About Jamestown's Big South Fork

When I look back at some of our photos, I wonder what is that??? I have on a pack which says I could be hiking, tights that say I could be mountain biking, and a helmet which says I might be riding my horse.

You decide! I am four words short of 50 so this will fix that, hopefully.

Well it's been a long hard slog with this horse. Now, almost 5 months later (See Blogs on same subject, Parts 1 & 2) his surgery wound has healed up until it's almost gone. The vet is pleased with the way it looks.

With his lump gone and months of recovery, you would think that's the end of it - but NO, we've been through an abscess in his surgery side hoof that erupted in his heel, an infection with a temp of 104.6, blood tests to check organ function, and for Lyme's disease and then three-legged lameness in his other leg that was diagnosed as an abscess, navicular syndrome and finally an injury to his flexor tendon. All that entailed 2 visits with our farrier, 2 nerve blocks, one to diagnose the navicular (which is wasn't) and one to x-ray for fractures and then a trip to an out-of-town vet where he was nerve blocked for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a slight inflammation and possible tear in his flexor tendon.

He stayed there a week and came home to stall rest which he did NOT tolerate very well, then out with a buddy in a dry lot and finally out with his buddy in a separate pasture. His feeding is done on a mounting block with his bucket shock-corded to one of the steps to elevate it. He had trouble dropping his head low enough to eat his grain and to graze. Finally he is eating on the ground and grazing with only 2 more pain pills to go.

It will be a few more months before he is turned out with all the horses. He will have to show us he can trot and canter without pain before that happens. Tendons take about 6 months to heal.

One funny thing did happen though...I was reading over one of the vet bills and noticed his name at the top. His registered quarter horse name is Rb's Secos Music. And so we call him RB. That was the name I gave the check-in lady at the vet's office. But when I read the bill later his name had been entered as ARBY. So now we call him Roast Beef !

We love him lots and you have to when they require so much time and effort, let alone bucks. He's now worth double what we paid for him...or more, but that's OK!

Here's a series of photos before, with stitches, and now. Amazing what the body can do to heal!

I have two cabins listed, right across the street from each other, at 224 Indian Rock Trail and 225 Indian Rock Trail. What are the chances that BOTH would be under contract in this sorry market, and due to close within the next two weeks??!!

It sure feels good for me to see those "Pending" signs and it has been a real positive for visitors to the Big South Fork who came here for the fabulous trail riding during October, our best fall month, because Indian Rock Trail is directly across from True West, one of the area's best-known horse campgrounds.

For information about Big South Fork real estate or horse properties in Jamestown, Tennessee, go to http:www.trailridersrealestate.com

There's also a lot of information about the area at Tennessee Recreational Properties' website.

Trail riders from all over the country know that the Big South Fork National Park in Jamestown, Tennessee is called, "The Trail Riding Capital Of The Southeast, boasting the best riding east of the Mississippi on 180+ miles of trails. What they may NOT know is that there are another 130 miles of spectacular trails, south of town, at East Fork Stables, which are beautifully marked and maintained.

East Fork encompasses 12,000 acres, privately owned, and has 150 stalls as well as areas for picketing and pasture. In addition to the campsites, there are cabins ranging from primitive to deluxe, and everything you might need for a comfortable stay. There's a tack shop and and RV shop; you can get ice, propane, firewood, hay and shavings. You can arrange a guided ride. There's an on-call vet and farrier. There's even a photographer!

Their specialty is the always enjoyable annual events such as the Spring Wildflower Ride, Spring Fling, Fall Golden Leaf and Indian Summer Rides, as well as the annual Pig Roast and the Chili Cook-Off. They book one riding club after another, with meals on or off the trail, bonfires and bluegrass for entertainment. One day it's foxhunting, another day it's Civil War reenactments.

Everyone who comes to East Fork can't wait to come back! And, for local riders, there's a yearly pass for $75 or a day pass for $10 so no one needs to miss out on the fun!

For information about Big South Fork real estate or horse properties in Jamestown, Tennessee, go to www.trailridersrealestate.com

There's also a lot of information about the are on Tennessee Recreational Properties' website.

Some days, no matter what "home chores" you have waiting, you gotta go ride. The breeze was wonderful, the falling leaves fanciful and the horses were extraordinary. We live where all this is just minutes away while some folks trailer hundreds of miles to what's in our backyard. We are so blessed!