Endurance and Long Distance Equine Disciplines

Starting New Mounts

So, how many people on this discussion are actually starting a new mount? How old? How soon do you plan a competition? I've got a 6 year old rescue who I am just starting to walk a mile or so on trail with. Plan to do 50 by next April.

Tags: mount, new, starting

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Permalink Reply by Angie Mcghee on November 10, 2009 at 5:25am: Listen to everybody but think for yourself too. Sometimes I look at things I said a few years back and think, 'What was I thinking???" :-) I do think we share and learn from each other more than other sports. We aren't stuck in tradition and are constantly trying to improve so everything everybody else tries I consider part of my "research and development" wing. If you're doing something I don't think will work...but you're successful, I'm going to reconsider. Figuring things out is half the fun of the sport.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cole bengtson on November 11, 2009 at 2:16pm: I had a horse named stormer, who in the spring would shy away from ferns. yep ferns. Well the horse eating ferns are everywhere in Maplewood, where we love to train. So after several tries going by making sure left eye and right eye gets a veiw of the Scary ferns. And still the fear. My wonderful husband planted yes planted ferns in the pasture. After the first spring no more fern problem. Our round pen has plastic bags on it. there are two tarps in the pasture. These are the things that go bump in the night to the horses. Then there is the dreaded mountain biker. Or marathone runner at the park. Even ribbons on our first ride were an issue. So tie ribbons everywhere. Ride deep like its a walk in the park. Did I mention Baby was afraid of the broom trail of an appy. So what is up with that. Just keep showing them the world one horse eating item at a time. practice as much as you can at home because everything is hieghtened at a ride. never use new tack on ride day. We like babysitters buddies just for the firstcouple of times. being an apprentence to a horse, is a special gift enjoy the journey. Cole; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nicole Howton on November 19, 2009 at 12:10pm: Hi all ~ I am new to endurance and have a 5 year old that has done 1 15 mile LD. We had a ball. I would like to continue but am feeling a bit lost with training etc. Is anyone out there in IL & willing to mentor?
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Permalink Reply by Angie Mcghee on November 19, 2009 at 6:05pm: Nicole, a good place to start is Nancy Loving's book on Endurance Riding (I forget the name but just search her name). Try calling the ride manager to the ride closest to you and ask them if they know anyone in the area you can hook up with for training. There's also a book written by Donna Snyder Smith "Endurance Riding and Competition". Then if you can go to a ride an volunteer you can learn a ton just by watching and listening in the vet check, or offering to crew if you're not too shy. Also, go to http://www.aerc.org and look under education. There is a mentor liason who may be able to help you hook up with a rider in your area. Good luck!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cindy on December 7, 2009 at 7:43pm: Hi Nicole - I just saw your post. Congrats on finishing your first ride! Where in IL are you? We're near St. Louis and I board at a barn with a nice group of endurance riders.
Cindy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nicole Howton on December 7, 2009 at 8:10pm: Hi Cindy ~ I'm in Hampshire, it's west of Elgin & east of Rockford off of I90. I don't know anyone around here that's into endurance, although Roberta Harms is relatively close and she is willing to let me ride with her at her place so that's a start. What distance do you ride? Do you ever come to WI for rides? Did you do the ride in October at Big River? Sorry for all the questions I'm just happy to talk to someone everyone I know is an eventer :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cindy on December 7, 2009 at 8:52pm: I know Hampshire! I used to live in Streamwood and worked with a lady from Hampshire...

One of my riding buddies did Big River - she loved it! I've been to rides around Peoria, that's about the furthest north I've gone in my limited career.

I think there are a lot of riders by you as a matter of fact....I think Jan Worthington and Grace Ramsey and Lori Windows are from NW Illinois (someone give a shout out if I'm wrong...). I don't know any of them personally, but chatted briefly with Lori at a ride where I was crewing for a friend who was riding with Lori. She seemed like a class act.

You might want to check into UMECRA too? They sponsor quite a few rides and some are in IL and WI - they might have some riders by you?

Cindy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terri McCarthy on November 19, 2009 at 4:15pm: I am just starting my 6 year old Tenneessee Walker. He has been with a trainer and then we will be learning together on days that we can ride in the winter so that we will be ready for a 10 mile in June if all goes well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise Talbot on December 6, 2009 at 10:59pm: Hi everyone. I am watching and learning. I purchased an off the track Quarter Horse in January to pleasure ride. We started trail riding, then rode up at Ebenezer Park in Jasper and he and I both found our calling. My gelding is a 15.3 hh with a .98 SI Dash For Cash grandson. Red is lazy in an arena but very forward on the trails. He and I are both green (I haven't owned a horse in 26 years after growing up with them!) and working on both of our fitness. He developed anhydrosis this past summer - we got that worked out - and had saddle issues. Hopefully, that is worked out.

I am planning on a 12.5 mile starter run (can't remember what it is called!) on January 2 at 7IL Ranch west of Houston. Red and I have hoofed it on 14 mile trail rides so hopefully it will go smoothly. Looking forward to learning more and perhaps riding in some runs.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angie Mcghee on December 7, 2009 at 8:13pm: Denise,
I started out on an Appaloosa off the track. Why in the world are you doing a 12.5 miler if you've already ridden 14 in training? Unless I was worried about the anhydrosis I wouldn't think twice about entering that horse in the 25. Otherwise you're probably going to be done in one hour and what's the fun of that? :-) Basically any sound reasonably fit horse can complete a 25 miler at a walk/trot pace within 6 hours (5 1/2 or so once you take out the hold). Go clock 5.5 mph with a car next to your horse and ask yourself if he can do that for five hours? It's approximately a slow jog. The 25 miler was originally called at "Training Ride" and considered a stepping stone up to the 50 mile endurance distance. I think we've added the 12.5 mile "fun ride" to try to bring people out who actually haven't considered trying the sport until that day. If you're in training now, enjoy yourself and do 25! Don't call it a "run" though. That's a dirty word. It's a *ride*. :-))

Welcome to the sport! Check out the education link at http://www.aerc.org

Angie McGhee
Wildwood, GA

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Permalink Reply by Denise Talbot on December 10, 2009 at 9:26pm: LOL I don't mind doing 25 but I haven't got to ride Red much this month due to bad weather, mother in the hospital, wedding cakes (I am a professional cake decorator and geez they take some time). I think Red can do that, I believe I can! I am excited about it and just bought a new Steele saddle. I have also had serious saddle issues and my Billy Cook is sitting at their shop and don't know what is up with it so I bought another saddle while they sort it out!!

The anhydrosis is under control and he is sweating really well. I had him on One AC and other stuff and he started sweating normally. So you think we could do the 25? Girl, I am going to try...you have given me courage. My butt may fall off though!!! Thanks Angie!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angie Mcghee on December 11, 2009 at 8:32am: Unless his mind just blows and he doesn't eat or drink at the ride site, everything should be fine. If he is high as a kite and spazzed adapt accordingly. If he has a good night the night before, just start towards the back of the middle (safest place in my experience), get his nose focused on the butt in front of him and trot. Do not ask anybody what place you are in, do not get carried away with dreams of top 10 or anything like that, think "training ride". Practice having him relax and stop at a water stop, but don't expect him to do that on the first loop. By the first vet check he should have found a horse he can pace well with and if he recovers with that horse you should be able to have a nice pacing partner the rest of the ride. If his traveling companion out recovers him DO NOT ask them to wait for you. That means that horse was too fit to be your horse's pal. Find a new slower friend. Maybe spend a little extra time in the vet check and make sure he eats. Just relax. Your horse will give you so much more impulsion than normal it's not that hard to finish with lots of time to spare. :-)); ▶ Reply to This