By Jack Peterson

For our October color ride we headed up to Vernon County in Wisconsin at, Highland Quarter Horses (HQH), it is operated by Jerry Gilbertson, at 608 634 3035 (e-mail highhors@mwt.net ). HQH is located on a ridge on the top of one the many wonderful coulees that includes (within 2 miles) the Snow Flake Ski Jump, executive golf course and the Timber Coulee trout stream (Mississippi river watershed). The trails are all very well maintained so they are comfortable for horse and rider. The trails provide up to 3 to 4 hours of steady riding without repeating any of them. Of course shorter rides are available, as well. There are easy trails, and there are also some more challenging trails, all with soft surface and some rocks. There are a lot of local riders, some of whom board their horses there at Highland Quarter Horses and some trailer their horses into the HQH campground. It is common to see Cathy and Liz, who board their horses at HQH, out on the trail.

Our ride in October in 2003 was at the peak of the fall colors and temperature was in the mid sixties so both horses and riders were comfortable. The great thing about fall rides is that the bugs are pretty well gone and the air is so clean and fresh. The trails are in hardwood forest with lots of maples, hickory and red oaks, which gives you a great color contrast. The ground was a carpet of leaves with blue skies overhead and bright radiating sunshine. The view below is on the “south finger” looking south. The trails here are novice level with slight hills, but full of surprises. There are lots of deer living in the woods and fields. The woods surrounds alfalfa and cornfields, giving you additional wonderful color contrasts as well a great feed for the turkeys, grouse and deer. The foxes and coyotes are more difficult to see, as they are very uncomfortable around horses and people.

The “big hole” up on the north side gives you the option of going down into the valley. This may be the greatest ride as it winds around the bottom of a huge coulee with lots of rocks and down trees, but clean enough so there is limited contact with rocks and the trail is clear of trees and gently sloped so most riders are very comfortable. Going down into the bottom is not too steep for experienced riders, but should not be tried by beginner riders and or ill-mannered horses. The soil in the bottom is heavy black loam and smells wonderful as it is the top soil washed down into the valley by rains, and trees and leaves that have decayed and turned into soil.

Heading down into the “north hole,” you’ll find a dry creek bed, where you will seldom see any water as it either runs on down to the trout stream (lots of public trout fishing areas here) or sinks into the ground. There are a number of “Rubs” where the bucks have polished their horns and have started to make their marks for the rut, which will start in late October and early November. The contour down in the hole is very interesting and you need to plan on spending some time just looking around. The hilltops are covered with maple trees. Here Dakota and I am coming up the trail out of the hole, which with it’s winding trails is my personal favorite as it lets you feel the lead changes as Dakota canters along.

Jerry Gilbertson is our host and trail guide, but you can ride the trails by yourself or with Jerry and his wonderful daughter Breanna. Breanna has been very successful in a number of singing contests and maybe could be talked into doing a little show for your group. She is a terrific singer of country western songs and fun to ride with. Breanna rides English as well as Western and loves to do the barrels and participate in many horse shows. Jerry loves the south trails as they overlook the big timber coulee valley with miles of great trout streams. I love to ride this trail, as we never know what we will see and it’s where we often some of the huge turkeys take off and fly down into the valley. In early June we often see twin fawns with their mom. Here is a picture of Jerry leading a small trail ride; this is looking through the ears of my horse Dakota, (she was 22 at the time of this ride), who I has been my pal and carried me far and wide over the last 10 years.

Riders from Michigan, Florida, Illinois and Minnesota, have enjoyed their rides with Highland Quarter Horses. Many of the guest riders return regularly to enjoy the seasons. As you know, there is a very special fellowship that horse people have. Jerry is friendly and full of stories and welcomes everyone with a smile. His love of horses has led him to HQH, where he and his daughter board and train horses.

Some of the guest riders may want to trailer about 20 miles over to Wildcat Mountain, with it’s fantastic and has well marked trails and campgrounds. Others have had the experience of fording the Kickapoo River, down in the “Government Land” with its steep hillsides, wooded flat land, open fields and great bottomland. The government and army corps of engineers planned to convert the valley into a lake but never made the lake. As a result there weren’t any formal trails when we road there.

After your ride Jerry can take or direct you to the Amish bakeries, Amish furniture makers, quilters, weavers and crafters. Don’t miss “Norskedalen” (Norwegian pioneer home) where volunteers dress and demonstrate the way the pioneers lived and cared for their families. When we were there they were re-enacting civil war battle an encampments. There are some really nice Bed & Breakfasts with wonderful food as well as local places to eat, meet new friends and share your day. There are plenty of motels in the area and you are only 28 scenic miles from La Crosse.

We have ridden in Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, and Tennessee and rank these trails and scenery at the top of our list!

Don’t miss it!

Highland Quarter Horses (HQH) is operated by Jerry Gilbertson, at 608 634 3035 (e-mail highhors@mwt.net), it is located in Vernon County in southwestern Wisconsin. HQH offers a bunkhouse (sleeps 6), camper (sleeps 2), campgrounds, toilets, water, gas grill, corrals and shelter. It is located at E7630 Rognstad Ridge Road just off Highway 27 between Cashton and Westby. Turn at Newry (County Road PC) and follow signs.

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