tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post1356255751196854767..comments2023-10-08T09:37:18.894-04:00Comments on Endurance Granny: So - the good - the bad - and what next?Jacke Reynoldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13576351940350712538noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-34718801171512086872010-04-19T14:42:06.462-04:002010-04-19T14:42:06.462-04:00That may be the difference - when I start at the b...That may be the difference - when I start at the back, no one passes me - I'm the one doing all the passing, which is what I like. I HATE playing leap frog! So it makes sense that if you start at the back and that's what happens, that you try to avoid it. <br /><br />LOL. Farley doesn't like people behind her either. It's more motivating to have someone behind than ahead! If she hears someone she'll speed up. I'm sure everyone thinks I'm trying to beat them, but really it's just my horse wanting to stay in her bubble!Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627065628317652042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-26238590323032965012010-04-19T14:31:05.264-04:002010-04-19T14:31:05.264-04:00Starting at the front with her has negatives and p...Starting at the front with her has negatives and positives. <br /><br />The negative is the fight for control while I "get rid of" the front runners, meaning let them go on and get the heck out of my way. Once that is over, she will keep a good trotting pace along the way and have very few issues unless a rider passes, which invariably some will, then we are pulling pulling pulling again. She wastes boo coo energy doing that. If she had a horse in front of her, even a buddy horse, it is the same evil scenerio.<br /><br />The good thing, was once we found our little pocket, we were able to hold our position pretty well. We started out as about number five, and finished as number seven. In a faster pack we'd have lost many more positions. So it was just doing what we do, kept us where we were in this case.<br /><br />Starting out dead last we spend all day playing leap frog and I HATE THAT. Phebes just can't follow because she out strides the horse in front, then gets agitated wanting to pass. If we pass, she doesn't want that horse tailing her. ???<br /><br />So alone, nobody in view in front, and nobody in hearing range behind is our HAPPY PLACE. (But I was sure happy for the other riders on the blacktop, it really helped).All Who Wanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15811193190492037859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-62098837845333794582010-04-19T11:26:24.518-04:002010-04-19T11:26:24.518-04:00congratulations!!!! Just getting cuaght up with e...congratulations!!!! Just getting cuaght up with everyone's blogs from the weekend. I need to go over and read your ride story now.<br /><br />I'm so proud of you both!<br /><br />Farley doesn't eat her breakfast ration either. In fact, she doesn't eat beetpulp at all at rides, just lots and lots of hay. I'm experiementing with a complete feed that can be in a mash that she seems to really really liek to see if I have more luck with that. <br /><br />As far as the top 10 completion.....My motto is to ride the horse you have for the day. Sometimes that means top 10, sometimes that means bottom 10. I have never "raced" for top 10, but it has happened. Heck, I WON the first LD we did!!!!!! Completely by accident. I just rode and that's where we ended up (and we were actually going quite slow - I think everyone else must have gotten lost or seomthing).Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627065628317652042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-78612331272881530562010-04-19T09:38:34.244-04:002010-04-19T09:38:34.244-04:00http://pdemott.smugmug.com/Endurance-Competitive-T...http://pdemott.smugmug.com/Endurance-Competitive-Trail/Chicken-Chase-AERC-Endurance/11888671_D79ku#841198752_qHHiq<br /><br />Photos of Chicken Chase are online now. I see EG at #15. Looking good!<br /><br />I'm on #77, 78 is Laura and Stormy and the Chestnut behind her came in first or second. Then I am #132 and Stormy with Laura better on #133. Isn't Shazam cute with those pricked up ears!!<br /><br />Michelle DetmerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2920971397380941204.post-91168234078924203302010-04-18T20:02:35.255-04:002010-04-18T20:02:35.255-04:00Congratulations on your completion!
From your ear...Congratulations on your completion!<br /><br />From your earlier post, it sounds as though she still needs to start at the back, or behind someone who is riding at your pace a bit in front of you. It sounds as though your mare wasted a fair amount of energy trying to get ahead. This is very frustrating for the rider and can be detrimental to the horse's health.<br /><br />Its seems as though you had some positive things happen, too. That's good. Learning to drink is a good thing, being safe on blacktop is also good.<br /><br />Of my more than 80 starts (nearly all 50's or longer), I ALWAYS try to start out in the position that will keep my horse the MOST relaxed at the start. For some, that's the very front (although none that I've ever ridden). For others, it's leading another horse, or simply following another horse. And for still others, that means 15 minutes after everyone is COMPLETELY out of site.<br /><br />If they start calmly, they're more likely to continue that way. Although, every horse is different and for some, nothing works. My last mare was always about fast and faster. And that was at 20 years old! So, you do the best with what you've got, but work to try and find what makes that particular horse the happiest.Bakersfield Dressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05571487914424695283noreply@blogger.com