My name is Tootie McCauley and I’m 9 years old. I live in eastern North Carolina on a horse farm owned by my mom. Having horses around, I began riding when I was very young. Mom says I first got on a horse when I was about 1 year old. Of course, I was helping her ride our horse. So began my riding journey.
When I was 2, my mom ponied me around the farm. I was riding our trusty old Quarter Horse, Sonny, by myself in the arena with my big sister, Savannah, when I was 3 and 4 years old. When I turned 5, I was a Cloverbud in 4-H so I could ride in the 4-H horse shows. These shows helped build my confidence and riding ability.
Becoming a Trail Rider
The first time I got to ride out without being ponied was when I was 6 years old. That began my love for trail riding. I enjoy being in the woods, listening to the woodland sounds, and being with my horsey friends. My mom loves trail riding as well and has gone on many adventures in the mountains.
I was excited when she took me and Savannah out for my first long ride at Leatherwood Mountains. I was 8 years old. Savannah said this was my test to see how I would do riding all day in the woods.
That first ride in the mountains took eight hours on a trail called Homestead. It had some climbs up and down and a beautiful waterfall. Wow, I was tired at the end of the ride, but it was so much fun!
All Heart
My horse’s name is Heart. He is named that because he has a heart-shaped spot on his forehead. He is a stocky black and white Paint/Halflinger cross. Heart and I have become the best team, and he is my trail horse.
I can trust him to take care of me on long rides in the woods. He was the horse I rode at Leatherwood on my first long ride. I have also ridden him in many horse shows in the Ranch division. We have won many ribbons! Heart is an amazing horse and loved by all who meet him.
Preparing for a 100-Mile Ride
The 100-mile ride had been in the plans for a couple of years. I think Mom was just waiting for me to get old enough so I could go. Of course, Savannah went with us, too. She didn’t want to miss out on this adventure!
We had lots of planning to do. Mom, Pop, and I went to the area we were going to ride first to see where we were going to camp out in the woods. Pop had to know where to bring our supplies for an overnight in the woods. Our base camp was at High Country Campground in Konarock, Va. Pete Bartel, the owner, was such a big help to us.
We gathered our supplies and equipment. I helped mom write up our lists of supplies for us and our horses. We didn’t want to forget anything. I was so excited about this ride. I couldn’t believe we were going to ride 100 miles.
I was riding Heart, my mom was riding her horse, Diamond, and Savannah rode her horse, Rebel. The trail we rode is called the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, or VHHT. It starts at Elk Garden in the Grayson Highlands Park and ends at the New River in Ivanhoe, Va.
The Big Ride
The entire ride took six days, and we rode an average of eight hours a day. On our first ride, we saw the wild ponies and longhorn cattle in the Grayson Highlands State Park.
The first night we camped out it rained, and the tent leaked on me. Mom got up and fixed the tent so it wouldn’t leak. We picketed our horses on a tie line. It was their first time doing this outside of the farm and they did just fine.
The second night, we stayed at a friend’s cabin. She lived right by where our trail ended. I was hoping to see a bear in the woods, and on our ride at Snake Den Mountain, I did! It was a black bear running through the woods. I think we scared him. We also saw a beautiful timber rattlesnake on the Horse Heaven Trail.
We stayed at the Iron Mountain Horse camp our last night before the final part of our journey. Our horses got to be turned out to roll and relax. We got to stay in the farmhouse and take a shower—yay!
On day six, our last ride out, we were tired, but excited to be on this part of our journey. This trail was challenging with some steep inclines and descents and a beautiful creek to ride through.
Finally, we saw it, the New River! The end of our ride. Our friend, Pete, came to pick us up and took us back to base camp.
This will not be my last long ride. I think my mom and I have a lot of adventures to ride in the coming years.
“My 100-Mile Ride” appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
