Dr. Hunter, her dog Ansel, and her horse Ferrous, along with two friends and their horses, traveled to the West for a week of country life and horse back riding.
On their way to Montana they stopped in the beautiful North Dakota Badlands. They stayed at a working beef cattle farm where Ansel got close enough to get licked by a huge Angus bull!
They saw mule deer, antelope, owls, and bison. They rode the Maah Dah Hey trail through the National Grasslands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The landscape was beautiful and the horses did well on the narrow trails and switch backs.
On to Helena, Montana where they stayed at their friends’ beautiful house. Ansel played with their dog and got brave enough to play with their cat. The horses lounged in large grassy pastures when they weren’t carrying their riders up the mountain trails.
The view across the Missouri River valley was spectacular. Wildlife sightings included osprey on the nest, huge jack rabbits, elk, and the incredibly blue Western Bluebirds.
On rainy days they toured lovely Helena, a historic gold mining town. A full tour of the state capitol building was a highlight. Original paintings there from the late 1800’s prove that it has been Lewis and Clark country from the start.
All of the animals did well on the long drive home with frequent stops along the way. Feel free to call if you would like any information on vacationing with your pets.
