Author: WeAreOnTheLoose

After years of borrowing horses, working to ride and catch riding, I finally have my own horse, a spicy chocolate mare...but also a demanding day job (who doesn't?), a nerdy husband, a soccer loving kid who needs to be parented (by me, duh), and the ultimate trail buddy, a chocolate Labradork!

Gratitude

.Reading time 9 minutes.

I have a bunch of other posts in the wings, we’ve had a fairly busy October! This is one I felt was important to get out now, as I’m filling out the form to nominate my Ride Manager of the Year for PNER (Pacific Northwest Endurance Riders). An endurance season isn’t a solo endeavor, and […]

Read More

Drops of summer

.Reading time 5 minutes.

With the overdue fall rains coming home this weekend in force, I ducked out of work early to soak up the last drops of summer. I was supposed to have a dressage lesson but scheduling conflicts got in the way, though Tarma and I ended up have a stellar time together. I hauled the trailer […]

Read More

Mount Adams, Vacation Mode

.Reading time 7 minutes.

This weekend I had the choice between a new to me endurance ride in Eastern Oregon, Lava Crest, or returning to Mount Adams Horse Camp to relax and explore a bit more. I wanted more time to prep Tarma (and myself) for our last endurance ride of the season, and I wanted to camp with […]

Read More

Groundwork never ends

.Reading time 3 minutes.

Tarma was so soft and engaged when I went out into the pasture after work today, and I wanted to stay with this calm, open energy. Instead of working at speed in the round pen, we stayed grounded and worked on some ETS obstacles. After our last dressage lesson we really struggled with opening and […]

Read More

Slide Into September

.Reading time 13 minutes.

I’ve been a bit mum as August faded into September. I had some things to sort out after Midnight Rider, in addition to Tarma’s mandatory post 50 miler rest period. A few post-MR things to note, now that the hubbub has passed: WHEW. I did not expect the pacing rabbit hole on a Monday night. […]

Read More

Midnight Rider Ride Report

.Reading time 19 minutes.

I’m writing this up before I collapse and there’s a lot here, so buckle up! Upfront I want to thank every single volunteer, from the ride manager on down, for how cheerful and helpful and encouraging they all were all weekend. Having those radio folks out on the trail keeping track of you is such […]

Read More

Stay Up Late

.Reading time 4 minutes.

With two solid 50’s under our belts, I’ve decided to keep stretching our relationship a bit. Next week instead of waking up at 5am for a 6am start, I’ll sleep in awhile. We’re going to the Midnight Rider 50 up at Mt. Adams, heading out for the first loop at 3pm…which means we’ll finish up […]

Read More

There’s a wall

.Reading time 4 minutes.

I cantered Tarma into a wall during our last dressage lesson, but it was still considered improvement. Or, as my dressage trainer said, “Pleasently surprising”, which I’m totally putting on my resume now. I’m not entirely sure where I picked up my “I can’t canter in the arena” anxiety but man does it being up […]

Read More

Where Did June Go?

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Whoopsie, our (probable, possible) next 50 mile ride is (panic checks calendar) only 10 days away and boy are we…not 100% certain. I had always planned June off from endurance rides as part of my overall “I only have one noble steed” strategy. Most endurance riders end up with multiple mounts for various reasons, chief […]

Read More

Book Review: On The Hoof

.Reading time 6 minutes.

During the course of my first office job, I wrote several chapters of a book that will never see the light of day. It’s titled “Through the horse’s ears” and was pure escapist prose, where the heroine proceeds onto her equine based adventure with utter surety and smoothness. Seriously, I reread this a few years […]

Read More