Trail Ride in Yankee Springs, Picture Heavy...

Harmonyhill* · 08-16-2008, 10:37 AM

My DH and I have been working a lot of overtime, and we decided yesterday to take a much needed break.

We loaded the up the kids and horses and went for a family trail ride!

It was beautiful, we saw lots of butterflies, deer and even some snakes......

I don't like snakes......and these were blue racers and one of them was as long as my husband is tall.

And in my opion.....SNAKES SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT FAST!
I'm sure that they were slithering faster than I can run.....thank goodness, they were moving in the opposite direction!

I was riding the 28 year old Jho, and I think he is going blind.
He keeps seeing snakes when really there aren't any and I keep telling him that he is being silly. Imagine my surprise when he said SNAKE and then one of those darn blue racers popped out right under his nose

I was the one that wanted to turn tail and RUN!

Still gives me the shivers to think of them......

Despite the snakes it was a great ride and helped us remember what we are working so hard for!

Before the Ride

After the ride, I guess that we tired them out! Just kidding, we only went four miles, they were just enjoying the sand.....

Sorry, no pictures of the snakes, they were moving too fast....or was that Jho and I who were moving too fast?

PaintCowgirl · 08-16-2008, 06:00 PM

It sounds like you guys had fun and the horses look they enjoyed themselves!

strayacres · 08-17-2008, 01:25 AM

Hello, Sounds like your family had a GREAT time - lucky lucky you. We've never been to Yankee Springs and would love to go. Can you tell us approximately how to get there from 131? What does it cost to go for the day? What does it cost to camp? Anything you would share with us would be WONDERFUL!

Baycrash · 08-17-2008, 07:14 AM

Looks like you had a terrific family day with your kids and horses!! That is so cool...my Dad and Mom weren't riders when I was growing up. I have two brothers and one used to 'steal' my horse if he got home first after school

We are all grown up now--in our 40's--and my thief of a brother would still LOVE to ride!

walkerfarms · 08-17-2008, 07:34 AM

Looks like fun and a nice place to ride!!!

SheZAAM! · 08-17-2008, 11:09 AM

Hey.....I've ridden there! Except when I did it was on a mountain bike. It's a hard, sandy trail on a bike. Never saw any horses when I rode though.

Harmonyhill* · 08-18-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strayacres

Hello, Sounds like your family had a GREAT time - lucky lucky you. We've never been to Yankee Springs and would love to go. Can you tell us approximately how to get there from 131? What does it cost to go for the day? What does it cost to camp? Anything you would share with us would be WONDERFUL!

It was tons of fun! We are planning on going again this week

If you have a state park sticker ($24 for the year) there is no cost to go and day ride. If you don't have one it's $6.00 for the day.

I think that overnight camping is $13.00 but that could have went up.....

It's a fun place to camp, it is rustic though, which according to my oldest daughter, is the only way to go camping! Wait until she gets older and has to go to the bathroom often in the night

The have nice posts to picket to, nice campfire rings and lots of shade!

They have a four mile trail, a six mile trail and a nine mile trail.....

Here is the web site,

http://www.michigandnr.com/publicati...nkee/index.htm

Here are the directions from 131,

From US-131, turn east at Bradley exit (Exit 61) and proceed along M-179 to South Briggs Road. Follow the signs to the Yankee Springs Headquarters.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheZAAM!

Hey.....I've ridden there! Except when I did it was on a mountain bike. It's a hard, sandy trail on a bike. Never saw any horses when I rode though.

They have bike trails AND horse trails. I don't think that the two are suppose to mix..... which, when you are riding lots of green babies, is a VERY good thing!

Thunderz Gurlz · 08-20-2008, 08:38 AM

We should meet up sometime Harmony!

SheZAAM! · 08-20-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harmonyhill*

It was tons of fun! We are planning on going again this week

They have bike trails AND horse trails. I don't think that the two are suppose to mix..... which, when you are riding lots of green babies, is a VERY good thing!

True. When I was a biker, I was always very respectful of the occasional horse I'd meet on the trail. Now that I'm in Colorado, with horse, I appreciate it when people dismount because my mare can get a little snorty around bikes.

I'll be YS is much nicer on horse than on bike. That sand was wicked and tossed me off my bike plenty of times. The campground is gorgeous though.

Have you ridden at Fort Custer? I think they have seperate trails too. That was my favorite set of trails and campground.

equine.trailrider · 08-20-2008, 07:36 PM

Looks like you had a great time! I've been to Yankee Springs several times this year and I absolutely love the trails there. I like all the hills, twists and turns! I bought a MI State Park sticker, which is also good for at Fort Custer.
I like Fort Custer the best of all the MI trails I have ridden. It's best to go there on a weekday though to avoid the bikes or take a horse who's not afraid of bikes. The trails at FC are shared by the cyclists who have to yield to horses.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Went on a trail ride in TN yesterday! PIC HEAVY.	Clippity-Clop	Trail Riding	20	05-02-2008 07:22 AM
I Finally got to ride ( picture heavy)	mymaxx	Horse Stories	25	11-28-2007 08:38 PM
Small Town trail ride(pic heavy)	SilverLexi	Trail Riding	4	10-22-2007 07:41 AM
Trail riding - Birdsong Trail Ride - Child and Arabian!	dproaps	Trail Riding	6	10-08-2007 09:51 PM
First Trail Ride for Ty (picture)	Sylvia1	Trail Riding	6	05-24-2007 08:05 AM

08-16-2008, 10:37 AM
Harmonyhill* Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 232	Trail Ride in Yankee Springs, Picture Heavy... My DH and I have been working a lot of overtime, and we decided yesterday to take a much needed break. We loaded the up the kids and horses and went for a family trail ride! It was beautiful, we saw lots of butterflies, deer and even some snakes...... I don't like snakes......and these were blue racers and one of them was as long as my husband is tall. And in my opion.....SNAKES SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT FAST! I'm sure that they were slithering faster than I can run.....thank goodness, they were moving in the opposite direction! I was riding the 28 year old Jho, and I think he is going blind. He keeps seeing snakes when really there aren't any and I keep telling him that he is being silly. Imagine my surprise when he said SNAKE and then one of those darn blue racers popped out right under his nose I was the one that wanted to turn tail and RUN! Still gives me the shivers to think of them...... Despite the snakes it was a great ride and helped us remember what we are working so hard for! Before the Ride After the ride, I guess that we tired them out! Just kidding, we only went four miles, they were just enjoying the sand..... Sorry, no pictures of the snakes, they were moving too fast....or was that Jho and I who were moving too fast? __________________ I'd Rather nuzzle a Muzzle, than kiss a Frog!

08-16-2008, 06:00 PM
PaintCowgirl Weanling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Where God puts me Posts: 266	It sounds like you guys had fun and the horses look they enjoyed themselves!

08-17-2008, 01:25 AM
strayacres Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MI Posts: 197	Hello, Sounds like your family had a GREAT time - lucky lucky you. We've never been to Yankee Springs and would love to go. Can you tell us approximately how to get there from 131? What does it cost to go for the day? What does it cost to camp? Anything you would share with us would be WONDERFUL! __________________ Mikkii

08-17-2008, 07:14 AM
Baycrash Halter broke Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Missouri Posts: 140	Looks like you had a terrific family day with your kids and horses!! That is so cool...my Dad and Mom weren't riders when I was growing up. I have two brothers and one used to 'steal' my horse if he got home first after school We are all grown up now--in our 40's--and my thief of a brother would still LOVE to ride!

08-17-2008, 07:34 AM
walkerfarms Weanling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: TY TY Georgia Posts: 347	Looks like fun and a nice place to ride!!!

08-17-2008, 11:09 AM
SheZAAM! Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 530	Hey.....I've ridden there! Except when I did it was on a mountain bike. It's a hard, sandy trail on a bike. Never saw any horses when I rode though. __________________

08-20-2008, 08:38 AM
Thunderz Gurlz Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South West Michigan Posts: 3,738	We should meet up sometime Harmony! __________________ Proud Owner To Pogo 15 yr old Quarter Pony Mare Thunder 30 yr old Hackney/Quarter Pony Gelding

08-20-2008, 07:36 PM
equine.trailrider Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 901	Looks like you had a great time! I've been to Yankee Springs several times this year and I absolutely love the trails there. I like all the hills, twists and turns! I bought a MI State Park sticker, which is also good for at Fort Custer. I like Fort Custer the best of all the MI trails I have ridden. It's best to go there on a weekday though to avoid the bikes or take a horse who's not afraid of bikes. The trails at FC are shared by the cyclists who have to yield to horses. __________________ -I'll Take A Cold One. Make It A Draft! visit me at http://www.freewebs.com/sunshineacres