At Serenity Farms in Cloquet, horse riders gathered to get their horses ready for the trails that the Northland has to offer.

However, there’s a certain aspect that many people may not realize while out riding; horses may come across things they’ve never seen, smelled, or felt before, and that’s where Anne Gullion comes into play.

“It seems amazing at the beginning because the horses are so wound up but by the time they leave they’re comfortable,” said Gullion, the owner of Serenity Farms. “They’re going through almost all the obstacles and they’re ready to go ride out on the trails.”

Gullion, with the help of some volunteers, set up obstacles like bridges, fake turkeys, and sensory objects like stuffed animals and plastic bags in order to get the horses used to the elements.

Gullion has been around and riding horses for 50 years, and knows the significance of becoming aqcuaninted with your horse as well, so that the difficult moments for them can be lessened.

“You have to develop a bond with your horse,” said Gullion. “You can’t just have a horse you need to go out and be with it ride it create some kind of a bond.”

“They say your heartbeat changes when you’re riding on a horse,” said Mary Hagen, a volunteer. “You’re within five feet of their heart and it’s supposed to affect you.”

As the day went on, the horses became more comfortable, following others or learning how to interpret obstacles by themselves.

The overwhelming feeling was the communal feel, and just the appreciation for the animals in their environment, as well as the other attendees.

“It just shows how much we love what we’re doing,” said Hagen. “We’re a community that supports each other. They’re mostly women and I’m lucky to be part of it.”

“We all have campers attached to our horse trailers and we go camping all over the place and check out their trails and so it’s an opportunity to see different parts of the country or the state and do it with friends,” concluded Gullion.