perhaps a Western, with horses!
1 person likes this
@wiLLmaH (8802)
• Singapore, Singapore
22 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane That is not impossible! Hmmm.. How about Game of Thrones series? :)
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Mar 16
@wiLLmaH - We are located in Southern California. Maybe, someday, the movie makers will discover our place as a great location for a movie!
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Mar 16
I love riding there. It is so peaceful to be out in nature on the back of a horse. For some reason, animals seem less afraid of humans when we are on horseback, and they come out of their hiding places to look at us!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
@DianneN - It could have been scary to be on the back of a horse if the snake had been alive ... the horses might have bucked. It has been decades since I was thrown off a horse, but anything can happen!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
21 Mar 16
We are having a wonderful spring so far. I hope our rain isn't finished, however. More rain means more flowers.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
Yes, we really need more rain here in Southern California. It would nice to get more flowers!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Mar 16
@ElizabethWallace - The group of women I ride with have put bags of wildflower seeds in our pockets and tossed them out a few times as we rode along on the trail. It was so much fun and we still see some of those random flowers that pop up from time to time.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
22 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane When I lived in Rancho Cucamonga, I took my daughter and her friends into the empty spaces in our area and planted seeds from the field of wildflowers we had planted in our yard.
1 person likes this
@horsesrule (1957)
• United States
4 Aug 17
It looks like a very pretty place to ride horses.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Aug 17
@horsesrule - The flowers dry up in late summer and don't reappear until mid-winter. However, it is a lovely place to ride and we are very lucky that our retirement community has both horses and beautiful places to ride them.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Mar 16
wow so we here in Southern California do hav e wild flowers too I live in G arden G rovebut a few years back we often drove over to laguna b each as we love your beach acually better than Newport beach altho I li ke Newport too Im now s t uck in a retreent c enter and u sing a walker miss being able to go to the beach
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Mar 16
I'm sorry you can't make it to the beach anymore. I like Laguna better than Newport Beach, too, although they are very different. I walk at Newport Beach once in a while, just for a change of pace.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane yes very different what I liked about lagi;ua are the art shops so intriguing been a long time
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
@Hatley - Yes, I like the Laguna art shops, too. I love wandering through the village when it isn't busy!
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
22 Mar 16
@DeborahDiane The forecasters are saying it will improve during the week and be cool but not cold for Easter weekend.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Mar 16
I hope that better spring weather is headed to North Carolina, soon! I have been there a few times and it is a beautiful state! :)
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
@DWDavis - I'm glad your weather will improve. That's wonderful!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Mar 16
I have seen several women stop for a few months because they are traveling or something. After that, it is difficult to get back into shape for it. I don't plan to quit anytime soon, if I can help it!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Apr 16
I love to do this early in the morning. It is always so refreshing.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Mar 16
I love these flowers, too. Sometimes there are red geraniums or little purple flowers mixed in, too!
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
Ha Ha! I'm pretty comfortable on the back of a horse, so I didn't have any trouble taking that picture. However, I still don't make a habit of it. Horses can get upset and start bucking over any little thing, so I tend to be cautious.
@rina110383 (24492)
•
21 Mar 16
I haven't tried horseback riding. It scares me. I'm glad you enjoyed yours.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Mar 16
If you ever want to ride a horse, I suggest you take lessons, first. That will make you more comfortable and keep you safer.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
21 Mar 16
What a nice morning ride. I wish I had more experience with horses... but many ladies have loved horses since we were little girls though we don't get to interact with them. As my last experience was on my honeymoon and I was quite nervous.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Mar 16
It helps to take riding lessons if you want to ride. It would make you more comfortable on the back of the horse!
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
Yes, it is very enjoyable to ride through flowers in the early morning.
@ida123 (6206)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
21 Mar 16
I haven't try horseback riding, I tried riding in a carabao and I think it's better compared to horse because the later will run whereas the carabao only walks and you won't be afraid if you fall, I did it way back 25 years ago.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
I have never ridden a carabao ... so you have done something I have never done!
@Marilynda1225 (82714)
• United States
21 Mar 16
I would love to be riding through that meadow of wildflowers....what a serene and beautiful picture
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
I love riding through these fields. Part of the ride is also along a golf course. It is such a pleasant way to start a day.
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
Yes, the vegetation is completely wild and it is wonderful that the flowers grow up to the bottoms of the stirrups on the saddles. It is only like that for a few months, however. Once we reach full summer and it gets hot, the plants will dry up and shrink down. They won't be back until next spring!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40288)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Mar 16
It really is a beautiful place to ride. I enjoy it so much!
1 person likes this
