2010 ride season has started

We had our first ride of 2010 the first weekend of the month. The first ride of our ride season was in December. (Our ride year is Dec. to Dec.) This ride is the one way down south, near the small town of Cat Springs Texas. Almost 300 miles one way, and we never leave the state!  Our winter has been so wet and muddy, that many of us were having trouble getting the horses out on the trails to condition. But this ride is very flat, some sand, but with recent rains, not super deep.   On Wednesday before the ride, we found out hubby did not have to go out of town for work that weekend, so he and Flag went along.  We left Thursday, mid day, and arrived just after the sun set. On the way we had one tire on the trailer de-tread. Boy, it was nice having a second person along to help change it. I can change a trailer tire myself in about 15 min. from time I get out of the truck, until time I get back in again. But we were like a NASCAR pit crew, and I think we were on the road again in under 10 min. Having the right tools really helps. Having them easy to get to is really important too. I have my jiffy jack to drive the trailer up on to mounted in the tackroom near the door, up high. The star wrench is near the spares (I carry two for the trailer).  I can get to everything quickly, to make my stay where ever we have pulled over, as short as possible.

After getting the ponies, and the TWO dogs settled in, it was time for a quick dinner. Yes, we now have TWO dogs taking up the back seat of the truck when no one is home to care for them for the weekend. Mardi is a good traveler, and is good about being tied out at the rides. Although she does bark at things a tad more than Thelma.

Friday morning we saddled up and went for a short ride, so I could show my hubby the lay out of the trails, and how they are marked. All loops come back to camp, and are fairly short. (under 10 miles each) We decided that he would volunteer to ride drag/safety, but we told management he may have to pull out of the horse became a goofball following behind, going so slow.  Wanted them to have others out there, and to not depend on him until we knew if the horse could handle following instead of being out front.

Hank and I timed out in front on Saturday AM, and he was a happy camper. Rode alone for the most part, and had a nice ride. He behaved, and his metabolics were sounding good. I tried a couple different things. No alfalfa this ride, and started adding loose salt to his mashes. I took a chunk of a salt block and just smashed it up and put it in a container in  the trailer.  Tossed a small handful over each mash. It will take a few more rides to see if he still gets the occasional injected gums like he did last season. The alfalfa should not be the reason, but now I can play with changing a few things, without the pressure of year end awards.

Hubby rode out with other safety riders, and Flag was a pretty good boy. He was a bit strong and forward, but not tugging uncontrollably against the reins. After the first few loops, they were missing a rider, so he went off alone, and re-rode that loop at a quick trot. He said his max speed was almost 14mph, and they never broke from the trot, and was not going as fast as Flag can go at the trot. I know they both had fun, and found the missing rider back in camp. (sigh)

Sunday just seemed to linger on forever. The trails are not the most scenic, and we repeat some of the loops, so for me, I get bored, and I am sure Hank does too. After a couple hours, I glanced at my watch, and could not believe we still had 3 more hours to ride. I was ready for it to be done. Hubby only rode about 10 miles, but ended up doing around 35 to 40 miles over the weekend, which is the most they have done together in a long time. And they both had fun! Now for him to have time to get to some more rides.

After I finished up, and vetting Hank through, I was happy with how he did. Management and judges got the score cards done pretty quick, and awards were done by 3:30 or 4PM, and we were on the road before sunset heading home! Hank placed 2nd, I placed 1st in horsemanship. I was pleased. Our friend Dolly, and her horse Chance (the one Hank took a bite out of last year at the ride) won their class, and got Sweepstakes with a perfect score! I was so happy for her. She has worked hard to get that horse working well for NATRC, and also does endurance with him. She finished Tevis in 2006 when we went out together.

On the way home, we found ourselves following a friend who also competes, and her trailer and truck lights were acting up. So we decided to follow her, as her trailer lights went out, when her headlights came on. Thankfully she had brake and turn signals. We finally found turning on her emergency flashers, made her trailer lights stay on solid. I carry a couple battery powered bike lights in my trailer, but they had got old, and batteries dead. So, I replaced them, in case I ever lost trailer lights, I'd at least have something to tape to the back to make myself visible.  We were home before midnight, and when we turned the horses loose, they both took off at a run, stopped, rolled in the mud, and ran off into the darkness of the pasture.

I'll try to get back to blogging in a more regular basis, and with things more interesting than the above. I am considering Tevis again this year, but want to get to some 50's and make sure Hank seems ready to roll. Just that bit of a worry wart in me I guess.  And I did not take many photos, so you can go to last years post, and see photos, as it has not changed much. :-)

Last Years Ride

Officially Official

Sunday afternoon, and I am sitting in the Reno Nevada airport, watching the snow fall. Last night it started before sunset, and has kept falling. It reminds me that this happened to us just last week at home! But here, they actually have snow plows, and are prepared for such weather.  Our flight is delayed so far, about an hour, but we have no place else to go. I will resist the urge to give a slot machine any money.


Last night we had a nice sized group for our annual awards banquet. It ran super smooth, and they really did a great job of keeping things going. I got to see many of the folks we met at rides this past season, and visited for a bit. Every time I turned around, someone else came up to say hello, or tell me congratulations, and that they had followed the blog all year.


Thew larger National Awards are of course, given at the end of the evening. I found that the longer I sat there, it did seem I was a tad more at ease about reading my speech. Still nothing I was comfortable with, but figured if I could just get going, I could keep rolling with it. Kind of like push starting a car. Just needed to get up to speed, to turn things over,  move on forward.  They did a wonderful tribute to 38 year old Elmer Bandit, the highest mileage horse in NATRC, along with many other awards that he has won, who had to be put to sleep the 14th. Not many dry eyes in the place. Then a tribute to Doc Larson, who was a wonderful gentleman from So. CA who helped build many a trail, be involved with his whole family in NATRC and endurance over the years, and was an ambassador to trails all over CA. He passed away this past year. I knew Doc from our days in So. Ca.    So with the wonderful tributes, my emotional roller coaster was in full speed.


When they finally announced me for the Presidents Cup award, I headed towards the stage, as they did a brief intro, and it was time to get on with THE SPEECH. (gulp)  I started to get emotional, but after about the first 10 words, tried to just keep moving. I had put ear plugs in, so I'd not be distracted by hearing myself out of the sound system, and that REALLY helped. Only a few bobbles, and then a bit of emotions at the end, and I was done! Whew!  friends have joked it is easier the second time, but we have no plans to do this again. Of course, I had no plans at the beginning of the season to try to win any grand awards.


So, we are officially Official, the 2009 NATRC Presidents Cup winner. The trophy is engraved with our names, we have a new horse blanket saying so, and a beautiful belt buckle.


Now if the weather cooperates, we can get home and show Hank. Think he will be impressed? Maybe if there was food in it.

Almost......

It is almost here.  In less than 24 hours we will have our big awards banquet and we will receive the award we aimed for this past ride season. As I watch a bit of the Olympics, I look at the faces of the competitors, and know a bit about the thoughts they have as they get read to compete, or afterwards waiting for scores, or later, as those who won, stand up there waiting for the awards presentation. I'd guess many have pictured standing on that podium receiving a metal for doing well. As I drove across the country to all the rides, I know many times I thought ahead towards February in Reno. Thinking about the awards, and the acknowledgment. Wondering if I had the horse, and the ability to reach our goal.


And now as I sit here in the Reno hotel room, I look BACK at all the rides, the experiences of the season. And I know after tomorrow night, I will have another memory of the award presentation itself.  I'm excited, and still SO nervous! My mind has been in a blur much of the weekend, so I can only imagine how tomorrow will be.  Maybe I'll go shop in the trade show to take my mind off if it for part of the day. lol

Arabian horse Gallery / KY Horse Park

The Arabian Horse Trust is creating The Arabian Horse Galleries at the Kentucky Horse Park.  It will be a "museum" of the Arabian horse and it's place in the world and in our country.  Since the Kentucky Horse Park is the premier site for information and displays about all horses, plus a venue for many international equine events, the Arabian exhibits are very important.  There will be a section devoted to distance riding, and the directors of the galleries are well aware that Arabians do this better than any other breed.  As one might guess, they have received no contributions from the distance riding community.  It's time we change that so the Arabian horse community knows how much we all use and value our Arabians.

Info on the Galleries:
HERE


Contributions in any amount are needed.  Those of $1,000 or more come with recognition on the permanent Donor Wall.  That dedication can be your name, a favorite horse, or in memory.  Donations can be made by check to THE ARABIAN HORSE TRUST or by credit card online.

Here is the address contact for the Arabian Horse Trust:

THE ARABIAN HORSE GALLERIES
 at the Kentucky Horse Park
c/o The Arabian Horse Trust
99 University Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30315

Link to donate
HERE






Feel free to cross post

Awards and fear

Last weekend, I drove up to Oklahoma City for our NATRC Regional Convention. I was only able to get away long enough to go to the awards dinner, then drive back home that night. So much time away last year, and I just could not bring myself to ask the neighbor to come by to take care of the animals for the weekend. Our Region has some wonderful year end awards that are not just the class placings, but breed awards, special recognition awards etc. The points are only from rides within our own region,and do not include any that riders might have earned riding in other areas of the country. Hank won his horse class, and I won my horsemanship class. Then we won so many other things, I was feeling embarassed going up again and again as they were calling my name. I asked James Keene, who has also won the Presidents Cup with his wonderful Foxtrotter mare in the past, if he felt that same bit of embarasmant they year he won so many awards, and he said yes. I know we should not be embarrased by doing well, as we worked hard, and earned the awards. But it was still so odd for me to keep going up and getting all the beautiful trophies etc.

The last award the Region presented me with, was an awesome embrodiered jacket, with the NATRC log on it, and our names on the front. I KNOW I will wear this jacket a bunch!

 

Next weekend is our national Convention in Reno NV.  Over the past ride season, I thought about this convention many times. Wondering if all our hard work would find us there receiving the Presidents Cup.  But part of the receiving of this award, means the winner is to give a bit of a speech. Here is where my FEAR comes in. I am terrified of public speaking. Did you know that according to studies, public speaking is a bigger fear than death. Fear of public speaking is reported to be the number one fear of American adults . Growing up, through High School etc., I never had to give a speech, and even managed to avoid reading out loud in class. I am OK with talking to small groups of people, and even speaking up (often out of order...bad habit), but to stand up in front of a gathering, and speak, and on a microphone is something I do not look forward to at all. Even during the year when competing, knowing I'd have to do this, if I won, made me question if it was really worth it. At the regional convention, I was asked to say a few words, and I panicked. I could barely squeak out "thank you" without taking the microphone in hand. I tried to get hooked up with some Toast-masters groups, but by the time I looked in to them, they were in parts of town too far away, or only met once a month, and I just could not get it worked out.  I have the speech written, worked over, and fine tuned. I have read it to my husband, but still, the thought of doing so at the convention is stressing me. I joked I'd like them to have a big screen, hooked up to a keyboard, and I would just type it, and folks could read along on their own.  I know I will survive it, no one will laugh at me, hopefully with me if needed, and that people speak to audiences all the time, but that is not making my fears subside.  And don't tell me to picture anyone naked. That's not working for me. I hope I can manage to stand there looking down and just reading my script I have written. if I can manage THAT I will be thrilled. To memorize it, and look at the audience? (snicker) Not looking good.

Records were broken!

I have neglected the blog. Mostly it was sort of a time off for me. It is winter, I have not been doing a lot with Hank and the other horses, and I am really not one to post about things like "what I did today, what I watched on TV, or what I had for dinner" Just not thing I find interesting, and figured most folks wouldn't either. Now, the WEATHER is never a dull subject to me. I do enjoy looking a photos from others when they have a blizzard, or serious rain and mud, or even beautiful sunny days. Love those cloud photos, and other things weather related. This year has sure had a good amount of weather to talk about. Today, it is my turn, then I'll do another post on what else I have been up to.

We can get snow here in No. Texas, but usually very little, a dusting, maybe a few inches that will melt off the next day. Christmas gave us a bunch of snow that blew in, caused drifts, and lasted for weeks in some ditches.  Today we set records. Seems today was the highest snow fall in one day for the area in 100-something years. I measured 9" with my ruler in the yard around 5PM, and it is to keep falling until after midnight. I'd guess we will stop with about 10 to 11" when all done.  The horses have been gathered around their round bale all day, their blankets have kept them dry, and the dogs have not ventured out for long, before heading back to their warm beds.

We will enjoy the spectacular beauty of it until it all melts again, and turns to that nasty, sloppy snow-mud. Much worse than rain-mud!

What's around the corner in 2010?

I have been contemplating my first blog of 2010. Should I look back and reflect? Should I post some goals for the year?  I finally decided to do a little bit of both. And, in my typical randomness I'm sure.

Looking back, I will say 2009 is a year of many memories. I never knew a year ago that I'd end up traveling around the country competing Hank.  I only had hopes that he would be able to do some distance trail rides with me, and stay healthy.  We far exceeded those goals. A year ago we drove out to CA to pick up another horse from a very good friend, for my hubby to use for riding.  Flag, the cheerful little pinto has become a family member and has won our hearts.  After losing my husbands mare, Fancy in 1998, he has not had that special relationship and bond with any of the horses since.

Hubby and Fancy at a CTR in CA in the 80's

But I think Flag has sparked his desire to ride and see some trails once again. One can never replace that special horse that comes along but we can always have room in our hearts for another.  We are blessed to have Flag in our lives and look forward to spending more trail time together this year. This is of course planned around his busy work schedule. 

Not sure Flag is as excited about Texas, and the weather as we are having him here.

In 2009 I traveled about 15,000 with Hank. I met some new friends and saw parts of the country I never thought I'd get to see, much less enjoy from the back of my horse. I look forward to possibly going back to a couple of these new locations in 2010 but also getting Hank back to some 50 mile endurance rides along with NATRC competitive rides. I have a "thinking about it" goal of doing Tevis with him again (the grand-daddy of them all 100 mile endurance rides) but do not have it as a hard, set goal.  I will let him tell me if we are to go back again. In 2005, with the first attempt with Hank, we finished.

Hank and I heading over Cougar Rock on Tevis in 2005. He missed the little turn we need to make, and went straight up.

We went back in 2006 and he had a colic come up out of the blue at about 1/2 way. He was doing great up until that point, in fact, felt better than the previous year. I have always wondered if he had something happen that day that lead up to his major colic issues, then surgery but vets have told me they don't think so. But one does wonder.  So, while I'd like to conquer the trail that beat us in 2006,  I am also one that just loves that trail and would ride it over and over if I could.  But at 1700 miles away I know that I won't be able to go out every single year.  I'd also like to do one of the multi-day endurance rides and ride Hank all 5 days, 50 miles a day. I'd really like to ride the one in Bryce Canyon  UT in the Fall but again, I'll just let Hank tell me how he is doing and what events to try.  Again, one of my "thinking about it" type goals.

 

In 2003 I went to Bryce and rode 4 of the 5 days. Above I am on Gambler as he gets a drink.

In the Fall we added Marti, the puppy, and yet another cat named Cooder to the family.  We are watching Marti grow, and are thinking she is not going to be as big as we had hoped. But she has sparked a new life in to Thelma, our other dog, who is getting older and a bit slower.  They play a lot and play hard, run, jump, tumble.  We could not have wished for more on that aspect and had not really thought about the fact maybe Thelma needed a friend.  She is teaching Marti the finer points of barking at night when she hears things in the woods, kitties are not chew toys but to be loved and respected and if you hear the front door open, that means you can score a cookie if you hurry.

Now, we did not need another cat, we have too many already. But this little guy has been such a joy to have in the house. He too, has added new life to the other two indoor cats, (we have outdoor cats too)  getting them to play and run more.  Cooder is great entertainment and I'm not sorry he convinced us to take him too when we went to look at Marti at the rescue.

Our other love is going out to see live music with some of the regional Texas artists.  2009 kept me away on so many weekends, or too tired when I was home to head out for the evening and I realize how much we miss taking in some live music. I have also been photographing shows for some time and miss that too. So, in 2010 I am hoping we will be able to take in some shows again and I might even pick up my camera some more. We have watched some of our local bands go from small, local favorites, to getting nationwide recognition.  The first time we saw Jack Ingram was in 2001. We have seen him in venues so small that we had less than 30 people there. Now he has been doing Nationwide tours and playing to audiences of thousands and thousands of people.

  We discovered a little band who started in a neighboring town of Denton Texas when they opened for Jack Ingram at a local club. Today we watched the Eli Young Band sing the National Anthem at the Cotton Bowl game and have watched their audiences also grow to outstanding numbers.

I was honored to take pictures this past summer of EYB at Red Rocks in Colorado

While watching these artists start to achieve their dreams of being artists that are known nationwide, we also love to go to the small shows, with artists that don't have goals of playing to huge audiences. They are mostly songwriters, who have stories to tell. Most start as writers but find that if they want their songs heard, they need to preform them themselves or they won't get heard. They will never be seen on CMT, or play the Grand Ol Opry but they share songs that touch us. They are not singing about Sexy Tractors or Bo-donk-a donks. They sing about life. They sing from the heart. And maybe I need to share with y'all some info on some of these artists once in awhile, you might find something you like.

So, welcome 2010. I have no idea what you have in store and I won't set any hard fast goals but let you show me where we are going and take me around the next corner of the trail. Never know what will be there.

An Icy creek crossing on a New Years Day ride