I have my list(s) and keep adding to it/them. Hoping not to forget anything important.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Washtucna weather
The endurance ride this coming weekend is in Washtucna, WA. Here are the weather predictions. The rain on Sunday worries me just a little. I would rather have no rain in the forecast at all.
I have my list(s) and keep adding to it/them. Hoping not to forget anything important.
I have my list(s) and keep adding to it/them. Hoping not to forget anything important.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
March 20 2010
Today was the last chance I would have to ride Sinwaan before our first LD of the year, next weekend. I decided an easy ride would suffice. We did the short loop which incorporates a lot of hills. Today I did not bother with the HR monitor. Instead I wore my GPS unit that my brother got me for Christmas, year before last. It is the first time I have tried it out. (It's about time! But last year my excuse was a broken leg and then a pregnancy)
It was fun using it now that I am figuring out how to work it. I still need to read the manual to learn all the settings but basically the big number at the top is our total ride time and then the smaller numbers at the bottom are distance and rate per mile. I am going to have to get better at math because looking down and seeing 15 min per mile (walking) or 4 min per mile (gallop) requires me to translate that into MPH and let's face it, I am not great at that!
Sinwaan did fantastic leaving the barn, he seems to be over his herd-bound attitude which is great! He does still want to run for home once we turn down "his" road but he is very manageable and I enjoyed our time together today.
We stopped in for a visit at Jenee's today and I was proud that I got Sinwaan to sidepass over to her gate opener on the second try.
Our ride today was 6.11 mi and we came in at 1 hr 15 min even according to the GPS. Can't wait to use it on the ride! ;)
It was fun using it now that I am figuring out how to work it. I still need to read the manual to learn all the settings but basically the big number at the top is our total ride time and then the smaller numbers at the bottom are distance and rate per mile. I am going to have to get better at math because looking down and seeing 15 min per mile (walking) or 4 min per mile (gallop) requires me to translate that into MPH and let's face it, I am not great at that!
Sinwaan did fantastic leaving the barn, he seems to be over his herd-bound attitude which is great! He does still want to run for home once we turn down "his" road but he is very manageable and I enjoyed our time together today.
We stopped in for a visit at Jenee's today and I was proud that I got Sinwaan to sidepass over to her gate opener on the second try.
Our ride today was 6.11 mi and we came in at 1 hr 15 min even according to the GPS. Can't wait to use it on the ride! ;)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
March 14 2010
Today I got a real treat - Ruth trailered us out to Bennington Lake for a ride.
Our earlier plan was to ride on the road. Three of the ladies - Ruth, Heather and Hope had mapped out a ride from Heather's house out to her mom's which was approx. 13 miles. They had planned to rest the horses and eat lunch there, and then ride back, making the complete ride 26 miles and a good test of if the horses were ready for our endurance ride coming up.
I knew that would be too much time to be away from the family on a weekend so I planned to trailer out and meet them after lunch and ride back into town with them.
Heather got sick - and Hope had homework - so with both of them canceling, Ruth and I decided to do our own thing.
The weather was perfect and we parked at the bottom. We went out and did about two loops around the Lake and an additional trail on the other side of the dam. Otto had a good spook which sent Ruth up on his neck but she stayed on and we had a nice ride together. I could have stayed out there all day!
Our earlier plan was to ride on the road. Three of the ladies - Ruth, Heather and Hope had mapped out a ride from Heather's house out to her mom's which was approx. 13 miles. They had planned to rest the horses and eat lunch there, and then ride back, making the complete ride 26 miles and a good test of if the horses were ready for our endurance ride coming up.
I knew that would be too much time to be away from the family on a weekend so I planned to trailer out and meet them after lunch and ride back into town with them.
Heather got sick - and Hope had homework - so with both of them canceling, Ruth and I decided to do our own thing.
The weather was perfect and we parked at the bottom. We went out and did about two loops around the Lake and an additional trail on the other side of the dam. Otto had a good spook which sent Ruth up on his neck but she stayed on and we had a nice ride together. I could have stayed out there all day!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
It's a beautiful day
It was a high of 57° today - a fantastic day to be outside!
We repeated our short 5.8 mi loop today with a new saddle. Ruth loaned me her spare Wintec endurance saddle to try out. It took me a couple of months to track down a girth that was the right length. (It's a weird 38")
Sinwaan is starting to shed out (but not enough for the weather lately)
The saddle was interesting. As soon as I mounted up I felt like I was riding a much taller horse. It has a soft seat (and I have been drooling over all the d-rings) but something about the flaps are more slippery than I am used to. I felt my stirrups riding forward frequently. On the first hill I had to stop and tighten the girth - I had not added the breast-collar or bothered with the HRM today.
My rhythm was all off and it affected Sinwaan too. We just couldn't get into our groove today. I spent most of the ride concentrating on my form and felt like I was failing miserably. At the canter there was an odd 'whooshing' sound and Sinwaan let me know he was not happy about me bouncing around. I just couldn't sit deep and ride him out the way I normally do.
We finished the ride at 1 hr 10 min and I was happy with that given the elevation changes on that loop. We also had a slow start, a lot of stop and go as we tried to figure it all out.
After the ride I spent about an hour doing some dirty work - removing manure from his enclosure. Sinwaan was so cute, as soon as he saw me coming in with the bucket and the pitchfork he came walking briskly over to see what this was all about. He then proceeded to hang around and watch over my shoulder. He is quite a personable horse. It is nice to have the opportunity to just hang out with him and learn more about his personality.
I am feeling good about the upcoming ride. Only three weeks away now.
We repeated our short 5.8 mi loop today with a new saddle. Ruth loaned me her spare Wintec endurance saddle to try out. It took me a couple of months to track down a girth that was the right length. (It's a weird 38")
Sinwaan is starting to shed out (but not enough for the weather lately)
The saddle was interesting. As soon as I mounted up I felt like I was riding a much taller horse. It has a soft seat (and I have been drooling over all the d-rings) but something about the flaps are more slippery than I am used to. I felt my stirrups riding forward frequently. On the first hill I had to stop and tighten the girth - I had not added the breast-collar or bothered with the HRM today.
My rhythm was all off and it affected Sinwaan too. We just couldn't get into our groove today. I spent most of the ride concentrating on my form and felt like I was failing miserably. At the canter there was an odd 'whooshing' sound and Sinwaan let me know he was not happy about me bouncing around. I just couldn't sit deep and ride him out the way I normally do.
We finished the ride at 1 hr 10 min and I was happy with that given the elevation changes on that loop. We also had a slow start, a lot of stop and go as we tried to figure it all out.
After the ride I spent about an hour doing some dirty work - removing manure from his enclosure. Sinwaan was so cute, as soon as he saw me coming in with the bucket and the pitchfork he came walking briskly over to see what this was all about. He then proceeded to hang around and watch over my shoulder. He is quite a personable horse. It is nice to have the opportunity to just hang out with him and learn more about his personality.
I am feeling good about the upcoming ride. Only three weeks away now.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Last day of February
Had a great ride today. Started out alone and met up with Heather on Last Chance road. The weather was awesome, sunny and mid-50s. T-shirt weather, and I even got to wear some normal socks today (bye bye wool)! Probably because the weather was so perfect, everyone was out and about. Lots of traffic, and we saw numerous cyclist - Sinwaan hates those because they sneak up on us. I feel his haunches gather up underneath of him and he is ready to BOLT when they come up behind us.
Heather and Quincy set a great pace, a nice easy steady trot that kept Sinwaan's HR in the low 90s. That was just what we needed after our solo stop-and-go start.
On what must have been the end of Valley Chapel, Sinwaan had another good spook over the same type of dark mound that sent me airborne last weekend. I stuck with him this time although my calf again got pulled pretty darn good and even my hip hurt for a couple of minutes. It's better than the alternative, however, and it was soon forgotten.
On Stateline Road we saw a cow giving birth. That was probably the most noteworthy visual on today's jaunt.
Heather had mentioned adding on a couple of roads to my loop last week that would add a couple miles. I was game and off we went. From Beet we added on Springdale Road to Old Milton Hwy over to Bussell and that put us back at Mission. Sinwaan took the lead on Bussell, and sensing we were headed the "right" direction, gave me his power trot which put his HR up into the 120s.
Heather turned back and headed for home shortly onto Mission. Sinwaan did his power trot most of the way, pulling on my arms and asking for more speed. He slowed down on his own towards the end of the road and did well for me going over the Last Chance bridge, with its strange echoes, it is unlike other bridges in the area. We had a bit of a canter or two heading home on Stovall and I walked him the last 1/2 mi in.
I dismounted, let him grab a bite of grass, took off his bridle and let him scratch all over me, and then checked his HR. 49. Yeah! He got some more time to nibble on the spring greens coming up and then I turned him out to his paddock. He went and had a good roll, as always, and then settled into his 'lunch' that I had unkindly removed him from earlier.
12.9 miles in about 2.5 hrs. Yes, it was a good day for riding. I can't wait for the ride. I am confident now that we will do just fine.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday ride
Today we went 11.2 miles. Our time was 2 hr 15 min.
It was a great day to be riding - the sun was shining and the temperature fantastic (46°). Not t-shirt weather, but not so cold that you are uncomfortable.
I think the HR monitor was fairly accurate today. Sinwaan was in the low 100s (110) at the trot (with fairly good recoveries when we slowed to a walk), until we headed back towards home (Beet Rd). He had a spook at some dirt (of all things!) and I went flying off (I believe that is the first time I have come off him). I was glad to have landed on soft ground, but it felt like I pulled both calves pretty good. I stood and stretched them out a bit before remounting. After that he was really moving out and his HR went up to the 120s. Finally, working.
All in all we had a great ride. I feel like I need to step it up to have him ready and continue to do this loop, or one similar to it in distance, every weekend between now and the ride (5 weeks away). He seemed a little tired when we got back home today. In the past when we were done he still was ready to do more. I was able to walk him in on a loose lead the final mile or so to cool him out a bit. He also seemed a little fat today so his caretaker and I had a conversation about cutting back slightly on his night time feeding. It would help if he wasn't carrying any extra weight.
It was a great day to be riding - the sun was shining and the temperature fantastic (46°). Not t-shirt weather, but not so cold that you are uncomfortable.
I think the HR monitor was fairly accurate today. Sinwaan was in the low 100s (110) at the trot (with fairly good recoveries when we slowed to a walk), until we headed back towards home (Beet Rd). He had a spook at some dirt (of all things!) and I went flying off (I believe that is the first time I have come off him). I was glad to have landed on soft ground, but it felt like I pulled both calves pretty good. I stood and stretched them out a bit before remounting. After that he was really moving out and his HR went up to the 120s. Finally, working.
All in all we had a great ride. I feel like I need to step it up to have him ready and continue to do this loop, or one similar to it in distance, every weekend between now and the ride (5 weeks away). He seemed a little tired when we got back home today. In the past when we were done he still was ready to do more. I was able to walk him in on a loose lead the final mile or so to cool him out a bit. He also seemed a little fat today so his caretaker and I had a conversation about cutting back slightly on his night time feeding. It would help if he wasn't carrying any extra weight.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
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