Initiation at Eastern Mojave

(click on any photos in the post to see all of the BIGGER) 

I would first like to thank Charlene Lewis (and her mom Tammy, for letting me use her saddle) for sharing her knowledge, expertise, love of horses and endurance with me. She went way above and beyond in her role as "trainer" for a horse for sale. And I am very proud to say that she mentored me through my first ride weekend. Thank you Charlene!

OK so first things first, I’m still alive, and I can walk. Actually I was pretty surprised at how well I survived my first endurance (50 mile) ride, and additional 29 miles in an LD. Here’s the full story:

First things first: My Goals were- To be smiling at the end of each ride, to be on a horse that was looking and feeling well, and to come in with plenty of daylight left. All goals were completed.

Quick details: 79 miles rode and Yes your bottom and related parts (sorry) do get a bit sore and maybe raw but can be managed and minimized with something like Boudreaux’s butt paste and Vaseline.

Thursday: I drove our Volkswagen Van aka “Kim’s Living Quarters” to the ride following the horses. First lesson for Newbie Kim – a comfy, warm bed is VITAL! And the van worked well. I drove out to the trainer’s place, to help load the horses. (On Wednesday: I also helped prepare the daily grain/beet pulp/electrolyte rations in zip lock bags, prepare and clean the tack I would be using etc.) For me helping in this way shortens my learning curve, doing it hands on really makes it stick in my brain. And I’m being helpful which is always a good thing to do. I picked up a bag of horse carrots and bunch of “Gu”, yes that is what’s it’s called, some electrolyte stuff for the riders. (Sidebar: I don’t like the texture of the Gu, BUT I love the Gu Chews) They give a ‘nice pick me up’ during the ride. I took along some smart water (one bottle with the squirt top), and also got some Boudreaux’s Butt Paste and Vaseline, but more on that later.

So we get on the road, and as we get closer to the ride it starts to rain. NO biggy, I knew the forecast. And Thank goodness that Charlene brought her Rockstar pop up tent -It was a lifesaver. We pull into camp, a tad later than we had planned on but still with some daylight. So we unload, put on the heavy blankets (it’s still raining) set up hay bags, hang up the buckets and lug the water tubs. Once the horses are squared away, we set up our camp, and later enjoy a bowl of soup and head to the riders meeting.

To be honest, while I listened to the meeting, I was not paying super close attention. I was going to be riding with a fabulous mentor and I knew that she would keep me on the trail, in more ways than one. We prepared our crew bags: one side for the horse contained about a flake of hay (was certified weed free for this ride), a bag of the grain-mash mixture, some flat buckets, one regular bucket, carrots. One side for the rider: more vitamin water, Vaseline, granola bars, extra shirt, heavy vest, etc. Making sure the crew bags are IN the right vehicle is key, do not leave your crew bags on the ground or, well that maybe be where they stay for the day. That part I did catch at the meeting, so I took over all of our crew bags, and chucked them well up and into the red stock trailer.

Sunrise on Friday, the day of my first 50 mile ride at Eastern Mojave Scenic

Even though I was tired, it was hard to fall asleep. Excited mostly. Alarm was set for 5:30, as I was to be “saddling at 6:15” for a ride start time of 7 a.m. I had been making sure I drank a lot of water; I took some electrolytes, and was making sure that I was hydrated as well. I think that is the reason I had to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. It had stopped raining, checked the horses on my way, and snuggled back in.

Friday, The 50-mile ride: I was on time; it was over cast, chilly, but no wind. A perfect day.

The start was great. Ozzie was very calm and we moved out well. I was riding with my mentor Charlene, and two other riders. This day’s trail was fairly flat, there was sloping inclines (deceitfully mild) but no real tough climbs up or down. It got a big breezy at a few places, and I was glad I was wearing my coat and gloves.

I felt fabulous coming into lunch stop/vet check. And so did Ozzie. Went to the water first, unhooked his bridle, pulsed in. Then found our bags, picked a spot, pulled out his hay, prepared his mash and gave him a bunch of carrots. Then for my care. I needed a couple more Advil, my knees were providing most of the angst at that point, but totally manageable, and walking around helped a lot. I refilled my water bottle with more vitamin water (lemonade flavor), restocked my carrot bag on the saddle and got a hot dog for lunch. One of the best damn hot dogs I’ve ever eaten by the way! Grabbed some of the butt paste and went out to find the restroom.

The half hour hold went by really fast. Time to vet out, and before I knew it we were getting back on and heading out.

a water stop along the 50

At some point down the trail we all realized the one of the horses we were riding with was feeling a bit sore in her rear end. So we slowed our pace considerably. Charlene was checking in with me and at some point I said, “My legs feel like noodles and I feel like I’m riding like crap.” She assured me that is normal, but we slowed down some more. And then since we were not going to leave the other rider and horse behind, and that horse was still looking very sore, we essentially walked in the final 10 or so miles. While we would have gotten in around 2:30 or so had we not slowed, my legs appreciated the walking, although it extra 2 hours it added probably took its toll as well. Ozzie was feeling good, and wanted to prance quite a bit, it was good training for both of us. Lot’s of half halting, breathing etc. Eventually he got the idea and moved into a nice walk.

One little incident to report: When we were about 2 miles (I think) out from camp there was a nice stretch of trail with excellent soft footing, so we moved out a bit. I was about 30 feet or so behind the horse in front of me and Ozzie saw a shadow or some such thing on the right. He took a very calm step to the left, halted and took one or two steps back. Now, I know that if it had been at the beginning of the ride, this little ‘shy’ should have been nothing for me, we would have just moved on through it. But my noodle legs thought otherwise, and I came off over his right shoulder. Landed on my knees (thankfully in the soft sand) facing him. I was totally fine, and just mad at my noodle legs. Caught my breath, got on and moved out. So as I’m being initiated into my first 50, I am also initiated on my first time coming off in a ride.

So we get in, head to the water, head to the pulse down/vetting in, and we are all good. Get back to camp – thankfully we were very close to the vetting in area. Get the horse munching on his hay, hang the buckets (that were prepared in the morning – soaking), untack, brush him out, put on a cooler blanket. And grab a Corona. Felt pretty damn good. Take some more Advil.

I slept really well that night.

Our day of rest on Saturday was nice. Grooming the horses, taking them on a nice ride, having lunch, filling water buckets since Ozzie not only dumped his but also kicked a hole the bottom of it. (Note to self: bring extra water tubs). 

Charlene Lewis on her horse Tonka, out on our relaxing ride Saturday 

So my mentor was riding the 50 on Sunday, and I was riding the LD. They tried to get me to do the 50, but I really felt that my noodle legs would cope better with an LD. But I did not realize that this was an LD like no other. It was going to be a 39-mile LD, and another rite of passage for me into the endurance world.

Sunday was slated to be gorgeous, about 73 degrees. And it was.

I was connected with a great couple that was going to go at a medium pace on the LD and agreed to have me ride along with them. I was doubly sure that I was on time, and actually was ready 15 minutes early so that I would not keep them waiting. We had a plan that I would ride away on Ozzie, so that his friends would not be leaving him, but he would be leaving his friends. And the fabulous couple arrived at our camp, just as I was preparing to mount up, so it was extra easy for Ozzie to move out with two other horses. He was great at the start yet again. Nice and easy, calm walk. And even a bit down the trail when some of the 50-mile riders began to pass us, including his buddies, he didn’t even turn his head.

Carol on the LD on Sunday

Now if the trail on Friday was mostly flat with some gentle slopes, the trail on Sunday has many more hill climbs and some “technical” bits – a much different trail. One part in particular would have significance at the lunch vet check.

So we were told by someone familiar with the trail and a bit was coming up, a down hill part, where we would probably want to get off and walk down. And we did. Man o man, it was pretty knarly. Single trail, literally carved into a steep hill and canyon, rocks, agave, cactus, Joshua trees, and did I mention rocks. Now, one of the very few things that Ozzie is working on is that he is a little pushy when you are walking him. We worked on it a bit on Saturday; basically I have to get a bit pushier.  But on the down hill trail, this was a challenge. I just had to keep moving, get a little forceful with him and sometimes step out of his way. There was a short portion that was just a slab of granite. I have him the full length of the lead line so he could find the best way… he was doing great and then he slid a couple feet down hill, he did not fall down, just slid, quickly recovered and we moved on.

Bob on Sunday. He was doing the 50, but it overlapped the LD trail.

Now at 29 miles we approach lunch. Yes, I thought the LD would be done at 30 miles. Nope, not this one. We arrived into the vet check right in the middle of the pack of 10 riders doing the LD. Same routine, to the water, he was pulsed down right away, found the bags, pulled out his hay, carrots, mash etc. And I had the best sloppy Joe sandwich EVER! I took off my coat, refilled my water etc. And then headed to the vet check. When she asked me to trot him back I knew something was up. We trotted out and back again, and she said, “He’s a little off on his rear end, it is your decision.” We found another person to trot him out so I could see, and yes, he was dragging his right rear foot. She palpitated his entire rear end and both legs, and could feel nothing amiss. When I mentioned the sliding on the rock she thought something like that cold surely cause a bit of soreness somewhere. And darn it, my mentor, who is the trainer for the horse had just left a few minutes before. It was my call. Another initiation. I go through the emotions, and wanting to do right by the horse, trainer and owner. I then think about the fact that I intend to buy this horse, I think as if he is mine already, and I would be cautious. The vet was clear that the horse was not “overridden”, he was happy, alert, eating etc. I could ride him back, slowly, walk the whole way, get off and walk a bunch. But could that make him sorer? Maybe? Maybe not? I would not chance it with a horse of my own, not with a horse that belonged to someone else. So I choose to pull him. So Ozzie will have a ROL (Rider Option Lame) on his record. Not ideal surely, but better than having him be worse at the end of the ride. He did not like being the very last horse in camp, and wondered why in the heck he was being loaded into an old red stock trailer alone. But we got back to a quiet camp, and he devoured his hay, bucket mash. I rinsed his leg with some cold water.  We went for a walk. I got to watch and congratulate the riders coming in.

We rode 79 miles. Completed a 50-mile ride. My first ride ever. His first 50. I experienced having to make the choice to stop in the middle of a ride. But seeing the video today of the horse trotting in his paddock  – with that foot going nice and high – prove that decision was correct. And in terms of my decision to proceed with buying him, some tried to warn me off because of that soreness, but I’m doing a vet check, we’ll look at it closely, and I am pretty sure that slip on the rock caused a bit of soreness, and those types of things are bound to happen. I’m in it for the long haul, not a one off.

I do think I successfully completed my initiation. Now, I just need to find a saddle cause the one I rode in is not for sale (and few other bits of tack). Hope to see you all at Cuyama. 

Me on Ozzie, on Friday. Photo by Steve Bradley

Horse buying, my first official endurance ride and riding out the bucks and bolts.

My riding history is not unique. The little girl who always, and I do mean always, wanted her own horse. Yes, you’ve heard this story before. But I have been blessed to have been able to ride a great many horses. But I’ve never owned a horse. I realized last fall, I did not want to find myself at the end of life, not having ever ridden my own horse. I want to have a horse to call my own, to be responsible for, to develop a connection with, to have a horse trust me, to log miles together – and to achieve a decade of riding together - at least a decade.

And so I began the journey of buying a horse, with the goal of doing endurance. In the Year of the Horse, I’ll buy my first horse.

Did I mention I have not been on a horses back much in the past, oh 12 years or so. Prior to that I played polo – four years – in college, and really developed confidence in my seat and ability to control all manner of horses. But I have gotten rusty. So recently, on a training ride when I had to stop a horse that bolted – with one foot out of the stirrup - and ride out a couple bucks on a steep hill, followed by a rider/trainer/ second generation horsewoman telling me “that was some good riding,” well, a bit of that confidence came back. Maybe Mama’s still got it!

Using the magical world of Facebook I’ve connected with all the right people. And found some nice looking horses. I’m learning a lot about what the ideal cannon bone is – short and thick, what “bells and whistles” an endurance horse should have, which type of endurance saddle I like (I'm leaning towards Big Horn, and wondering why on earth other riders don't use sheepskin), and that comfy gaits are vital if I want to be able to walk much after a ride. I’m also figuring out what temperament I want. No Drama comes to mind often.

Sooner than expected I’m gearing up for my first, official, endurance ride. My fabulous husband is doing a multi-check inspection on our VW Van that I’ll be driving out to the desert next weekend. Yes, I know the VW is not typically seen among the horsey set, but its comfy bed is not something to scoff at. I’ll be riding with some of the best around, and will be test riding a couple horses for sale. One of them, I will have ridden several times before, so he and I know each other a little bit. And another will be brand new to me.

That’s why I think it’s great I had the opportunity to ride out a few bucks this weekend – to gain some of my old confidence back. Yes, I know you don’t want a horse to buck… but frankly, for me, it was good. He’s one I’m considering buying, and I’d rather see what he can do or rather what he wants do to when something is bothering him or when I make a stupid mistake, and know that I can handle it, ride it out, keep us both safe, and calm him down. 

I also remembered that I have the skills to stop a bolting horse with one stirrup dangling and the seat to cope with some bucks, I had forgotten that. The ride helped me know the horse better, and helped me gain some of my old riding confidence back.

Eastern Mojave Scenic ride, here I come.