Owyhee Fandango 100-Mile Tune-up

Tuesday May 22 2012

It's just 5 days till the Owyhee Fandango 100!

Here's a video of our next to last short conditioning ride for Jose's and August's first 100 miles!



[link here:]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUMSb3W0fC4

Prepping for the Owyhee Fandango 100

Wednesday May 16 2012

When it comes down to preparation, I can't really count the last 100-mile ride I did. That was Tevis in 2009, and since I got the mount on Nance Worman's horse Quinn with only 5 days' notice, I had nothing whatsoever to do with his conditioning.

The last 100-mile ride I did before that was 2003, and since I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, I sure don't remember what I did to get a horse ready for a 100. This time I had about 3 weeks' notice, since the idea popped into Steph's head that I should ride Jose (Steph's horse and My Pal) on the Owyhee Fandango 100 with Connie and Carol.

All three horses have a base this year of two 50 mile rides in April. We are lucky in that the horses have plenty of room to move around day and night - and they do this, walking at minimum several miles every day. (Well… except for Finneas who's on a diet right now - more than anything he needs to lose weight before the ride!)

The first thing we decided is that we aren't riding to win or Top Ten; we're riding to finish. We had a total of 4 weeks between the last 50-mile ride and the 100-miler on May 27. Here's some sound conditioning advice we followed. Going on the theory that the last hard ride before a 100 should be 11-14 days out, we did that on Monday (13 days out), taking our three steeds (with Judy subbing for an absent Connie) on a 22-mile brisk ride. We motored the 11 miles to Regina's house, had a lunch break, and zipped the 11 miles back home. 

Now, we'll ride them twice more, 4-5 days apart, easy 5-6 mile rides. This also fits with the theory that a horse won't feel the effects of a conditioning ride till 5 days later - hence there's no point in trying to put more condition on your horse within 5 days of a ride.

At this point it's more about getting me in condition. I am riding 1 or 2 horses a day, but I'm shrinking away from going out and hiking in the heat of the day… I figured I'll either put that off till later, or, hope and pray like heck that it is not a hot day in Owyhee on May 27th! 

10 days to go!

Steph's New Endurance Horse

Sunday May 13 2012

It's too early to tell, but, this baby by a Shagya mare and a Thoroughbred stallion (a son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus) has the same top qualities that every super endurance horse started out with: long legs and super fuzzy cuddlyness!

Owyhee Fandango 100 - Flagging the Snake River Trail

Saturday May 12 2012

Carol, Steph and I hiked and flagged the 'boulder field' along the Snake River, part of the 80 and 100 mile rides on the May 25-27 Owyhee Fandango.

I made a fun video that gives you a hint of some of the scenery and wildlife you'll see, and part of the trail you'll be going over. You'll see that it's not hard; it's just technical for maybe a 1/2 mile stretch. The weather was perfect - not too hot nor too cool nor too windy, and this day, at least, there were no gnats! (Bring your human bug hats or bug spray, and spray for your horses too, just in case.)

I have put in an order for perfect weather on ride day!



You can see more photos, and upcoming videos on the Owyhee Fandango ride page:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2012Fandango/

The Big Owyhee One-Oh-Oh

Tuesday May 8 2012

Let me preface this by saying, It Was Not My Idea.

I was ready and willing to help on the 100-mile day at our upcoming 3 day Owyhee Fandango at the end of May. I was ready to help crew for Carol and Connie.

Carol hasn't done a 100 since 2007. If she finishes, she'll get her 6000 miles! It will be her horse August's first 100. Connie has never done a 100, nor has her horse Finneas, but they both have the gas and gumption to git 'er done.

Connie and Carol have been sending psyching-up-encouragement emails to each other. Connie has a little good luck present for Carol. I've been sending both of them a few inspirational emails, such as, 

"The Moon Phase on 27 May, 100-mile ride day, will be waxing crescent (36% illuminated) which in this desert, will be bright enough so you can see to comfortably pick your nose."

Today, Steph sez, "Why don't you wear the helmet cam, and ride Jose on the hundred with them?"

WHA……..?!?!!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!??!?!

I've been quite content to do 50's on Jose. To some 100-mile gurus, that's not 'real endurance' and I'm a wimp. I'm here to say that I am not a wimp, but you can call me lazy, if you must. To me, 50 miles is just dandy - I get good exercise and pleasure from 50-mile rides (multi-days are my favorites). I haven't done a 100 since 2009. Jose's never done a 100. If Jose completes, he'll get his 2000 miles.  

Oh dear! I was cruising through life all happy and lazy, taking on little challenges like 50 mile rides now and then, with nothing piled and spilling over my plate to worry about. Now I have a LOT to chew on. Now I must begin a major mind shift. I have to think about things like, how to train Jose? He's fit, having done 2 50's this month, 3 weeks apart, but… now what? a few short rides? a long ride? both? a lot of short rides? Walking? Trotting in sand? Hills? What am I going to eat? I don't like to eat on 100's, but I must. It'll take me weeks to figure out what to eat! I better start cooking many things now, so that I have a variety to choose from! What to pack for the vet checks - some of them will be out-vet checks. In fact there will be 2 different out-vet checks, so I'll have to pack 2 different bags for each hold. What to put in the bags for me, and what for Jose?? Jose will need a variet of grain and hay and a change of saddle pads and cinch and grooming brushes and brushing boots and extra horse Easyboots and a blanket in case it's cool or wet or windy, and a variety of food and frozen water and gatorade and Starbucks coffee drinks and a change of clothes and bandaids and Ibuprofen for me... Do we (Jose and I) each need a bag at each vet check, and what, now I have to pack 4 bags?? What about the weather - will it be comfortable, or will it be hot? Too hot? What if it's too hot?? Ohmigod what if there are thunderstorms???? And now I have to look at maps! Now I have to charge lots of batteries for the helmet cam… and decide which vet bags to pack them in and decide on what 8 hours of footage to shoot. And what about that starting time - 5:30 AM!!! I don't like that side of the morning!

Steph said I need to start riding in the middle of the heat of the day to get acclimated. Yuck! (Steph said, fairly skipping with glee, "Yay! I'll ride with you in the heat of the day!" It's that time of year where she gets to Yippee and I get to start whining.)

On the other hand, I'll get to make a special video of a 100-mile ride, of a special place (the Owyhee desert) with Big Things on the horizon, and hopefully not the sunrise 24 hours later! I will discover one hundred new ways to admire the Owyhee desert. Possibly 100 new sore muscle fibers. I will soon share a new experience with Jose Viola.

And, a big motivator is that I'll now be in on the little prezzies Connie is creating. My prezzie for the three of us will be beads for our horses' manes. The Navajos thought a turquoise bead in the hair protects you from being struck by lightning. (Does fake turquoise count??)

I have 19 days to psyche myself up!  Don't know if I'll inform Jose about it yet or not. : ) 

Let the psyching begin!

Raging*

Saturday April 21 2012

That's about the only way to describe the hot debates, or, as Patty S put it, 'verbal passion', on a wide variety of subjects on the AERC forums, and Ridecamp this past week.

I tried to put together all the arguments in a short one-page summary, so you don't have to go through the hundreds and hundreds of fervent comments. In essence:

• some rides are too short for their posted length

• some rides are too long for their posted length

• they all even out in the end

• my gps says…

• your gps doesn't work right anyway

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• the size of the Board of Directors is too large for our small organization, nothing gets done

• the size of the Board of Directors is just right for our small organization, there are other more pressing matters

• the size of the Board of Directors is too small for our small organization, nothing gets done

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• we offer far too many year-end awards to riders - we didn't do that in the old days

• we need to offer more awards, as more incentives to riders

• year-end awards are fine, but riders should buy them from AERC

• I already won these awards, and paid for them through AERC dues, training my horse, gas to rides, entry fees, etc, so why should I pay again?

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• our organization is losing members but so what, that's to be expected

• our organization is losing members so we should try to recruit new ones

• we don't need new AERC members, we should tighten our budget

• we shouldn't tighten our budget, we need to recruit more members

• our organization has a surplus in cash, so we don't need more money

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• to cut the budget, we should start at the top $ stuff and work down

• to cut the budget, we should start at the bottom $ stuff and work up

• eliminate a weight division and the year-end awards

• eliminate 2 weight divisions and the year-end awards

• eliminate all weight divisions and the year-end awards - I just want to ride

• stop advertising in national media to recruit more endurance riders, it's a waste of money

• increase advertising in national media to recruit more endurance riders

• just go recruit more endurance riders

• get rid the print magazine - it costs too much

• keep the print magazine - it attracts readers and endurance riders, and not everybody has proper internet for electronic only (remember, AERC riders as a whole are aging)

• increase dues - it brings in more money

• decrease dues - more members would join

• add a fun ride division - it brings in more money and people

• eliminate Limited Distance - it is not endurance

• look to Europe to see why it is they have so many endurance members and so many riders at rides

• Europeans are stupid, all they do is race

• we need to bring more kids into the sport

• kids should not be allowed to ride unless they are 6 (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) years old

• kids should not be allowed of the house, period, unless they are 21 years of age

• kids should be expected to start in 50 mile rides, because we should get rid of Limited Distance

• kids are our only hope for growing up in endurance and replacing us old folks in the sport

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• endurance is about fun, not just endurance

• endurance is not about fun, endurance is about endurance - fun is maybe an added perk

• make it easier for people to want to come try endurance by offering shorter fun rides

• make it harder for random hootenannies to want to come try endurance unless they can suck it up and jump right into a 50-mile ride, like the old days

• we need to expand our vision of endurance to coincide with the times

• we need to tighten up our vision of endurance to remain true to the original intent

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• FEI rides do not belong in endurance

• use the FEI riders to our advantage

• Limited Distance rides do not belong in endurance

• use the Limited Distance riders to our advantage

• fun rides? - Holy cow! Are you guys going to share the drugs?

• use fun rides to our advantage

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• try new things, try tapping new markets, like other horse disciplines and marathon runners, to interest people in endurance

• stick to the old, pure, endurance traditions no matter what

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• endurance purists are elitist snobs

• newbies are snobby wimps

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• we want you! welcome to our organization! we hope you one day work up to riding 100 miles!

• we don't want you here. go away. you are not like us

• huh? I'm just out there riding

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

• :  )

• :  /

• > :  (

• problem? what problem? everything is fine

• we're doomed

I *think* that about sums everything up for now.

These raging debates in our tiny (in the scheme of things) endurance riding organization exactly reflect the raging debates over issues in our country at large:

1/4 of the people want to fix the problems one way and are sure theirs is the right way,

1/4 of the people want to fix the problems another way and are sure theirs is the right way,

1/4 of the people want to fix the problems another way and are sure theirs is the right way,

1/4 of the people are talking about the price of tea in China while the rest talk about endurance,

1/4 of the people don't think we have any problems in the first place,

and the math doesn't add up anyway!

One thing I am sure we all can agree on, is that we at least love the riding part of endurance riding, or to be politically correct, endurance riding and non-endurance riding.

But then, I might be quite wrong about that, too! So, please excuse me while I go Hug My Horse.

*By the way, while all these issues have actually come up for discussion this last week, this piece is supposed to be humorous, but 

1/4 of the people will think it's hilarious

1/4 of the people will think it's offensive

1/4 of the people will find it inapplicable to their lives

1/4 of the people will find it stupid

1/4 of the people who matter will be thinking only of the next Game of Thrones episode,

and the math doesn't add up anyway and…

I'm still going out to Hug My Horse Stormy, who is the Most Beautiful Horse On The Planet.**

**I am well aware this could start a whole new raging controversy, but in this case, I know I am 100% right with this indisputable fact, and the rest of you claiming that you own such a horse will be 100% wrong. But no offense taken!

AERC: How Many Weight Divisions Poll

Wednesday April 18 2012

Folks are currently hotly debating many topics on the AERC forum and Ridecamp on ways to save AERC money, including budget cuts and expanding membership. I'll create a few polls people can take.

The last poll,
"Would you be willing to pay for your year-end AERC awards, such as jackets, vests, blankets?"

so far runs 68% yes, and 32% no. Some of those opposed are rather fiercely so, and have left some very good, thought-provoking comments. The poll will continue - take it if you haven't, and feel free to leave your own comments.

Check out both the poll and comments here:
http://merritravels.endurance.net/2012/04/aerc-cost-of-awards-poll.html

Now let's look at another way of cutting costs: weight divisions. To be sure, it would be a small expense reduced, but it's an expense to consider nonetheless, if that's the way we choose to start trimming the AERC budget.

Currently, not counting the Junior division which, in my opinion, should always exist, there are 4 weight divisions: featherweight, lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight. Cutting one of those divisions would make it harder for some people to get the year-end points and awards. (For example, eliminating one weight division over 9 regions, where first through tenth place are awarded - if there are that many riders in the standings - would eliminate roughly* 90 year-end awards).

*see the first comment

Take the poll:

surveys & polls