A New Beginning!

The weather hasn't exactly cooperated...  Rain, more rain with occasional sunbreaks turning the Western Washington world into a lush, fresh smelling, blazingly beautiful landscape.  This day, Grandson Ben drove me to the farm.  We found Farah in her stall & she soon realized that Ben was actually BEN!  :-)

Ear itches are still a Very Good thing!  :-)

Even as distracted as she is, she was happy to see him!  She is so busy getting to know the horses in the barn, it took a while to settle her for a good grooming.  Her tail is finally growing to a respectable length, I still look forward to trimming it off the ground.

Plans were discussed for Farah's day.  She's fat & out of shape for the first time in all the years I've had her.  She was full of energy - we decided on lounging.  Mary wanted to get to know her on the lead.

Farah responded to Mary's easy but firm hands 

It was so interesting to see her being worked & watching as the two of them did get a feel for the other.

The Sun!

The sun broke through the clouds, turning Farah's coat to a shimmering gold.  

Soon, Farah was moving & it was a relief to see her stride so smooth.  She moved as good as ever, even after a year away.  We'd had her shod by a new Farrier in the Roy area, recommended by Mary's long time Farrier, now retired.  Finding the right farrier for endurance hasn't been any easier since we'd moved.  Farah was puffing & had a light coat of sweat in a shorter amount of time than I'd expected.  

Us in the Sun~

It was darn chilly & I'd forgotten all about Ben's allergies to hay :-(  He watched as long as he could before going to the car to use eye drops & Kleenex.  We delayed ground driving with Farah, but Mary did hand over Leo's reins!  He was so responsive & it was really fun!  My long ago lessons with Dean hadn't been totally forgotten.

Weather willing, we'll be heading out for a ride tomorrow!

Best Laid Plans~

Sometimes things seem to go astray... 

After our ride yesterday - I came home & compared Farah's training ride stats & recoveries from 2015 & 2016 to what we've done so far this spring.  They were better!  Every time I think of doing an endurance ride, I worry that I haven't done enough.  Then, Farah shows me that indeed we have.  What we do is straight line consistent & we've been doing it for a lot of years now.   I don't follow the fads, first it was trotting, lots of trotting.  Now it's galloping, lots of galloping.

Farah  - yesterday~

 Instead, we mix it up, we do what we do & we've learned to do it well.  She's a gifted animal & I'm blessed to have her.  Strong, without issues & smart enough to take good care of herself.  Dean taught me to ride smart & I do my best to follow his principals.  We keep to a maintenance schedule & don't change what works.

5-16-16 Victoria, WA

If anything - she's bulked up a little.  More muscle, more strength & it's getting harder & harder to make her sweat :-)  Even here.  Both of us have really been enjoying our speed work.  I'm a firm believer in talking to your horse.  I've let her know I'm planning a ride - our first here & how much fun we were going to have.

5-14-15 Washington Wetland~

Not...  The vision in my right eye went completely away last evening.  It was no better this morning.  I ended up spending the morning at the optometrist.  After a battery of tests, (when you can't even see the bright light...) the verdict wasn't the one I wanted. :-(

Tomorrow is Omaha - hopefully there is surgery will repair my retina.  A good result is what I'm praying for & I've no idea what would be involved.  Actually, I don't know anything at this point.  With only a week before the ride, I doubt we'll be going.  Friends have managed to keep me laughing & there will be other rides.  Still - I'm feeling the disappointment

On Our Own~

I woke late, not that I've ever been a morning person...  But - I was determined to get Farah out.  Even with the later than usual start - we were on the road for Waubonsie before 1 p.m.  Traffic was as light & fast moving as usual on I-29.

Hot Sun to cool shade!

After last Friday's jaunt to Indian Caves, Waubonsie seemed close.  I'd called to see if the trails were open, not sure if they would be after the weekend rain.  No one was there when we pulled in.  The trails were perfect, dry without dust, but the day was very warm.

Heading down~

Very Warm for me is probably 80's - the humidity wasn't heavy at all. With most of the ride in the woods, I was thankful for the shade.   I decided to let Farah set the pace.  She was walking along at 4 mph. before we came to the first of the hills.

Blackberry?

We slid on the down hill & galloped up!  Farah remembered the steep hills & attacked them full on.  I'm thankful, there are these few places, with enough hills she can enjoy.  The climbs are almost effortless for her now.  Ms. Farah who up until this time has had total distain for any type of berry - today tried to bite off a clump of green ones!

More down~

We followed Roxi's directions & recognized the turns from her training loops.  After driving so far - I always feel like we need to get in what miles we can - to justify the trip.  

Tree cut out of the trail~

Finally, the log that had been blocking this trail was cut away!  Volunteers aren't allowed out on the trails with power equipment.  We're trying to schedule a chainsaw safety class for our BCH group.  A requirement to use the equipment in the park.

Too hazy for the view~

We finished the first set of two loops in 1-1/2 hours.  Pretty slow, stopping to graze & take photos, but pleasant.  The Jack-in-the-Pulpit below is the largest I've seen to date!  It had to be over a foot tall!  There were many along certain sections of the trail.  I didn't see any ferns yet though.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Back in camp, Farah drank a full bucket of water & I finished off the few nuts I'd brought.  I filled my water bottle, took another electrolyte & away we went again.   Being out on our own, we finally got the feel of the trails.  We were warmed up & moving out, spooking a doe with a brand new fawn.  The doe took off into the woods, but the fawn ran as fast as he could up the trail!  All spindly legs :-)

The way out~

The second 5-mile set of loops we cut the time in half.  We had fun!   It's amazing to me we did 1,700+ in elevation gain in ten-miles!  If someone had to design a ten-mile endurance training track - this would be it.  No water crossings though :-)

A good roll!

I'd brought shampoo & everything I needed to give Farah a decent bath - her first in forever...  I got soaked & it felt so good :-)  Next in our usual routine - grazing time.  After that - the roll - 1,100 lbs. of muscle mare - who flipped herself back & forth three times!  

Right side up!

I actually felt really decent after our ride.  Farah is getting now, what I'd wanted her to have for the past few years, an opportunity to condition with other fast horses.  The miles & miles on our own gave her an amazing base, but I've always liked to toss in some speed work & competition too.  Having a riding partner is such a help if you want to build an athlete.  It's great for the rider too!  

Movin' Out!

Today dawned cool, clear & beautiful.  The coolest day in the next few to come.  I was on the road for the farm fairly early to pick Farah up.  We were meeting up again with Roxi & Sandra at Waubonsie.  It's so nice to have the trails there open, since they are the closest & have enough hills for a decent workout.

Farah enjoying the grass~

At the stable, Farah was covered in mud.  With the recent rain & the fact that her run had only been partially scraped clear.  Debris everywhere - trapped the rainwater - creating more mucky areas & depriving her of the spot where she likes to roll.  We pulled into the park early - lots of grooming & finally saddled by the time Roxi & Sondra arrived.

Roxi had filled me in on the day's training pace & I was game.  Farah was more than game - she absolutely loved it :-)  The first set of loops, my friends rode bay mares, I kept Farah back & since we were moving out - Farah was fine with that.  I didn't take pictures!  I was too busy riding :-)  We finished the first set & our second time out was with the grays!

Roxi in the lead~

At one point, Roxi said;  "Watch for the tree." on a sharp corner with a steep hill coming up.  I lost a stirrup - Farah felt it & gave me a 1/2 stride to recover it - before blasting up the hill!  :-)  Such a good girl!  I've been riding without my 1/2 chaps, just long socks under my tights.  So far - no heat rash & really no rubbing either.  Of course today was far from hot & humid - so we'll see how it goes as things heat up.

Speeding along~

I just had to pull out my camera & get a photo.   We did well over 12-miles, with a really great average moving speed.  The fastest & farthest we've gone since moving here.  Our elevation gain was over 1,700 ft. - which I would not have believed possible.  I used to get that at Victoria over about the same distance.

Sondra & Roxi

I was determined to get a photo of these two & had to laugh when I saw this one :-)

Our route~

It felt so darn good to be riding so hard!  Farah has amazed me with the way she's held her condition.  I wish I'd held mine as well!  :-)  When we got back, she emptied a bucket of water, rolled & enjoyed me sponging her down.  I think it was her breakfast that was in her feed bucket when we returned to the stable.  She scarfed that down & had another big drink of water.

I came home the most pleasantly sore & tired that I've been in a very long while & it felt darn good!  Having great riding partners who enjoy the same sport I do has sure helped.  I may find myself doing some endurance in the mid-west before the season is over.  A tired, happy wife makes Butch's life a bit easier too :-)