Lil' Tooters

Sunday July 22 2018

They can drive you mad, these juvenile screech owls, always hiding in plain sight, but incredibly camouflaged. They might even give you a tooting clue during the middle of the day to zero in on… and you still probably won't find them.

There are at least 3 juveniles, and 1 adult hanging in the cottonwood trees in the creek. I hear them often at night, and I'll see their silhouettes as they fly in to check me out (some seem to be very curious). I spent half a day hunting for the adult the other week, and finally find him (her?). I think it's the male I hear hooting at night, and, yet another year went by, I could not find their nest that is very near and fledged at least 3 young.

This youngster tooted once this afternoon; I went looking for him, (also heard one tiny chirrup out of a sibling, but could not find him), and after looking and looking and looking, and staring and staring, I finally realized that stump-y thing in the crook of a cottonwood was one of the juvenile screech owls staring at me, and not, in fact, a stump of wood.

Here's what a screech owl sounds like. For several weeks, these youngsters only did one little "whop!" at a time; they've just in the last couple of nights started doing the whole ping pong ball call.

Cute lil' bugger!!!!!

Big Horn 100: A Most Epic Adventure

Wednesday July 18 2018

The short of the story is that us 6 Idahoans (5 riders: me, Connie, Layne, Anne and Shyla, and Crew Master Regina) had a fun time at the Big Horn 100 in Wyoming. I was the only one who didn't finish - I pulled Dezzie at around 40 miles when he started to feel a little off.

You can read a ride recap here, 

http://merritravels.endurance.net/2018/07/tackling-big-horn-100.html

and stay tuned, because an alternate story may appear as a book or an e-book! 

Meanwhile, here are a few photos from one of the most beautiful endurance rides I've done (and lucky me, I got the best scenery in the first 40 miles of the ride!):

This was our warm-up ride on Thursday, over the first 8 miles of trail we'd be riding over in the dark at 4 AM.

Going up the Dugway into the Big Horn mountains - looking back over our tailfeathers

Looking back down the Dugway over Dezzie's tailfeathers as the sun is rising. that's Connie on Saruq and Tom on Rocky

Top of the Dugway. Now heading back down… before heading up again 

Finally on top top of the mountain, leaving the first vet check

We traversed so many beautiful meadows. The wildflowers were downright raucous (Connie took this pic)

BIG HORN BOUND

Saturday July 7 2018

What with a very busy June, and with one thing and another coming up lately, and being semi-whiny-worried about the heat and migraines and stamina, I've been conveniently ignoring the fact that we're headed for the BIG HORN 100 in Wyoming on July 14.

But now departure day is 5 days away, so it's kind of hard to keep ignoring it.

Connie's riding DWA Saruq, I'm riding Sarah's horse Dezzie, since she can't be here; Regina our Big Horn Guru is hauling us there and crewing for us (yay!). 3 more Idaho peeps are planning to caravan there with us. 

Our horses are sound and fit, their last ride being a hard and fast 55 at City of Rocks on June 8.

Me? I'm fairly fit, but… for 100 miles? And for (my nemesis) the heat? 

I think I'll just continue to ignore that part of the equation for now, but it is time to think about starting to pack.

I haven't done a 100 miler since my Tevis Cup Magic in 2009 - almost 10 years! - and I probably haven't pulled an all-nighter for anything since then, either! I've never done the Big Horn, but if I did do another 100, this is the one I'd want to do.

So, I reckon it's time for me to face the facts and admit it and put it out there: it's official! We are bound for the Big Horn 100 starting line (knock on wood). 

Nyssa Nite Rodeo Part II: All the Pretty Cowgirls and Cowboys

Wednesday June 27 2018

The Nyssa Nite Rodeo's a big fast-paced, slick show, of cowgirls and cowboys, flash and glamour, dust and sparkle, speed and horsemanship, skill and daring, rough and reckless. 

The cowgirls with their long flowing hair and brilliant smiles, the cowboys with their swagger and stern stares (or cracking smiles after a successful 8 second roughstock ride) dazzle the crowd and bring the old Western way of life to the spotlight.

Yep, Garth Brooks knew what he was talking about when he sang about the broncs and the blood, the dust and the mud, this thing they call rodeo.

More photos at:

https://www.theequestrianvagabond.com/Clients-Rodeo

Nyssa Nite Rodeo Part I: All the Pretty (Rodeo) Horses

Monday June 25 2018

It was an honor and a treat to get to shoot the 73rd annual Nyssa Nite Rodeo in Nyssa, Oregon.

During three nights of fun and competition, luck, skill, timing, bad timing, rough, tough, fast and furious, the barrel and roping and bucking horses were impressive to watch.

Here's a sample of some of those fit, fast, athletic, smart, wily, wild, rank, well-trained, pretty rodeo horses.

More photos at:

https://www.theequestrianvagabond.com/Clients-Rodeo

Book Review: Foinavon: The Story of the Grand National's Biggest Upset

Wednesday June 6 2018

Jump racing makes me cringe, but I can't help being fascinated by it. The Grand National Steeplechase, held every year (usually in April) since 1839, at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Liverpool, England, is the granddaddy of them all.

Four miles 514 yards, 30 fences, none under 4' 6", except the water jump, at a height of 2' 6".

Foinavon: The Story of the Grand National's Biggest Upset, by David Owen, was a most excellent read. This 100-1 shot pulled off the win in a terrifically chaotic race in 1967. (In his previous race, one bookmaker had him at 500-1; he finished last.)

Pat, in the pink, my Irish jockey friend in a National Hunt race

I worked in an Irish National Hunt yard one winter (chapter 2 in my book Soul Deep in Horses) and same thing: I was fascinated, but watching our horses run over the jumps made me cringe, hold my breath, and heave a sigh of great relief when they returned to the stables. Our horses did have a fall or two… frightening for me, but all in a day's ride for the jumping horses and jockeys… and none were seriously hurt. 

our horse Castle Ranger almost tipping over on the landing, jockey loses reins; Ranger tumbles at the next fence but was unhurt

But I was captivated by this terrifically-written tale that for me was bigger than life, knowing Foinavon ran at some of the racecourses our horses ran over, and knowing exactly what these astounding athletic animals go through, as well as the people who work with them.

David Owen's storytelling reminds me a lot of Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit: thorough, engaging, and could not put it down till the end! 

(And then I found Foinavon's race on youtube... watch it after you read the book!)

one of the bigger National Hunt fences

Cover Photo #48

Thursday May 31 2018

I've been waiting for the surprise to hit the fan. 

I knew my photo would be on a cover of Endurance News, I just didn't know which cover or when. It's the next June issue!

It just so happens that my 48th cover photo features my good friend Connie and her horse DWA Saruq (one I've ridden in a couple endurance rides), who was bred by my good friends Helen and Archie of DWA Arabians.

I kept it a secret, and the timing was such that I told Connie her birthday surprise was in the mail. Helen and Archie will be thrilled, too, when they find out. They breed wonderful Arabians, and they have long contributed to our sport of endurance, so it's lovely that one of their home-bred horses is now a cover boy!