On the loose

One in the saddle, one on the ground

WeAreOnTheLoose

  • Grizzly bound!

    After last weekend’s ride, I’m pretty set on a 50 at Grizzly. There’s a lot going into this, so let’s dig in: Our last conditioning ride went swimmingly; the Octos stayed on and both horses were thrilled to move out without feeling the rocks as much or dealing with rubs, we got several up and… Read more

  • Two weeks to Grizzly!

    With just over a week to go until we load up the trailer to (hopefully) haul over to Central Oregon for our first endurance ride of the year, the to-do list gets rather busy. I save myself a lot of packing by leaving most things in my trailer year round, but I still have to:… Read more

  • Conditioning Check In

    Once again, I’m bouncing back and forth between posting straight to Facebook and here on the space I actually pay for. Folks don’t always follow a link to a blog, but they usually take a few moments to read a full FB post. I value the blog as a much better way to search and… Read more

  • Gear Checkpoint, Par Deux

    My gear has changed quite a bit since my last check in, and heading into endurance training season it’s a good time to dig into what I’m using this year. My previous gear did manage to get us through the Cross State Ride (not well, as it turned out), a full summer of adventures and… Read more

  • Missed connection

    The reason I always ask “what am I doing that isn’t right” when Tarma’s not responding the way I’ve come to expect it’s cause it’s pretty much always a me problem. Yesterday was a good example. Tarma actually came up to me in the pasture instead of waiting for me to hike out to her,… Read more

  • Why endurance?

    Why Endurance? Now that I have publicly stated my intention to attempt a 50 mile ride with Tarma this season, a first for both of us, it’s a good time to question why. Why isn’t exploring trails and moseying enough? What drives me to try to prove ourselves in such a sport? Last year I… Read more

  • Day of the Horse

    It’s a bit sad that on a day I should be stuffing my mare with treats and fussing over her, I’m stuck at home with brain fog, thanks due to COVID finally catching up with me. Our two year anniversary together (and the one year anniversary with my Double D trailer!) also passed with me… Read more

  • Circles

    There are days when I’m on top of everything, I have a good handle on the life stuff. Work out, eat mostly ok, get the kid out the door and the dog happy, do my work, take care of my horse, listen to my son’s day, share some funny TikToks with my husband. Then there’s… Read more

  • Office Rant

    Even before the pandemic hit, I had a certain level of flexibility, and I do want to state upfront that I’m grateful for the privilege of such flexibility. I’m not blind to the fact so many people suffer a whole range of stress and ailments from either preforming a job that has to be done… Read more

  • Winter’s Work

    When the Dark Months hit and the desire to ride is hit by the short dark days and icky weather, and adventure season is over, I pause and take stock. I bounce back and forth between giving Tarma a month or so off to breathe and recover and be a horse, and doing just enough… Read more