Endurance Granny: Merri Melde's Old Dominion Winner Story

June 27, 2014

Merri Melde's Old Dominion Winner Story

Fourteen-Year-Old on $550 Horse wins the Old Dominion find it here.

The Old Dominion is my personal "bucket list" ride...would love the opportunity to do it.

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AERC/CMO RECORD: JR SPIRIT JOURNEY

Maumee Valley AERC 2012 : Over time 25LD* Top of the Rock AERC 2012: 14th place, ride time 4:06 25LD* Salamonie CMO 2012: Day 1-long course, 8th place/10 pts.* Salamonie CMO 2012: Day 2-long course, 8th place/10 pts.* Mt. Eschol CMO 2013 : Day 1-long course,9th place/10 pts.* Mt. Eschol CMO 2013: Day 2-short course,3rd place/6pts.* Mt. Eschol CMO 2013: Day 3-short course,3rd place/ 6 pts.* Versailles CMO 2013:Day 1-long course, 1st place/16 pts.* Versailles CMO 2013:Day 2-short course,1st place/8 pts.* Spook Run 2013: 50 mile endurance ride, ride time 9:05, Completed! Indy 50, 2014: 50 mile endurance ride, ride time 8:44, back of the pack. Summer Breeze, 2014: 25 mile LD, ride time , finished sixth place. 2015 Indy on May 15-16th, LD both days, 7th and 8th place finishes. May 29, 2015 attempted a 50 at Top of the Rock, the horse did great...but the rider got heat exhaustion and rider optioned with ice packs on "my" pulse points *LOL* May 13, 2016 INDY LD Time 4:17 20th place. Journey completed but post ride had some issues with low calcium. June 3, 2016 Top of the Rock (I am cursed by this ride!) Vet in, gut sounds C. Had her checked the next morning to see if things had righted, and she was worse. So I RO'd and did not start.

Log Book 2016

February: Started some slow trail rides. March-April: Added trotting and started hillwork. May: completed INDY, but had post ride complication from low calcium. Bloodwork followed and cleared to continue riding one week later. Her sodium level was borderline low, need to supplement? June 3, 2016: Top of the Rock, did not start, gut sounds were a C evening before the ride, and degraded to C- the morning of, so I told them I wasn't starting. Once we got home she ate and drank, was fine. It is either the concentrated electrolyte setting her off, or she's stressing over the trailer ride. We have not had this kind of issue before. Will work at ways to correct this. June 6, 2016 Fixed her a bucket with Max E Glo, oz of salt, and a cup of oats, half filled with water. She drained it. June 7, 2016 We start training for a 50 as of today. My goal is to stretch out our trotting sessions and maintaining a 5 mph+ on conditioning rides. We will start short distance, tonight only 3.5 miles at a sustained trot, with a long hill on each lap we walk, jogged. Our speed average was 5.4 mph. Next time we will add about another half mile and try to maintain that speed. (Target goal is ten miles, at pace of 5.4-5.5 mph)using our little 3/4 mile loop for consistency to see if we are improving over time. Then we will move on to the next goal. She spun back this evening and unloaded me. I'm getting too old for this falling off crap. June 10, 2016 No garmin today, I was actually out on a mission to find my lost sponge. It dropped off on a training ride a couple of weeks ago, so we just slipped over to the north side of the creek and attempted to somewhat retrace our route. Plodding along, being eaten by deer flies. Hot and humid today, Journey a little full of herself. Hoping to get my next trotting session in this weekend. Did not find the sponge. It likely fell off in the creek, if so...the creek flooded and it should be floating down the Ohio river about now. Keep an eye out, will ya? June 11, 2016 another session of sustained trotting. One hour, 5.1 mph average. Extremely humid this morning. June 13, 2016 We continue working on sustained trotting. We trot the flats and the uphills, we walk the downs. Tonight we did the south loop which if you go out and come back the same way is 4 1/2 miles. Historically I rarely get her to break over a 4 mph average due to mud and hills. She averaged 5.6 mph tonight and the trip took us about 45 minutes. It is single track trail, with a lot of hills and only a few flats, so for Journey this was a terrific improvement. She will get three days now to "just be a horse" and my hope is a long one this weekend, and every two weeks there after until we can compete again. June 19, short pleasure ride. June 20th back to the 4 1/2 mile loop. We did not make our time goal this afternoon. Journey got headstrong and wanted to gallop for home (unasked) so I had to shut her down, and enforced that she walk home. Extremely hot and humid today, though I was only out less than an hour it was almost too much for me. Journey was blowing still when we got home so she got the cold hose until she cooled off.

Competition Record for Lil Bit of Magic

Chicken Chase 1& 2- 2011, April 15 & 16th, we repeated a multi-day, riding 25 miles both days. Finishing 17th day one, and 19th day two. Ride times of 4:41 and 4:10 (day 2).
Spook Run October 29 & 30, our first multi-day 30 miles both days, 17th place day one with a ride time of 4:11, and 12th place day two with a ride time of 5:02.
TOP of the ROCK May 28, 2010. LD 25 miles/ rider option. We got lost on the trail...
The Chicken Chase April 16, 2010. 30 mile/LD 7th place out of 21 riders. Phebe's first TOP TEN with a ride time of 5:07.
Spook Run LD/30 miles October 24, 2009. Completion 13th place out of 21 riders. Ride time 4:55.
Chicken Chase Pioneer ride April 18, 2009 Ride time: 3:52, 23rd place out of 50 riders. Henryville Indiana.

HORSE ESTIMATED SPEED OF GAITS

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Approximate Speeds of Gaits
Horse Walking: 3-4mph
Slow Trot: 4-5 mph
Medium Trot: 5-8 mph
Fast Trot: 6-11 mph
Canter: 8-15 mph
Hand Gallop: 12-25 mph
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Remember that LSD (long slow distance) training is usually done at a slow to medium trot. If you are tracking this with your Garmin, set your training assistant at 5 or 6 mph and it will sound an alarm when you drop below that speed. The actual speed of any gait will depend on the horse, the length of that horse's stride, impulsion, and how the individual horse moves. Most horses will fall somewhere within these averages.
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PULSE, TEMPERATURE, RESPIRATION, CAPILLARY REFILL, & MUCOUS MEMBRANES

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Learn and record your horse's baseline vital signs. Keep a record of your horse's pulse recovery ten minutes after ending a premeasured distance (such as a 1 mile hill), or a 5 mile trail that you will ride weekly. By keeping a record you will have a measure of your progress. Does your horse drop down to normal parameters within 10 minutes of stopping? By recording the air temperature, humidity, your speed & time, you will get a clear idea of your horse's improvement, or lack of it.
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The Equine's..............................................
Normal temperature: 99-101 degrees F for a mature horse. Danger zone is 102 or above.

Normal resting pulse rate: 40-50 beats per minute for a mature horse, 45-60 for yearlings, and 70-120 for foals.

Resting Respiration for a mature horse: 8-15 breaths per minute. In a working horse, breaths should never exceed the pulse rate. A panting horse is working harder than condition warrants, or may be in serious metabolic distress.

Capillary refill is how long it takes the blood supply to return the horse's upper gum tissue. You do this by pressing firmly for two seconds to cause a with blanched spot, remove your finger, and the gum should return to normal color within 2 seconds. A slower refill time may indicate the horse is having problems.

Mucous Membranes: the gums of the horse should be moist and pink (lighter pink than human gums). Very pale, bright red, gray blue, or bright yellow gums may indicate serious problems requiring veterinary assistance.

Training & Conditioning Log

Current training and competition total mileage: 1575 as of Christmas Eve, 2010
December 10, 11, 12 ground work for R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
December 5, 2010 Short, snowy, pleasure ride. The horse is full of herself.
November 28, 2010 Short pleasure ride.
November 21, 2010 trail ride, slow for 7 miles.
November 20, 2010 Working on the longe line.
November 14, 2010 Round penning, training for respect, schooling 1 1/2 hours.
November 8, 2010 2 hour pleasure ride.
November 7, 2010 round penning, and short schooling lesson.
Spook Run October 29 & 30, our first multi-day 30 miles both days, for a 60 mile weekend.
October 24, 2010 Round penning at the trot, canter, and side-pass, yielding for respect (yes, again).
October 23, 2010 one hour of light work, walk & trot.
October 22, 2010 one hour of hill climbing, cantering and trotting intervals.
October 18, 2010 pleasure ride walking pace to just loosen up 5 miles.
October 16, 2010 Distance 24 miles.
October 12, 2010 Hill intervals 1 hour.
October 10, 2010 Hill intervals 1 hour.
October 9, 2010 13 miles of mostly sustained trotting.
October 2, 2010 Versailles State Park 24 miles.
September 28, 2010 slow hill intervals for 1 hour.
September 26, 2010 Clark State Forest 20 miles.
September 24, 2010 10 miles LSD
September 20, 2010 an hour of hill training, a short breeze home.
September 18, 2010 17 slow miles Versailles State Park.
September 17, 2010 an easy pleasure ride of 5 miles.
September 14, 2010 Hill intervals (7 quarter mile climbs), breezed the field home. Total 5 miles.
September 12, Sustained trotting (except for the downhills) 17 miles.
September 10, 2010 Hill repetitions. 5 miles.
September 5, 2010 Pleasure riding, just stretching out a little to limber her up from the work yesterday. Five slow miles.
September 4, 2010 We covered 24 miles today. Her pace was awesome! After we finished pulse was 55 bpm immediately!!!
August 30, a short training ride and an unplanned dismount. Bruised some ribs and hurt a finger.
August 28, Brown County State Park 15 miles of slow hill work.
August 24, 2010 Hill intervals at the trot, slow cantering intervals on the flats. Total distance 5 miles.
August 22, 2010 17 miles of walk, trot on flat to rolling hills.
August 21, 2010 Short pleasure ride.
August 17 Moderate hill intervals, slow distance cool downs total 6 miles.
August 15, 2010 Heat training, 11 miles, with a heat index above 100 degrees.
August 8, 2010 not far enough to matter....I have so lost my groove :(
August 1, 2010 pleasure riding 7 miles.
July 25, hot & humid hill work. 5 miles.
July 20, schooling at the walk, trot, and trying to get the canter....not going well. Distance 3.5 miles, continues hot and humid.
July 19, 2010 Ground work.
July 18, 2010 Temp 91 degrees, humidity at 93%, heat index at 108 degrees. 6.5 miles, slow work. Pulse down was 12 minutes.
July 13, 2010 Schooling 1 hour.
July 12, 2010 Round pen, free longing.
July 11, 2010 round penning, Then 6 miles working on rating and gait transitions.
July 5, 2010 Hot and extremely humid, early morning 5.5 mile hill ride.
July 3, 2010 8 miles slow work on the hills, cantering some short flats, and trotting in between.
June 27 & 28th, 1 hour of schooling, both days.
June 7, 2010 We rode pleasure pace, a little uphill trotting, a few canters, just out for enjoyment and it was nice. 7 miles.
June 4, a 5 mile train wreck, unplanned dismount, horse missing, rider with heat exhaustion.
May 31, 2010 Pleasure ride just to loosen up. 3 miles.
May 30, 2010 Versailles State Park, 10 miles, hot & humid.
May 28, 2010 Competition, Rider Option at 15 miles.
May 23, 2010 Mixing up the gaits, terrain hilly with a few miles of flats. 20 miles distance, temperature 88 degrees, humidity high. Ate well at the halfway, cleaned up a gatorade wet mash, oats, had her electrolytes. Second half of ride tanked up on water three different times. Pulse down to criteria 55 bpm @ 10 minutes.
May 21, 2010 Hill intervals (1/4 mile x's 4) working pulse 170, still dropping in 10 seconds to aerobic phase. The rest was slow hill work, and a canter down the field. Distance 5 miles, short intense workout. Pulse down at home 56 bpm @10 minutes.
May 16, 2010 Flat cantering intervals (1/2 mile x's 3) +(warm up and cool down 3 miles) = 4.5 miles.
May 15, 2010 (trotting hill intervals x's 8) (galloping hill intervals x's 2) 12 miles total.
May 14, 2010 (hill intervals x's 4) (galloping hill x's 2) total ride 9 miles.
May 10, 2010 5 miles (hill intervals x's 3). R&R for the Phebes for the next three days.
May 9, 2010 7.5 miles one hour of walk-trot-canter intervals.
May 8, 2010 12 miles back in the saddle again! Woo hoooo!
May 7, 2010 1 hour of hill sprints.
May 4, 2010 Schooling for one hour.
May 3, 2010 an hour of hill work (5 miles)
May 2, 2010 Singing in the rain....just slogging in the rain...6.5 miles .
May 1, 2010 Walk, trot, canter, hillwork, and just enjoying the ride. 9 miles total ride.
April 27th, 2010 Hill work for one hour, total ride 7.5 miles, muddy, sloggy...still.
April 24th, 2010 6 miles of very slow hill work.
April 23, 2010 Short pleasure ride, just checking her to see how she's recovered from C.C. Everything seems fine.
April 16, 2010 The Chicken Chase revisited. Our first TOP TEN (seventh place finish).
April 13, 2010 Warm up, 1 1/2 miles of hill intervals, cool down, total distance 3 miles.
April 12, 2010 Round penning for respect (she says "yeah...right...")
April 10, 2010 hills with trotting intervals, cantering some of the flats. 10 miles.
April 9, 2010 4.5 miles cantering the flats, trotting the uphills, and walking the mud holes...mud, mud, mud.
April 4, 2010 We rode 9.5 miles, worked at trotting hills for half of the ride, and walked the rest as her active rest period. Temps are comfortable, the footing was wet and sloggy.
April 3, 2010 A brief 30 minute schooling ride, then out to grass!
April 2, 2010 Rain forecast tomorrow so did a training ride. Will work schooling where I can fit it in. 6.5 miles with intermittent cantering.
March 30, 2010 worked on some training issues, walk, trot, canter, hand gallop. 13 miles pulse down 5 minutes to 47 bpm.
March 28, 2010 pleasure ride 5.5 miles and we took the neighbor's dog with us!
March 27, 2010 14 miles at Clark, the first half paced our normal speed, the second half some canter intervals.
March 23, 2010 6.5 miles slow except for hill intervals done at the trot and gallop. Pulse down 44 bpm.
March 20, 2010 Slaying the dragon *LOL* We did the Mountain Grove Loop at Clark State Forest, Nicole and Arabee joined us. It was AWESOME! 10.5 miles. Pulse down 58 bpm.
March 19, 2010 more hill intervals, but a little faster since the footing is better. 5.5 miles.
March 16, 2010 hill work, and trotting intervals 10.25 miles. Pulse down under one minute to 54 bpm.
March 15, 2010 5.6 miles of hoof sucking mud and hills.
March 9, 2010 hill work, fartleks, 5.6 miles with walk trot intervals.
March 7, 2010 Schooling for 30 minutes and 1 hour on the trail. Slow work, just loosening her up from the hills yesterday. 3 miles.
March 6, 2010 Another technical ride. We warmed up a mile in the riding paddock, then added 6.75 miles on the trail for a total 7.75 miles today.
March 5, 2010 We rode 5 miles of technical trail. Muddy, steep up and downhills, some flat work, and horse full of herself. Spring has sprung!
March 2, 2010 Roadwork 6.5 of the most miserable miles I've ridden on her yet. Horse brain seriously not engaged with rider.
March 1, 2010 4.6 miles of slogging through mud and partially melted snow. Treacherous footing on the hills.
February 21, 2010 short snow ride, backed off that as she was acting lame, was sound on the road, called it a day just to be safe.
February 20, 2010 one hour in deep melting snow.
February 19, 2010 one hour in deep snow.
February 8, 2010 rode an hour in the snow.
February 1, 2010 Hill trotting intervals X 3, total ride with warm up and cool down 5 miles.
January 31, 2010 9.5 miles of road riding
January 23, 2010 we rode 9 cold miles, technical trail, muddy and slick.
January 22, 2010 Road Work solo...4 miles slow.
January 18, 2010 It is COLD again...brrrr....3 miles and I had to quit when the wind picked up.
January 17, 2010 Solo for some hill climbing. 5 miles
January 16th, 2010 ROAD RIDING 9 miles of road, and 3 of trail, total 12 miles.
Jan.3, 2010 we managed 5 miles temps in the teens.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! c-c-c-cold 3 miles.
December 28th, 4 miles
December 5th, Brown County State Park 10 miles LSD
November 16, 2009 groundwork, really FUN session with Phebes out in the round pen.
November 15, 2009 Schooling in the english saddle, rider not liking it ....
November 8, 2009 Schooling 1 hour.
November 7, 2009 Slow today 7.5 miles.
November 2, 2009 Schooling for about an hour, I'm in a slump.
November 1, 2009 We rode 4 (of course) muddy miles.
October 24th, 2009 --30 Miles SPOOK RUN
October 20, 2009 1 hour of schooling at the trot, loooooong and low.
October 19, 2009 1 hour of schooling.
October 18, 2009 1 hour of schooling. Leg yields at the walk & trot.
October 17, 2009 B-Trail eight miles, slow, but safe. Crisp temperatures, and mud...always mud. Time 1:42:52
October 13, 2009 Schooling for one hour, mostly at the trot.
October 12, 2009 Schooling for one hour.
October 11, 2009 per trail map 14 miles, per Garmin 10 miles?
Oct. 4, 2009 10 miles total, the first six rather slow, the final four pretty peppy.
Oct. 3, 2009 Lessons with Sandy Cook, 1 hour of trotting with a bend, and moving off of my leg.
Oct. 2, 2009 schooling 1 hour.
Sept 28, 2009 1 hour of schooling for the "bend."
Sept 27, 2009 We completed 24.5 miles of muddy trail in five hours ride time.
Sept 22, 2009 schooling for one hour.
Sept 21, 2009 schooling for one hour.
Sept 19, 2009 schooling + trail ride, 9 miles.
Sept 15, 2009 schooling for one hour.
Sept 13, 2009 schooling for an hour, and trail ride combined 10 miles per Garmin.
Sept 12, 2009 Lessons and schooling for one hour. 4 miles.
Sept 8 we did slow hill work for an hour and a half. Distance 4.5 miles.
Sept 5, 2009 temps near 84 degrees, a little bit humid. 12 miles, pace was lackluster today. She was also a little slow pulsing down (5 minutes vs. 1 minute).
Sept 1, 2009 Beautiful fall like weather! 6.5 miles schooling over rugged terrain, average speed 6 mph.
August 29, 2009 Low humidity, temps in the mid 70's, 10 miles.
August 28, 2009 Only 5 lowly miles...
August 22, 2009 10.5 miles, easy walk, trot intervals, and an awesome training breakthrough!
August 21, 2009 Total of 7 miles, did some trotting uphill, really pushing uphill. One short canter.
August 18, 2009 1 hour of schooling exercises.
August 16, 2009 5 miles, slow, just for pleasure. We did a super steep hill today, she got right up it!
August 15, 2009 Hot & Humid, 17 miles Versailles State Park. Rolling terrain, one big long hill.
August 9, 2009 Hot & humid, 14.5 miles at Brown County State Park.
August 2, 2009 Hills, hills, more hills, hot and humid. 7 miles total.
August 1, 2009 Hills hills hills. Hot and Humid. Phebes was a turd. 7 miles total.
July 27th, 2009 We covered 10 miles, started out slow, then did intermittant walk/trots, climbed the BIG hill eight times. 86.3 °F and 47% humidity with zero wind.
July 21st, 2009 75.8 °F, 66% humidity, wind ZERO. We covered 7.6 miles in about 1 hour and 23 minutes. Slow by many standards, but at least we were managing a trot on the flats, and some of the uphills.
July 19, 2009 Went for a 1 hour pleasure ride, 4.6 miles. Short canter in the field coming home. Temps in the upper seventies.
July 18, 2009 Temps in the mid-seventies, low humidity, 15 miles in the Deam Wilderness. Rolling hills, technical trail. Pulse down to criteria 2 minutes.
July 13, 2009 Temps in the mid-80's, humid 8 miles of rolling hills. Pulse down to criteria took 5 minutes.
July 8, 2009 7.5 milesHill work, and trotting intervals, 78 degrees, low humidity. Pulse down 2 minutes to criteria.
July 6, 2009 Hill work, muddy, humid, mid-eighties. 7 miles and she moved out better tonight.
July 5, 2009 longing and ground work.
July 3, 2009 Rode 8 miles, 78 degrees (early morning ride), humidity 55%. Nice ride!
June 29, 2009 Temperature 81 degrees, humidity 41%, winds 10-16mph. Trail alternating dry, and mud. Distance 13 miles. Pulse down took 2 minutes.
June 28, 2009 HOT, HUMID, only muddy in places. 7 miles with quite a bit of hillwork. She drank well on trail, and at home when we got back.
June 20, 2009 HOT, HUMID, sloggy muddy wet conditions. 12 miles at Versailles State Park.
June 17, 2009 HOT, HUMID, MISERABLE weather, 5 miles of hoof sucking, MUD MUD MUD. Post ride soaked her down with tepid water, rubbed her down with a towel, then we tied up to the horse trailer for a front hoof trim (thank you ole great LSEGH).
June 15, 2009 hot and humid, 8.5 miles of deep hoof sucking mud, she was below criteria when I dismounted at 48 bpm.
June 14, 2009 Muddy, humid, hot, and deer flies out the whazzooo, 5 miles.
June 13, 2009 Muddy, humid, hot. Covered 6.5 miles of hilly terrain testing out the heart monitor and readings at various gaits.
June 9, 2009 one hour of walk trot arena work.
June 7,2009 we did 6 miles of slow trail work, and some slow hill climbing. Temps in the mid seventies, dry, slightly humid, but not bad. Footing was mostly dry.
June 6, 2009 2 hours at the park, walking with some intermittent trotting, 8 miles with an average pace a little over 4 mph.
June 2, 2009 15 minute arena warm up and 1 hour of trail work.
June 1, 2009 I split her sessions today. This morning she had ground work, and trotting on and off line for 30 minutes with short walking intervals. This afternoon we did under saddle intervals. Phebes did great, but the heat is kind of getting to me.
May 31, 2009 1 hour of trail work, temp 70 degrees, humidity low, walking with short bursts of intermittent trotting. Hand walked in the last five minutes. Pulse rate 50 bpm.
Here we go again. May 30th, 2009 1 hour arena workout alternating walk and trot.
May 12th, had company, did some walk trot, but not sure how long the session was, just a short session over all.
May 11th, 2009 30 minutes of walk, trot intervals.
May 10, 2009 30 minutes of walk trot intervals, ground schooling.
May 9, 2009 30 minute session with walk, trot intervals.
May 5, 2009 warm up, 15 minutes of trotting, and cool down for a total session of 30 minutes.
May 4, 2009 warm up, 15 minutes of trot, and cool down for a total session of 30 minutes.
May 3, 2009 warm up, trot 10 minutes, cool down.
May 2, 2009 15 minutes slow ground work, five minute under saddle warm up, five minutes of trotting, and a cool down.
April 29th, walk, trot transitions, bending, and backing up from the ground, 15 minutes.
April 28th, walk trot transitions from the ground, sidepassing, 15 minutes.
April 27th hand walking, side passing, ground work 15 minutes.
April 26th, checking out the gears with 15 minutes of longe work. Walk and trot, shutting her down if she attempts to canter. Rump nice and soft, no sweating.
Chicken Chase April 18, 2009. 25 miles. Completion & Complications for both horse and rider.
April 12, sunny, temps 60's, rode 12 miles, trail very wet, sloggy mud.
April 11, sloggy & slow wet hill work 10 miles
April 8, 2009 Schooling exercises, just working at walk, trot transitions, and halts.
April 4, 2009 19 miles at Brown County, Temps in the 60's. Trail was intermittently wet to dry, rocky, and hilly.
April 1, 2009 we did hill work and walk trot transitions to the tune of 6 miles, and woooo wooo go turkey! We still jumped one of the flappers though.
March 31, 2009 Revisiting respect with round penning exercises 1 hour.
March 27, 2009 Rollin' rollin' rollin...keep those hills a rollin'! We did 8 miles of serious hillwork tonight.
March 25, wet and sloppy, 65 degees, slow hill work and schooling 1 1/2 hours.
March 23, dry, 60 degrees, windy,5 miles slow hill work, one FAST hill!
March 21, cool and clear, 15 miles, 6-7 mph average speed, muddy, temps in the 50's.
March 18, Slow work, trotting,5 miles and a nose that hurts.
March 17, schooling on the trail 5.15 miles working on that TROT!
March 16, schooling exercises, trailer loading, Garmin shows 4 miles.
March 14, Clark State Forest 15 miles.
March 9, 2009 Hill work, a little slick, slow 7 miles
March 7th, 2009 Clark State Forest 16 miles. Temps in the mid-seventies, dry.
March 4, 2009 5.43 miles of muddy hillwork.
March 2, 2009 5 miles hillwork, frozen ground, temps very cold.
March 1, 2009 10 miles today! We went hill climbing.
Feb 28 FINALLY! Back to work at 7.5 miles in the mud, temps mid thirites.
Feb 16, 2009 1 hour of hill work.
Feb 14, 2009 14 miles of wet sucking mud.
Feb 13, 5 miles of hill work.
Feb 10, 2009 Muddy Hill climbing 45 minute session.
Feb 7, 2009 After two LONG WEEKS a nice little pleasure ride. COME ON SPRING!!!
January 24, 2009 4 1/2 hours of hillwork, about 13 miles. Hard frozen ground, icy creek crossings, temps in the 20's.
January 23, 2009 hour and half of slow steep hill work, muddy & slippery.
January 21, 2009 Slow hill work, she was a huffing and puffing!
January 19, 2009 Ground Schooling and Winter Pleasure ride.
January 11, 2009 4 miles of hill work, temperatures very cold, crusty mud terrain.
January 10, 2009 schooling on muddy downhills, crossing the babbling brook.
January 9, 2009 short pleasure ride in the snow.
January 3,2009 Distance 20 miles, muddy terrain.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Jan 1, 2009 8 miles frozen terrain.
December 28, 2008 11.53 miles, muddy trail conditions
December 25, 2008 7.5 miles, frozen ground conditions.
December 20, 2008 14 miles Conditions Muddy
December 14, 2008 Distance 8.46 miles Conditions Muddy
December 13, 2008 1 hour of schooling exercises, trailer loading refresher, & ground work.
December 7, 2008 Ground work, checking her out for soundness, all systems GO!
December 6, 2008 Distance 8.55 miles of hills and snow!
December 5, 2008 Ground Work + 1 hour of Schooling Exercises
December 3, 2008 Ground & Arena work
November 29, 2008 Distance 6.61 miles
November 28, 2008 Distance 4 miles
November 27, 2008 5.63 miles
November 26, 2008 Ground work, and 1.5 mile I know I know!!!
November 23, 2008, Distance 3 miles 00:42:02
November 22, 2008, Distance 12 miles (A Loop 2 hours) B Loop (1/2 hour)
November 20, 2008 Ground work & Trailer Loading
November 19, 2008 Distance 2.2 miles + 1 hour of schooling exercises
November 17, 2008 Distance 5.07 miles
November 12, 2008 Distance 5 miles
November 9, 2008 Distance 6.5 miles
November 5, 2008 Distance 2.7 miles
November 2 , 2008 Distance 3.2 miles
October 26, 2008 Distance 4.59 miles
October 22, 2008 Distance 1.48 miles
October 19, 2008 Distance 3.28 miles
October 18, 2008 Distance 10.29 miles
October 11, 2008 Distance 10.88 miles
October 10, 2008 Distance 3.08 miles
October 5, 2008 Distance 9.53 miles
October 3, 2008 Distance 2.11 miles
September 28, 2008 Distance 7.5 miles
September 27, 2008 Distance 3.02 miles
September 24, 2008 Distance 3 miles
September 23, 2008 Distance 3.06 miles
September 21, 2008 Distance 3 miles
September 17, 2008 Distance 2 miles
September 13, 2008 Distance 3.02 miles
September 7, 2008 Distance 3.78 miles
September 6, 2008 Distance 3 miles
September 1, 2008 4.5 miles

About Endurance Granny

Age: 52
Discipline: Limited Distance but aspiring to Endurance.
Horse: JR Spirit Journey (half arab/half appy), Little Bit of Magic (barn name: Phebes, Peanut, and Whoa Dammit depending on the days excitement). Arabian/Spotted Saddlebred cross.
Gear: Crestridge custom made saddle.
Bridle: purchased from the Distance Depot.
Stirrups: Easyride with cages from Easycare.
Pad: Abetta Arabian Trail & Crestridge J Bar.
Reins: Beta from Moss Rock Endurance & The Distance Depot.
Heart monitor: Polar
GPS: Garmin (their cheapest model).
Helmet: Tipperary Sportage
Hoofboots: Easyboot Gloves and no other!!!
Horse trailer: Corn-pro, steel, gooseneck, 2 horse, no bells, no whistles, but it gets me there.
Region: Midwest
Weight Division: Lightweight or middleweight depending on what I had for supper last night!!!
Gear I couldn't live without: My Ariat people boots.
Motto: Ride far, ride fast, and keep your tail in the air!
The dream: To ride distance until they pry my cold, dead hands from the reins. ~E.G.

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June 27, 2014

Merri Melde's Old Dominion Winner Story

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