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Two generations of riders travel 350 miles to LaRiviere Horse Park every summer for 20 years

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By Correne Martin

 

For 20 years, Gordon and Mary Elwood, 93 and 89, of Glenwood, Iowa, have found the LaRiviere Horse Park in Prairie du Chien to be the perfect place to trail ride and horse camp. 

Their daughter, April Gillespie, found the park by accident one year and they’ve been coming back once a year ever since. 

It was a mule clinic in Harper’s Ferry, Iowa, that originally attracted April more than 350 miles from her home. While in the area, she stumbled upon the horse park. The next year, her husband, Clyde, and her parents came along with. They’ve always loved to travel with their animals and encounter new places. 

Gordon and Mary are a match made in horse heaven. Both have ridden since they were little squirts growing up on the farm. 

“I was thrown on a work horse when I was real little, about 4,” Gordon said, reflecting briefly about the 1940s and hand picking corn by 100 bushels a day.

Mary figures she was about 7 when she started climbing into the saddle. “It’s a lot of fun,” she quipped.

The Elwoods have one mule and one horse, while their daughter and son-in-law brought along their two mules.

Though the LaRiviere Horse Park has water and electricity for its campers, the Elwoods appreciate the slower pace the park provides.

While at LaRiviere for about a week, the family cooks most of their meals over the campfire. When not riding or relaxing, they pass time by playing games or heading into town to shop. They like The Cannery, Cabela’s and Tractor Supply the most. 

Also, Gordon regularly gets out his karaoke machine and treats the campground to his singing. 

“Sometimes he draws a crowd,” April shared.

Like most travelers, they enjoy meeting new people. They said they appreciate the volunteer LaRiviere Riders Saddle Club that keeps up the city park and trails. The campsites are always nice, firewood is available on-site and sometimes there’s live music to attend, they noted.

Though, it’s primarily the “awesome” trails that lure them back every year.

“We rode for about two and a half hours this morning,” April said Monday. “[The trails] are pretty easy up to a little bit challenging—lots of ups and downs.”

“Out in the timber, it’s just pretty,” Mary added.

LaRiviere is also an inexpensive place to visit and, Gordon said, “the local people can use the trails for free.”

To find out more about the horse park and trails, visit lariviereriders.com.

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