by Marianne Lange

Created on: July 29, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

It was fall in upstate NY. One of the reasons I enjoy living in New York State is because of the change of the seasons. Fall is definitely a spectacular time and particularly in the great Adirondack Park region. Literally, there are thousands of acres to enjoy and experience.

We were a small Morgan breeding farm and kept several ponies for our children, at that time two small boys, five and seven years old. They were raised on horseback and even at those young ages were decent riders who could stay aboard. People have different ideas about ponies, but we gave it a try and acquired Crockett and Sonny. I know. I just aged myself but my husband did name them after the famous dynamic duo from Miami Vice. With these two in hand and two Morgans, we loaded the trailer and headed north to the Old Forge area of the Adirondacks that is well known for its many year round activities.

It was October and the famous Columbus Day weekend. My husband was a farrier and knew some people in this area that put on trail rides. You would ride with a group, have lunch on the trail and end the day with a spectacular dinner (on the trail) provided by the hosts. We arrived early in the morning 8:00 AM. Trailers were pulling in and the area was busy with riders tacking up their horses and packing the necessities for the trail such as extra lead ropes, drinks and a brown bag lunch.

October in New York State can go many ways. I remember early snow storms that closed schools. No exaggeration. I'm a teacher. I remember those things. This day, however, was really perfect. It was the kind you would see in magazines. Clear blue sky, no clouds, bright sunshine, yet the air was crisp and the leaves were exactly what they should be spectacular and brightly multi-colored.

"Riders up!" The call went out and down the trail we started. Central New York is an amazing place. We have several trail systems that go on for miles, are beautiful and are free. Up North, it is the Otter Creek Trail System. We rode that day on the outskirts of the system as the people sponsoring the trail had their own property but I mention it because our adventure followed along and crossed this system which provides riders with seemingly endless and beautiful trails well connected to the surrounding areas with everything families an individuals could need or want.

The trail that day was through the woods but basically easy and well cut. When doing a ride like this, it's important to provide not only a beautiful trail with great

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