Winter again

This winter, more than ever, I’m determined not to loose momentum. Yes this is more a season of rest and being a home body, though there is plenty of learning to pack in for us; horse, human, child and dog all around. With my husband and I planning on a European trip next year, my […]

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Groundwork never ends

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 […]

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Where Did June Go?

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 […]

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Middle ground

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 […]

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Tarma’s view

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? […]

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Tarma Eats a 50

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 […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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