RBTR 2015 Preview

I'll write up something more conclusive over the next few days, but for now - for those who haven't already seen it on Facebook - I'm just gonna leave this here.

Photo by Becky Pearman
Yes, I bought the photo. She also shared this one to Facebook.

No Frills 55: Gear Review

** All opinions on products in this post are my own. I have not been compensated for any of this.**

Vipers: I decided last fall when Q hucked an orange Renegade off in the autumn foilage that I HAD to have the bright green Vipers for the 2014 season and basically the rest of life. Sure, the grass gets green in the spring, but the amount of time I spend riding in grass is minimal, and the green of the Vipers is even brighter than most grass. The orange was just TOO hard to find in the fall foilage around here. The orange-ish clay soils don't help at all either.

I let Q's feet do whatever they wanted through winter. I measured in November for a baseline, then just maintained them through winter as I saw fit. By April they were in a solid place, and only a millimeter off what they had been pre-winter!

So I told Ashley what her measurements were, she helped me determine what size was likely (125x125), and I sent off for boots 3 weeks out from my ride.

The boots arrived, not the size Ashley told me to request. In fact, they were basically the exact size of Q's hoof! 125x120. I promptly returned them and sent along tracings of Q's feet for further reference.

Two days out from departure day from the ride, I sent Gina Lander an email query about getting the boots in time for the ride. She CALLED me and let me know what was going on. She double-checked when I needed them, confirmed that they would do 2 day shipping so I could get them on time. She also noted that they put two pairs of boots (130x125 and 135x130) in the box. She said for me to see which fit and send back the ones that didn't.

But, because that wasn't awesome enough, she also noted for me to take the other pair to the ride and use them as back ups if need be. She said she wanted me to have a successful ride and if I needed to use the boots I planned to return, she didn't care.

WOW. What customer service!! I seriously have had nothing but AMAZING customer service from this company from day one of dealing with them. But this? This blew me away. AMAZING.

The box arrived Thursday and Mike and I went out to the barn so I could fit them on Q. She's a 135x130. Big foot; little mare. Mike got a lesson in boot fitting, too. =) He asked great questions.

And, as I noted in the post about the ride, the Vipers worked flawlessly. There was only one minor issue, and that was semi-expected with the misstep Q took coupled with the slick mud and water that the boots had been in just prior.

I fully plan to purchase Vipers to fit my horses all the way around, but money being what it is, this endeavor will be pursued over time. =)

Bottom line, LOVE these boots, LOVE the new, improved fit on Q, and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the customer service Renegade provides.


Horse Quencher: I ordered some of this stuff on Black Friday to have this season for Q at competitions. I tossed it into her water bucket at camp on Friday night. By morning the entire bucket was empty. When presented with a bucket of "clean" water vs. a bucket of HQ water the following day after the ride, she opted for the HQ water each time. Only one ride, and n=1 is never very telling, but so far, success! And I'll take it. =)


Electrolyte: This was my first ride electolyting Q. I noticed a marked difference between Mary's horses' drinking habits last year and the drinking habits of my own horse when at a ride. She electrolyted her guys and they drank like CHAMPS. She didn't go to any extremes with it like I've seen some people do (3x night before, 3x morning of, 3x at each hold!). She would give them one syringe the night before, one in the morning, and one at each check.

The formula she was using last year (which she has altered this year to include Perfect Balance because Gryphon's tummy is so sensitive) was ½ Perform N Win and ½ EnduraMax. She'd mix those into date syrup or molasses to make them more favorable to the horses. I used the molasses + applesauce to thin it better for dosing Q. I even tasted the mixture and it wasn't too bad. Bearable.

I gave Q one the night before, one the morning of, and one at the first check, opting out of one at the second check since she was so hungry. I didn't want to ruin the eating for her. And with only 7 miles to go to get back to camp, I didn't feel the need to dose her again.

She drank better than she EVER has on trail, and she's a decent drinker already! She tanked up on many, many occasions, even stopping and asking letting me know she had to drink. I was psyched. I didn't have to worry about her all day as far as hydration went. Good mare!

Once again, n=1 and that isn't very telling, but so far, a success. We'll see how she does the rest of the season.

Pommel pack: This was a new addition for me at a ride. I've had it for a few months but haven't used it much other than the trip to MD at the beginning of April. I loved having the pockets in front instead of just the cantle pack behind. SO much more convenient! I still doubled up this bag with the cantle bag for the ride, but the cantle bag only had my two water bottles and the spare boots/vet wrap. Really light. Mostly just bulk, not weight.

I loved this setup. I was able to pack everything I needed and have what I needed access to most often (my snacks, Q's snacks, chapstick, sunscreen, etc.) right in front of me. This enabled me to let Q keep trotting while I multitasked instead of having to slow her to a walk so that I could turn around and get something out from behind me. Win!


Phone belt/pocket: I saw a great looking elastic belt with  a little pocket just big enough for a phone and some credit cards on the LifeProof website a month back. At a very affordable $22, I ordered it. the material of the pocket is much like a bathing suit/breeches. It expands. This is great for me because my Galaxy S4 that I use Endomondo on to track my distance/keep time/use for emergencies doesn't fit in so many of the phone holsters out there on the market.

The pocket/belt was perfect. Getting the phone in and out isn't the EASIEST thing in the world at the trot, but its doable. The pocket/belt is really minimal in its construction and didn't bother me at ALL to wear with my crash vest.

I loved this product and highly recommend it to any other riders/runners/bikers out there. It is important to me to have my phone ON MY PERSON at all times and not attached to the horse. If something happens and I come off and my horse runs away, I want to have a way to contact help (provided I'm in service). If I'm in a wilderness area and this happens, well, I'm screwed. (Not really, but that's a can of worms worth discussing another time.)


Butt Butt'r: Okay. Let's talk chafing.

I never had an issue with this until I started riding in the dressage saddle and my position was changed. I'm less sore all over from the change, but now...now I chafe like I never did before. UGH.

Desitin is my BFF after rides and during them. Saiph saved my butt (literally) at Fort Valley this year when she had some at hand when I couldn't find mine.

A few months ago, I ordered a product Funder raves about, Butt Butt'r. Its a product that cyclists use a lot, apparently. The eurostyle version was what I was sent from Amazon. It has witchhazel in it among other ingredients, but this is the ingredient that lends the cooling sensation, I'm fairly certain.

It. Is. Amazing.

When I was in CA visiting, I briefly asked Funder about it and she noted that you won't chafe at all if you slather enough of it on every chance you get. So that is just what I did. Pre race, at the checks, and even ON THE TRAIL. Because yup, you guessed it, that bad boy went into my saddlebags!

And let me tell you. MIRACLE CREME. I didn't chafe. At all. SUPER HUGE AWESOME WIN!


Additional new things for this ride that weren't so much new gear but new additions for ride day:


Crash vest: I wore Saiph's for a loop or two of the Fort Valley ride, but No Frills was the first ride I wore my own for all but the final 7 miles.

I honestly think the vest and the upright position it helps you to keep helped me to not be so sore overall. I didn't ever get super hot either. And overall, it was nice to not worry about hitting the ground on gravel and the super rocky trails if Q spooked like she's prone to do and send me flying as a result.

We'll see how I handle it later in the summer when it's hot as stink + high humidity, but for now, I'm pleased.


iPod + speaker: When Saiph and I had discussed riding together for this ride, we'd talked about having iPods with speakers to enjoy later in the ride when talking may be too much because we were tired/focused. When I knew I'd be all alone for this ride, it became a necessity in my mind.

I saw a few of the front runners head out with earbuds/headphones, but I like to be able to hear more of what's around me instead of completely blocking it out. The speaker would allow me to have music, but to also have awareness of my surroundings.

I didn't listen to it the whole time, but I can say that when I did listen to it (in the top pocket of the pommel pack) I thoroughly enjoyed the music. It was a nice mood booster and by that last 7 miles was just what I needed. I was able to focus on the beat of the music as it related to Q's footfalls. I think Q enjoyed it a little too as she was always in time with the music.

While I know this may not be the same cup of tea for all riders I ride with, I definitely plan to at least take it with me on future rides to have as an option. If I'm alone, I'll listen. If those around me are game if I'm riding with people, I'll turn it on then, too. Music is a wonderful thing.

Renegade Sound

Happy to report that when I went out Tuesday night Q was much less tender on every surface except the walnut-sized gravel. She's definitely not tender at all in the area of her frog that I removed. The tenderness is back near her heels for certain. She's still not landing toe first, but she is choosing to land much more flat-footed with a slightly shorter stride than she did previously.

I buffed up all of her feet while she [mostly] stood like a saint. I am happy to report that with each finished foot placed on the ground licking and chewing commenced from the lady horse. When I'd finished she was even choosing to stand a lot more squared up than before. And, rather than rest the most tender right front foot, the entire time I was out there she chose to alternately rest one of her hinds - especially after the trim, she was squared perfect in the front with weight shifting back and forth in the back.

I tossed on her front Renegades and took her out for a little lunging. She acted like it still hurt a bit at first. I think she expected it to hurt so she was cautious about her movement. Within seconds though, she was moving out like normal. Renegades to the rescue! We'll ride in these for a good few weeks and then reassess how those feet feel on various surfaces. More soaking of all feet will continue until that bottle of White Lightning is used up.

She's on 24/7 turnout with hay whenever she wants it; when she gets grain its a low NSC grain; and grain is supplemented with a scoop of minerals and [now] probiotics. We'll have those feet back into awesome shape soon! Until then, booted rides. Still have a goal to do the 30 mile LD No Frills ride at the end of April in Virginia. I've just got to secure a ride there!

Now, if only this snow would disappear for good...

Film Friday: Slow-mo videos of Q in Renegades!

We got our rear boots in the mail yesterday. So logically I had to go get video of her showing them off!

** Don't forget the GIVEAWAY! The winner will be chosen tomorrow evening! Just comment on this post to be entered in my blog giveaway. You can choose a hand-tied halter in the color of your choice or a hand-knitted hat in color/yarn type/style of your choice! **

Ride Between the Rivers 2012

Ah, what a wonderful whirlwind of a weekend.  My ride and story will definitely be overshadowed by Tevis - since they were on the same day - but for me, this was a special weekend.  My first race with my own horse.

Q did incredible.  Let me just put that out there first thing.  She pushed harder and stronger than I thought she could/would and pulsed down like a CHAMP.  I really couldn't be much happier with her performance.

: : : : :

I rolled out of the office early Thursday to get to ride camp since D had hauled Q down earlier that morning.  I arrived to find Q happily settled in an electric corral strategically placed under a tree line that would provide her shade for 60% of the day.  She was happily nomming on the tall grass in her corral when I arrived, clearly not missing me or anyone else for that matter.

I got settled with in an hour or so, gave her some hay and her grain etc., made certain the water crew filled her tub, and went to socialize within site of her.  Only a few other rigs and riders were there Thursday - we recommend most show up Friday, though I hear many hope to come as early as TUESDAY!? next year because they love the area/trails/etc. so much.

She almost looks dappled here...odd.

Thursday night brought a potluck and low country boil dinner with the club members and I hit the sack at 9:30p just because.

I woke around sunrise on Friday after sleeping surprisingly well in my friend Tina's camper.  Really well, actually.  I fetched Q out of her corral to walk around camp and let her stretch out and eat some for awhile.  We mozied around enjoying the misty morning, dew covered grass, and quiet.

I took the morning slowly, with no major obligations on my plate.  I hid in the shade, ate two breakfasts and then decided I ought to test out those damn Easyboot gloves on her hind feet on the hill we would encounter on the second loop.  After all, I hadn't ridden her in 3 or 4 days.  So we booted up, Renegades in the front and gloves on the back and headed out for an hour.

I wrapped her hind hooves in vet wrap pre-boot application.  We had no issues going up the steep, rocky, clay hill in them.  They stayed on through slipping and sliding and crazy mud puddles.  However, on our ride back up the gravel road I let her stretch into a canter and when we stopped I noted that one boot was completely gone.  Brilliant.  We trotted back, got the boot out of the ditch, reapplied, and continued back to camp.  I figured at this point that I would vet wrap and duct tape for the next morning's race.

My two junior riders arrived with the rest of ride camp sometime Friday afternoon.  N's mom used to be my trimmer before I got comfortable doing my horses hooves myself and she offered me some Renegades for Q's back feet for the race.  YES!  No time to test them, so we'd have to hope for the best.

Q's vet-in Friday afternoon went without incident.  She got As on everything except her cap. refill where she got a B.  Vet wasn't concerned though because she'd been standing in the heat not moving and therefore not drinking for a few hours.  I noted this and filed it into my mind.

: : : : :

We had 50 riders in the 50 miler and 43 riders in the 30 miler.  Due to the prediction of a hot race day we moved the starts a half hour earlier each; the 50s would start at 6a and the 30s at 6:30a.  I got to sleep pretty early after the ride meeting and dinner in preparation.

I woke at 2:41a and decided to go ahead and give Q and Moshka (another friend's horse who would be attempting the 50) their grain and electrolytes.  I caught a little more shut eye and then awoke around 5a to start my morning.

I knew my biggest issue would be keeping myself fed and hydrated so the first thing I did was stuff two hard boiled eggs and a blueberry muffin down my gullet.  I prepped myself and all my gear/snacks etc. as I mentally prepped the order in which I would get Q ready so it would go smoothly when I got to it.

Fail.

I was so flustered at time slipping by that if it weren't for Ari showing up around 6a I don't think I would have made it to the start to meet my group.  The vet I scribed for last year had three horses in the race and had arranged for me to ride out with them promising they'd be doing an easy ~6 mph pace and leaving after the front runners.

With Ari's help, we got Q ready and suited up and headed out right in the nick of time meeting my three riding buddies at the start in time to head on out.

: : : : :

That whole thing about going out behind the front runners?  Yeah, BARELY.  Those who galloped out were the only ones in front of us.  It was a fast and stressful first 2 or 3 miles.  I knew the big black mare (BBM) we were with kicked, but the two paints weren't supposed to.  I still did my best to keep my distance, but then within the first mile Indy (Arab x TB x Oldenberg) mare nailed Q in the muzzle.  Greatttttt.  Her rider was very distressed and upset, but there was really nothing that could be done about it.  Q seemed okay and onward we went.

Q really handled the start well.  She handled horses around her in close quarters a helluva lot better than I'd thought she could or would.  The first 6-8 miles of the loop (18 miles total) were FAST.  6 mph pace my ass.  Canter, canter, canter, trot, canter, canter.  Q seemed okay, so we pushed on.

I checked constantly to see if our boots were all on.  Those back Rennies were SOLID.

The terrain for our ride is rough.  The vets and several riders agree about the whole 30 being like a 50 and 50 being like a 100.  We gained 3000 ft. elevation in that first 18 mile loop alone.  The terrain was rocky as all get out, muddy as hell from all the rain we've had, and interspersed with sand, clay, and deep ass mud puddles.  Keeping boots and shoes on was a challenge for everyone.

After the first half-ish of the first loop, Q seemed to be getting tired - or maybe I was paranoid.  I slowed her up and she let the group we'd been with run of and out of sight ahead of us.  Good girl.  Within seconds though, others were running up from behind.  This jazzed her up and she jigged a good bit and I had to resolve to just turn her to face them and stand still while they all passed.  We followed.

She had one "flat tire" after this where her left front boot spun off and around her pastern.  I stopped, got off, fixed it, and we continued without another issue.  We ended up finding our group of three riders from the beginning and finished the loop with them without any major incidents.

: : : : :

As Q and I arrived back at camp I slowed her to a walk for the last quarter mile.  Upon reaching the field, still several hundred feet away from the start/finish line I got off, loosened her girth, and walked her in.  We finished the first loop in 2h:45m, nearly an HOUR faster than I'd targeted.  I was in no hurry to get her pulsed down, we had 45 minutes to get her to 64 bpm and I knew she could do that easy.

Make fun of my hat, everyone does.

I handed her off to a friend and hucked my Camelbak and helmet off my head and started untacking Q as I gave direction to my first-time helpers.  We hucked all her tack into a pile and started sponging and scraping.  Tina came over to check on us, she was a pulse checker and she insisted on doing a courtesy check within 5 minutes of us getting in "just to see where we were".  Well, lo and behold, Q was at 62 bpm.  I was happy, but still not worried about getting to the vet check IMMEDIATELY.  Everyone around me however, freaked out and pushed me in that direction.

I started to get ticked off at this point. Some lady I didn't know, and still don't know who she was or why she was "helping" me was treating me like a complete and total idiot.  She was pushing me to get through the check and being a royal pain.  I went to the check quickly just to get everyone off my back.  Q passed with all As and a B for her cap refill (by the same vet as the vet in - we had 5 vets).  I got my out time and headed back to the tent to get Q settled, gave my helpers some direction, and headed off to change into non-sweaty clothes.  I stuffed a sandwich in my stomach, drank a lot of water and propel, and was tacked up and ready to go by my out time.

Ari to my right scribed for the vet Q and I used for our vet-in and hold

Feeling not so sweaty after a change of clothes

: : : :

For the second loop, 12 miles, Q and I played mother duck to 2 junior riders.  They were pretty nervous at the start, but since my first-loop group left around the same time, Q was eager to follow and we ended up galloping up the hill out of camp.  That got my junior riders jitters out in a hurry.

Parents and family friends of the girls flocked around me as I pick up my junior riders

N on Bella on the left and M on Leroy to the right

Waiting for the girls to get settled - Q got a change in pad the same as I got a change in clothes
(she had a Mattes pad for wither relief as well)

Onward!!

We had a mile on gravel before reaching the loop and the steep up hill.  The girls lost three boots in this time.  N's horse had 4 Easyboots and M's had Renegades in the front and Gloves in the back.  Hind boots were lost by all, with N's horse keeping one.

We made it up the steep hill without any problems, N's horse that had never crossed water crossed through all puddles unfazed.

As we got settled out on the top N's horse one of her front boots twice before we gave up and left it off (I put it in my saddle bag).

Now, this loop is pretty rocky if you recall from my test run to clear trail on it the weekend before.  I was faced with some hard strategy decisions with all these missing boots and boots that wouldn't stay on.  I decided since I knew where the trail was relatively soft vs. rocky we would push harder over those sections (4 miles or so).  The girls kept up well and even pushed me forward through sections.  As we crested yet another small rise we came to a rider check point to find N's mom and Sonya with the girls boots they'd lost.  What luck!  They got booted back up and we headed out again.  (For the record, parent and Sonya were surprised and I think a little miffed even, that we'd picked such a fast pace. The girls' horses were doing great though and I knew we'd have to walk a lot later on.  I kept close tabs on all human and horse counterparts.  I wasn't about to run anyone into the ground.)

We conquered the steep hill and the girls weren't nearly as freaked by it as I worried they would be.  I psyched them out about it pretty bad, so it wasn't nearly as bad as they thought it would be.  We all got off and walked the last section of it for safe measure though.

By the bottom we'd run into my first loop group again.  We'd bee yo-yoing with them along the trail but had lost them when we booted back up.  I let them head off in front out of sight before we took off again.

The second half of the 12 mile loop was flat, but very slick and muddy most the way.  We were able to trot most of it, a couple cantering stretches, but mostly a fast walk.  Q was agitated as all hell by this point in time and really pulled on the reins.  She knew she was headed back to camp and had a LOT of energy in her.  I was cranky with her and with myself for my choice in reins and lack of gloves (they were soaked and had made my hands pruny - thus reins were slipping like mad thru my hands).

I had my second "flat tire" on the opposite foot on this little stretch.  It was the same as the first, just the opposite foot and I fixed it quickly and we moved on.

The rest of the loop went without incident and those back boots stayed on SOLID for the whole ride.  WIN.

We came into camp the same way as before, walking the last ¼ mile and then getting off, loosening girths, and walking in the last few hundred feet.  Once in camp, with the girls taken care of by a flock of concerned parents and their friends I let my helper from the vet check after the 18 take my horse and we went through our first routine, but faster.  I anticipated Q pulsing down quickly by this point.

I got myself and Q untacked, sponged quickly, and scraped off.  For this final vet check we had to be down to 60 within 30 minutes.  I immediately took her to get a courtesy check of her pulse after one sponging to find she was at 56.  Excellent!

Bandanas keep sweat at bay and help me to look like a trucker, weee!

Talking with my vet and scribe about Q

Hot and tired, but a successful completion of our first LD!!!

There was a slight line (we were down one vet because Bob was helping his three riders/horses who had come in 5-10 minutes ahead of me) so Q and I stood in the shade of the vet tent and waited.  The head vet freed up and came to vet us through.  All As except a B in skin tent this time, and 60/60 on her trot out.  Good girl Q!!

And with that, we'd completed our first 30!

: : : : :

I have yet to get my official ride time, but it was somewhere around 5 hours.  I know we did the first loop in ~2h:45m and the second in ~2h:15m.

Parents were beyond thrilled that I'd taken the kids.  I was proud of the girls for doing so well.  M now loves speed (she was very hesitant to even trot prior to this!).  Q was a champ and ate very well throughout the ride and drank pretty well at all water crossings (her favorite place to drink being the most disgusting of deep mud puddles).

I'm beyond thrilled that Q pulsed down so quickly, and thankful I've read enough from several of your blogs about how to go about things and knew what to expect with everything.  To the endurance riding bloggers out there: y'all were like my little crew within my head - thanks for writing about your own experiences and things you learn for me to file away in my mind.

So, so, so proud of my little mare.  Her neck is a bit swollen where that kick may have nicked her in addition to getting her in the muzzle.  I've reviewed the footage a couple times and I really don't think she got her in the neck...but she very well may have.  Updates on that will continue as the days go by.

Our next ride will be the second weekend in October (can't do the OAATS ride due to a NSP conflict) at the Kentucky Stampede.  While I can't wait to get into 50s, we will likely only be doing the 25.  I have lots more time to train her and hope to push her harder in this ride now that she's proven she's not a delicate flower.  Love my little mare!

...watch out Griffin, your time to become a fit horse has arrived.  *evil laughter*

Pre-Race Jitters

Tuesday night I didn’t sleep well (yet, despite this, I still woke feeling SUPER rested – thanks Vit. D3 (&& Funder for bringing D3 to my attention this past spring)). I kept dreaming of hoof boots and the race and failure and success and whether or not I had all my logistics in order.

See, I rode Q on some of the trails on Sunday. They’ve recently put gravel on a lot of old logging roads that were just dirt, and the erosion on some of the others has reached epic proportions unearthing lots of rocks in the process. While I haven’t had to boot Q’s back feet yet, I definitely realized I would need them for the race. …I found this out < a week before the ride.  Oi vey.

Fortunately, I do have boots that fit her back feet – or marginally so. Well, I guess more than marginally, but just not perfectly. I’ve bought athletic tape and vet wrap to see which will work best around her hoof pre-boot application and I plan to test this out on some mini rides over the next few days across various terrain. She will be going out with Renegades on the front and Easyboots with pads on the back. I’ve lunged her on the flat with the rear boots, and they really do seem to fit well, but they come off far easier than I hear an Easyboot should come off when it comes time to remove them, so I’m going to wrap her hooves before I wrap that sucker of a boot around her feet. The last thing I need is a boot flying off on the hill!

Speaking of hill, the hills on this ride are gnarly! When I rode the ride 5 years ago the trails were quite different. Portions are the same, but mostly different now. On the 18 mile loop alone a rider is going to gain 3,000 feet of elevation. Oi vey! Supposedly, if you can complete our 30 mile LD with ease, you’re ready for an easy-intermediate 50; and if you can complete our 50 mile endurance, you’re ready to try an easy-intermediate (though no 100 is “easy” per se) 100 miler. Go figure. Fortunately, I train on similar-esque turf at home – just sans the SUPER steepness.

I WILL be walking her down the hill I experienced Sunday. The uphill we did was steep, but short and sweet and she recovered quickly. I won’t have one for this ride, but I do plan on purchasing a crupper adaptor for my saddle from Running Bear and training her to a crupper for future rides.

Oh, additionally, Sunday’s ride helped me to note that I am not deathly allergic to stings from hornets. When I did the endurance ride LAST TIME (5 years ago) I was stung by them. That was the last time I’d been stung. Well, clearing trail on Sunday presented me with the opportunity to be stung AGAIN. SEVEN. TIMES. This means I shouldn’t get stung for another bajillion years, right? Two stings resulted in a 5 year hiatus, so this means that with seven I should get about 17.5 years, right? Wishful thinking. On a comical note, they stung me through my leggings (no horses were stung, lucky Q) and got my ass pretty good. SIGH.

I leave this afternoon for ride camp. D is taking Q out when she leaves (sometime this morning) and I will arrive no later than 3p. I’m super psyched and pretty sure all my logistics for myself, Kenai, and Q are in order. I shall update everyone on the whole experience when I return! Wish us success and safety in our first LD! (With any luck we will be attending our next race (25 mile LD in Ohio) in a little over a month! …maybe I’ll find Endurance Granny and the Spotted Wonder there as it’s near their neck of the woods!) 

Sportin' the red

I just bought this for Orion (in red).

Super excited.  Halter with a bridle clip in.  (Bit and reins not included)  The reins I have already have red in them so it'll match well.  It'll be sweet though, clipping the bit in and out when I need to.  Perfect for transitions during the race.  We set out for 15 miles then have an hour break when we come back into camp, then back out for the final 15.  Have to a vet check during the break - maybe two - I can't remember.  But the halter/bridle combo will be great for that.  Vet check trot, cool down walk, eating (because eating with a bit in is hard), then back out!  Why red?  Because we're also getting these:

Getting shoes put on a horse costs $65-$85 each time.  And shoes can get pulled off in deep mud, or thrown off if a horse's hooves just aren't super compatible for shoeing.  So getting boots like this that you can put on each time you go out is a lot better.  They're $85 each, but I should hopefully only have to get fronts - and they will last for years.  So instead of getting 4 pairs of shoes (just the fronts four times a year) over the year I can just have these boots to put on.  Gonna be worth it in the end.  And there is a local lady who will measure and trim his feet accordingly and size him for the boots.  She can also order them for me and cut me a deal.  ANNNDD she's going to teach me how to trim his hooves myself.  That's a life-skill right there.

So yeah, me and my horse - decked in red.  I always wear mine, haha.  Kenai looks good in red too, but is currently decked in blue mostly because Ruff Wear dog gear didn't have a red collar in the style I liked.  Oh well.

So here's to red accessories and lots of riding!

My boy havin' a roll after a 12.6 mile ride.