I've been through the desert on 2 horses with names . . .

This trip posed many issues when I was planning it. One of the most worrisome for me was crossing the desert in southern Wyoming. The desert itself is an issue, for there is sand and hills and rocks and things and all of these make for difficult travel by both the horses and me. Having to scramble over rocks, sage brush, up and down gullys puts a lot of wear and tear on all of us, burning through our energy reserves and adding to our water usage. The lack of water is another issue, I can only pack so much water per day, I require 2 gallons, and sometimes only can pack 1, the horses need about 5 to 10 each per day and I can't pack that much on them, so our travel per day is designated by water sources. The towns are few and far between in southern Wyoming, averaging about 35 miles between them and sometimes up to 45. These long days take their toll on us, and the loss of weight and muscle mass on the girls causes their saddles to change how they fit them. This causes rubs and sore to start forming and we end up having to lay up for a few weeks to heal and let them regain their weight. Every time we lay over somewhere all I can hear is that clock ticking down til winter arrives. Personally, I am covered with bruises, cuts and blisters. Every muscle in my body is screaming by the end of the day and my feet, knees and back are killing me. I figure if we survive long enough to get out of Wyoming, nothing else will seem all that difficult, lol I hope.

Now the desert has some unique and cool things about it. We have seen antelope, jack rabbits, badgers, deer, coyotes, hawks, eagles, vultures (not circling above us yet), and wild horses. We have even been charged by a few stallions protecting their herds, and these mustang stallions are truly beautiful, manes flying, coats gleaming they are a sight to see, as long as they don't try and run off with my mares. I could do without the snakes and scorpions, but it is a desert so you take the creepy with the cool.

I know that we haven't crossed all of Wyoming but for my horses healths sake, I think half of it is good enough and we are taking a trailer ride to Cheyene to get out of the hard and difficult terrain we are in. Oh and that song is wrong, in the desert its easy to remember your name and the names of your horses, cause you are using them all the time while you are swearing at the plants and hills and rocks and things.