Stay Up Late

August 3, 2023.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 […]

There’s a wall

July 27, 2023.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 […]

Where Did June Go?

June 28, 2023.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 […]

Book Review: On The Hoof

June 16, 2023.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 […]

Benny At Bat

June 6, 2023.Reading time 5 minutes.

Happy Second Birthday Benny!!!!!! With the thick of endurance season upon us, I’m actually riding Tarma less than I do in the winter. She gets the standard week or two off after each race, and then a few tune up rides before the next event. This leaves me with lots of free time, and also […]

M&A Recap: Success with a side of hail

May 31, 2023.Reading time 18 minutes.

I always like to wait a few days to do my official ride write up. This gives me time to stop groaning every time I get up, clean out the rig, and really see how Tarma is doing after we’re back home. Today she had a chiropractic appointment with the ever lovely Dr. Sammons of […]

Middle ground

May 15, 2023.Reading time 14 minutes.

Last weekend’s ride was not without its bobbles, for both my friend and I. Unfortunately her horse, Cody, found a tunnel under the trail and stumbled to his knees and she had to bail. Both are fine, though she did bust a rib, she is otherwise upright (just don’t make her laugh for awhile!) Of […]

Tarma’s view

May 5, 2023.Reading time 10 minutes.

Endurance is such a tough sport in multiple ways, but also utterly fulfilling…as long as your equine partner is willing. Limited distance rides are fun, a good training ground, and can be hard in their own ways…but you don’t quite know the answer until you hit 50 miles or more. Does your horse like endurance? […]

Tarma Eats a 50

April 21, 2023.Reading time 13 minutes.

The true measure of endurance for me isn’t just completing on time, or having the vet declare my horse fit to continue at the end of a long day. It’s the week after, especially the first few days after you get home. Do they stiffen up? Look off in any way? Dip any weight? Do […]

Grizzly bound!

April 11, 2023.Reading time 5 minutes.

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 […]