[RC] From Show Ring Exhibitor to Endurance Rider-My Congratulations toLynelle Robertson-long story! - Ranelle Rubin
This is the story of an uncommon woman. Her name is Lynelle Robertson and she has loved and had horses most of her life. She has had Gaited horses, (MFT's), Quarter horses, and participated at many levels from team penning, halter, reining, etc.
She moved to Cool, CA (to those of you outside the area, this is Tevis country) and discovered just about everyone rode Arabs. She developed a vision of owning a "Grey Arab Mare" and trying her hand at endurance. She bought a lovely SENSITIVE mare named Mystic Sierra. She sent this mare to what she was told were great trainers, did everything she knew to do to develop her horse, and lo and behold, the mare and her did not get along. After the third or fourth time of tasting dust, Lynelle had to make a tough decision.
She was wise enough to know that she needed to find this mare a "new friend" because Sierra certainly did not want to be HER friend. Lynelle was honest with everyone who inquired about the mare, so therefore she was unable to sell her. She was about at the end of her rope, so to speak when Kathy Sherman heard about her. Kathy sent me a flyer Lynelle had online to see if I knew anyone. One line on the flyer stuck out: "Will trade for older, safe trail horse". OK..now we're talking..I happened to have just what she was looking for, a 17 yr old retired endurance horse anyone could ride. I recognized the mare as I had seen her out on the trail being ridden by a cowboy with a "big bit and bigger spurs"..so I had an idea why this mare was so "sensitive"..duh! I sent her some pictures of Stellar, and we arranged a test ride in Cool. She was instantly comfortable on him, so I left him with her and brought the mare home that day on a 30 day trial. I knew I could deal with the mare, but I needed to be sure she really wanted Stellar.
Fast forward a few years:
Lynelle and I traded horses permanently. She rode my retired endurance horse and got her confidence back, and I rehabbed the mare with a lot of slow relaxing rides, camping, and TTouch work. I sold Sierra to a lady who had seen her at a ride with the idiot trainer and admired her. Lynelle sold Stellar to a teenage boy who loves him to pieces to buy anothergrey mare! This lady was determined!
Now, for the transformation: 5 years ago, Lynelle had gastric bypass surgery to assist her in losing 130 lbs (I have her permission to share this to inspire anyone who it helps). Her top weight was 276 lbs in 1994. She is doing her first 25 mile ride this weekend at Mt. Diablo at age 58 and a much lighter, more fit lady to be sure! I will post her "before and after" photos next week.
When we started riding together early last fall just after her purchase of a Wiking Daughter we call "Go Mare", she was riding in jeans and cowboy boots. When we were walking down a steep trail and she said her feet hurt, I showed her the trail running shoes I ride in. When she got raspberries on the inside of her knees, I shared with her the comfort of riding tights. When she said she didn't like to drink too much on the trail (said she was a camel and didn't need to), I reminded her that just like her horse, she could get in trouble with dehydration, so she must learn to drink. On a side note, I later figured out she was just too modest to pee on the side of the trail..! She now rides in tights, tennis shoe-like hiking boots, and carries water and food! (and yes, she has learned to pee on the trail)
She has been the most coachable person I have ever met. She listened, learned, absorbed, practiced, and now she is ready for the test. Her mare is in awesome shape-could easily do a 50. I suggested to Lynelle that she do the 25 for her own sake so she can succeed and then have a better idea of what her body can do. We have done the distance in training several times, each time a little faster or on more difficult terrain. She joined two friends of mine and I on a training ride two weeks ago so she could experience riding with a group of horses she did not know. She and Go Mare did great! She crewed with me for four horses at the American River Ride in April, and learned alot..! She had shoulder surgery last November and poured through all my past EN issues diligently while she couldn't do anything else. She is ready..she is WOMAN..HEAR HER ROAR!
I would like to request all of you in Ridecamp send good thoughts to her this Saturday morning as she joins us in our passion for our sport. (She wears purple if that helps you visualize her riding her Grey Mare) Please feel free to post any suggestions, or moments that made a difference to you on your first ride. I have tears in my eyes as I imagine her crossing the finish with a huge smile on her face!! I am so intensely proud of her accomplishment!!
Happy Trails Lady..! You deserve it!
Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway. ~ John Wayne
