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The animals we saw were certainly nice-looking, standing about 12 hands each. I’m sorry that I did not learn the story of the how the animals came to be on the mountainsides.
Despite the long time spent in the saddle, there was not a sore buttock among the riders, nor a sore back among their mounts - none reported that is.
On Sunday, we headed out again at 9 a. m. via yet another trail toward Mt. Rogers. This time, we did not go quite as high. In fact, the summit is off limits to riders. This understandable conservation measure is necessary due to the fragile groundcover above the treeline.
Our second route opened up into a vast stand of flame azaleas. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful: all the shades of yellow and orange you could imagine. In addition, during huckleberry season you could pick all day and never leave your mount.
While we were eryoying this spectacular natural offering, up galloped a handsome wild blade pony stallion with long mane flying, head with blazed face held high, nickering just like in all those western movies. Straight toward our horses he flew on four white-stockinged legs - until he saw the riders, or heard their voices. Then he immediately ducked sharply into the azalea and huckleberry bushes, which tower some 15 to 20 feet high.
Later, we saw what appeared to be about a dozen adult ponies and two small foals. They were, however, about a mile off and we had no binoculars, so it was difficult to see them clearly. I’m sure “Sassy” didn’t miss the binoculars a bit, since she already carried two extra horseshoes, a canteen of water, an extra jacket and raincoat in addition to a 50-pound saddle and my 14-stone body weight.
After we got back to camp, around 2 p.m., we cooled off the horses and fed them and ourselves. Then it was time to pack up camp, load our mounts into the traders, and push off for home. We were back in Rappahannock by 11 p.m.
And what a wonderful time we had! I hope someday I can go back - and you too - to Mount Rogers with as great a gang as we had this time. Maybe next time we’ll even plan to go for the wild pony round-up in September...
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