tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post5210519223898777050..comments2023-09-09T05:35:11.672-07:00Comments on Boots and Saddles: First ridesMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16627065628317652042noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-32640469801236438272010-03-27T21:16:39.962-07:002010-03-27T21:16:39.962-07:00Post plus comments are all awesome!
You know, i...Post plus comments are all awesome! <br /><br />You know, it never occurred to me to help strangers (not that we passed many people, but still!) I kinda figured that was the flip side of "ride your own ride." Everybody was polite about the water - asking before riding away - and that was all the help I hoped for. :)<br /><br />WV: monspony - Jamaican endurance mount.Funderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358687366401205336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-88853229753414814822010-03-27T08:37:55.836-07:002010-03-27T08:37:55.836-07:00BTW - ~C is RIGHT ON in her comment. LOL.BTW - ~C is RIGHT ON in her comment. LOL.Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627065628317652042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-74064187881717779202010-03-27T08:37:04.795-07:002010-03-27T08:37:04.795-07:00Jonna - I'm pretty sure the folks in my area w...Jonna - I'm pretty sure the folks in my area were saying the same thing - here comes that girl with that big black thing...again. LOL. Everyone always seemed so suprised to see me at rides. "Hasn't she given up yet?"Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627065628317652042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-43256880778497695272010-03-27T08:36:05.950-07:002010-03-27T08:36:05.950-07:00It's really great to hear that most of you hav...It's really great to hear that most of you have had similar experience to mine. I feel like people don't talk about how hard it was when they were newbies and they act like finishing an LD or a 50 is no big deal?????? Ugggg I can remember when it was IMPOSSIBLE. I think it's encouraging for others to find out that we've all failed miserably and it DOES get better :)<br /><br />I must say that ~C's story about her first Tevis and how she pushed and REALLY wnated it, but it didn't happen, and she (and her horse) lived to try the next year, was probably the most helpful story I read last year while preparing for Tevis. I could totally relate.Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627065628317652042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-80235849861690302932010-03-25T09:40:04.513-07:002010-03-25T09:40:04.513-07:00Thanks for the great post! I will keep all this i...Thanks for the great post! I will keep all this in mind when I attempt my first LD at Buck Meadows in TWO weeks... I'm nervous already! <br />Everything is all set, horse is super fit, tack works well, clothing has been triple-tested, and I'm expecting things to go wrong ;) <br />But I'm nervous! Oh, I already said that...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06962795087243534984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-74258757171569653222010-03-24T17:43:13.209-07:002010-03-24T17:43:13.209-07:00I think ride one I got hit with most of these conc...I think ride one I got hit with most of these concepts.<br /><br />Ride your own ride: I did not. Even though I wanted to start in the back, I allowed myself to be talked into starting in the middle. More experienced riders told me to absolutely not start in the back because if I did...and anything went wrong....there would be nobody to help. So I took that on faith and started in the middle of the pack, which galloped the first three miles, and sucked me along in their midst. (See the next paragraph)The hardest lesson I'll have ever learned is RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE.<br /><br />The horse you conditioned is not the horse you will have at a ride: No crap, Sherlock...I was riding the black stallion before he was tamed on the beach, and at some point the black stallion racing across the desert. No control, no rating, nada...zip...all gone to hell in a hand basket. Horse emotionally "OUT THERE", and physically teetering on the brink of total disaster. I loved my riding buddies, but not as much as I love my horse and want my horse to be healthy. <br /><br />I got really lucky in one respect though. Some of the best riders in our region stopped by our trailer and told me how some really bad things had happened to them...what had probably gone wrong...and that sometimes, stuff just happens. Not to give up, but to learn, and work at getting it done. I took all that to heart. I plan not to repeat the mistakes of that first ride. That is not to say it couldn't happen again, but if it does, I'll KNOW it wasn't my horse management, but rather that Phebes just is not made for this sport, PERIOD.<br /><br />Some of the other stuff...well--- I'm still working on it. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE distance riding. ~E.G.All Who Wanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15811193190492037859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-58534694360099125352010-03-24T17:14:01.517-07:002010-03-24T17:14:01.517-07:00Okay, other things no body bothered to tell you:
...Okay, other things no body bothered to tell you:<br /><br />Your's horses main goal the night before the ride is to keep you awake. They will eat all the food you put out, consume 3x the normal amount, and still make demands for more. They may be polite and only walk around incessently, or may try to get your attention in a more demanding manner. This may include banging on the trailer fender step into the tack room so hard it falls off (this was MY horse, not Funder's for those following that story line)...<br /><br />They will discover creative ways to contort their body in order to scratch themselves in previously undiscovered methods. This may include removing all the running lights on your trailer with their rear ends... Or possibly straddling a small pine tree while you're still mounted and gyrating back and forth while making grunting noises of pleasure (umm, that's the HORSE doing that!)... Or stopping in the middle of trotting to scratch an ear with a hind foot, nevermind the rider on board...<br /><br />Stuff that doesn't normally bother you, may cause an issue at a ride (or longer distance). Did you know that Gatorade only makes me throw up after I've gone at least 35 miles? No? Me neither until my 3rd 50, I finally figured it out. I've also supplied a pocket knife for one lady to cut off her underwear while still mounted on her horse. You never know what might rub or not feel right until you go farther than you have before.<br /><br />You're carefully and best laid plans aren't going to matter. Stuff is going to happen, things are going to change. Be able to adapt.<br /><br />BIG second about the tack. I had a squeaky stirrup once and I was ready to KILL someone from having to listen to that thing for 8 hours.Tevis Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16172396968690778655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-69036969925543729582010-03-24T17:02:15.449-07:002010-03-24T17:02:15.449-07:00You know the ONE thing this post was missing was a...You know the ONE thing this post was missing was all the POSITIVE stuff that you learn/realize on your first ride(s):<br /><br />1) How incredibly awesome your horse is. Wow! They went xxx miles in xxx hours! That's so cool! I guarantee you will be in awe of your horse that first completion.<br /><br />2) How tough you are as a person. Wow! You actually rode your horse xxx miles in xxx hours! How incredible! Not many people can do that! And it WASN'T EASY but you stuck with it and STILL did it (I can nearly guarantee that your first time at any distance won't be entirely easy).<br /><br />3) What a great partnership you have with your horse. Wow! You guys went xxx miles together in xxx hours and you can still stand to look at each other the next day. No one totally hates the other. Heck, you both probably even had FUN (at least mostly, at some point). ;)Tevis Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16172396968690778655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-64823023109607551532010-03-24T14:36:04.779-07:002010-03-24T14:36:04.779-07:00I am totally laughing. Not the oh, gosh, what yo...I am totally laughing. Not the <i> oh, gosh, what you said was so fabulously funny </i> laugh, but rather the, <i> oh, d*mn, I have totally been there and done that </i> laugh. Sigh.<br /><br />I am purposely returning to endurance with a NON-ARAB. It isn't more difficult to campaign a Standardbred. It's just different. I've done both, I learned a lot, I'm ready to go back on the trail with my standie. It's been two years since I've been in competition (although I've continued to hang out in camp, build trails, pulse horses, and serve as junior advisor for my region), and I'm just quivering with excitement!<br /><br />I have to say "ditto,ditto,ditto" about expecting the unexpected. You will be amazed at the stuff that comes unravelled either physically or mentally.<br /><br />Minor irritations become major irritations? Oh yeah. Not just tack. People too. Trust me. OTOH, if you can ride with somebody for 50+ miles and still want to talk to them after the ride...well, Jim and I are still together after 10 years of that.<br /><br />Demotivated? Pack a food treat into every vetcheck bag. I swear that the thought of half-frozen lemonade a mere 15 miles ahead has saved my life. Lytha gave me and my junior some blue corn tortilla chips at the finish line once...we still talk fondly about those chips.<br /><br />Marshmallow clouds: Ha! Some of my best moments on this planet thus far have happened on the endurance trail. Also, some of the worst. Sometimes on the same day. <br /><br />My endurance goal these days is to <i> have fun </i>. If I get too wrapped up in worry, or the desire for milage landmarks, or whatever, I try to remember the goal. If it's not fun, I don't do it. (at least in theory).<br /><br />Life is too short to live it any other way.<br /><br />Wish me luck, chums, we leave for camp in the morning!!!AareneXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17569818745110332355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-25994785937822486592010-03-24T13:49:03.076-07:002010-03-24T13:49:03.076-07:00I absolutely fell into the trap: Being too helpful...I absolutely fell into the trap: Being too helpful will get you DQ'ed<br /><br />My first ride I went out with a partner whose horse was not an arabian and was not as conditioned as Pete. She kept calling me back, telling me I was overriding my horse, asking for help at the vet checks, delaying.. delaying...<br /><br />Finally my crew (husband) stepped in a had a few words with me and pushed me on my way.<br /><br />It was hard to leave her and she made some rough comments as I passed her. Did I mention that she was not a newbie.lifeshighwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14389824485602821605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-44329316565611790112010-03-24T12:55:59.550-07:002010-03-24T12:55:59.550-07:00oh my god, this was hilarious Mel! I got to wonde...oh my god, this was hilarious Mel! I got to wondering where I fit into all this. My first ride "attempt" was a Competitive Trail Ride because that was the only access I had locally. No endurance rides. My husband trained with me and attended with me for moral support. We rode alot faster than I wanted to because JB was a total nut about horses passing him and being behind my husbands horse.I rider optioned at lunch because he was "a little" off. I didnt want to take a chance. My husband almost won, had I known the CTR rules and not let him keep overreach boots on his horse. I spent the afternoon waiting for him, licking my wounds. Everyone was really nice but since he isn't an arab there was almost an attitude in the air, like.. "see , you need an arab to successfully do this sport". The next ride was 2 months later, yet another CTR . I was ready this time (cough) JB was sound, his lameness at the previuos one never turned into anything. 12 mile sinto it, he stone bruised, tripped so badly he almost sent us reeling off of the face of a cliff had I not bailed off in a less than graceful way. He was lame and sore and a vehicle couldn't get to me where we were. I had walked him back the 12 miles. It took us 2 and half hours because I had to stop and let him rest several times. Luckily much of the trail was soft grassy or sandy ground. No water for either of us for quite some time. I had blisters on every part of my foot imaginable by the time I got back.Everyone seemed really concerned but it was the same crowd from the last ride. I knew what they were thinking... <br />My third attempt was also at a CTR..last September. (CTR's really aren't my preferred sport but I had to take what I could get!) We had a successful completion , barely.... that's a whole other story you can read about on my blog! I am definitely a newbie and haven't officially completed ANY endurance rides...Jonnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11455369648954700046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1963277636652034473.post-46224448703598232582010-03-24T11:11:26.314-07:002010-03-24T11:11:26.314-07:00I NEEDED this, Thank you! :)I NEEDED this, Thank you! :)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900785396139511179noreply@blogger.com