My First LD ~

Connie On Jasrada, Butch on Khaz

It was Aug. 31, 1996 - our second year of endurance.  I'd had a pull on Jas in her second 50 - so decided to drop back in distance & see how she did.  Khaz was old enough finally - so Butch was riding too!   Did we ever have fun!  The Bully Wully was one tough sucker of a ride.  Even the Canadians would complain that it was too tough to finish in time.

Finally, last week - here came my Limited Distance patch from the AERC with my first 250-mile chevron!  It took Jas, Khaz, Khari & now Farah to earn those miles for me... & sixteen years!  :-)  The only time I usually rode LD's was to see if Jas's feet would hold together, to get Khaz out for Butch, or in Khari's case - just to see if she was ready for more.  Farah, on the other hand, I knew was ready!  With good weather to burn & the luxury of not working - I had plenty of time to put in the miles.  Friends asked me yesterday - "Aren't you going to ride Farah in Endurance?!  She could do it easy?!"  (They don't read my blog :-)  Yes, she could - but with my increasing maturity has also come - I like to think anyway - a bit of wisdom.   Good horses are few & far between, most horseman are lucky to be blessed with one in a lifetime - that special one of mine is pictured above.

I've had a couple of rides lately - when I think - then knock-on-wood - that I just might be that lucky person who will have another.  If so - the last thing I want to do is ride her hard & fast both - at least not too often :-)

The ride routes have changed over the years, with the loss of available open space.  It's easier too - to flag a ride with a ATV & stick to the logging roads, with a stretch of nice trail thrown in here & there.  I don't think many ride managers now, actually ride their routes on horseback to do the flagging, but there are notable exceptions :-)  Those are the rides I may still attend from time to time & enjoy some nice Limited Distance riding!  (Maybe a 50 thrown in here & there :-)