Last day before the last day before Last Hoorah!

Sometimes, even leaving early, things just take longer than expected.  It happens.

I peeled out of work yesterday as close to 4 as I could.  I stopped at Callahan's for my bale of hay and then hurried as fast as I could out to the barn.  I did stop to get a drink (oh Sonic...you tempting minx!).  And between that, the electrolyting, the grocery shopping and all the driving, I still didn't get home until 7:45.  *sigh*  Why is that?!!

Grabbed Strider out of the field (he of course, once again had to remind me he is !INDEPENDENT! and ran off a few feet, then came back as I was loving on my Socks).  Decided I'd see how the Hoof Armor was on his feet.  I led him down the center aisle/road at the barn.  There's gravel and some rocks.  Nothing really intense, but he always Always ALWAYS asks to get off the road and into the grass.  Yesterday, he just walked calmly beside me down the road.  That's a good sign.  I even made him walk over the few patches where there's a few rocks, and he just walked over them, no big deal. 

Turned him around and we gaited back to the pen. 

So, whatever lameness we had at Racing Stripes is 100% resolved.

OH!!  We -do- think now it was a stone bruise.

Holly came out and trimmed both horses for me on Tuesday afternoon, and she said many things. 

Socks:  "Socks heel was really bruised, lots of thrush with abscessing at back of frog.  Looks to be healing now."  Now, this is a horse who usually has amazingly tough feet.  And I never really need to worry about them.  She feels, as do I, if I'd left Strider in the pen, his feet would be trashed and potentially unsound. 

Strider:  "Strider had a bruise on his front in his left front that I trimmed out.  Could've been his soreness issue.  He ran all over after I trimmed him.  Got his heels back as much as I could without putting his frog too close to the ground.  Rolled his toe back."

So, I do so hope that explains what happened at Racing Stripes.

Tonight is the final push to pack.

Groceries were bought last night. 

Tonight I load the camp tote, the cooler and non-perishables, the saddle, saddle stand and all that.  Wash my saddle cover tonight and let it drip dry tonight.  Pack my clothes and load that into the truck as well.  Toss the water tank in the truck. Get the car seat in the truck and, that's pretty much the last of it.  Grab the perishables tomorrow morning, run to the store and get ice, grab my horse (Socks will move on Sunday when I get home instead of Friday), stop and drop Kaylee off, and then boogie on up to Cleburn.

I'm still trying to quell my concerns.  I go from "This is no big deal" to "This is a VERY big deal" and every extreme in the middle.

I have someone helping me out with boots.  He has Hoof Armor on.  If between those two things he comes in lame, it wasn't for a lack of trying on my part!!  And just means next ride, I'll do glue-ons instead.

See you on the flipside!!! 

Get out and get your ride on!!!

#TeamStrider
#PasoPower

Countdown to Ride Camp...

Every day this week has a purpose to lead me to Saturday's ride.

Monday was preparing the trailer and cleaning up as much of my tack as I could.  3 cinches loaded and ready.  My riding boots/shoes tossed into the washing machine and cleaned up.  The 3 Renegade boots I have, cleaned up and tossed into the trailer along with the spare parts that comes with them.  Another Renegade on order and on it's way for his rears.  And a deal worked out with a friend to buy her 4 Renegades so I'll have plenty of spares in multiple colors for his 4 feet.  AND someone at ride camp who is going to help me fit all of them. 

Tuesday was spent scrambling after work.  Raced home, grabbed the truck and trailer, grabbed Kaylee and hustled to the barn.  Tossed Strider into the trailer (he'll follow you in now, no big deal...it STILL amazes me how far he's come in the past year) and hurried to Holly's.  She and Douglas applied Hoof Armor to all 4 feet and then we stood around in the arena and let it dry for about an hour.  Tossed him BACK in the trailer and then hurried him back to Rusty's.  I THOUGHT I had my Enduramax electrolytes in the trailer (technically, I did, but I wasn't thinking [I had 2 ziplock baggies of white power {LOL e-lytes!} in my tack trunk for holds]).  When all I could find was the cheap Dumore apple electrolyte power (just not enough for an endurance horse), I sacrificed some of my DynaSpark to a bucket and tossed a little bit of grain in there to make it easier for him to consume.

If you want to see a horse literally LICKING the bottom of a bucket, try DynaSpark.  He NEVER does that.  But he did last night.  Electrolytes given in less than 5 minutes. 

Hurried home and got there around 10. 

Wednesday (today) will be a fast trip to the barn for the syringed Enduramax electrolytes.  I'll probably also go ahead and stop by Callahan's to get the really NICE bale of hay (that will give me 2 bales) on my way to the barn.  After electrolytes are done, it's off to WalMart to get groceries (got to make my shopping list!!  ACK!).  When I get home, put non-perishables into the cooler and load it AND my camp tote AND the 2nd bale of hay into the trailer.  Also put my water tank into the truck.  Try and pack my clothes if at all possible tonight (or at least make sure everything is washed). 

Thursday (tomorrow) will be a fast trip to the barn for another dose of electrolytes and then straight home where I will (weather permitting!) load the saddle into the trailer.  I will be washing my saddle cover Thursday evening as soon as I get home and it will then have a chance to drip dry all day Friday.  It's a fast to toss onto the saddle sort of thing, so even if I need to get up a little early Saturday morning to get it onto the saddle, no big deal!  Hopefully it won't be too humid, or else I guess my butt will be a little wet Saturday morning (evaporative effect?).

Friday will be load the pillows into the truck perishables into the coolers, stop and get ice and then get the horses and GO!! 

I say horses, but I'll be loading Socks, only to stop in Hutto and leave him with Heather.  I'll pick up Dakini on my way home Sunday. 

The process of packing is MUCH easier when the trailer is at the house.  Usually I'm throwing things into the truck, but this time, I can put them into the trailer and the truck won't be stuffed to the gills with things!!

Hey, it's the little things that make me happy.  :)

Sunday "Fun" Day...

Have you ever had a ride that shakes you up so badly before an important ride that you start internally hyperventilating and going "OMG this ride is going to be a DISASTER based on this conditioning ride!!!"

Sunday was that ride.  I had no warning it was going to be a pain in the ass ride when I got to the barn.  That entire part went smoothly. 

First, let me lay out my goals for the ride.

One ride after Racing Stripes and his odd "lameness" issue to make sure he's sound.  To trial all 4 Renegade hoof boots on him.  To trial my new helmet camera.  To trial my new Easycare Stowaway pommel pack.

So, I sat in my car when I got there (was waiting on Heather to come out and join me).  So, watched a quick video to re-familiarize myself with adjusting the cables on my Renegade strap-on hoof boots.  Grabbed Strider out of the pen (after he ran around like a terror while I just stood there calmly loving on Socks..his jealousy always gets the best of him...I can't love on someone else without Strider wanting HIS lovings). 

So, I get the rears on and adjusted.  The first time, they looked too lose, so pulled and re-adjusted the cables,no big deal and got them on his feet and took photos.  That dragon fire red looks AWESOME on him!!

Left Rear

Left Rear Profile

Left Rear Profile

Left Rear Rear

Right Rear Front

Right Rear Profile

Right Rear Profile

Right Rear Rear

Hard to see, but all 4 booted!

Slapped his fronts on him, assuming that they SHOULD be fine.  I'd had them fit to him 2-weeks post-trim at one point, and we'd rasped him down some about a week ago.

I don't LIKE this mom!!!

Pissy Pony is Pissy

Tack him up, everything looks great, so I'm like "Let's see you move in all 4 in the round pen."

For the first time in the 10 years I've owned and known this horse, he hunched his back under saddle and bucked in the round pen.  Not constant "I'm gonna buck this saddle off me" sort of bucking, but either "My feet feel weird!!!" or "I'm so full of energy that I'm gonna buck out of sheer joy!!"

I never quite figured out which.

Worked him both directions and eventually had him come "pick me up" (swing his butt towards me while I stand on something [this time it was the rails of the round pen] so I can mount).  Got my foot in the stirrup and we walked a bit.  Then asked for a gait.  More bucking.  And not his "bunny bucks" but certainly not a "I'm going to buck to dislodge my rider" either.  Still don't know what it's all about, but again we worked both directions. 

He never feels out of control, so I'm like "Okay, cool, let's go with it."

Leave the round pen and we head out to go ride.

And so we go, with occasional bucks thrown in.  Weirdo.  Okay then.  Not a fan of all 4 booted.  Noted, but, suck it up buttercup!!

So, we ride for a little while, things seem to be going okay, and we come down a hill, and I feel an odd step, and the sound changes.

"Heather, do I still have all 4 on?"

"No.  You've lost both fronts, but both rears are on!!"

"Shit."

I find one, and we spend time hunting for the other one, but figure it went flying off into the grass.  And it'd be next to impossible to find a black boot.  Great.

I was NOT happy.  But we said we'd double back on our trail we covered in case it came off earlier and we'll find it then, no big deal.  I'm still annoyed because these damn things aren't cheap.  But I think I had the toe strap too tight.  Okay then.  The rears are still on, so that's AWESOME!!!  I have those adjusted properly.

So we ride and we ride.  Things are going great.  Boots are still on, horse is happy because he's "naked" on the front.  We ride and ride.

We go through a puddle, Strider in the lead.  He noses it, so I think he wants a drink.  But, no...he didn't want a drink.

Down he goes into the water.  Patented Strider move and why I don't ever allow him to just hang out in water.  Mud, muck, filth all over me and down into my boot.  He just lays there looking up at me like "Ohhhh yeah.  That's the ticket.  Hey mom.  Why such an angry face?"

I get him up while Heather's laughing her ass off and get back on (after scraping MOST of the mud off my ass and leg).  We continue to lead, looping round and round and making the horses cross through the water as we come to it.

And then it happens.  BIG water puddle.  Point Strider at it.  Two red boots go in, only one red boot comes out.

Heather spotted one in the mud as we exited.  I am already soaked, so I wade in to try and find it, and Strider follows.  To lay down AGAIN as I'm checking the puddle/mud.  Talk about kicking me while I'm down.  Thanks bud!!!  Jerkface.

Get him up, AGAIN, and I keep looking in sheer frustration, but forget it.  I can't find it.  Heather says let's keep riding, we'll come back with a rake and drag the bottom for it.

So we ride as I'm interally swearing "Great!  TWO damn boots GONE!!  ARGH!!!"

We stop for a bit, let the horses graze and I realize I need to get Strider to take the DynaSpark from my hand, so I put some in my hand and he is confused for a moment until I put his muzzle IN to the palm of my hand and he starts to lick.  Lightbulb moment when he realizes that I've got the equine crack in my hand!  I offer some to Heather's mare, and she is also confused until she realizes it's tasty and starts to lick it.  Strider realizes what I'm doing and starts knocking her out of the way to get it out of my hands.  Greedy turd!!!  I give him a few carrots, offer Blondie (Heather's mare) a carrot, and she tries to eat it, but it's hard with a bit in!!

We just lounge there, letting them relax and graze.  I suggest we double back and hunt for my other missing front boot.  Which we DID find!!  YAY!!! 

We ride a little bit more, then head back to the barn to grab her truck and go rake the mud puddle for my missing BRIGHT RED boot.

Load up into Heather's truck, she puts it into 4wheel drive and away we go, bouncing through pastures and trails to get as close as we can to the puddle. 

We spent an HOUR IN that water hunting.  I raked it.  Heather, however, is a trooper.  Let me tell you world, there's not a better woman on this planet than Heather.  She took off her shoes and socks and got into that nasty muck BAREFOOT and shoved her hands INTO the mud where she thought the horses went, looking for hoof holes.  REPEATEDLY she did this.  Up and down the entire length of the puddle.  Hunting.  She finally got me to take my shoes off (seriously world, I don't mind many things, but being barefoot in squishy mud oobs me out.  I find it repulsive and it's giving me the willies just thinking about it all over again) and dig in the mud with my toes too.

After and hour of raking and hunting and fishing in this foul smelling water, we turned up....nothing.

No boot.  We probably jammed it down further into the mud.  And as we were mucking around in there, 3 different riders came by and asked what we were doing.

In hindsight, NOW, it's humorous.  At the time, it was frustrating and irritating and disheartening.

And it's shaken me so badly that I'm concerned about this ride this weekend. 

The ride flyer recommends shoes or boots.  But, apparently someone did the 50 and WON on a barefoot horse. 

The current plans as they stand:
I'm taking Strider to Holly's place tonight to have her apply Hoof Armor.  I spoke with a woman yesterday with some impressive photos of her horse doing Cougar Rock (on the Tevis Cup ride) barefoot and ONLY using Hoof Armor.  And Holly and I had talked about it before, but not knowing any endurance horses using it (at that time), we skipped over it while discussing other ideas. 
I will be carrying my strap-on Renegades, or putting them on before we ride out.  Apparently the rock is really only at mile 8 on the first and third loop.  So, for loops two and four, we'll ride bare with the Hoof Armor.  Or, if it looks like it's getting rocky, I'll dismount and throw the boots on.

I also need to remember to charge and take my mp3 player.  I might end up separating from the group I'm planning on riding with due to boot issues, etc.  I refuse to hold anyone up, though I prefer to ride with people, I will remember I MUST ride my own ride.  Yes, my horse PREFERS to ride in a group, but he's gotten better about riding out solo.  And he'll be fine leaving camp since Socks isn't coming.

I'm going to be picking up some more spare Renegades from my friend Julia at the ride.  2 more for his fronts and 2 more for his rears. 

Let me say this.  Black Renegades on a BLACK horse are a BAD idea.  The black boots will become my backup boots.  The colors I'm getting from Julia are orange and maroon; colors that will be VISIBLE on my horse!!

I will also be putting my phone number in/on my boots so if they come off, someone can call me and return my boots to me.  I thought about that on Sunday before we rode out, but I didn't have a black Sharpie, so I didn't do it.  Now I regret it.

But, there's a lady at Rusty's who says she rides out there daily, so she'll keep an eye out for it and tell Marty (the "Jack of all trades" who lives at Rusty's and maintains the trails) about it as well.  I've offered a $50 reward for its return.  Which is less than the cost of the NEW boot I had to order on Monday.

Suffice to say, after this weekend, I'll have PLENTY of Renegades for Strider's feet.  And I'll start riding in them more often just to get him used to them and to figure out the magic of them.  Especially as there's a group ride coming up that I'd like to go to at McKinney Roughs, but everyone wants to go from the really rocky trail head, and Strider HAS to have boots to go on that side.

Last night I got some prep work done.  I hosed off the saddle pad that Strider got filthy and muddy (I need to just buy Heather a new one).  I hosed off the cinch that got covered in mud. 

Hosed off my shoes that were smelly and then tossed them into the washing machine to get them clean. 


Soaked the ONE red Renegade in water to loosen the mud then hosed the rest of it off. 

Had Joe hang all 4 of my bucket brackets on the sides of my trailer. 


Cleaned out and re-organized my tack room. 



Talked to Joe about getting an awning for my trailer and potentially a small A/C for it.  It just felt GOOD to get all of those things done before I leave.  Usually I'm throwing things into the bed of the truck at the last minute and then tossing them into the trailer before I pull out, but my plan is to bring the trailer back home tonight and get my camp tote loaded into it, and other things in there before Friday.

Still to do:
Wash sheepskin saddle cover (waiting on the special soap to come in.  Will be in Thursday, so will wash and drip dry cover Thursday night and Friday while in transport in trailer.  Will bring brush to fluff the nap up and make it fluffy again)
Get 1 more bale of hay (swing by Callahan's who has the NICEST green square bales for $12.50)
Load water tank into bed of truck
Pack clothes
Go grocery shopping
Load cooler

I'm actually AHEAD of the game this time.  Having the trailer at home REALLY helps get me ready and lets me load things directly in to it.

I wish I had a trailer cover for it so I could just leave things IN it while it's stored at the barn (saddles, tack, etc), but...nope!!!

I'm going to relax as best as I can and go with the flow.  He'll either do or do not.  I'm now getting a little concerned with the heat (oh my GOSH it's humid outside!), but he's chugged along just fine for LDs.  I've got the "weed sprayers" that I bought at Tractor Supply Company that I'm going to fill with a water/alcohol solution to help cool him off at holds and vet checks.  I will probably fill a bottle or two with the same solution for going down the trail to help keep him cool.  And just do what I can do.

Honestly, he's had almost an entire month to recuperate after 75 miles.  He was just fine at Racing Stripes and he was quite strong for me on Sunday (obviously, if he felt good enough to buck, he has juice in the tank).  He's got a thin layer of fat to burn at the ride, so he has some reserves. 

Hoof Armor.  Renegades.  Determined rider. 

Hes gots this.

Friday ramblings...

So, as I was laying down last night, I realized that there's only a week left before I'll be in ride camp for the last time this spring season.

ONE WEEK?!!!  Where did the time go to?

I'm a little concerned because my horse has basically been in "lay off" mode for about a month now.  We'll get in a leg stretcher this weekend, I'll attempt to knock out 15 miles on Sunday, while trialing all 4 Renegades and my new knock-off GoPro camera.  So, this should be interesting. 

I will say though, my horse looks AMAZING after 3 weeks on stall rest, 2 square meals a day, constant grooming and attention.



So, I've got the learning curve for the Renegades (I'm going to re-review the videos I've watched about adjusting the cables).  The learning curve for the little camera (not exactly a high priority, but wouldn't it be nice to have it working for Last Hoorah!?).  And then making sure my tack is still a go.

And then beginning my electrolyte regimine.  That starts up next week.  Though I'll get it rolling on Sunday.  Might as well, right?

Saturday in the afternoon I'll bring Strider home again.  And then hope he stays away from anything that could wound him over the next 7 days until I toss him into the trailer.

Thinking we might do some hill sets on the small hills at Rusty's.  Mostly I just miss RIDING.  It's been a while.

And then I need to somehow squeeze in the time to see my mom on Sunday.  I believe the current plan is to go with Joe on Sunday when he works his police officer gig, drop him off for work, then drive to Jarrell to visit mom and dad until he gets off shift.

Saturday I also need to tell Rusty I'm moving out.  It's less than a 2 week notice, but I don't really care at this point.  I can give him 2 weeks then, just, my pen will be empty for an entire week.  It's fine with me.  I'm ready to go somewhere different where Strider has some more room to move around and live in a more natural environment.  And to send Socks to go live with Heather.  That'll be nice!

Last night was spent watering the plants and then measuring out where our pool is going to go.  I convinced Joe to get the 18' pool that's really only about 4' deep.  It will consume most of our backyard.  I am okay with this.  Less to mow, more to swim.  Win/Win to me!!

Perhaps on Saturday I can run to the store, get a small weed barrier mat and get my gardenia planted.  That'll be awesome! 

Our peaches seem to be getting sweeter and sweeter off our one, sad little tree.  The jalapeno plant put off 1 jalapeno that Joe ate last night.  It was supposed to be mild, he said it was rather hot.  I also pulled a leaf of oregano off and ate it last night.  It's the "hot and spicy" variety and it has a rather pleasant kick to it.  Looking forward to putting that in some foods.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!!

So, yesterday I went to drop hay off for Strider with Holly and, as always, it's such a joy to just relax with another, and far more knowledgeable horsewoman, and soak up the knowledge she has.  And, of course, to just be around the horses feels magnificent.  It is something I am looking forward to in the next 4 or 5 years myself.  We made arrangements for me to come pick him up on Saturday and take him back to where I board as the weather should be dry enough that he'll be safe for the next week before our final spring ride.

My Renegades are now in the mail and on their way to me.  Hoping they're in hand tomorrow evening...Saturday afternoon at the latest.

While at the barn talking to Holly, I finally broached the topic that I've been weighing for about a month; letting Socks stay with a friend for her daughter to ride, while I take her Paso Fino mare to play with.  This isn't permanent (well, in so far as her keeping Socks.  If I like the mare, whenever we finally move, I might just buy her, depending on how well Joe likes her), but I think it will be good for Socks, good for Strider, and good for this mare.  I've always wondered if Strider was easy to train because I had him from when he was weaned, or if it's because, as a whole, the breed is just highly intelligent.

The mare does have 30 days of professional training, so it's not like she's completely ignorant, it'll just be something different for me to do while Strider gets to relax for the summer and go on pleasure rides and such. 

And, I think if Joe really does want to try and do some Limited Distance rides, he'll need a smoother ride than Socks. 

Doesn't hurt she's a nicely bred mare and rather pretty to look at to boot.

And I do so enjoy doing groundwork with horses.  Makes me irritated that I left all the Clinton Anderson DVDs behind in Kansas, but what can you do? 

If you're me; go buy them off eBay used.  :)

Because, that's what I did!!

Where I'm at...

I am simply the worst at updating.  Rather, I'm the worst at completing half-written posts. 

Every single ride I've done has the beginning write-up, just not everything else.

Basic run down for us so far?

2015 Ride Season

Shanghai Trails: LD (25 miles) on Strider
32nd place in 4:38 (out of 37 completions)

Spirit of Texas: LD (25 miles) on Strider
33rd place in 5:10 (out of 33 completions) - Turtle award winner!

Off Road Warrior: LD (25 miles) on Strider
Over Time

Armadillo: LD (30 miles) on Socks
47th place in 6:57 (out of 47 completions)
**NOTE: My vet card says over time and slight lameness.  I attempted to correct this, but suspect that the error happened due to my leaving that night and asking for my vet card.**

2016 Ride Season

River Run at Los Caminos Naturales: 50 miles on Strider
23rd place in 8:09 (out of 24 completions) - tied for Turtle award winner!

High Roller I: LD (25 miles) on Strider
30th place in 3:48 (out of 65 completions)
           LD (25 miles) on Strider (Josh up)
31st place in 3:48 (out of 65 completions)

High Roller II: LD (25 miles) on Strider
37th place in 4:45 (out of 37 completions)

Racing Stripes: 50 miles on Strider
40th place in 8:59 (out of 42 completions)

Racing Stripes: LD (25 miles) on Strider
Pulled Lame at mile 25
        LD (25 miles) on Socks (Korinne up)
19th place in 4:55 (out of 19 completions) - Turtle award winner!

Total mileage:
Strider - Limited Distance: 100 miles
    - Endurance: 100 miles

Socks - Limited Distance: 80 miles

Currently Strider is ranked #4 with the Paso Fino Horse Association with 130 points in Endurance.

Let me say what an amazing journey this has been with both of my horses.  To have taken a horse that really wasn't legged up to his first ride and to carefully manage him through it, while knowing NOTHING myself, just fumbling through and telling anyone when I was in camp "This is my first time!!!" to hauling to ride camp myself, setting up, having prepared my horse for the weeks leading up, doing my electrolyte protocols leading up to camp, knowing what needs to be done and getting it done, and then getting out on trail....it's a wonderful feeling.

To meeting people and riding out with them on trail, setting up a ride plan and then sticking to it...it's a wonderful feeling!!

To going to the out-timer, calling out your number and being told "Someone else gave me your number, but I knew it wasn't you Erin!" was honestly...it was a good feeling.  If someone who only sees me a few times at each ride, but knew, at least in passing, who I was...it felt like I am maybe...MAYBE...starting to be a part of the bigger picture. 

Not that I wasn't at my first ride.  That Lynne was so sweet and kind to me, a complete stranger, who hauled me and my horse, shared her knowledge and coached me through...it was a wonderful feeling.

And at each ride, I meet new people, and make new friends who I only see at ride camp, and potentially interact with online.

But most of all, watching Strider really bloom and grow as a horse.  He's turned in to a solid partner.  With quirks.  But I know he'll cross water.  Cross bridges.  Cattle don't bother him.  New places delight him.  And he will work his butt off for me if I ask.  He's become a fun casual trail horse and a pleasure to take to ride camp.  Mostly.  Unless Socks is there and Socks is at the trailer.  Then he's an asshole.  And I kinda hate him.

But he's gone from this fat, overweight horse, to a lean and trimmed down horse.  He's not a fire-breathing dragon at the start of a ride.  He has energy, but he's not uncontrollable.  For which I am thankful. 

I've learned that 50 miles isn't really as hard as I first thought.  My first 50 was shorter, time-wise, than my second 50, but I hurt less after my second 50.  And I've realized that, for now...we're moving up the distance.  Unless something dictates we drop back to LDs, we're staying at 50s.  He's starting to understand the game better.  So am I.  My current plan, as it stands, is to stay at 50s for a year or two.  Then bump to try a 75. 

The fact is I know Strider has it in him to manage 75 miles.  He, in fact, DID do 75 miles the weekend of Racing Stripes.  He did ALL 75 miles, only to come up lame at the final vet check.  He found a rock with his name on it, or just the hard percussion of gaiting on a hard-pack road did it to him.  I will admit I was upset to begin with.  For my valiant pony to have done it ALL and not earn his completion felt bitterly unfair.  Except, that's the name of the game.  Shit happens out there.  And it's not like he didn't actually DO the mileage, he just wasn't fit to continue. 

So after I calmed down a bit, I realized that.  I couldn't have done anything differently, nor could he.  It happens to everyone at some point.  This was his.  So we learned something.  I learned he has 75 miles in him.  If we can just avoid the rocks or hard roads.

So next weekend, we're off to try another 50.  Just Strider and I.  We're going to pair up with the team we did the 50 at Racing Stripes with and a friend of hers.  I'm expecting good things!!  I'm dialing in my tack and right now the saddle and pad I'm borrowing are working well.  I'm going to try some new electrolytes out on the trail along with some carrots (natural e-lytes!) to keep him peppy and going strong.  Waiting on the rear Renegades I ordered to come in.  I do so hope they'll be here before this weekend.  I wanted to try a good, long ride in them to make sure they'll stay on and work for us next weekend.

So, here's to more adventures, and new adventures and new trails and new and old friends alike!!

#TeamStrider
#TeamSocks
#PasoPower