![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010164.jpg)
April 1 2017
It was the first endurance ride of the season for most of the riders, and many came with horses who were not dead fit and were still winter-hairy. 20 started the 50-miler, 19 started the 25-miler, and they all finished! No lamenesses, no metabolic issues - good, smart endurance riding out here in the Owyhee desert.
Several first timers and it's-been-a-whilers to the sport showed up to ride. A newbie (and new endurance addict) came from as far away as Seattle; and veteran Tennessee Lane, who's putting on the AERC National Championships this August in Colorado, popped in during the middle of a horse-delivering walkabout and galloped off with the 50-mile win and Best Condition on Bluff in 4:34.
The April Fools ride also saw the return of the Church kids after a several-year hiatus from riding. Former Junior Abrie was now the sponsor for 3 of her Junior siblings, and the youngest one on the smallest pony won the 25-mile ride, pulsing down first in 3:10. Best Condition went to Simone Mauhl and Dudley's friend Boogey.
The weather was PERFECT, which we all deserved, since we all suffered through a terrible hurricane/typhoon/rain/sleet/snow/windstorm on Thursday and Friday (and Sunday was not particularly lovely with the rejuvenated cold wind). Saturday was 60* and sunny, with only the slightest breeze. Trails were in perfect condition, with lots of grass on trail and flowers just beginning to emerge.
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010184.jpg)
a long inviting trail
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010163.jpg)
Since Junior Sarah couldn't ride, her aunt Connie sponsored me on Sarah's horse Dezzie.
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010147.jpg)
Connie showing off
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010148.jpg)
Connie falling off
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010150.jpg)
I found my sheriff's deputy badge out on trail!!!! Dudley and I lost it in the November Halloweenies ride, when he and I were the sheriff's deputies. I stopped and picked it up out of the sand, put it on, and Dezzie and I were sheriff's deputies for the ride! For about 30 seconds… at which time I noticed it had fallen off my vest again. I guess Dudley and I will have to pick it up again in our November ride…
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010144.jpg)
There's a newly named trail somewhere out here. Not saying exactly where, or who of the three of us it's named after, but this new spot is called Pee-In-Your-Pants-Point-Because-Your-Horse-Got-Its-Foot-Hung-Up-In-The-Reins-While-You-Were-Squatting-In-Mid-Stream
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010142.jpg)
The Church kids are back to riding after a couple of years respite! Abrie is old enough now that she's sponsoring her own siblings!
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010172.jpg)
Lots of grass on the desert to provide snacks for our hard working hungry steeds
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010149.jpg)
Lots of human snacks when you ride with Connie… she's handing me Gummi Bears here!
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/gallery/01/images/P4010192.jpg)
The Raven had a great time on Dezzie!
![](http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2017OwyheeAprilFools/photos/374A.jpg)
The Pickett Crick Ramblers played some fine music afterwards, both Friday and Saturday nights. Abrie Church, who masterly plays both the piano and fiddle, and who had never touched a mandolin in her life, borrowed a mandolin and jumped right in and started playing with us. Sure, mandolin and fiddle are tuned to the same strings, but - still! We were all astonished and delighted she made us sound so good! A younger brother banged on the drums, then dad stepped in and really meshed us all together. We were rather impressed with ourselves… we sound a lot better than we did 2 years ago!
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