Fort Howes Endurance Ride - Day 2

Sunday June 13 2010

Day 2 - dark skies all day, but no rain!


Bonnie finished the LD yesterday. Today she rode in her first 55! She finished!


Namibian rider Kordula on the 100. Unfortunately her horse was lame and she pulled.


Nicole and her gorgeous Arabian/Quarter horse/Friesian! (that's them up top, too). Unfortunately they pulled from the 100 when her horse came up with either a stone bruise or an abscess.


Mom Marsha and 11-year-old son Cy doing their (and their horses'!) first 100. They finished!


Sue and Julio finished 6th on the 100.


Kyle trotting out Julio (yes, another Julio Horse in the 100!), and in the distance Steve trotting out Beaujolais. Steve also owns Julio. Steve finished 4th, Kyle 5th, and Julio got Best Condition.


That's Gregory, not wanting to get dirty after winning the 50 yesterday. "Today, I am visiting!" He sort of helped his fellow Columbian rider at the vet checks.


Lynn and Suzy shared the win in the 55.


You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink... but you can try.


Cici wins the 100 on Fantasia - she's so happy!


The sun sets and the ride still goes on...

Fort Howes Endurance Ride - Day I

Saturday June 12 2010

This is the 14th year for the Fort Howes endurance ride put on by the Stevens on their Circle Bar Ranch near Ashland, Montana. The ranch has been in their family for 6 generations now. Beautiful place in the rolling hills of the Ashland Ranger District. Cloudy and cool all day till afternoon when it started raining... then dumping rain... but as they say, if you don't like the weather here in Montana, wait five minutes and it will change.

Here are some photos from Day 1 (a 35, 50, and 75 mile ride).








Sue Hedgecock on Amazing Kon. I rode this guy 2 days in Utah last year. He's a fun horse. They finished the 50 today... but got pulled at the finish because he was stiff in a hind leg. bummer!






Tennessee is telling some tall tale.


This gal almost went over the other side of her horse when she mounted! Then they had a good laugh.


Vet Ray Randall vet checking a horse.


Heading out on a loop under darkening clouds!


Darolyn Butler from Texas.


Trotting out at a vet check.


Nicole Chappell and her gorgeous horse. I saw them last at the Mt Adams ride when they finished the 100. They're doing the 100 here tomorrow.


Smiling in the rain!

And P.S. - no, I didn't ride! (Brought my helmet and chaps and The Raven just in case, though : )

Fort Howes Day 2: It's All Mental

Sunday June 7 2009

This time, it rained all night, and turned to a dozen forms of precipitation, all of them involving some form of ice, till late afternoon. It turned the trails into a mire of treacherous footing. "A mental ride," a couple of riders said.

Despite the conditions, there were still lots of smiles from riders and crews, if not in happiness then from a sense of humor. People love this ride, and the Stevens who put it on, and they keep coming back to do it again.

For the full ride story, see the Fort Howes page on endurance.net.

Here are some photos to give you the flavor of the day!

Julie Jackson-Biegert and Nitro, winner of the 100.




Oops! A slip on the slick ground.


Horse coming in to camp in the snow




Flurries in camp.


Heading back out into the snow!


Blankets off for trot outs.


Blankets back on immediately after - several blankets.


The snow turns back to sleet.


This rider was doing her and her horse's first 50. "I'm a wimp and I'm surprised I'm still going!" She was tickled with how much mud was all over her stirrups and legs. She finished the ride. Think of how enjoyable and easy all the rest of her endurance rides will be when she has good weather and terrain!


Still beautiful, despite the weather.


Horses bowed their heads moving into the blowing snow and rain.


Suzy Hayes and Tezero's Gold.




Trotting out for the vet.




This fellow came all the way from Texas but got kicked on the trailer, so he didn't get to ride. OBVIOUSLY he was bored. He kept pestering his pen-mates, trying to get someone to play with him.