Vegas: Get out of town!

Two AM: casino, club, show, slot machines, crowds, neon…

Nine AM: desert, sagebrush, blue sky, emptiness, cowboys, horses.

You’ve escaped from the Strip. This is going to do you good.

Tex and friend, waiting for riders.

Stream of consciousness: Wow, the air is clear out here. Which horse are they going to give me? That big black one looks mean. OK, I’m getting the one I wanted. Hey Tex, nice to meet you. I have no idea what I’m doing. Pull back on the reins? OK, I can do that. God, I’m glad I wore my jacket, it’s cold still.

[Twenty minutes later...]

Piece of cake. First time in the saddle, I’m obviously born to this. Probably a ranch-hand in a previous life. Cowboy, maybe. Horse, more likely. Anyway, I’m eating this up, let’s go faster. Do I have to stay behind this lady? Get a move on, lady. Oh, forget this, I want to accelerate. OK, there’s no accelerator. Let’s go, Tex. Jeez, I wish I’d listened when they told us how to do this. I think I have to pull up on the reins. No, we’ve stopped, that’s not it.

[Another twenty minutes later...]

I’m calm now. Relaxed. Tex, you happy Mate? OK, we can stop if you’re hungry. You eat that sagebrush stuff? Looks a little dry, but OK. Here comes a hill. Alright, we’re gonna go fast now? Hey, this is pretty cool. Hold on. OK, we made it. Slow, fast, I’m good with this. I don’t think I’m in charge here, somehow. Are we there yet?

Tex and me on the trail at Sagebrush

It’s warm now. These leather boots of mine look good in the stirrups. Jose, how do I look? OK, Jose thinks that was a pretty stupid question. Fair enough. Good to get out of Vegas for a while. People at blackjack tables: not smiling. People on this trail ride: smiling. Hmmm…

Your correspondent was a guest of Sagebrush Ranch, and enjoyed their Jesse James Breakfast Horse Ride. Check out more horseback riding in Las Vegas.

-Rod Cuthbert