Coming along...

Renata and I went out into Alpine today.  It was a beautiful day to be out, the mountains were so pretty to look at!

It is days like this when I can not imagine living anywhere else!  That is a huge things for me to say, For the past 6 1/2 years I was waiting for my ticket out of here.  But being in this world of horses, and riding outside in God's country makes me love this place so much.

 

I gave Renata 3 days off, I think that will be a pretty normal schedule for us.  She is learning to be more relaxed when it is just us and no other horses.  She was still fairly spooky today.  I don't trust her at more than a trot for fear of her spooking sideways and me coming off.  I do let her canter up hills sometimes.  She still gets pretty sweated up and only in the beginning phases of conditioning, so we still do much walking and trotting only.  In some areas of Alpine, that is all we can do anyways because there are so many deep puddles that cover the trails, we have to walk through those.  This time of year is good for us, it forces us not to move too quick too fast.  As it dries up, we move faster and she becomes more brave and doesn't bat an eye at puddles or water crossings.  Stumps and rocks are still in question and might eat her.  She is pretty sure.

 

Sydney is turning out to be a great little trail dog.  He has learned very quickly that he has to stay behind me on our little stretch of road riding and he is never to dart ahead and run straight into traffic.  Shock collars are good for that.  I only had to use it one time last week and today he behaved perfectly.  He is a very smart boy.  He is so tired when we get back, he doesn't want to help me do my chores, but would rather hop into the back of the truck and nap on the horse blanket in the back.

 

All in all, it was a good day.  We rode about 8 1/2 miles today. 

We took a trail we had never done before and found someone's deer stand...

She goes through water like a champ...here is a video of us crossing the deep creek/river on our way home.  Sorry it's bouncy.  Have you ever tried to video and control your horse at the same time?  Lots

to do at one time!

The Beginning

For many who do Endurance, they have spent years and countless hours in the saddle with their partner.  When the next season of conditioning comes around they know and trust their horse inside and out. 

This year, I am basically starting from scratch.   We are at the beginning, just getting to know each other.  For us, the first month of conditioning is all about getting used to our surroundings, doing all of the new things, seeing all the new sights, smelling all the new smells.  My horse previously was a dressage horse, mainly an arena horse.  They did use her for trail rides here and there, but she wasn't an endurance horse.  The last 3 years, she had been ridden...but not consistently, just sort of hit or miss when an extra person needed a trail horse to ride.

Which brings me to where we are now.  When I took her out and we encountered water and big puddles that we had no choice but to go through, she would snort...then have to put her nose down to it and play in it before she felt it was safe to continue on.  She did that with every puddle, and  there were a lot of puddles.  But, the way I see it is, we need to do a lot of walking for her ligaments to get into decent shape and so...even though it is slow going, it is a necessary part of conditioning.  Not only are we conditioning her body, but her mind.  Endurance horses have to be brave.  So, we have a lot of homework cut out for us, but we are getting out and doing it!   And after 2 weeks of touching every puddle with her nose...she now bravely trudges through the middle of every puddle, pond and rushing creek and river we come to.  She is smart and learning very quickly.

Today I went out and did about a 7 mile ride.  Lots of walking, lots of trotting, lots of deep puddles, one massive rushing creek (up to her chest in the deepest part), and a river to cross.  I'd say she is really getting the hang of things.  She is starting to not be so nervous when we head out, but really enjoy it.  It was the first time today that I could really feel her start to wrap her head around just exactly what we do, she felt like the makings of an Endurance horse today!  It was our 4th day in a row of riding.  Wednesday we did a long 3 hour 12 mile ride.  Thursday I had a lesson in the arena, which benefitted us both greatly, and my horse's ears were sweaty when we were done, thanks to my friend and fabulous trainer...I am so blessed!  Friday we rode out by ourselves...hence the post from yesterday.  Today I went out with a friend.  The next 3 days she will have off to help her muscles heal up and strengthen.

Today I am beginning to get even more excited about our journey because she is coming along so well!  I am enjoying the process, but I have to say...I am looking forward to next season on the back of my horse who will be well seasoned, she will know me well, and we will trust each other.  I won't have to go back to the very basics.

Here is a video of our little jaunt today. 

Welcome to my world!

Welcome to my world!  I am not on Facebook, so I wanted to have a way to track and keep my progress.  A lot of people have asked how I am and how riding is going and so, this blog will do all of that for me. 

Our ultimate goal is to make it to the Tevis Cup and complete it.  Tevis is the most difficult 100 mile endurance race in the world. Here is a great link to watch for inside information about it: http://www.hrtv.com/videos/inside-information-tevis-cup/

I did my first race last year.  Well, I should say...I did my first LD (limited distance--which is 25 miles) ride last June.  People who really do endurance don't appreciate those that only do 25s or 30s then say they do endurance...it simply just doesn't count until you do 50s and up.  I did the Renegade and Rendezvous in Naches, Washington (the hardest race for the Pacific Northwest) and made top 10! 

 

That's me on Cahlua out on our first race.  I leased her for 6 months last year.  After that...I realized this sport was certainly for me.  So, I needed my own horse...my very own partner so I could start working towards my goal this year.  I have never owned a horse.  Horses have always been a passion for me, but I have never had the privilege of owning.

 

I am married to this amazing man.  I am so lucky to have him, I could not imagine life without him.  He is extremely tolerant for not having the "horse gene" and went ahead and bought me my very first horse this year to help me achieve my dreams and goals. 

 

This is my new girl, Renata.  I have owned her now for 2 months.  We spent the first 6 weeks getting to know each other in the arena.  And now, we are in full blown conditioning season.  Today we rode out by ourselves.  She is learning to trust me, and I am learning to trust her.  We have a long ways to go before we really click with each other and form a solid team.  But today was a great day in moving in that direction.

This was us today out in Alpine.  I have to take my new pup along with me because my Golden who is my very seasoned trail dog has a mildly torn ACL and is out for the season.  This is my new trail buddy, his name is Sydney.  He is  doing pretty well, but he doesn't listen as well as my big dog. I wish my Golden was better so he could teach this guy.  Oh well, Sydney is smart...he will and is learning quickly on his own.

I asked Renata to go through a river for me today.  At the deepest part, it was up to her chest.  I had to lift up my feet so they wouldn't get wet.  Her and I have been through some deep water crossings but only when she was following other horses through.  Today I asked her to do it on her own.  There was much protest, snorting, some bucking...and much patience on my part.  After 45 minutes of asking...I finally got off and led her down to the water (which was pretty steep and scary, I might add.  There wasn't any bank of any sort...just a trail that dumped her right into it.  I realize I was asking quite a lot.) But she did it!  And on the way home she didn't even bat an eye when we went through it a second time.  These are the little victories that will help us become a team and trust each other.

 

So proud of my girl!!  She is a smart mare and super willing to try new things.  I still can't believe she really belongs to me!  I am a pretty lucky and blessed girl.

Can't wait to see what she looks like at the end of our season when she is all muscled up.  Such a pretty girl.

 

Anyways, before we can enter to do the Tevis Cup,  we have to complete six 50 mile races.  So, we have a few years before it becomes a reality.  We will be doing our first 50 miler down in Klickitat county this season.  Cheer us on and wish us luck!  I will be updating weekly.