When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will
ever have~
Sir Winston Churchill
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| June 2016 - Nehalem Bay, OR |
History~ Farah arrived on the Homestead late in the evening June 4th, 2011 - after we'd completed a one day, round-trip to central, Oregon to pick her up. Five at that time, she's registered with the American Warmblood Society & of mixed pedigree. (Our first new horse since Khari's arrival in 2005.)
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| First day on the Homestead - Five-years old, June 2011~ |
My niece purchased Farah - as she was turning two. We'd visited a couple times, always impressed with the mare. When she was put up for sale - I talked Butch into letting me giver her a try. (I was tiring of Endurance & planned to sell my endurance mare, Khari.) The hope was for Farah to fit into our little family on the Homestead & possibly become my Retirement Ride :-)
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| June 2012 - Six-years old~ |
Along with her easy going temperament & super nice manners, she's considered a Chocolate Palomino - except that her mane has turned even darker than her body! The tail is still platinum silver & very thick! This is our first time with a non-Arabian & we're liking it! Here's a post about her breeding. After my first ride out on the trails, I came home with a smile. Farah had a great attitude & loved getting out. She'd spent most of her life stabled.
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2011, Farah had been started under saddle & spent some time in arenas - but had only been on a couple short trail rides around the stable where she was boarded. The first time I saddled her up, Post~ I was thrilled! It was back to basics - long slow distance, time on the trails. We receive many compliments from our riding friends on how happy & willing Farah was! I fell in love with her swinging, fast, ground covering walk! Very little spooking, lots of forward! All Good!
She spent the winter & on into spring - on Dean's farm, recovering from some type of "scratches" on her left hind leg. This actually worked out OK, since Khari had decided she didn't like Farah & tried to kick her every time we turned them out... The feelings were mutual.
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| Farah on Dean's Farm - June 6th, 2012 |
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2012, Our second year started in June. The day Khari shipped out to Texas, (First stop on her way to Saudi Arabia.) Farah came back home! It was a stellar riding year, due in large part to my long-time friend Linda, who led us on some of the most fantastic rides! Logging up to 30+ miles a week, "swishing" through the trees & riding all day long! We took a few lessons at Fire Run Farm in Snohomish, WA - with Cowboy Dressage as a possible goal. Over Labor Day weekend, we took a private lesson from Jack Brainard at the Northwest Natural Horsemanship Center. I'm interested in learning more about Light Hands Horsemanship.
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| During our lesson with Jack |
August 4th, we enter the Bare Bones Endurance ride, where we finished 7th & Farah was Awarded High Vet Score! This ride also gave me my AERC 250-mile patch in Limited Distance.
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| Farah trots out for BC judging~ |
The 18th, I audited a Cowboy Dressage Clinic with Eitan-Beth Halachmy at Rhodes River Ranch. We completed the WJ1 test. Challenging for a rider who's always made it a point to avoid arenas!
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January 2013 - We started lessons with Sandra France Nichols at Ensbrook Farm. When discussing goals, I decided to have Sandra to concentrate on Farah's training under saddle - collection, impulsion, cadence & control.
Valentine's Weekend, we drove to Bolender Horse Park to participate in a Mountain & Extreme Trail course. This was very challenging & a Lot of fun! Here's the post~
April was a busy month for us, we spent the weekend of the 20-21st. - at Butlerhill Equestrian Center & took Bill Richey's - Mounted Police Horse Training! On the 27th - we attended the ATCHA Competitive Ride at the WA State Horse park!
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| With our friends~ |
May 19th, Scheduling finally worked out in our favor & Farah was presented for her American Warmblood Inspection - at Chalice Farms, Polsbo, WA - where she received "Red Preferred" status! This qualified her for the AWS brand!
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| Farah's Official Registration |
June 29th, we make the trip over to the Renegade Endurance Ride & entered the Limited Distance. Post~ Finishing in second place, Farah was awarded Best Condition!
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| Renegade (Photo by Jessica Anderson) |
The first weekend of August, we again drove down to the Capitol Forest to enter the Bare Bones Endurance Ride. We entered the 30-mile limited distance & finished third.
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| Butch trots Farah for BC judging. (Photo by Jessica Anderson) |
This year I found & signed up to participate in the Great HorseTrailRiders Distance Derby. This group of riders started a virtual horse race, where each rider logs their miles during the year - for bragging rights as to miles ridden by years end.
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| The day we reached 1,000 miles! |
We finished the year in fourth place!
Farah was awarded High Mileage Horse - in the Derby for 2013!
Our actual miles - including the month of January, plus a ride I forgot to post -1,478. Last ride of the year ~ Post~
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2014, Our forth year, found us back out on the trails! Logging miles again, for this years Distance Derby.
May 17th - Farah started in her first real (A ride of 50-miles or more.) Endurance Ride - Mt. Adams. Finishing 6th place (out of 50 starters), covering the 55-miles in 7-hours. I enjoyed this ride more than almost any I can remember. Farah made it easy on me & took good care of herself.
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| Mt. Adams Endurance Ride |
August 2nd, for the third time - Farah & I entered the Bare Bones 30-mile Limited Distance ride.
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| Bare Bones LD - At the finish - 3rd place |
It was cooking hot with lots of bees & bugs out in force! Even so, Farah had her take charge attitude in full swing! We kept up with the front runners until the last few miles when I backed off the pace - still finishing over an half-hour ahead of the fourth place horse!
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| 2014 Distance Derby |
By years end - we'd finished second place - in the Derby! Thrilled with the miles we'd traveled, since all but 85 were on the trail.
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| Farah's Award |
Farah was again awarded High Mileage Horse! She was super all year & now expects to be ridden often! I wish we had a job to do out there somewhere :-) Our final ride was on our own & out from home - Post~
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2015, Four years together & starting our fifth! I've decided to back-off the push for mileage & let this year take us where it may. With the help of a couple friends, we've started the Washington Trail Riders Distance Derby! This year marks my twentieth in endurance, I can't quite give it up completely & hope to attend at least a ride or two :-)
In March, we were invited on a road-trip to Southern, CA. The scenery was amazing the riding more so! I'm very thankful to have had the opportunity. I posted the stories of each of our rides. First ride~
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| Near Joshua Tree National Park~ |
May 16th - We entered the Mt. Adams Endurance Ride for the second time. Post~ Farah won the 55-mile ride in 5 hours 24 min. She was just outstanding all day, proving to me that she has the bottom & the brains to get the job done!
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| Mt. Adams Endurance Ride~ |
We did a lot of horse camping this season & my favorite thing - riding in new country! :-) All this year - still looking for, or waiting for, a saddle. Even with the warmest Summer on record we again topped 1,000-miles on the trail. Finally, the end of November our saddle arrived! The Stonewall!
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2016, Five years! It's unreal how fast the time goes when you're having fun! (I handed the reins of the WTRDD over to a friend for 2016.) This year - no special goals, just the fun stuff :-)
May 21st - To the Mt. Adams Endurance Ride, we did go! Finishing in second place - Farah was awarded Best Condition. Post~ It's fun for us to have a goal to work toward - even if I'm no longer interested in doing ride after ride. Mt. Adams; perfect trails - a beautiful ride camp & this year - a visit with good friends. Farah was ready & she proved it in a big way. Thank You John, for the terrific trot-out!
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| John Stevens trots Farah out for Best Condition~ |
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| May 9, 2015 Mt. Blanchard Overlook |
Wherever the trail goes, I know I'm enjoying the ride. Farah has exceeded my expectations. Talented & naturally athletic, with plenty of attitude, we've forged a strong partnership. Here's hoping that our future - holds many more miles traveling the trails - together~
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Our actual miles - including the month of January, plus a ride I forgot to post -1,478. Last ride of the year ~ Post~
