Well it's official, the Colorado Parelli Campus has closed down for the winter. The remaining working students and Interns worked hard these past couple of weeks 'winterizing' the place; cleaning, building new fences, fertilizing the play areas, storing of equipment and general clean up. It weird to see the place so empty, no horses in the pens, no students in the playgrounds, no courses going on, tack room and cabins empty. There are a handful of horses left on the ranch including Sienna and her new friend Juno, until we can find a place to rent, and who knew that was going to be as tough as it is! I have to say though, that it's kind of cool to have the entire ranch to ourselves :0)Pat and Linda were in attendance at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, then onto the Jacksonville Rendezvous, then finally the Florida campus in Ocala where they will be based for the winter.
The weather here in Pagosa has been pretty great, temps are in the 70's during the day. We've had a few fantastic thunderstorms these past two days and this morning it was 39 degrees at 8am. I witnessed the first dusting of snow on the mountains, a real sign that winter is truly on it's way!
It was great to have Justin here for the weekend, he got to see the ranch and the small town of Pagosa, but the highlight for us both was the hike up to Wolf Creek Pass and along the Continental Divide. I don't think I will forget the scenery for a very long time and the fall colors just made it all the more special. You can see pics of our hike here. 
Sienna and Juno are getting along like they've known each other all their lives. Yesterday we moved them to a bigger pasture and they galloped around enjoying their new space. Once again it did my heart good to see my girl out in this big pasture just being a horse, I just wish that Beau was here and able to enjoy it too.
I am surrounded by so much beauty here, the scenery, the elk that are regulars on the ranch this time of year, the girls enjoying themselves out in their pasture, the hikes, the sunrise and sunsets......I could go on.
