Greetings! I live in South Central Montana, close to the town of Columbus. We are surrounded by the Beartooth Mountains, Absaroka Range, Crazy Mountains, and Pryor Mountains. I live on a small ranch (204 acres) but have riding privileges on 1,500 acres bordering our ranch, as well as the Beartooth Ranch, which has 20,000 acres. As a member of the Beartooth Back Country Horsemen, we also trek into the surrounding mountain ranges for work projects and pleasure. My go-to equine is Beau, an 8 year old quarter horse mule. I absolutely love this boy and we have logged over 1,000 miles in our 1st 7 ½ months as a team. We are hoping to log 10’s of 1,000ths of miles in the years we have remaining. I am 56 years old and have been riding since I was 6. I started with English lessons in the 60’s and switched to western when our family moved to Wyoming in 1971. I participated in both 4-h and FFA all the way through school and raised ½ Arabs out of my Appendix Quarter horse paint mare. Their temperament and trainability was amazing! I loved western pleasure, reining and speed events. I sold my last ranch-raised horse in 1979, right before my son was born. While I continued to ride and train other horses, I did not get back to equine ownership until after we bought the ranch and I had retired my position with a non-profit. This freed me up to work from home, and to enjoy the lifestyle I grew up with – horses, gardening, canning and the outdoors. We joined the Derby as I know how important a strong system-of-support can be – it got me through the bad and helped me rejoice when things went well. Our Derby goals are simple “Miles and Smiles”. While I would love to make 1,500 miles in 2015; the most important aspect is having fun with my mule, while respecting his needs, health and safety. I am only competing with one equine – I do not have any back-ups - so I have to take care of Beau. I am so looking forward to this adventure and already enjoying the comradery this forum has provided. Ride on! January, 2015 Rode Beau 154.25 miles, all by ourselves
February 11, 2015: Rode Beau 5.45 miles Horrible fog in the a,m., so we didn't tack up until after lunch. Just rode around our ranch then worked on refining transitions, circles, lead changes, backing, and side-passing in the arena. All-in-all - a good day.
February 12, 2015: Rode Beau 8.72 miles; fastest speed: 13.5 mph; average speed: 3.5 mph Got a nice little ride in. The wind was howling, so we picked a valley trail to the west so the wind would be at our backs on the way home. Solo ride - again. I believe the arena work is really paying off. He is much straighter on the trail and the transitions keep him "listening" for further cues!
February 13, 2015: Rode Beau 16.3 miles (Beartooth Ranch) February 14, 2015: Rode Beau 12.53 miles (Beartooth Ranch) February 15, 2015: Rode Beau 12.45 miles (Beartooth ranch)
March 26, 2015: Rode Beau 8.93 miles (Home Ranch) March 30, 2015: Rode Beau 14.8 miles (Home Ranch) March 31, 2015: Rode Beau 18.96 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 3, 2015: Rode Beau 16.18 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 4, 2015: Rode Beau 11.01 miles (Home Ranch) April 7, 2015: Rode Beau 19.22 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 9, 2015: Rode Beau 8.45 miles (Home Ranch) April 10, 2015: Rode Beau 12.71 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 13, 2015: Rode Beau 15.6 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 14, 2015: Rode Beau 17.62 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 17, 2015: Rode Beau 13.24 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 18, 2015: Rode Beau 12.28 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 20, 2015: Rode Beau 13.04 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 21, 2015: Rode Beau 9.82 miles (Home Ranch) April 22, 2015: Rode Beau 16.56 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 27, 2015: Rode Beau 15.41 miles (Beartooth Ranch) April 28, 2015: Rode Beau 12.67 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
May 7, 2015 taking another day off - it's raining, and we have several more of those days coming. Shall take advantage of this time to do some ground work (BIG SMILE).
May 28, 2015: Rode Beau 5.12 miles, Home Ranch/Outdoor Arena. Morning showers, again. But thankfully Beau stayed in his run-in-shed so I tacked him up when it quit. Knew the rain was coming again, so focused on having a nice training day in the arena and around the ranch. Did a lot of transitions - he is getting much better from canter to trot; and stop to canter. Getting him to flex much easier (mules have strong, short necks). Also ran a couple of barrel and pole bending patterns - fastest speed - 27.3 mph. Had a nice short, albeit productive ride. After stripping his tack, put his hobbles on and let him graze in the front yard.
May 29, 2015: Rode Beau 9.04 miles. After another 1 1/2" of rain, accumulated most of our miles in the arena. Thank goodness we have that option as the pastures and range land is really soggy. Actually starting to enjoy working on refinement - which is amazing as I love the trail, but we are both learning how to work together better as a team. Good day.
June 5, 2015: Rode Bear 13.14 Miles/Beartooth Ranch June 6, 2015: Rode Beau 5.14 Miles/Home Ranch, ponied Kelley Boy for 3.5 of those miles! Year to-date total = 947.6 miles!
June 7, 2015: Rode Beau 5.1 miles June 9, 2015: Rode Beau 22.62 miles June 11, 2015: Rode Beau 25.82 miles - over 1,000 for the year! June 12, 2015: Rode Beau 14.12 miles Jun 15. 2015: Rode Beau 14.71 miles June 17, 2015: Rode Beau 8 miles Year to-date = 1,037.97 miles
June 29, 2015: Rode Beau 12.77 miles at the Beartooth Ranch/Solo July 1, 2015: Rode Beau 8.67 miles w/Stephanie on her place and a neighboring ranch July 2, 2015: Rode Beau 10/47 miles on our place and neighboring ranches - went over 1,100 miles for the year - Yee Haw!
July 3, 2015: Rode Beau 14.75 miles with Team #28, Trottin Montana! Beau was happy that Carolyn rode Pockets - his favorite! We all enjoyed the variety of the ranch - Stillwater River, hayfields; and lots of hills and valleys. Had a wonderful time - and Carolyn is now over 100 miles - Yee Haw! The trails we rode are slower going as there are many steep and long climbs and descents
July 7, 2015: Tod Beau 16.93 miles, Beartooth Ranch July 8, 2015: Rode Beau 16.71 miles, Beartooth Ranch July 13, 2015: Rode Beau 9.62 miles @ Steph's place with Norma and Carolyn July 15, 2015: Rode Beau 14.07 miles Stillwater Trail - 2 hours Trailwork clearing downfall! July 16, 2015: Rode Beau 12.05 miles, Beartooth Ranch = 1 hour Trailwork, clearing noxious weeds! July 20, 2015: Rode Beau 20.32 miles with Team #28, Beartooth Ranch July 22, 2015: Rode Beau 10.23 miles Home Ranch and Neighboring Ranch Year-to-Date: 1,216.15 miles - Woo Hoo!
July 23, 2015: Rode Beau 15.13 mile with another gal from the Beartooth Ranch - nice ride July 26, 2015: Rode Beau 2.44 miles/Trail Work for today = 3 hours!
July 29, 2015: Rode Beau 21.14 miles, solo at the Beartooth Ranch July 31, 2015: Rode Beau 16.07 miles, solo at the Beartooth Ranch August 2, 2015: Rode Beau 12.77 miles, solo at the Beartooth Ranch August 5, 2015: Rode Beau 6.23 miles, solo at our Ranch and the neighboring ranch Miles to date: 1,301.65 - Yee Haw!
August 6: Rode 15.4 miles August 10: Rode 12.51 miles August 11: Rode 10.7 miles August 13: Rode 16.03 miles August 17: Rode 3.38 miles August 19: Rode 15.01 miles August 24: Rode 12.35 miles August 25: Rode 15.56 miles August 26: Rode 13.25 miles September: Rode 228.89 miles in 16 rides! October: Rode 162.34 miles in 13 rides! Year-to-date = 1,837.75 miles
Greetings! I live in South Central Montana, close to the town of Columbus. We are surrounded by the Beartooth Mountains, Absaroka Range, Crazy Mountains, and Pryor Mountains. I live on a small ranch (204 acres) but have riding privileges on 1,500 acres bordering our ranch, as well as the Beartooth Ranch, which has 20,000 acres. As a member of the Beartooth Back Country Horsemen, we also trek into the surrounding mountain ranges for work projects and pleasure. My go-to equine is Beau, an 8 year old quarter horse mule. I absolutely love this boy and we have logged over 1,000 miles in our 1st 7 ½ months as a team. We are hoping to log 10’s of 1,000ths of miles in the years we have remaining. I am 56 years old and have been riding since I was 6. I started with English lessons in the 60’s and switched to western when our family moved to Wyoming in 1971. I participated in both 4-h and FFA all the way through school and raised ½ Arabs out of my Appendix Quarter horse paint mare. Their temperament and trainability was amazing! I loved western pleasure, reining and speed events. I sold my last ranch-raised horse in 1979, right before my son was born. While I continued to ride and train other horses, I did not get back to equine ownership until after we bought the ranch and I had retired my position with a non-profit. This freed me up to work from home, and to enjoy the lifestyle I grew up with – horses, gardening, canning and the outdoors.
ReplyDeleteWe joined the Derby as I know how important a strong system-of-support can be – it got me through the bad and helped me rejoice when things went well. Our Derby goals are simple “Miles and Smiles”. While I would love to make 1,500 miles in 2015; the most important aspect is having fun with my mule, while respecting his needs, health and safety. I am only competing with one equine – I do not have any back-ups - so I have to take care of Beau. I am so looking forward to this adventure and already enjoying the comradery this forum has provided. Ride on!
January, 2015
Rode Beau 154.25 miles, all by ourselves
February 1, 2015: Rode Beau 4.65 miles
ReplyDeleteFebruary 2, 2015: Rode Beau 7.12 miles
February 5, 2015: Rode Beau 4.6 miles
ReplyDeleteFebruary 6, 2015: Rode Beau 15.02 miles
February 8, 2015: Rode Beau 16.03 miles - putting us over 200 MILES! Yee Haw! Wonderful, wonderful day with an amazing mule partner!
ReplyDeleteFebruary 11, 2015: Rode Beau 5.45 miles
ReplyDeleteHorrible fog in the a,m., so we didn't tack up until after lunch. Just rode around our ranch then worked on refining transitions, circles, lead changes, backing, and side-passing in the arena. All-in-all - a good day.
February 12, 2015: Rode Beau 8.72 miles; fastest speed: 13.5 mph; average speed: 3.5 mph
ReplyDeleteGot a nice little ride in. The wind was howling, so we picked a valley trail to the west so the wind would be at our backs on the way home. Solo ride - again. I believe the arena work is really paying off. He is much straighter on the trail and the transitions keep him "listening" for further cues!
February 13, 2015: Rode Beau 16.3 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteFebruary 14, 2015: Rode Beau 12.53 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
February 15, 2015: Rode Beau 12.45 miles (Beartooth ranch)
February 17, 2015: Rode Beau 2.67 miles (Arena work)
ReplyDeleteFebruary 18, 2005: Rode Beau 18.46 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteFebruary 19, 2015: Rode Beau 11.22 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteFebruary 23, 2015: Rode Beau 5.36 miles (Home Ranch)
February 24, 2015: Rode Beau 15.53 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteFebruary 25, 2015: Rode Beau 7.19 miles (Home Ranch/Neighboring Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 1, 2015: Rode Beau 12.28 miles
ReplyDeleteMarch 2, 2015: Rode Beau 10.43 miles
March 5, 2015: Rode Beau 11.76 miles
ReplyDeleteMarch 6, 2015: Rode Beau 13.2 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 7, 2015: Road Beau 13.37 miles (Home Ranch, Neighboring Ranch & Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 8, 2016: Rode Beau 4.37 miles (Home ranch/arena)
ReplyDeleteMarch 9, 2015: Rode Beau 10.31 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 11. 2015: Rode Beau 10.27 miles (Neighboring Ranch). Past the 400 mile mark!
ReplyDeleteMarch 12, 2015: Rode Beau 14.67 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 14, 2015: Rode Beau 13.39 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 19, 2015: Rode Beau 5.09 miles (Home Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 20, 2015: Rode Beau 20.73 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 26, 2015: Rode Beau 8.93 miles (Home Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMarch 30, 2015: Rode Beau 14.8 miles (Home Ranch)
March 31, 2015: Rode Beau 18.96 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 3, 2015: Rode Beau 16.18 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 4, 2015: Rode Beau 11.01 miles (Home Ranch)
April 7, 2015: Rode Beau 19.22 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 9, 2015: Rode Beau 8.45 miles (Home Ranch)
April 10, 2015: Rode Beau 12.71 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 13, 2015: Rode Beau 15.6 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 14, 2015: Rode Beau 17.62 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 17, 2015: Rode Beau 13.24 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 18, 2015: Rode Beau 12.28 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 20, 2015: Rode Beau 13.04 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 21, 2015: Rode Beau 9.82 miles (Home Ranch)
April 22, 2015: Rode Beau 16.56 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 27, 2015: Rode Beau 15.41 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 28, 2015: Rode Beau 12.67 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
April 30, 2015: Rode Beau 12.2 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMay 1, 2015: Rode Beau 13.4 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
Year-to-date Total = 719.53 miles
May 2, 2015: Rode Beau 15.39 miles (Beartooth Ranch)
ReplyDeleteMay 4, 2015: Rode Beau 14.33 with Team #28
ReplyDeleteMay 5, 2015: Rode Beau 15.38 miles
Year-to-date = 764.63
May 7, 2015 taking another day off - it's raining, and we have several more of those days coming. Shall take advantage of this time to do some ground work (BIG SMILE).
ReplyDeleteMay 10, 2015: Beau and I rode 12.05 miles, Beartooth Ranch
ReplyDeleteMay 12, 2015, Rode 10.5 miles with Team #119, and another 6.25 alone
ReplyDeleteTotal: 16.75 miles
May 13, 2015: Rode Beau 12.59 miles, Beartooth Ranch
ReplyDeleteYear-to-date = 806.02 miles
May 19, 2015: Rode Beau 15.41 miles, Home and Neighboring Ranch.
ReplyDeleteMay 20, 2015: Rode Beau 16.94 miles, Beartooth Ranch
ReplyDeleteMay 21, 2015: Rode Beau 13.41 miles with Team #28, Trottin Montana
May 25, 2015: Rode Beau 6.04 miles, Home Ranch, Outdoor Arena
ReplyDeleteMay 26, 2015: Rode Beau 12.02 miles, Stillwater Trail out of Nye, Montana with Team #28, Trottin Montana.
ReplyDeleteMay 28, 2015: Rode Beau 5.12 miles, Home Ranch/Outdoor Arena. Morning showers, again. But thankfully Beau stayed in his run-in-shed so I tacked him up when it quit. Knew the rain was coming again, so focused on having a nice training day in the arena and around the ranch. Did a lot of transitions - he is getting much better from canter to trot; and stop to canter. Getting him to flex much easier (mules have strong, short necks). Also ran a couple of barrel and pole bending patterns - fastest speed - 27.3 mph. Had a nice short, albeit productive ride. After stripping his tack, put his hobbles on and let him graze in the front yard.
ReplyDeleteMay 29, 2015: Rode Beau 9.04 miles. After another 1 1/2" of rain, accumulated most of our miles in the arena. Thank goodness we have that option as the pastures and range land is really soggy. Actually starting to enjoy working on refinement - which is amazing as I love the trail, but we are both learning how to work together better as a team. Good day.
ReplyDeleteMay 30, 2015: Rode Beau 10.09 miles
ReplyDeleteMay 31, 2015: Rode Beau 6.42 miles
Total to-date: 900.51 miles - Yee Haw!
June 1, 2015: Rode Beau 8.61 miles
ReplyDeleteJune 3, 2015: Rode Beau 16.26 miles
ReplyDeleteJune 4, 2015: Rode Beau 3.94 miles
ReplyDeleteJune 5, 2015: Rode Bear 13.14 Miles/Beartooth Ranch
ReplyDeleteJune 6, 2015: Rode Beau 5.14 Miles/Home Ranch, ponied Kelley Boy for 3.5 of those miles!
Year to-date total = 947.6 miles!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJune 7, 2015: Rode Beau 5.1 miles
ReplyDeleteJune 9, 2015: Rode Beau 22.62 miles
June 11, 2015: Rode Beau 25.82 miles - over 1,000 for the year!
June 12, 2015: Rode Beau 14.12 miles
Jun 15. 2015: Rode Beau 14.71 miles
June 17, 2015: Rode Beau 8 miles
Year to-date = 1,037.97 miles
June 22, 2015: Rode Beau 9.5 miles
ReplyDeleteJune 23, 2015; Rode Beau 14.43 miles, solo, on the Beartooth Ranch
ReplyDeleteJune 24, 2015: Rode Beau 7.66 miles at the Beartooth Ranch with Team #28
ReplyDeleteJune 29, 2015: Rode Beau 12.77 miles at the Beartooth Ranch/Solo
ReplyDeleteJuly 1, 2015: Rode Beau 8.67 miles w/Stephanie on her place and a neighboring ranch
July 2, 2015: Rode Beau 10/47 miles on our place and neighboring ranches - went over 1,100 miles for the year - Yee Haw!
July 3, 2015: Rode Beau 14.75 miles with Team #28, Trottin Montana! Beau was happy that Carolyn rode Pockets - his favorite! We all enjoyed the variety of the ranch - Stillwater River, hayfields; and lots of hills and valleys. Had a wonderful time - and Carolyn is now over 100 miles - Yee Haw! The trails we rode are slower going as there are many steep and long climbs and descents
ReplyDeleteJuly 7, 2015: Tod Beau 16.93 miles, Beartooth Ranch
ReplyDeleteJuly 8, 2015: Rode Beau 16.71 miles, Beartooth Ranch
July 13, 2015: Rode Beau 9.62 miles @ Steph's place with Norma and Carolyn
July 15, 2015: Rode Beau 14.07 miles Stillwater Trail - 2 hours Trailwork clearing downfall!
July 16, 2015: Rode Beau 12.05 miles, Beartooth Ranch = 1 hour Trailwork, clearing noxious weeds!
July 20, 2015: Rode Beau 20.32 miles with Team #28, Beartooth Ranch
July 22, 2015: Rode Beau 10.23 miles Home Ranch and Neighboring Ranch
Year-to-Date: 1,216.15 miles - Woo Hoo!
July 23, 2015: Rode Beau 15.13 mile with another gal from the Beartooth Ranch - nice ride
ReplyDeleteJuly 26, 2015: Rode Beau 2.44 miles/Trail Work for today = 3 hours!
July 27, 2015: Rode Beau 11.72 miles, solo at the Beartooth Ranch.
ReplyDeleteJuly 29, 2015: Rode Beau 21.14 miles, solo at the Beartooth Ranch
ReplyDeleteJuly 31, 2015: Rode Beau 16.07 miles, solo at the Beartooth Ranch
August 2, 2015: Rode Beau 12.77 miles, solo at the Beartooth Ranch
August 5, 2015: Rode Beau 6.23 miles, solo at our Ranch and the neighboring ranch
Miles to date: 1,301.65 - Yee Haw!
August 6: Rode 15.4 miles
ReplyDeleteAugust 10: Rode 12.51 miles
August 11: Rode 10.7 miles
August 13: Rode 16.03 miles
August 17: Rode 3.38 miles
August 19: Rode 15.01 miles
August 24: Rode 12.35 miles
August 25: Rode 15.56 miles
August 26: Rode 13.25 miles
September: Rode 228.89 miles in 16 rides!
October: Rode 162.34 miles in 13 rides!
Year-to-date = 1,837.75 miles