Hello! My name is Laura I am 30 this year, I have been married for 5 years this October, and I live in the middle of Amish country in Ohio. I have a 3 year old black and tan Doberman pinscher named Sarge and an 8 year old black and tan miniature dachshund named Ruger. I have always had a love of horses from a young age, and would always ride my friends’ horses anytime I got the chance! It wasn’t until I was 27 that I was able to purchase my first horse. Circumstances did not allow that particular rescue partnership to work out and after nearly 2 years, I had to find myself another equine partner. It was that search that led me to a most wonderful pony named Dakota, a 13.1 hand black and white QH/Morgan cross. Dakota helped to build back up my confidence that the first had taken away by bucking/rearing and many unscheduled flying lessons. Dakota is not perfect, but he and I came a long way together. Recently I came across a horse, a mare even (I swore I wouldn’t own a mare, I had fallen blindly into believing mares were scary moody creatures)…that stole my heart, I instantly felt she was my “heart” horse…. It is time to pass the lovely Dakota on to another rider who can enjoy him as I have. Annie, years old, is a TWH, champagne in coloring, who was pulled from a local horse slaughter house. She was being sent for meat when she was pulled. Turns out, she is preggers! That may not have been in my plans, and will require some saddle time being sacrificed, but I look forward to growing and learning through that process and getting as many miles together as we can. I am very blessed to have a very supportive group of friends nearby to ride with, and who will loan me their horses while Annie is on maternity leave. My goals for the derby are just to track my miles accurately, to see where I stand among others across the USA, and also motivate me to get out there more! I have not been able to ride out alone successfully much in the past, so I also want to do more of that, something that I have always dreamed of since I was a kid, going out alone, on my horse and explore! Looking forward to Many miles and MANY smiles in 2015!!!! Laura
2-24-15 13.6 Annie, with Cody on Dani. (ave moving speed only 3.3, max 11mph)
From Jamie's farm to Baddow pass, down the rails to trails, jumped off onto tr then into Glenmont on sr 520. Up Tr 29 to my house, turned around, went back down CR 6 to CR 25, cut across woods back to Jamie's house. Pretty effective on cutting the wind. The temps were very cold today high of 21, low of -14, with 12mph average winds....that puts temps in the negatives. brrrrrr. Hard to believe I went two weeks without riding. I'm disappointed. Better riding weather ahead.
Rode Annie solo from Jamie's house across field through woods, to CR 25, to CR 6, met up with Tracy and Loretta, rode back down CR 6 to TR 29, they turned and went home (had some issues with one horse), then I rode Annie back home solo. FEELS GOOD! She did great, we had to stay slow as the roads were VERY slippery! We worked on "woah" and then standing on a loose rein until I said we can move along. Also worked on backing... when we first started she would toss her head and try to move on forward, backed up with "aggressive" movements.... after about 5 tries, she picked up what i wanted her to do, she would back without me even touching the reins, voice only. SO PROUD!
3-12-15 *Correction, read the GPS wrong, when I uploaded actual GPS miles from the ride, I had rode 5.3 miles, not 4.1. Corrected by adding 1.2 miles to leader board today.
3-16-15 Annie 20.69 with Jamie, Cody and Tina. Roads to BOD, then backroads home. Max speed 21.4...average speed 4.7
3-21-15 Annie 11.1 with Sherry and Jen, and met up with Ashley. Great ride! Windy, but we need that to dry up all this MUD. Average moving speed was 4.5. Max speed was 21.2 On a 3 hour ride. MUCH needed
3-30-15 Dot 12.24 Rode with Jamie, Cody, Paige at Mohican. This second trip was 12.24 miles. Windy day ride again, good for drying up mud (which we def need) In other personal news: Annie had her foal this past Friday, but unfortunately the baby did not live, it appears that she rolled on it not long after having it. I had checked her around noon, and no signs that she was any closer to foaling...went back at 5, and found she had foaled, and lost it. =o( She will be on ride rest until she heals, for 2-3 weeks, via vet,but she is okay, and all we must watch for now is mastitis. Looks like I will be crossing the 200 mile mark soon, but not on my Annie.
4-10-15 Annie, 9.5 with Jamie, Cody and Kathy loop to Glenmont back up tr 14 to tr 7. Jamie and I went on past thru fields and woods. 4012015 Annie 19.2 BOD loop with Brooke, Chelsea, Addison, Lacey, Cheryl, Ricki and myself.
SO I've been slacking entering my comments for my miles, as i've been having computer issues, so today is catch up day! LOL
4-29-15 Annie 21.09 Miles. rode with Jamie, she on Daisy me on Annie and we decided to go to Danville and get some ice cream and come back. We dilly dallied around, took them to the bridge of dreams to get a drink and stopped at another little watering hole we found, saw the lady who's father owns the area, and asked for permission to stop there with the horses during the summer. She said of course! She was very nice. Rode into town (the biggest town to date I've rode Annie in..i should say, busiest, since its not real big, just a lot of traffic). She did well, as she seems to always do. On the way home the girls were FIRED UP... we didnt push them, just kinda let them go their own pace, watching to make sure no one was breathing hard. LOL AFTER NEARLY 7 miles of gaiting/trotting and running, we stopped them. I swear they would have kept going. Got more to drink for them on the way back and still made it in record time. It's days like today that really please me, seeing how EAGER my partner is. Love it
5-4-15 Annie 18.2 miles. Rode at Pleasant hill with Brooke, Jamie, Cody, Kristi and Melissa. I love mt jeez, its got awesome views. This is seriously one of my favorite places to ride that isnt too far away. Coming back around the corn field, Jamie and Cody and I went up ahead so I could Gait/run my girl without upsetting the other horses.....and she did something new for me today; SHE RACKED! and it was SMOOTH and amazing! I collected her up, just like i had been, but instead of shutting her down when she gave me that awful pace, i pushed her through it and it was AWESOME. Will DEF be working on this more!
5-6-15 Annie 10.1 Miles. Rode today with Jamie, Erin, Bri, Cody It was jamie and i's "one year friendiverary" lol so we rode the same route as the first time we ever rode together, then added on some more. :)
5-7-15 Dot 9.1 Rode with Jamie and her childhood friend Tiffany. Did the 520/Glenmont loop.
5-7-15 Dixie/Eclipse 1.2 Drove Eclipse for the first time in her life, and then drove Dixie a little I like this driving thing!
5-12-15 Annie 10.3. Rode with Jamie from her place to glenmont. Last ride on Annie before Hocking Hills, I want her rested. Took it VERY easy today, nice walking.
5-14-15 Annie. 12.7 First day at Hocking! 5-15-16 Annie. 19.0 Second day at Hocking 5-16-15 Annie. 19.2 Third day at Hocking 5-17-15 Annie. 3.4 Fourth day at Hocking
AND REST! LOL She is finally at HOME at my farm, and getting all the hay/grass/grain/water, REST and brushing she can stand!
What a GREAT time! I can officially say that I can trust my LIFE to this mare! And at one point, I def DID just that. There were several "iffy" trails, but none that were too bad, well except that ONE.....dead end with a rock face on one side and a 50 foot drop off on the other...did i mention there were 10 horses following each other on that trail?! I lucked out, i was 4th in line, and able to back her up two steps where we had JUST enough room to turn around. Brooke and Sherry and Chelsea got the worst on that. I thank God nothing was worse at that trail. I am contacting the Hocking OHC, just to let them know about that one. YIKES. Walking path, at your own risk ONLY. NO HORSES. Aside from that we had a great time, wonderful sights and great food... lots of bonding time with the horses. Also, I am SOLD on the electrolyte paste. VERY glad i had some, as a few of our horses def used it on one day or another. Annie drank very well every day. I did give her a boost of paste on one trail, she was getting warm, and hadnt drank quite as much as usual... I look forward to going down there again, another year.
Had trouble entering comments before, so i have not kept up with these, but have been entering them on the leaderboard. Hope this time they post!
5-21-15 Bella. 7.1 5-22-15 Annie 14.16 First long SOLO ride from my house! 6-3-15 Annie. 5.3 Taft Ride. Cowgirls 6-4-15 Annie. 6.9 First night ride ever with Annie. 6-5-15 Annie. 10.2 Mohican. Lisa, Pam, Jamie & Cody. VERY hot today. 6-5-15 Annie. 0.57 First ride bareback in arena. Not bad...def something i NEED and WANT to work on more! 6-7-15 Annie. 8.8 AEP with Erin and Cheryl. Met a nice lady named Elsie. Working on her bad habit of getting SUPER worked up when other horses leave us behind.... she has started crow hopping, i will NOT allow this! small steps to correct it, are working... patience grasshopper, patience...
YTD: 485.27 (if my math and reading skills are correct....? LOL)
Frustrated. And only bc im a touch perfectionist/fair player, but my miles are off. The comments here kinda figure one thing, my log book seems to say another, and the leaderboard yet another still. I have yet had the time to sit down and go back over the comments versus my black book to see where the difference is. I know the leaderboard had me off, over what i actually had, by about 20 miles... I dunno. I'll log in tomorrow and check things out. went on a ride today, almost got caught in a BAD storm. I'll add those miles later.... when i shut my GPS off it was around 14 i think. Rode out solo on Annie, I love her so much. I might get bothered by my numbers being all over, but then i just go out and ride her and brush her and work with her and it doesn't matter much after that. All that is correct, and will always be correct is, i LOVE every second with that horse, miles or none. That's what it is about. The truth and honesty of our bond as horse and rider. =oD
well, ive been keeping up on entering them on time, but the comments sometimes get neglected. LOL so here we are:
6-18-15 Annie. 14 miles rode with a new friend today and miss jamie. felt like years since i last rode! stupid rain 6-22-15 Annie. 11.4 Rode with Jordan today from my house on a newish route ive been working on. more hills, good for conditioning. 6-26-15 Annie. 19.5. First trail ride of the Elkins camping trip. Rode with a new friend Karen, she showed me some "secret" AWESOME places, reminded me of hocking! 6-27-15. Annie. 4.63. Between rainstorms at Elkins I tooled around on Annie and played with saddle fit. 6-28-15 Annie. 11.3 Last ride at Elkins, larger group, played in water, ended up splitting up due to speed differences. everyone had a good time.
(obviously didnt enter these miles but wanted to list this haha) 6-29-15 Trailered the over 200 miles home. thats enough of a work out for horse and driver!
7-8-15 Badger. 1.53 Hit up some bareback times with my best buddy badger man. He was one of the first horse I have ever rode, the first horse i ever cantered on and the trusty steed that everyone loves. Was glad to hit my 600 mile mark with him in the backyard....he did just about as much grass munching as we did riding...lol was shocked to see we managed to even get 1.53 in LOL
7-9-15 Annie. 7.30 Last min ride with Lewis and Dorothy my Amish neighbors :) nice little jaunt around the ridge riding with new friends. Hope to do a lot more riding with them soon.
7-13-15 Annie. 8.93 Miles at AEP with Jamie and Cody 7-16-15 Annie & Badger. 2.0. Bareback around the yard with Badger and Rode Annie in Badger's little s hack, she did pretty well.
7-19-15 Annie. 11.7 miles at AEP with Brooke, Triple Bay team 41, along with Cody and met up with Sherry. It was a HOT and VERY HUMID day, so we took it easy on the horses, not much running..kept a pretty good pace, but stopped to let them cool and take a breather pretty often. ALSO swam them. LOL That was an experience, i think its the first time annie has been THAT deep, as she turned into a hippo and went TOTALLY UNDER water. Long story short, she nicked her leg and it swelled up once we were home, been cold hosing it and the swelling is going down nicely. lucky it wasnt a bad cut or sprain. Going out several times a day and hosing it, putting ointments on the cuts and muscle lineaments. Going to test her out wed and see if she's okay to ride or needs more time off. Lots of miles and smiles!
7-23-15 Annie. 13.65 Bridge of Dreams from Jamie's place. With Jordan, Jamie, Jamie's three nieces. 7-24-15 Badger. 2.75 around the farm, Bareback. 7-25-15 Annie. 3.57 From Jamie's thru baddow pass and back to farm. 7-26-15 Annie.25.26 Pleasant Hill/Malabar Farm. Started the ride with 13 riders!! and a thunderstorm/downpour for about 20 minutes. :) Ended the ride with 8 people, and 4 new friends later, sunny and tired! :) Met Sandra and Tony and their two very wonderful lady friends! I cannot WAIT to ride with them again, Annie was a gaiting fool!! she has never been so smooth, so consistent as when we rode with those other gaited horses.... maybe she could tell how excited i was too?! LOL
7-30-15 Annie. 18.9 miles. With Lewis and met Ashley. got back after dark and got tracked down by Lewis's family! LOL OOPS i hope we didnt get him in trouble! out after dark, rode until 10pm...sweet young amish boy out with his english neighbor girls.. haah it was a LOVELY full moon to ride by though!
8-1-15 Annie.9.65 Glenmont parade and trail ride. 17 riders in the small town parade, HECK YEAH! 8-2-15 Annie.11.04 Camp Bethany Loop and swimming with horses!
*comment correction* Last comments YTD: should have read: 711.71 stupid math error...LOL
8-6-15 Annie. 7.13 Longer ride testing out saddle fit for Annie and me. Seemed a bit wide for her, but good fit with saddle pad...BUT for my butt...unless i get a pad, it wasnt too comfortable for me.
8-7-15 Badger. 5.54 Millersburg rode up to center to give girl scouts pony rides, then rode around town a little and on the trail, until we were being eaten alive by the blood suckers, cut the ride short and turned around! 8-9-15. Dakota (not my pony dakota, rather a paso/twh cross!) Rode 1.6 miles testing out this girl...she is for sale and i want her in the worst way! I could then balance my rides between two horses! How nice would that be! 8-10-15 Annie.14.75 Loop from the house out and around by ourselves. it was a HOT and HUMID day, thunderstorms are rolling in later, wanted to get my ride in while i could. might ride badger bareback later. have all 4 shoes on her, and shes much less touchy on rocks, and this way, with all my riding, i wont be wearing her feet down nearly as much in the back. :) Love this girl with everything. The derby is bringing us closer and closer and i LOVE it!
8-13-15 Annie. 13.35. Mohican. Rode with several other amazing ladies and had a great time! met the most handsome LOVING mule named Rusty. Boy could i have taken that gaited boy home... though, according to his owners "gaited" might be a stretch haha. Rode blue, and i did a bit around in the parking lot. There were a LOT more LARGE gravel stoney places there than i remember, and i hate to say it, but its becoming a less than favorite trail of mine now bc of all the rocks. even with all four shoes, annie at the end was touchy in places. the poor ladies that were riding barefoot, walked some of it with their horses as they were becoming too sore. :( I guess my trails at mohican can maybe be red and yellow, and part of blue then turn around? i dunno kinda sucks. id be willing to help make, and maintain a side path off the timber/pipeline roads if they would let us. I still love pleasant hill malabar, more and more as i ride there.
8-14-15 Annie. 4.81 Maybe my most exciting nearly 5 miles from my entire 765.08! she rode out alone, which she has always done, but never this easily with this much speed and WILLINGNESS! I also took Sarge out with her for the first time, i don't know if this made a difference for us or not but it was WONDERFUL! She walked with purpose, listened to light cues, gaited and cantered at the slightest suggestion! It was HEAVEN ON EARTH!
8-15-15 Dakota-Paso. Got to take this wonderful mare out on a trail ride Sat. morning, to get to know her better, see if she might be a good fit. Well......... she is def a good fit!!!!!!!! ( i most def have not been looking for another horse....but boy it would be nice to rotate between Annie and another). She sat for ever a year with no work, and she did lovely. A little jumpy at things in her new home, but nothing that sets off any flags. and she gaits soooo smooth, she is nothing like Annie, and yet, everything like her! her gait is a natural smooth paso like movement, but her personality, is well.... haha shes a lot of fun! Hoping i can talk to Seth and get her. I have some money saved up from odd jobs that I can put towards her. So excited! Will be riding her again Tuesday with Ashley.
8-17-15 Annie. 10.88. Around Nashville and camp bathany loop to swim again! 8-18-15 Dakota Paso. 2.1. Slowly conditioning this mare... trial trail ride tonight on her. didnt go far as it was still HUMID as all get out, and getting dark. went down the big mile hill and back up it. She's got such heart, I love it. Very much considering buying this mare, I am in love, just trying to make sure Seth will be okay with this.... 8-19-15 Badger. 2.51 Bareback work for me. and a little exercise for the old man. VERY humid and hot again, Didnt work him too hard. Always so nice to ride him. His trot is awful, and i did a lot of that today, figure if i can sit that, i can sit anything! LOL 8-20-15 Dakota Paso. 4.84 rode from ashleys down 29 into glenmont around and back. rode with jamie, meghan and ethan and ashley.
8-24-15 Annie. 15.59 BOD loop. Jamie Cody Brooke Meghan. 8-26-15 Adara. 7.49. AEP. Jenn, Cody, Jamie, Greg. 8-28-15 Adara. 9.51. Mohican. Jamie. 8-31-15 Adara. 11.72. Cody rode Annie. Jamie rode Hope, loop into killbuck and back, Adara needs shoes, as shes tender on rocks. Giving her a break after today, Dont want to sore her feet or wear them down too much. 4.75 at fairgrounds.
9-24-15 Adara, 5.54 Salt Fork Day 1, Jamie ride. 9-25-15 Adara. 12.63 Salt Fork Day 2, Jamie, Brooke, Sherry. 6.0 ave move pace 9-27-15 Annie. 15.32 Around home to Ashley's, to rails to trails and back.
9-29-15 Annie. 12.53. Salt Fork with Jamie and Cody. Rained from time we saddled up to the time we unsaddled. Annie went a bucking down the trail after stepping in a stick/branch that popped up and hit her tummy... i rode it with one stirrup....yeehaw LOL
10-1-15 Badger. 4.79. Bareback at Mohican with Jamie and Teresa. Walk only ride. Today marks one of my goals for the year, to go on a legit trail ride, bareback. Trusty steed Badger helped me meet my goal. Sharp withers, and steep hills both up and down......had a great time!!!!!!!!
10-5-15 Annie. 7.12. Great short ride, kept it slower, max speed was 9mph and that was a short uphill gait/canter. Wanted to work on her back muscles some. Took Sarge with us, so didn't want to go too far either. nicer weather so i can start taking him along now, which i LOVE!
10-6-15 Adara. 13.69. Blue trail at Mohican. The rocks seems to be settling down in some places, but there are still spots that would be rough on barefoot ponies. Wanted to do this at a faster pace, more along lines of 6 mph average or so, to get a feel for keeping an endurance pace up, see how Adara fared with it. Sherry brought Faith, who is a racking machine, and can easily do 10 mph ave on good ground. Well because of all the rocks, and tree roots, and Adara NOT being a 10 mph ave horse....lol we tried to keep it around 6. Jamie brought Hope, and she usually leads, well, much to everyone's shock...she was NOT into a fast ride that day. Cooler temps too, so Jamie hung back towards the end while Sherry and I kept up pace. We did end up with just over a 6mph pace, and Adara was breathing pretty normal, and it slowed down to very normal soon after we were back. Cooled her down with water, and kept an eye on her heart rate. Pretty neat. I think she will do just fine at the mock endurance ride this coming weekend. Looking forward to it.
10-11-15 Adara. 5.19 (Annie was rode too, by my friend Cody) We rode in the Antique parade today, and i decided to track it, for giggles. LOL The parade its self isnt super long, but all the walking around we did before, and while waiting and after sure did add up. Who knew? It was a great parade, and we worked more on Adara's "leg" trick, her WAVE as i like to call. It. She was already very proficient at doing it with her right leg, well, we worked the left and i could even get her to switch back and forth! it was fun and the crowd loved it! 10-12-15. Adara. 11.59. Does anyone else just LOVE fall?! I swear its just the most amazingtime, perfect temps, lovely color, the horses feel good! Oh i just love it! Rode with Cheryl and Sue, her arab. the two mares kept GREAT pace with each other! We even got some nice, collected cantering in. Mostly just a nice walk the trip, which was wonderful.
10-14-15. Annie. 8.41. Had not planned on riding today, as we have company up, but Seth took the day off work, and they werent doing much...i decided i didnt want to sit around doing nothing on a SIMPLY gorgeous fall day! So I decked out head to toe in orange, dog too, and off we went. Annie and Sarge and myself. Annie was very on edge today, not sure if it was the weather, the wind, or just feeling "boo" but we stayed at a slower pace, cantered some, gaited a little, mostly just a fast walk. Overall a wonderful ride!
10-17-15. Annie.14.94. Intro into Endurance Cancer Benefit. Each loop of the ride simulated 6 miles, (was GPS logged as approx 5.2). The remainder of miles came from warming up Annie before the ride, and some loops before the start. She's so funny, very curious as to why she was the only horse there from our group, so she walked the parking lot trying to make new friends, and went off exploring on her own. I love the heart of this horse soooo much! We finished and did well, and I think I am hooked. I am looking to for sure get into either some LD or 25 milers soon. I now know that, not only can she finish, and do it without losing her mind...but she is in total shape to do it WELL....... :) Proud of my horse and the time ive taken to get here where she is. :) OH yea, and I crossed the 1000 mile ride mark approx 3 miles in.......so just KINDA proud of that moment too! Got lots of compliments on my horse, saw a lot of other stunning beasts too! Very proud of Mike and Atlee, who took their big ol Percherons in and landed in top 5 for the 6 mile course! AMAZING!
10-19-15. Adara. 2.75. Around the farm. 10-22-15. Adara. 7.88. AEP Teresa, Dave and Jamie at Fallon Park. Morning ride 10-22-15. Badger. 5.82. Around Jamie's place. 10-23-15. Annie. 9.65. Glow stick night ride, 18 riders in all! what a BLAST!
10-25-15. Adara. 14.88 Rode with Tony & Jack & Sandra & Cody, aka the most awesome couple of people and horses around! Rode at Pleasant hill and Malabar. Great ride! 10-16-17. Annie. 8.86. Rode with Teresa, Dave, Jamie, and Sherry. Did two loops, first with everyone, kept a nice pace, 4.6 average moving pace. Second loop, we worked on keeping annie in frame, and hence her gait in check... turns out, she is quite the racking pony! ;) Moving pace was 5.7 second round. Felt so good.
*10-26-15 Should have been the date previously recorded.
10-29-15. Adara. 15.72. PH/Malabar. Teresa, Sherry, Jamie. 10-31-15. Annie. 10.10. Killbuck to Millersburg to the DQ. Ashley, Erin. 11-1-15. Annie. 6.7. Around the house. Fast ride.
11-04-15. Adara. 19.08. Brooke on Trinity, Jordan on my Annie, then met Sherry on Faith. Rode the BOD loop with back roads. weather was in the 70s all day! 11-05-15. Adara. 7.32. Partial blue at mohican. 11-05-15. Annie. 8.94. Route from home. Again, odd weather, HAPPY to have 70s in Nov in Ohio!
11-8-15. Annie. 16.37. Solo from my house to Jamie's farm...rode with the nephews, then headed home solo. 11-9-15. Adara. 7.40. Loop at Mohican with Jamie, Teresa, Dave. 5.3 average moving pace, not pushing the horses, made Adara stay at the last position during the ride...did ask her to lead some, which she did.... worked on her not taking off when the horses in front of her do, took about three good corrections, then she wouldn't even take a step to follow them if they trotted out, without my leg or verbal cues. WONDERFUL. 11-9-15. Adara. 3.47. Loop # 2. Jamie and Sherry stayed, and I asked them to give me a ten min heads up, so i could ride Adara out solo, to see how she would do. She rode out with very little struggle...whinnying a lot, as shes VERY verbal....but it took very little to convince her to keep going. we got down the hill..and she was a GAITING and cantering MACHINE!!!!! She was very verbal throughout the ride, but we met, stopped and talked to another horse and rider on the trail, and she left them with no problems...then we met Jamie and Sherry....she stopped and we talked to them, then, with a little more hesitation, she left them and we finished the trail. Average speed was 6.3! Im telling you, it was the best collection, and smooth movement, willingly forward, i LOVED it!
11-16-15. Adara. 8.49. AEP. Teresa, Sherry, Jamie. Rode with the girls for a part of a time, then rook Adara off by herself. 4.5 Moving average. 13.2 canter speed. 11-18-15. Annie. 9.44. Sherry, rode for the first time at Dillion state park, it was nice, id def like to go there again. Trailered solo with Annie, to a new place that I had never been... proud of myself. 4.4 Moving average. 13.7 cantering speed. 11-20-15. Adara. 8.50. Kathy rode Annie for the first time, Annie took such good care of her! She had never rode gaited before, and really enjoyed it! 11-22-15. Annie. 11.95. Loretta's moving ride. Loretta, Jen, Ashley, Nikkita, Megan and Cass.
12-2-15. Adara. 19.30. Brooke, Shelly and Katie. Landoll's castle road loop. its gun hunting season here, so we chose to stay on all back/county roads. It had been FAR too long since my last ride. I think it might have been the longest time frame i had been without riding... my butt tells me so anyhow.... 12-3-15. Annie. 14.77. We had planned another road loop with Brooke and Jamie today. But i wasnt feeling quite the best, suspecting an ear infection of sorts....so we cut our ride down from another 20+ loop to the nearly 15 miles. My lower region was for sure feeling my week plus of not riding. amazing how fast that leaves ya....great two days. im learning to relaxxxxxxx in the saddle again. YTD: 1241.88
12-8-15. Annie. 10.3. Sherry/Xena, Jamie/Connor... Rode Annie solo for a bit, then with group. one little buck, rode it fine, teaching her she doesn't always get her way. 12-9-15. Adara. 7.1. SOLO! WAHOOO!
12-24-15. Annie. 8.5 Christmas eve Night ride....but not just ANY ride you see! I convinced my husband, Seth to go!!!!!!! why is this a BIG HUGE deal you ask? Because he is VERY VERY VERY allergic to horses! LOL! We rode in 2010 for our honeymoon for 2 hours, at a stable near where we stayed in Hocking Hills....then in 2012 at Mohican for an hour ride, about 4 miles. Now yesterday, he got to ride Connor, the super smooth gaited paso fino for 8.5 miles! We had a GRAND time and I can say, because he was there to share my passion that it was my FAVORITE miles I logged this year. We laughed and smiled, and raced in the dark, and then laughed even harder as he ripped his pants from button to knee getting back on after getting off to pick up a reflective leg band one of the girls lost. LOL Sweet man...it got chilly too, so he really "put himself out there" to help. LMAO! He was miserable with allergies after we got back, but God bless him for going with me! 12-26-15. Adara. 14.05. Rode from Jamies to my house with Jen and Back. Lovely work on her gait and collected canter, and i rode in and tried out a trooper style saddle, thinking i might use that and do some hunter paces this next year!
12-30-15. Annie. 2.3. Hmmmm well that was fun. NOT. Took Annie out alone...using the trooper saddle that JenniferKimball loaned us, I do love that saddle, but could have used a horn today at the last part of our ride. It was great, and handy being able to lean totally flat in woods while Annie bushwhacked us a path...but would have loved to grab that when she spooked, spun, and ducked out on the paved county road over seeing Archie (neighbors large cute golden doodle). Needless to say, I'm sure I was quite a sight! I was grabbing saddle, mane, holding onto reins...trying to sit that spook. Off I came. First time off Annie. I did lessen my fall, landed on my butt, did NOT let go on reins..UNTIL Annie drug me on the road and wouldn't stop, so I let go. And she...stayed there..I ALMOST caught her..then something else scared her and she ran home. RAN. she broke her previous top speed, she hit nearly 34 mph. And was calmly standing at barn when I walked my butt back. Then what did I do? Took her back where she got scared, had a lesson, and came home. I was going to continue my ride, but I hear the VFW shooting Their Canon...and I've had my bang for the day, I'm not ending my year on this note. I'm riding tomorrow. Forgot how much I HATE coming off a horse...lol. Ow. 12-30-15. Annie. 0.56. Pasture ride, didnt want her thinking that she could just get away with leaving me walking....LOL 12-31-15. Annie. 0.57 Well,i couldnt just let my year end like it did yesterday, so i rode a SHORT bareback ride in pasture with my Annie to, settle things, so to speak. hAHHA
Hello! My name is Laura I am 30 this year, I have been married for 5 years this October, and I live in the middle of Amish country in Ohio. I have a 3 year old black and tan Doberman pinscher named Sarge and an 8 year old black and tan miniature dachshund named Ruger. I have always had a love of horses from a young age, and would always ride my friends’ horses anytime I got the chance! It wasn’t until I was 27 that I was able to purchase my first horse. Circumstances did not allow that particular rescue partnership to work out and after nearly 2 years, I had to find myself another equine partner. It was that search that led me to a most wonderful pony named Dakota, a 13.1 hand black and white QH/Morgan cross. Dakota helped to build back up my confidence that the first had taken away by bucking/rearing and many unscheduled flying lessons. Dakota is not perfect, but he and I came a long way together. Recently I came across a horse, a mare even (I swore I wouldn’t own a mare, I had fallen blindly into believing mares were scary moody creatures)…that stole my heart, I instantly felt she was my “heart” horse…. It is time to pass the lovely Dakota on to another rider who can enjoy him as I have. Annie, years old, is a TWH, champagne in coloring, who was pulled from a local horse slaughter house. She was being sent for meat when she was pulled. Turns out, she is preggers! That may not have been in my plans, and will require some saddle time being sacrificed, but I look forward to growing and learning through that process and getting as many miles together as we can.
ReplyDeleteI am very blessed to have a very supportive group of friends nearby to ride with, and who will loan me their horses while Annie is on maternity leave. My goals for the derby are just to track my miles accurately, to see where I stand among others across the USA, and also motivate me to get out there more! I have not been able to ride out alone successfully much in the past, so I also want to do more of that, something that I have always dreamed of since I was a kid, going out alone, on my horse and explore!
Looking forward to Many miles and MANY smiles in 2015!!!!
Laura
1-1-15
ReplyDelete3.05 Badger, solo around the field
YTD: 3.05
1-11-15
6.2 Badger & Dakota Ridge Ride
YTD: 9.25
1-13-15
10.04 Dot, Nashville Ride. Jamie, Cody, Jenn, Brooke (Saw Alayna)
YTD: 19.29
1-19-15
11.96 Dot Cheryl, Cody & Jamie
YTD: 31.25
1-20-15
12.7 Annie, solo met up with Brooke Glenmont.
YTD: 43.95
1-23-15
12.22 Dot, Mohican State Park, Jamie, Cody & Brooke
YTD: 56.17
1-30-15
19.8 Annie, Bridge of Dreams, Jamie, Brooke, Kaytlynne.
3.3 Badger, Pasture (couldn’t let Brooke get more than me on the same ride/day HAHA)
YTD: 79.27
January Total: 79.27
2-8-15
ReplyDelete10.2 Annie, Jamie and Daisy To Glenmont around 520 and home
YTD: 89.47
2-24-15
ReplyDelete13.6 Annie, with Cody on Dani. (ave moving speed only 3.3, max 11mph)
From Jamie's farm to Baddow pass, down the rails to trails, jumped off onto tr then into Glenmont on sr 520. Up Tr 29 to my house, turned around, went back down CR 6 to CR 25, cut across woods back to Jamie's house. Pretty effective on cutting the wind. The temps were very cold today high of 21, low of -14, with 12mph average winds....that puts temps in the negatives. brrrrrr. Hard to believe I went two weeks without riding. I'm disappointed. Better riding weather ahead.
2-27-15
ReplyDelete11.5 Annie, with Cody on Daisy.
Cody face plant in snow bank. lol Chased Daisy down. Eventful.
YTD: 114.57
3-1-15
ReplyDelete11.3 Annie.
Rode Annie solo from Jamie's house across field through woods, to CR 25, to CR 6, met up with Tracy and Loretta, rode back down CR 6 to TR 29, they turned and went home (had some issues with one horse), then I rode Annie back home solo. FEELS GOOD! She did great, we had to stay slow as the roads were VERY slippery! We worked on "woah" and then standing on a loose rein until I said we can move along. Also worked on backing... when we first started she would toss her head and try to move on forward, backed up with "aggressive" movements.... after about 5 tries, she picked up what i wanted her to do, she would back without me even touching the reins, voice only. SO PROUD!
Jan Total:79.27
ReplyDeleteFeb Total: 35.3
Mar so far: 11.3
YTD total miles: 125.87
3-6-15 Badger 4.7 with Dakota and Tasha, ridge ride
ReplyDelete3-7-15 Annie 8.7 miles bridge of dreams ride with 40 SC. Gaiting machine!
March total: 24.7
YTD:150.57
***Previous post edit***
ReplyDeleteYTD Total should have been
139.27
3-12-15 Annie 4.1 with Lisa, Pam, Cody and Bri @ Mohican.
YTD: 143.37
3-12-15 *Correction, read the GPS wrong, when I uploaded actual GPS miles from the ride, I had rode 5.3 miles, not 4.1. Corrected by adding 1.2 miles to leader board today.
ReplyDelete3-16-15 Annie 20.69 with Jamie, Cody and Tina. Roads to BOD, then backroads home. Max speed 21.4...average speed 4.7
YTD: 165.26
3-21-15 Annie 11.1 with Sherry and Jen, and met up with Ashley. Great ride! Windy, but we need that to dry up all this MUD. Average moving speed was 4.5. Max speed was 21.2 On a 3 hour ride. MUCH needed
ReplyDeleteYTD: 176.36
3-30-15 Dot 12.24 Rode with Jamie, Cody, Paige at Mohican. This second trip was 12.24 miles. Windy day ride again, good for drying up mud (which we def need)
ReplyDeleteIn other personal news: Annie had her foal this past Friday, but unfortunately the baby did not live, it appears that she rolled on it not long after having it. I had checked her around noon, and no signs that she was any closer to foaling...went back at 5, and found she had foaled, and lost it. =o( She will be on ride rest until she heals, for 2-3 weeks, via vet,but she is okay, and all we must watch for now is mastitis. Looks like I will be crossing the 200 mile mark soon, but not on my Annie.
YTD: 188.6
Well, slacked on entering the miles into the comments after i entered them into the log, so here we go:
ReplyDelete4.5 Miles on Dot
17 Dani/Dot
5 Dot
3.45 Badger
YTD: 218.55
4-10-15 Annie, 9.5 with Jamie, Cody and Kathy loop to Glenmont back up tr 14 to tr 7. Jamie and I went on past thru fields and woods.
ReplyDelete4012015 Annie 19.2 BOD loop with Brooke, Chelsea, Addison, Lacey, Cheryl, Ricki and myself.
YTD Total: 247.25
4-13-15 Annie 8.82 miles Glenmont and back
ReplyDelete4-15-15 Bella. 8.7 With Jamie, Cody, Bri To glenmont and back loop.
ReplyDelete4-17-15 Annie 21.1 with Jamie. from her place, to danville for ice cream and back.
3 mile Badger loop with Tasha
YTD Total: 288.87
4-19-15 Drove Dixie 3.12 Jamie glenmont
ReplyDelete4-22-15 Annie 16.74 Jamie and Cody mohican
YTD: 308.73
4-24-15 Annie 16.34 miles. out with Kathy, back part way with Tasha and Dakota, then finished solo
ReplyDeleteYTD: 325.07
SO I've been slacking entering my comments for my miles, as i've been having computer issues, so today is catch up day! LOL
ReplyDelete4-29-15 Annie 21.09 Miles. rode with Jamie, she on Daisy me on Annie and we decided to go to Danville and get some ice cream and come back. We dilly dallied around, took them to the bridge of dreams to get a drink and stopped at another little watering hole we found, saw the lady who's father owns the area, and asked for permission to stop there with the horses during the summer. She said of course! She was very nice. Rode into town (the biggest town to date I've rode Annie in..i should say, busiest, since its not real big, just a lot of traffic). She did well, as she seems to always do. On the way home the girls were FIRED UP... we didnt push them, just kinda let them go their own pace, watching to make sure no one was breathing hard. LOL AFTER NEARLY 7 miles of gaiting/trotting and running, we stopped them. I swear they would have kept going. Got more to drink for them on the way back and still made it in record time. It's days like today that really please me, seeing how EAGER my partner is. Love it
5-4-15 Annie 18.2 miles. Rode at Pleasant hill with Brooke, Jamie, Cody, Kristi and Melissa. I love mt jeez, its got awesome views. This is seriously one of my favorite places to ride that isnt too far away. Coming back around the corn field, Jamie and Cody and I went up ahead so I could Gait/run my girl without upsetting the other horses.....and she did something new for me today; SHE RACKED! and it was SMOOTH and amazing! I collected her up, just like i had been, but instead of shutting her down when she gave me that awful pace, i pushed her through it and it was AWESOME. Will DEF be working on this more!
5-6-15 Annie 10.1 Miles. Rode today with Jamie, Erin, Bri, Cody It was jamie and i's "one year friendiverary" lol so we rode the same route as the first time we ever rode together, then added on some more. :)
5-7-15 Dot 9.1 Rode with Jamie and her childhood friend Tiffany. Did the 520/Glenmont loop.
5-7-15 Dixie/Eclipse 1.2 Drove Eclipse for the first time in her life, and then drove Dixie a little I like this driving thing!
5-12-15 Annie 10.3. Rode with Jamie from her place to glenmont. Last ride on Annie before Hocking Hills, I want her rested. Took it VERY easy today, nice walking.
ReplyDelete5-14-15 Annie. 12.7 First day at Hocking!
5-15-16 Annie. 19.0 Second day at Hocking
5-16-15 Annie. 19.2 Third day at Hocking
5-17-15 Annie. 3.4 Fourth day at Hocking
AND REST! LOL She is finally at HOME at my farm, and getting all the hay/grass/grain/water, REST and brushing she can stand!
What a GREAT time! I can officially say that I can trust my LIFE to this mare! And at one point, I def DID just that. There were several "iffy" trails, but none that were too bad, well except that ONE.....dead end with a rock face on one side and a 50 foot drop off on the other...did i mention there were 10 horses following each other on that trail?! I lucked out, i was 4th in line, and able to back her up two steps where we had JUST enough room to turn around. Brooke and Sherry and Chelsea got the worst on that. I thank God nothing was worse at that trail. I am contacting the Hocking OHC, just to let them know about that one. YIKES. Walking path, at your own risk ONLY. NO HORSES.
Aside from that we had a great time, wonderful sights and great food... lots of bonding time with the horses. Also, I am SOLD on the electrolyte paste. VERY glad i had some, as a few of our horses def used it on one day or another. Annie drank very well every day. I did give her a boost of paste on one trail, she was getting warm, and hadnt drank quite as much as usual... I look forward to going down there again, another year.
Had trouble entering comments before, so i have not kept up with these, but have been entering them on the leaderboard. Hope this time they post!
ReplyDelete5-21-15 Bella. 7.1
5-22-15 Annie 14.16 First long SOLO ride from my house!
6-3-15 Annie. 5.3 Taft Ride. Cowgirls
6-4-15 Annie. 6.9 First night ride ever with Annie.
6-5-15 Annie. 10.2 Mohican. Lisa, Pam, Jamie & Cody. VERY hot today.
6-5-15 Annie. 0.57 First ride bareback in arena. Not bad...def something i NEED and WANT to work on more!
6-7-15 Annie. 8.8 AEP with Erin and Cheryl. Met a nice lady named Elsie. Working on her bad habit of getting SUPER worked up when other horses leave us behind.... she has started crow hopping, i will NOT allow this! small steps to correct it, are working... patience grasshopper, patience...
YTD: 485.27 (if my math and reading skills are correct....? LOL)
Frustrated. And only bc im a touch perfectionist/fair player, but my miles are off. The comments here kinda figure one thing, my log book seems to say another, and the leaderboard yet another still. I have yet had the time to sit down and go back over the comments versus my black book to see where the difference is. I know the leaderboard had me off, over what i actually had, by about 20 miles... I dunno.
ReplyDeleteI'll log in tomorrow and check things out. went on a ride today, almost got caught in a BAD storm. I'll add those miles later.... when i shut my GPS off it was around 14 i think. Rode out solo on Annie, I love her so much. I might get bothered by my numbers being all over, but then i just go out and ride her and brush her and work with her and it doesn't matter much after that. All that is correct, and will always be correct is, i LOVE every second with that horse, miles or none. That's what it is about. The truth and honesty of our bond as horse and rider.
=oD
well, ive been keeping up on entering them on time, but the comments sometimes get neglected. LOL so here we are:
ReplyDelete6-18-15 Annie. 14 miles rode with a new friend today and miss jamie. felt like years since i last rode! stupid rain
6-22-15 Annie. 11.4 Rode with Jordan today from my house on a newish route ive been working on. more hills, good for conditioning.
6-26-15 Annie. 19.5. First trail ride of the Elkins camping trip. Rode with a new friend Karen, she showed me some "secret" AWESOME places, reminded me of hocking!
6-27-15. Annie. 4.63. Between rainstorms at Elkins I tooled around on Annie and played with saddle fit.
6-28-15 Annie. 11.3 Last ride at Elkins, larger group, played in water, ended up splitting up due to speed differences. everyone had a good time.
(obviously didnt enter these miles but wanted to list this haha)
6-29-15 Trailered the over 200 miles home. thats enough of a work out for horse and driver!
YTD: 580.66
6-2-15 Annie. 18.52 rode the BOD loop with Brooke, Dave, and Jamie. :)
ReplyDeleteYTD: 599.18 Really?! LOL I thought id crossed 600...... im about to go out in the dark and cross that mark sheesh. LMAO
7-8-15 Badger. 1.53 Hit up some bareback times with my best buddy badger man. He was one of the first horse I have ever rode, the first horse i ever cantered on and the trusty steed that everyone loves. Was glad to hit my 600 mile mark with him in the backyard....he did just about as much grass munching as we did riding...lol was shocked to see we managed to even get 1.53 in LOL
ReplyDeleteYTD: 600.71
7-9-15 Annie. 7.30 Last min ride with Lewis and Dorothy my Amish neighbors :) nice little jaunt around the ridge riding with new friends. Hope to do a lot more riding with them soon.
ReplyDeleteYTD: 608.01
7-13-15 Annie. 8.93 Miles at AEP with Jamie and Cody
ReplyDelete7-16-15 Annie & Badger. 2.0. Bareback around the yard with Badger and Rode Annie in Badger's little s hack, she did pretty well.
YTD: 618.94
7-19-15 Annie. 11.7 miles at AEP with Brooke, Triple Bay team 41, along with Cody and met up with Sherry. It was a HOT and VERY HUMID day, so we took it easy on the horses, not much running..kept a pretty good pace, but stopped to let them cool and take a breather pretty often. ALSO swam them. LOL That was an experience, i think its the first time annie has been THAT deep, as she turned into a hippo and went TOTALLY UNDER water. Long story short, she nicked her leg and it swelled up once we were home, been cold hosing it and the swelling is going down nicely. lucky it wasnt a bad cut or sprain. Going out several times a day and hosing it, putting ointments on the cuts and muscle lineaments. Going to test her out wed and see if she's okay to ride or needs more time off.
ReplyDeleteLots of miles and smiles!
YTD: 630.64
7-21-15 Badger. Bareback miles, trying to get better! Mostly walk, some trot. not quite ready for his VERY rough trot to canter transition yet LOL
ReplyDeleteYTD: 633.94
7-23-15 Annie. 13.65 Bridge of Dreams from Jamie's place. With Jordan, Jamie, Jamie's three nieces.
ReplyDelete7-24-15 Badger. 2.75 around the farm, Bareback.
7-25-15 Annie. 3.57 From Jamie's thru baddow pass and back to farm.
7-26-15 Annie.25.26 Pleasant Hill/Malabar Farm. Started the ride with 13 riders!! and a thunderstorm/downpour for about 20 minutes. :) Ended the ride with 8 people, and 4 new friends later, sunny and tired! :) Met Sandra and Tony and their two very wonderful lady friends! I cannot WAIT to ride with them again, Annie was a gaiting fool!! she has never been so smooth, so consistent as when we rode with those other gaited horses.... maybe she could tell how excited i was too?! LOL
YTD: 679.17
7-30-15 Annie. 18.9 miles. With Lewis and met Ashley. got back after dark and got tracked down by Lewis's family! LOL OOPS i hope we didnt get him in trouble! out after dark, rode until 10pm...sweet young amish boy out with his english neighbor girls.. haah it was a LOVELY full moon to ride by though!
ReplyDeleteYTD: 698.07 ( sooooo close to 700!)
8-1-15 Annie.9.65 Glenmont parade and trail ride. 17 riders in the small town parade, HECK YEAH!
ReplyDelete8-2-15 Annie.11.04 Camp Bethany Loop and swimming with horses!
YTD: 718.76
8-4-15 Annie. 3.95. Testing another saddle out for fit around the house.
ReplyDeleteYTD: 722.6
*comment correction* Last comments YTD: should have read: 711.71 stupid math error...LOL
ReplyDelete8-6-15 Annie. 7.13 Longer ride testing out saddle fit for Annie and me. Seemed a bit wide for her, but good fit with saddle pad...BUT for my butt...unless i get a pad, it wasnt too comfortable for me.
YTD: 729.84
8-7-15 Badger. 5.54 Millersburg rode up to center to give girl scouts pony rides, then rode around town a little and on the trail, until we were being eaten alive by the blood suckers, cut the ride short and turned around!
ReplyDelete8-9-15. Dakota (not my pony dakota, rather a paso/twh cross!) Rode 1.6 miles testing out this girl...she is for sale and i want her in the worst way! I could then balance my rides between two horses! How nice would that be!
8-10-15 Annie.14.75 Loop from the house out and around by ourselves. it was a HOT and HUMID day, thunderstorms are rolling in later, wanted to get my ride in while i could. might ride badger bareback later. have all 4 shoes on her, and shes much less touchy on rocks, and this way, with all my riding, i wont be wearing her feet down nearly as much in the back. :) Love this girl with everything. The derby is bringing us closer and closer and i LOVE it!
YTD: 751.73
8-13-15 Annie. 13.35. Mohican. Rode with several other amazing ladies and had a great time! met the most handsome LOVING mule named Rusty. Boy could i have taken that gaited boy home... though, according to his owners "gaited" might be a stretch haha. Rode blue, and i did a bit around in the parking lot. There were a LOT more LARGE gravel stoney places there than i remember, and i hate to say it, but its becoming a less than favorite trail of mine now bc of all the rocks. even with all four shoes, annie at the end was touchy in places. the poor ladies that were riding barefoot, walked some of it with their horses as they were becoming too sore. :( I guess my trails at mohican can maybe be red and yellow, and part of blue then turn around? i dunno kinda sucks. id be willing to help make, and maintain a side path off the timber/pipeline roads if they would let us. I still love pleasant hill malabar, more and more as i ride there.
ReplyDeleteYTD: 765.08
8-14-15 Annie. 4.81 Maybe my most exciting nearly 5 miles from my entire 765.08! she rode out alone, which she has always done, but never this easily with this much speed and WILLINGNESS! I also took Sarge out with her for the first time, i don't know if this made a difference for us or not but it was WONDERFUL! She walked with purpose, listened to light cues, gaited and cantered at the slightest suggestion! It was HEAVEN ON EARTH!
ReplyDelete8-15-15 Dakota-Paso. Got to take this wonderful mare out on a trail ride Sat. morning, to get to know her better, see if she might be a good fit. Well......... she is def a good fit!!!!!!!! ( i most def have not been looking for another horse....but boy it would be nice to rotate between Annie and another). She sat for ever a year with no work, and she did lovely. A little jumpy at things in her new home, but nothing that sets off any flags. and she gaits soooo smooth, she is nothing like Annie, and yet, everything like her! her gait is a natural smooth paso like movement, but her personality, is well.... haha shes a lot of fun! Hoping i can talk to Seth and get her. I have some money saved up from odd jobs that I can put towards her. So excited! Will be riding her again Tuesday with Ashley.
YTD: 774.88
8-17-15 Annie. 10.88. Around Nashville and camp bathany loop to swim again!
ReplyDelete8-18-15 Dakota Paso. 2.1. Slowly conditioning this mare... trial trail ride tonight on her. didnt go far as it was still HUMID as all get out, and getting dark. went down the big mile hill and back up it. She's got such heart, I love it. Very much considering buying this mare, I am in love, just trying to make sure Seth will be okay with this....
8-19-15 Badger. 2.51 Bareback work for me. and a little exercise for the old man. VERY humid and hot again, Didnt work him too hard. Always so nice to ride him. His trot is awful, and i did a lot of that today, figure if i can sit that, i can sit anything! LOL
8-20-15 Dakota Paso. 4.84 rode from ashleys down 29 into glenmont around and back. rode with jamie, meghan and ethan and ashley.
YTD: 795.21
8-24-15 Annie. 15.59 BOD loop. Jamie Cody Brooke Meghan.
ReplyDelete8-26-15 Adara. 7.49. AEP. Jenn, Cody, Jamie, Greg.
8-28-15 Adara. 9.51. Mohican. Jamie.
8-31-15 Adara. 11.72. Cody rode Annie. Jamie rode Hope, loop into killbuck and back, Adara needs shoes, as shes tender on rocks. Giving her a break after today, Dont want to sore her feet or wear them down too much.
4.75 at fairgrounds.
YTD: 844.27
9-4-15 Annie. 4.44 Solo around the house, back roads with my buddy Sarge. Feels so good to be able to do this!
ReplyDeleteYTD: 848.71
9-6-15 Adara. 2.99 Killbuck Parade
ReplyDelete9-10-15 Annie. 13.3 Nashville to River
9-11-15 Adara. 16.5 P.Hill to Malabar
9-13-15 Adara. 3.7 (tracked) All Horse Parade
YTD: 885.2
9-15-15 Adara. 10.82 From Jamies around 25 to Glenmont up 520 back home.
ReplyDeleteYTD: 896.02
9-20-15 Adara. 4.59 Mohican with Ashley and Al. Quick pace ride, very busy day at the park. Great smooth gaiting.
ReplyDeleteYTD: 900.61
9-24-15 Adara, 5.54 Salt Fork Day 1, Jamie ride.
ReplyDelete9-25-15 Adara. 12.63 Salt Fork Day 2, Jamie, Brooke, Sherry. 6.0 ave move pace
9-27-15 Annie. 15.32 Around home to Ashley's, to rails to trails and back.
YTD: 934.1
9-29-15 Annie. 12.53. Salt Fork with Jamie and Cody. Rained from time we saddled up to the time we unsaddled. Annie went a bucking down the trail after stepping in a stick/branch that popped up and hit her tummy... i rode it with one stirrup....yeehaw LOL
ReplyDeleteYTD: 946.63
10-1-15 Badger. 4.79. Bareback at Mohican with Jamie and Teresa. Walk only ride. Today marks one of my goals for the year, to go on a legit trail ride, bareback. Trusty steed Badger helped me meet my goal. Sharp withers, and steep hills both up and down......had a great time!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYTD: 951.42
10-5-15 Annie. 7.12. Great short ride, kept it slower, max speed was 9mph and that was a short uphill gait/canter. Wanted to work on her back muscles some. Took Sarge with us, so didn't want to go too far either. nicer weather so i can start taking him along now, which i LOVE!
ReplyDeleteYTD: 958.54
10-6-15 Adara. 13.69. Blue trail at Mohican. The rocks seems to be settling down in some places, but there are still spots that would be rough on barefoot ponies. Wanted to do this at a faster pace, more along lines of 6 mph average or so, to get a feel for keeping an endurance pace up, see how Adara fared with it. Sherry brought Faith, who is a racking machine, and can easily do 10 mph ave on good ground. Well because of all the rocks, and tree roots, and Adara NOT being a 10 mph ave horse....lol we tried to keep it around 6. Jamie brought Hope, and she usually leads, well, much to everyone's shock...she was NOT into a fast ride that day. Cooler temps too, so Jamie hung back towards the end while Sherry and I kept up pace. We did end up with just over a 6mph pace, and Adara was breathing pretty normal, and it slowed down to very normal soon after we were back. Cooled her down with water, and kept an eye on her heart rate. Pretty neat. I think she will do just fine at the mock endurance ride this coming weekend. Looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteYTD: 972.23
10-11-15 Adara. 5.19 (Annie was rode too, by my friend Cody) We rode in the Antique parade today, and i decided to track it, for giggles. LOL The parade its self isnt super long, but all the walking around we did before, and while waiting and after sure did add up. Who knew? It was a great parade, and we worked more on Adara's "leg" trick, her WAVE as i like to call. It. She was already very proficient at doing it with her right leg, well, we worked the left and i could even get her to switch back and forth! it was fun and the crowd loved it!
ReplyDelete10-12-15. Adara. 11.59. Does anyone else just LOVE fall?! I swear its just the most amazingtime, perfect temps, lovely color, the horses feel good! Oh i just love it! Rode with Cheryl and Sue, her arab. the two mares kept GREAT pace with each other! We even got some nice, collected cantering in. Mostly just a nice walk the trip, which was wonderful.
YTD: 989.01
10-14-15. Annie. 8.41. Had not planned on riding today, as we have company up, but Seth took the day off work, and they werent doing much...i decided i didnt want to sit around doing nothing on a SIMPLY gorgeous fall day! So I decked out head to toe in orange, dog too, and off we went. Annie and Sarge and myself. Annie was very on edge today, not sure if it was the weather, the wind, or just feeling "boo" but we stayed at a slower pace, cantered some, gaited a little, mostly just a fast walk. Overall a wonderful ride!
ReplyDeleteYTD: 997.42
10-17-15. Annie.14.94. Intro into Endurance Cancer Benefit. Each loop of the ride simulated 6 miles, (was GPS logged as approx 5.2). The remainder of miles came from warming up Annie before the ride, and some loops before the start. She's so funny, very curious as to why she was the only horse there from our group, so she walked the parking lot trying to make new friends, and went off exploring on her own. I love the heart of this horse soooo much! We finished and did well, and I think I am hooked. I am looking to for sure get into either some LD or 25 milers soon. I now know that, not only can she finish, and do it without losing her mind...but she is in total shape to do it WELL....... :) Proud of my horse and the time ive taken to get here where she is. :)
ReplyDeleteOH yea, and I crossed the 1000 mile ride mark approx 3 miles in.......so just KINDA proud of that moment too! Got lots of compliments on my horse, saw a lot of other stunning beasts too! Very proud of Mike and Atlee, who took their big ol Percherons in and landed in top 5 for the 6 mile course! AMAZING!
YTD: 1012.36
10-19-15. Adara. 2.75. Around the farm.
ReplyDelete10-22-15. Adara. 7.88. AEP Teresa, Dave and Jamie at Fallon Park. Morning ride
10-22-15. Badger. 5.82. Around Jamie's place.
10-23-15. Annie. 9.65. Glow stick night ride, 18 riders in all! what a BLAST!
YTD: 1038.46
10-25-15. Adara. 14.88 Rode with Tony & Jack & Sandra & Cody, aka the most awesome couple of people and horses around! Rode at Pleasant hill and Malabar. Great ride!
ReplyDelete10-16-17. Annie. 8.86. Rode with Teresa, Dave, Jamie, and Sherry. Did two loops, first with everyone, kept a nice pace, 4.6 average moving pace. Second loop, we worked on keeping annie in frame, and hence her gait in check... turns out, she is quite the racking pony! ;) Moving pace was 5.7 second round. Felt so good.
YTD: 1062.2
*10-26-15 Should have been the date previously recorded.
ReplyDelete10-29-15. Adara. 15.72. PH/Malabar. Teresa, Sherry, Jamie.
10-31-15. Annie. 10.10. Killbuck to Millersburg to the DQ. Ashley, Erin.
11-1-15. Annie. 6.7. Around the house. Fast ride.
YTD: 1094.72
11-02-15. Badger. 11.13. BOD from jamies and back. Teresa and Jamie.
ReplyDeleteYTD: 1105.85
11-04-15. Adara. 19.08. Brooke on Trinity, Jordan on my Annie, then met Sherry on Faith. Rode the BOD loop with back roads. weather was in the 70s all day!
ReplyDelete11-05-15. Adara. 7.32. Partial blue at mohican.
11-05-15. Annie. 8.94. Route from home. Again, odd weather, HAPPY to have 70s in Nov in Ohio!
YTD: 1142.19
11-8-15. Annie. 16.37. Solo from my house to Jamie's farm...rode with the nephews, then headed home solo.
ReplyDelete11-9-15. Adara. 7.40. Loop at Mohican with Jamie, Teresa, Dave. 5.3 average moving pace, not pushing the horses, made Adara stay at the last position during the ride...did ask her to lead some, which she did.... worked on her not taking off when the horses in front of her do, took about three good corrections, then she wouldn't even take a step to follow them if they trotted out, without my leg or verbal cues. WONDERFUL.
11-9-15. Adara. 3.47. Loop # 2. Jamie and Sherry stayed, and I asked them to give me a ten min heads up, so i could ride Adara out solo, to see how she would do. She rode out with very little struggle...whinnying a lot, as shes VERY verbal....but it took very little to convince her to keep going. we got down the hill..and she was a GAITING and cantering MACHINE!!!!! She was very verbal throughout the ride, but we met, stopped and talked to another horse and rider on the trail, and she left them with no problems...then we met Jamie and Sherry....she stopped and we talked to them, then, with a little more hesitation, she left them and we finished the trail. Average speed was 6.3! Im telling you, it was the best collection, and smooth movement, willingly forward, i LOVED it!
YTD: 1169.43
11-16-15. Adara. 8.49. AEP. Teresa, Sherry, Jamie. Rode with the girls for a part of a time, then rook Adara off by herself. 4.5 Moving average. 13.2 canter speed.
ReplyDelete11-18-15. Annie. 9.44. Sherry, rode for the first time at Dillion state park, it was nice, id def like to go there again. Trailered solo with Annie, to a new place that I had never been... proud of myself. 4.4 Moving average. 13.7 cantering speed.
11-20-15. Adara. 8.50. Kathy rode Annie for the first time, Annie took such good care of her! She had never rode gaited before, and really enjoyed it!
11-22-15. Annie. 11.95. Loretta's moving ride. Loretta, Jen, Ashley, Nikkita, Megan and Cass.
YTD: 1207.81
12-2-15. Adara. 19.30. Brooke, Shelly and Katie. Landoll's castle road loop. its gun hunting season here, so we chose to stay on all back/county roads. It had been FAR too long since my last ride. I think it might have been the longest time frame i had been without riding... my butt tells me so anyhow....
ReplyDelete12-3-15. Annie. 14.77. We had planned another road loop with Brooke and Jamie today. But i wasnt feeling quite the best, suspecting an ear infection of sorts....so we cut our ride down from another 20+ loop to the nearly 15 miles. My lower region was for sure feeling my week plus of not riding. amazing how fast that leaves ya....great two days. im learning to relaxxxxxxx in the saddle again.
YTD: 1241.88
12-8-15. Annie. 10.3. Sherry/Xena, Jamie/Connor... Rode Annie solo for a bit, then with group. one little buck, rode it fine, teaching her she doesn't always get her way.
ReplyDelete12-9-15. Adara. 7.1. SOLO! WAHOOO!
YTD:1259.28
12-16-15. Connor. 7.9 From Jamie's into Glenmont and back.
ReplyDelete12-17-15. Adara. 13.46 Mohican with Brooke.
YTD: 1280.64
12-18-15. Annie. 6.93. AEP with Jen and Memphis.
ReplyDeleteYTD: 1287.57
12-24-15. Annie. 8.5 Christmas eve Night ride....but not just ANY ride you see! I convinced my husband, Seth to go!!!!!!! why is this a BIG HUGE deal you ask? Because he is VERY VERY VERY allergic to horses! LOL! We rode in 2010 for our honeymoon for 2 hours, at a stable near where we stayed in Hocking Hills....then in 2012 at Mohican for an hour ride, about 4 miles. Now yesterday, he got to ride Connor, the super smooth gaited paso fino for 8.5 miles! We had a GRAND time and I can say, because he was there to share my passion that it was my FAVORITE miles I logged this year. We laughed and smiled, and raced in the dark, and then laughed even harder as he ripped his pants from button to knee getting back on after getting off to pick up a reflective leg band one of the girls lost. LOL Sweet man...it got chilly too, so he really "put himself out there" to help. LMAO! He was miserable with allergies after we got back, but God bless him for going with me!
ReplyDelete12-26-15. Adara. 14.05. Rode from Jamies to my house with Jen and Back. Lovely work on her gait and collected canter, and i rode in and tried out a trooper style saddle, thinking i might use that and do some hunter paces this next year!
YTD:1310.06
12-30-15. Annie. 2.3. Hmmmm well that was fun. NOT. Took Annie out alone...using the trooper saddle that JenniferKimball loaned us, I do love that saddle, but could have used a horn today at the last part of our ride. It was great, and handy being able to lean totally flat in woods while Annie bushwhacked us a path...but would have loved to grab that when she spooked, spun, and ducked out on the paved county road over seeing Archie (neighbors large cute golden doodle). Needless to say, I'm sure I was quite a sight! I was grabbing saddle, mane, holding onto reins...trying to sit that spook. Off I came. First time off Annie. I did lessen my fall, landed on my butt, did NOT let go on reins..UNTIL Annie drug me on the road and wouldn't stop, so I let go. And she...stayed there..I ALMOST caught her..then something else scared her and she ran home. RAN. she broke her previous top speed, she hit nearly 34 mph. And was calmly standing at barn when I walked my butt back. Then what did I do? Took her back where she got scared, had a lesson, and came home. I was going to continue my ride, but I hear the VFW shooting Their Canon...and I've had my bang for the day, I'm not ending my year on this note. I'm riding tomorrow. Forgot how much I HATE coming off a horse...lol. Ow.
ReplyDelete12-30-15. Annie. 0.56. Pasture ride, didnt want her thinking that she could just get away with leaving me walking....LOL
12-31-15. Annie. 0.57 Well,i couldnt just let my year end like it did yesterday, so i rode a SHORT bareback ride in pasture with my Annie to, settle things, so to speak. hAHHA
YTD: 1313.55