There are Those Days...

Target & Farah

When you need a good ride...   With a good friend...  & today was one of those.  It's Friday, it's sunny, it's hot & it was nice to trot through the shade of the trees with Farah on a loose rein & just cruise!   I think I love cruising more than about anything you can do on a horse :-)  It's those occasions were the footing is good,  the trail is windy, the wind is in your face & you can feel that you & your horse are a Team!

Today's ride in the middle of the Centennial & Whitehorse Trails

When we arrived at the parking area, before noon - it was already almost full of trailers!  Lots of horsemen out to enjoy another beautiful Summer day.  There was even a Rocky Mountain horse there!  :-)  That's what Farah is most often mistaken for.  We covered almost 12-miles & it didn't seem like enough.

Look warm?  It was, but the Olympics were a thin white line on the horizon.

We had a good discussion about horses, buying, selling & finding the right one.  I could never have someone else "find" a horse for me.  I've found plenty that haven't worked - but I have to Be the One to decide what I want to try!  My mentor has said more than once that if you are lucky enough to have one exceptional horse in your lifetime, you're very lucky indeed.  I've been Very lucky - as Farah is my second.  To think that she's attained this status at such a young age says volumes for my regard of her.  The goal remains the same - to keep her sound, happy & healthy for many, many years to come.

Sorting things out, since our last "Limited Distance" Ride - I've come to realize though I am competitive - it's becoming more about the miles of marked trail & fresh beautiful scenery that draws me.   I can understand why some riders just follow Duck around on his route - ride, rest & ride again.  Close to the best the sport we call "Endurance" has to offer.

First Renegade Rendezvous!

Warming up - 7-8-2000

"Time fly's" - How many times have we all either heard that or said it?  Probably because in retrospect - it does!   Getting ready today for the road-trip to this ride, I had to go back & look to see when we'd attended for the first time.  I'd heard rumors about how tough the ride was, but it wasn't too far & it looked to be located in the middle of some beautiful country.

This was the best year that I had with Jas.  At twelve, it was her sixth year of competition, she'd completed three-50's so far this season, but it had cost her with continuing concussion cracking on both front feet.  I decided to drop down to the 25 since I had no idea what the footing would be, but expected it to be rocky.

We're Off!

Jas was an incredibly driven mare.  She was so tough & so game to win, that she was sometimes impossible!  Just a small part of why I loved her so very much...  This ride, she let me know - I was just a passenger & she was the one in charge.  OK - she knew the game well enough by now & would be surprised at the shorter distance!

We're a blur!  :-)

 I let her Go!  Go she did!  Staying right up front, right into the out check.  I do remember some amazing views & incredible climbs!  I had to stop once & put the saddle back where it went, even with a breast collar!

Waiting for the timer's OK to leave!

I don't remember how many miles we had left, but we flew.  It was a very hot year, there was no water on the trail, so when we came to the last water tank, there were thirsty horses surrounding it.  Jas pushed her way between two - stuck her nose in the water, took three big gulps - backed out & took OFF!  She knew - even if I didn't - that camp was Close!  We crossed the finish line in first place!  The rest of the top five hot on our heels.

Then... I made the mistake - having ridden 50's & not an LD for quite a while...  We walked directly over to the water tank as the second place rider crossed the finish line.  Before I knew what was happening, I heard  that rider call out for a pulse!  Oh No!  Gail looked up from her seat at the timers table - realized that I hadn't remembered to ask for a pulse & came running at me with a stethoscope!   In seconds & just tenth of a second behind - she yelled "Down"!  My error cost me first place.  It's a lesson I never forgot.  Our time was darn fast though - 2:52!

Jas & Glenda at Renegade

I'd just purchased Glenda, she'd come along for the camping experience!  :-)   There's no picture of us at the finish.  Glenda went on to become a 3,000-mile mare after I sold her to a friend.  (Her story is something for another post.)

Renegade became one of my favorite rides.  It was where Glenda did her second fifty & even in the years when I melted from the heat, I have to say that it's always a pleasure to attend.   Many thanks to Gail & her stalwart crew of volunteers for keeping this Washington ride on the ride calendar for all these years & hopefully many more to come!

Dogged Determination~

Meridian Saddle #729

This is the saddle that I've ridden endurance in for the last few hundred miles.  With mine out to sell, I borrowed this one from my amigo Dean, who wants me riding Khari in a secure seat.  As I've mentioned before, with me, it's all about staying on top.  Khari is quick & fast - it was a year ago March when I was thrown.  Post~  (I'd been riding in my Bighorn saddle with a shallow seat.)  After that, I went back to the Meridian & feeling safe.  You may ride & ride, come of once, come off twice, but sooner or later - if you like to ride fast, you come off & get hurt.  I've managed expert status at that - I don't brag about it...

These saddles aren't seen often anymore.  Built to last, with the nice deep seat.  Easy to rope & tie, they did the job & kept on doing it.  For me though - using it for endurance - was a struggle.  35 lbs. doesn't sound like much - until you try hoisting it up onto the back of a 15.2H mare!  At just an inch over five feet, with a short upper body etc., the horn, though low profile, was always in my way.  I broke many a fingernail on it when Khari would give those short, quick spooks that Arabs are infamous for :-) 

On the plus side, this saddle has saved my hide more than once!  Dropping into those deep, silty pools of water a few weeks ago - I used one hand & did a slight balance on the horn to keep me steady.  Another time - when Khari slipped in mud & was going down sideways - I was going into a large tree just a foot off her shoulder.  Since I stay so well put - she was able to do what she does so well - RECOVER!  Much easier for a horse when the rider isn't flopping around or coming off.

I've had my saddle - built off this design - returned from where I had it for sale & have tried it once on Farah - who's back is a little wider than Khari's.  When I pulled it off, she had dry spots on her shoulders.  Today - I remembered the custom shims I had made for it & will try those next.  Hopeful that will work - because otherwise - it's darn hard to find a saddle with a seat like this.  One that fits the horse & is light enough for me to handle.  Besides, by the time Farah is really fit - in a year or two - her back will have probably changed again & I might not need the shims!  :-)

Looking forward to more miles & sure enjoyed being back in my nice seat.

Khari's - AERC Equine Mileage Medallion~

Khari's 1,000 mile Medallion

For those of you who haven't seen one - (I hadn't) here it is!  In yesterday's mail was a big fat envelope from the AERC with the medallion & the certificate below.  It's engraved on the back with "1,000" but I plan to add Khari's name & the date.

On Khari's page is a bit about the history that has brought us to this milestone.  I was careful from the beginning with Khari, wanting to do everything as right as ten + years in the sport had taught me.   Going to the Bryce XP for Khari's first fifty-mile ride, the setting was the perfect place to start a young mare on a distance career.  Khari, as my second endurance mare, didn't have to endure the mistakes that a newbie rider with a competitive bent makes early on.  Named after my maternal Grandmother Carrie Fleming - Butch added the "me-home" to her registered name :-)   We both hoped that she would live up to the name & she has!  Never pulled, she has a straight list of completions right up to this milestone.  
Now, if I could somehow motivate her to give a bit more on training rides, life would be grand :-) 

Renegade Rendezvous

50-mile route

I had to include this Google earth image of the Renegade ride that my GPS recorded.  I'm sure the statistics on the elevation gain/loss over the course would be impressive.  This year was the first time I've ridden a 50 with three Vet Checks, but you'll hear no complaints from me!  It was really nice to have that one extra stop early in the ride - just a good way to check that tack was working as it should & that your horse was doing OK - after the stress of the first few miles.  Khari loved getting a few extra bites of food too & finished the second loop with her highest scores of the day.   It's also really interesting when compared to last year’s image below.

50-mile Ride -2010

Last year’s ride was one large loop, going up to over 6,000 ft. in elevation, with two vet checks, both out of camp.  We left in the morning & didn't see ride camp again until we finished!  Did I mention that it was hot too?   It takes more planning for the out-checks of course.  I'd traveled to the ride with Charlotte, so didn't have the luxury of Butch being there to crew for us. 

This was my fifth time at this ride.  The first was a 25-mile in 2000 on Jasrada, next, the 50-mile on Glenda in 2001.  (Can that be ten-years ago?!)  Then, last year with two "Unicorn" team mates - finishing third place on Khari.  Renegade has a reputation for being tough – but the feeling of when it's over – feels Great. My hat is off to the hardy souls who tackle & complete the 75 here!

Endurance Mileage Pins~

Mileage pins on display~

A very nice "perk" for membership in the Pacific Northwest region, http://nwrides.org/ of the American Endurance Ride Conference; http://www.aerc.org/ are the 250-mile pins awarded to any rider who completes five- fifty mile rides in any one season.  Riding five rides in any given year, takes a large commitment not only in time, especially for those who work full-time, or have kids still at home, but also in resources.  Our state has very few rides, so getting to five takes advance planning & some long distance travel.

I've long admired the one-horse, one-rider concept.   I was naive enough to think that the first horse I bought would be the one I'd have "forever".  Right?  Wrong!   After a rough start with a mare that wasn't suited, I stole my husbands!  She was my one-in-a-million & though she was lame more often than sound, it was love!  Incredibly game & a thrill to ride, I just had to keep trying to "fix" the issues.  After five years, in 2000 we achieved our very first pin!  I didn't know that it would also be our last -- until after another five years of trying.  Did I say something about being stubborn?  Now, with Khari, the pins have been stacking up!  I'm still amazed to see the little collection grow!   Whether it's your first, or your tenth -- it's fun!