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My husband and I went to the 3 day Shamrock ride in Wyoming this past
weekend.  What a wonderful experience!  Not only is it a well organized
and supported ride, but everything just really came together for me and
my horse.

Last year I got to ride one loop the first day and my mustang got a
stone bruise, so Stace got to ride without me.  This year his horse had
a problem and I rode without him on the last 2 days.

The horse I rode was one I posted about a few weeks ago, wondering if
she was meant for this sport.  In fact 2 weeks ago at Happy Jack I was
using the ride to decide how to market her.  She?s had numerous issues
in the 3 years I?ve had her, so I couldn?t sell her without
understanding them or fixing them.  I think everything has been
addressed now (underlying issue was an old fractured splint bone that
caused intermittent lameness and stress) but based on her behavior at
Caja del Rio (very unmotivated) I didn?t think distance was really her
thing.

Well, no one really had any suggestions for me, but I?m pretty sure now
that it was just the remaining time needed for the rest of her body (and
mind) to catch up to her new capabilities.  Cuz this horse just ain?t
for sale anymore!  Wow, I think she is just a completely phenomenal
horse and she still has room to improve as her conditioning comes along.
No one will ever claim her conformation is great - longish back,
straight hind legs/hock issues, short humerus ? all making for an
incredibly short strided horse.  But what she can do with those strides
is amazing.  

She?s always had primarily 2 speeds ? a high speed trot ranging 12-16
mph which is her preference and a mind numbing 2mph walk that doesn?t
get anywhere when she?s not motivated.  With that trot, she is so nimble
she can put her feet anywhere and she really pays attention as well.
Over 3 days of 30 mile rides she slipped once on the side of a grassy
hill, but otherwise didn?t even trip once.  

The main thing that worked for us is that we finally got to ride our own
ride.  Now what prevented this in the past was me.  I have been fearful
and that big trot is BIG!  So I?ve always held her back when she was
actually willing to go.  Hey, she even has a canter that I didn?t know
about until May. So I basically let her do what she wanted on the first
day and that was mostly to lead.  And we averaged 9mph on the first loop
and her first CRI was 11/11!  I know this horse takes care of herself,
eats and drinks amazingly well and does not go beyond her abilities.
She takes breaks if needed of her own accord.  My job just became
keeping the trot sane or ask for canter depending upon the footing since
I really don?t want her doing the 16mph pounding thing on hard pack.

I learned so much this weekend.  It?s really the first time we?ve been
actually moving and not dinking along at our typical slow pace and the
horses did so much better for it.  No sore backs from holding them back
and I actually never felt like I?d actually ridden, even after 3 days.
We got tons of advice from people we rode with and some of the really
knowledgeable people helping at the ride.  Actually there just seemed so
much a sense of camaraderie in ride camp ? everyone helping everyone
without even being asked and a great 12 year old girl that walked around
to other trailers asking if anyone needed help.  I really love
multi-days!

One thing we?re trying to figure out is what happens during the hour
holds.  After the break my horse is very lackadaisical, happy to walk
slowly, could care less if passed.  But later, and especially once we?ve
turned back toward camp all returns to normal.  So I?m trying to
determine how much of this is mental and how much physical.  On the 3rd
day we tried a couple things ? I iced her front legs which I noticed
other people doing and I kept her walking (making the poor thing follow
me with her beet pulp bucket out in a field!).  It did seem to help so
we?ll see how that works on future rides.

My biggest accomplishment was on the 3rd day.  I had really debated
riding that day.  I knew my horse was tired ? we?ve only been
conditioning since May (although she doesn?t lose conditioning much and
we live on hilly property that keeps them in shape) and her CRI?s were
not great (actually they aren?t normally great, she gets very excited
trotting out).  Based upon the start of the 2nd loop on the 2nd day
there was no way I would have taken her out again, but halfway through
she became as difficult to slow as ever.  So I thought this would
actually be a good opportunity ? for me to work on my rating skills and
to take advantage of a calmer horse.  I was perfectly willing to pull
and walk back if it was stupid.

So I gave us a 12mph speed limit, walked up and down hills and gave us
more time to eat and drink if needed.  I was riding with a good friend
on a horse fairly well matched to mine.  He was happier behind us
because he can spook a little in front, and although in better
condition, the rider really wanted to make sure she completed all 3 days
and with a horse good enough to go to a ride next weekend (boohoo for
me, first week of the month and I?ve already spent my ride fee allowance
for the month!).  But we had the same plan and we both stuck to it.  My
horse discovered her 10-12mph trot and we had a more steady second loop
than the other 2 days.  Plus we both had fresher horses at the end of
the ride than when we started so that was all the accomplishment we
needed.  

Now I?m counting down the days until I can get to the next ride and do a
50.  I think after 3 days of top 10 30 mile rides we ought to be able to
handle a little 50!

Thanks again to Susie Schomberg and the excellent Shamrock crew!!!
Marlene

Marlene Moss
www.KineticEquineAnalysis.com?(saddle fit for?the horse in motion)
Available for saddle fittings at Coalfax Coalrush endurance ride in NM
www.mphr.org?(Mustang Performance Horse Registry)
www.mossrockranch.com (sale horses and more)
719-351-5037 (cell)
719-748-9073 (home)



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