On a warm November day last year in Cave Creek, my friend rode her mule and I rode my racehorse for a long horseback ride in the desert. We came across a big tortoise on the trail. I haven’t seen a wild tortoise in the desert so this was a rare treat for me! I love tortoises! I once read that ancient civilizations saw the earth as a flat table supported on the back of a huge turtle. In the Orient, the turtle’s round shell represented heaven and the square body underneath represented the earth. For many cultures on earth, the turtle is a symbol of material existence and longevity. Seeing this beautiful tortoise enjoying his day in the sunshine will be a moment I will never forget! Witnessing wildlife is the best part of trail riding on horseback!
