I have attended the One Horse Gap Ride in Shawnee National Forest for seven years, the last two being held near Williams Hill. Williams Hill in southern Illinois is the second highest point in the state and is a perfect location for the One Horse Gap Ride. Ride owner, Bob Buchanan, and family have built a brand new facility known as New Hope Hill. The 170-acre parcel is centrally located to many of the areas best riding destinations. Riders of previous One Horse Gap Rides have spent many catered lunch breaks pond side at the site of the new camp
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October of 2002 was the first organized ride at New Hope Hill and was a four-day ride instead of the usual weeklong ride due to limited facilities. We were scheduled to have primitive camping and 2 BBQ style meals. I love the One Horse Gap area trails and knew Bob would put on the best ride possible under the circumstances. Not sure I would like primitive camping in chilly October, I trekked off to the Gap ride. Bob and crew outdid themselves. Electric hookups were completed the day before the ride and all 60 attendees had electric. It was cold at night so you can imagine how much we appreciated it! The first night was not a meal night, but Sharon had a big pot of beans and ham cooking for us. The temporary mess hall was a portable garage, which worked out well. One night we had delicious steaks cooked to order with all the fixins. All in all we had three dinners and "do overs" the last night. What a nice surprise to be fed four times.

The weather cooperated and we had four sunny days of terrific trail riding. We went to Secret Canyon, Rocky Top, Natural Bridge, One Horse Gap, Rudement Overlook and many other rock formations. We had our usual guides that know the area and did not worry once about getting lost. There was a slow ride and a med/fast ride.

As the days wore on I remembered why I signed up for an organized ride with such limited facilities when there were many other organized rides to choose from. Here are a few things that Bob Buchanan has done on past rides. When the Garden of the Gods ride rained out he rented a bus to take riders there so they would not have to miss the experience. One year he rented two busses to take us to the Benton Federal Courthouse enabling horse people to be a definite presence at the hearing that would decide whether some trails in Shawnee would be closed to riders. If a horse or rider gets injured or sick on a ride they are trailered back to camp. Everyone who goes on the One Horse Gap Ride has fun, camaraderie and rides some of the best trails in Shawnee
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This year’s October 2003 ride was even better. We enjoyed brand new heated dining/dance hall facilities overlooking the foothills and a pond. I enjoyed eating breakfast without a coat on. We had great home cooked meals, the kind you ask for recipes from. The new facilities include showers and flush toilets. We used our electric pen for the horses, but you could rent pipe pens.

We rode to Indian Kitchen and the Lusk Creek area, One Horse Gap and Promise Land to name a few places. Indian Kitchen is my all time favorite spectacular rock formation in Shawnee. Located on a bend in Lusk Creek, rocks tower 150 feet seemingly out of the creek forming an amphitheater-like setting. Standing on a sandbar of the creek gazing upwards leaves riders in awe. Fish can be seen swimming in the crystal clear waters. A short hike to a hillside cave opposite the rock side provides views of the creek far below and into the rock walls. What an awesome place to have lunch! It is hard to name a favorite place in Shawnee because each day’s ride becomes one of my favorites.

We enjoyed a live band dance one night and bingo with horsy prizes another. “Pickin and Grinning” around the campfire is always fun. Anyone with musical talent is asked to join in. Another night we were entertained by the Cave in the Rock singers. Again, the weather and fall colors could not have been nicer. Thursday afternoon a trail class tested skills for those not too pooped from riding all week. That evening the mess hall became the dance hall for a live band dance. Prior to the dance riders were honored with awards for meeting attendance goals.

For 2004 the new camp will be open for two 6 day long organized rides scheduled for June and October and will accept 200 reservations. If it sounds like I am a big One Horse Gap fan, you are right! For a new, but proven, organized ride with brand new facilities check out their website at http://www.onehorsegap.com/ or call at 618-683-RIDE.