It was a gorgeous morning as the sun's rays warmed my face. I placed my cowboy hat on my head as I put my foot into the stirrup. With a hop I was up in the saddle. Nothing clears my mind and revives my soul like riding my horse Max down the trail and into a world of my own.

I vaguely recall the chatter and laughter of my husband and our friends as we started down the trail. Ahhh, how lucky we are to be in the Eastern mountains during the springtime. Virginia is an incredibly beautiful horse state, complete with picturesque farms and spectacular green rolling hills. Virginia is not only for lovers (state saying) but for horse people, too. There are numerous places to ride your horse and camp across the state. One of the most spectacular is the Shenandoah National Park.

Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the southern Appalachians near Luray, Va. The park was established Dec. 26, 1935, with a total acreage of 196,149, including a 79,579-acre designated wilderness area. The 105-mile Skyline Drive was constructed in the 1930s as a scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains within the park.

We had been riding all morning when someone made the suggestion that we take a break. It was suggested that the men go one way and the ladies another-to different parts of the forest for a little privacy. A friend of ours was riding a mule that belonged to her boyfriend. As we rode off to our designated part of the woods, the mule started braying for her buddy. We continued on with the rest of the girls and went on with our business. However, Kate, the mule, became more and more frantic as every second passed.

About the time my friend's jeans approached her knees, the mule had reached the breaking point and took off to the place where she'd last seen her equine compadre. My friend had thought it'd be best to hold the mule rather than tie her to a tree. She didn't want to let go of the reins, and the mule dragged her back to the reunion. Unfortunately, my friend was unable to retrieve her jeans, which were now around her ankles. The mule finally found her pal and stopped-right in the middle of the men who'd returned to the gathering place to wait for us. What more can I say! (Names have been omitted in order to protect the embarrassed.)

There are 76 overlooks along the Skyline Drive where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The park has more than 500 miles of trails.

The dense hardwood forest is home to thousands of species of plants, hundreds of bird species, and numerous mammals. Chestnut and red oak forest are common throughout the park. Other trees, such as tulip poplar, cove hardwood, and spruce-fir forest also may be found. Throughout the forest you may encounter countless herb, fern, shrubs, trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, blueberries, azaleas, and lady slipper orchids that will fill your senses.

The hiking trails include part of the 2,175- mile Appalachian Trail (which runs from Maine to Georgia).

There are no horse campgrounds within the park; however, it is an incredible place to pack-in to the backcountry for an unbelievable adventure with your equine friend. For your riding pleasure there are 150 miles of well maintained horse trails and fire roads. Hitching posts and picnic tables have been placed in areas of high horse use for your convenience.

Refreshing woods and winding trails await at Shenandoah.

Fruit trees, stone foundations, and cemeteries are reminders of the families who once lived in the area. You can see the evidence of several mountaineer home sites that once existed as you ride along the Hickerson Hollow Trail and the Tanners Ridge fire road. The Thornton River Trail follows an old rock wall and other stone ruins to a gorgeous wooded ridge. The Rose River trail takes you to beautiful waterfalls, old homesteads, and an old copper mine.

The Compton trail is somewhat rocky and occasionally steep, with outstanding scenic views. The Mt. Marshall trail follows the ridgeline and offers great views of Jenkins Gap. If you are up for the challenge, you can ride up the steep, rocky ravine along Keyser Run, which is more than worth it for the spectacular views of an almost continuous waterfall cascading along the trail.

Smith Roach Gap Road and Simmons Gap Road were old mountaineer roads that were used to cross the Blue Ridge. Browns Gap was used during the Civil War when Stonewall Jackson marched his entire army through the area.

If you can keep your equine partner under control and your pants up you have the opportunity of a lifetime to have fun and an enjoyable vacation. See you on the trail!