Joshua Tree: Cascade Trails Mustang Ranch

 Here was our "home away from home" for our two nights in the desert... It was a lovely, large canvas tent with a real bed and nice linens, two nightstands and lighting. 

It was nice and quiet, with a stunning sunrise in the morning.

Guests are invited to interact with the horses at this particular fence, and Violet got to pet this young foal. We fed them carrots as well.

Another young 'un, this one about five months old.

The horse in the background, Rose, is one of the wild mustangs that the sanctuary has saved. This was the first time she'd come up to the fence when guests are handing out carrots. The employees were very excited about this, and had their cameras ready, hoping she'd take a carrot from Violet.

Unfortunately, she did not, but it was still gratifying that she is feeling comfortable enough to come near strangers like us.

I enjoyed feeding carrots to the horses, as well, and hearing their stories from the employees.

Here, Violet is being leaned on by Atlas, a friendly Great Dane, one of several guardian dogs who help with the livestock.

We also brought grapes to feed the goats. They were aggressively interested in our grapes! The babies are so darn cute.

Help! I'm surrounded!

We saw just how much work is involved with having this many horses - the daily scooping and feeding was a real commitment. 

Here was the mama and baby, and Atlas in the background.

This gal was in a pen by herself, because she'd only just been brought to the ranch a few weeks prior. She was part of a roundup of wild mustangs done periodically by the government when there are too many horses in an area. Chris, the ranch owner, takes some on to get them used to people. It was fascinating, learning about this life.

This is the view toward Joshua Tree National Park, which is beyond the hills.

Stace used the ranch's Blackstone-style grill to cook our dinner and breakfast, with his canine helpers close at hand.

If only they could have protected him from the ranch turkey! This big male turkey, apparently smarting over the loss of his female companion to a coyote a few weeks prior, pecked Stace in the calf!

A few games were in the nightstands, so Stace and Vi played Connect Four.