And A Medal!

Friday June 18 2010

Jose got another little package in the mail - a medal for his 1000 career endurance miles!

He wasn't quite sure how to wear it - they didn't make it so it would fit around his head and chest (where it would have looked mighty dashing), so he let me stick it on his head.


Besides, he was much more impressed by said deserved bag of carrots.




: )

A Grand For Jose!

Thursday June 17 2010

Jose received an envelope in the mail!

Who was it from? The AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference). What was in it for this special horse?

His 1000 mile certificate! It's official - 1000 career endurance trail miles for Jose Viola. I got to do 620 of those on my favorite horse. : )

Was he impressed? Well, he inspected it closely, but I think that he thinks that every horse that gets a thousand miles should get a bucket of carrots from AERC. We get to frame his certificate, he gets to eat the bucket of carrots.

(Don't) Bite Me

Wednesday June 16 2010

I did something rather silly.

I was driving home yesterday up Bates Creek Road, a bit fast on the dirt road... came over a hill and - WHOA! swerved and skidded to avoid a snake stretched out long ways across my path. Slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop, hoping I hadn't clipped its tail.

I hadn't - he was still laying there, same position, stretched out in the sun.

Well, I certainly didn't want the snake getting hit by some other vehicle, so I walked up to it to try to shoo it off the road. It didn't quite look like a rattlesnake... well, except for the pattern in the middle part of his quite long (about 3 feet) body.

He didn't move when I walked up close and waved and said "Shoo!" to him, so... I squatted behind him, reached out... and touched its tail.

Quick as a flash, that snake whipped around into a coil, head up, tongue out, tail... rattling?


Quick as a flash, I was three feet back, my heart pounding a bit. I still didn't quite think it was a rattlesnake, but... it was coiled like a rattlesnake, its tail was vibrating like a rattlesnake and I heard... rattles? I didn't see rattles... and I started thinking I'd read somewhere that a rattlesnake might not have rattles for some reason or other (which is probably wrong). I stayed out of range of the snake's leap (I think) and tried to get a better look at it. It sure sounded like rattling, and its tail was still shaking, but I think it was really hissing.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't a rattlesnake... but maybe I shouldn't have touched it. A snake is pretty dang fast.

However, at least I got him off the road, so he didn't get run over (at least that day). Good snake or bad snake, he'd make a good meal for the hawks and the golden eagles (who still hang around, though their nest failed) along the crik.

(And reading about it later, it was a bull snake; it imitates a rattlesnake by taking the coiled posture of a rattlesnake, vibrating its tail - though instead of elevating its tail it usually keeps the tail in contact with the ground to hit brush or leaves for sound effects - flattening its head to look more like a rattler, and hissing - which sounds like a rattle.)

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 : )

Grand Teton National Park

Friday June 11 2010

Needs no words!

On The Road Again

Thursday June 10 2010

Headed west, to the Fort Howes Endurance ride near Ashland, Montana.

You might possibly remember my trip there last year (see June, 2009 entries), where it was wet and cold and the riders braved mud and snowstorms on day 2!

This year I'm bringing several raincoats and muck boots - and of course plenty of shorts since the weather could also hit 90*.

Stopping along the way in Wyoming is of course mandatory.

Reports from the road will follow soon!