Kentucky life in the saddle

Since it has been so long since I've posted here, I thought I'd summarize my summer here in Kentucky!

I am so lucky to be able to ride my horses as much as I want...how lucky can a girl/woman/old lady get! To make it even better, my granddaughter, Paige rides and competes with me as much as she is able.

First picture is of Paige on Sully and myself on Noways at our first ride of the year, a CTR held at Cave Run Lake in the Daniel Boone Forest only about an hour away from home. Our boys are a bit on the chubby, just off of vacation, condition...us too!

Second pic is of Paige and Lucy in the truck and ready to head home. Paige got 1st Jr. rider and would have been Reserve Champion, but they changed the rules so Jr.s can get that award any more...

The Lucky Ducks really did good and got lots of points in the DBDR Team competition.

Next ride was Top of The Rock in Indiana. It was Sully's first attempt at a fifty miler, so we were proud that he did so well. Got 12th place. We rode with Vickie and Brenda off and on the whole day. Nice weather and we 'Ducks' had a good time. Mary Lynn rode Zelda on the thirty.

Picture is of Paige and Sully after their first fifty together.

Second on Paige and Granny Jan with the boys after their fifty miler.

Next was our ride the Kentucky Stampede. The weather had been cool and wet all spring, so naturally, it took a turn for the HOT and Humid for our weekend. It took it's toll on the riders and horses alike. Paige and Sully were pulled on the second Vet Check, couldn't get his heart rate down to acceptable levels. I did go on to finish the final loop and got 5th place. This is the first ride I have EVER overslept...gosh I hardly even sleep much less oversleep!! It did give us a nice quiet start to the ride though. But the horses missed their two hours of eating hay, and were grabbing at every bite they could get... We were only ten minutes late in leaving, but made up the time well, as the front runners took a wrong turn for a few miles...

Picture is me and Sully before the Stampede, scouting trails in the cool and the wet...

Next ride was Salamonie Sizzler in northern Indiana. Paige couldn't go this time, so I took both horses hoping to ride Noways in the fifty the first day and possibly Sully in the 25 the next. It rained and stormed big time in the early morning hours which made the trails very, very slick and dangerous. But, onward we went...Noways was a basket case every time we came into camp for the Vet Check, because of Sully back at the trailer. We lost both front shoes before the first VC and had to get those replaces in the rain...it was a miserable ride, but Noways did really well and we got 7th place. Note to self...do not go to this ride if they have had 'any' rain. The next day was much better with sunshine and Vickie said the trails were much improved. I elected not to take Sully, as I really didn't want to see that trail once again (the fifty was the same lolly pop loop 3 times) and Sully isn't as surefooted as Noways and Noways was all over the place... Stayed and crewed for Vickie though. She got 4th on the 25!!

Next was Ride Between the Rivers in WV. I love this ride! And this time Paige got to go. Noways was in GO mode the whole ride and poor Paige and Sully had a time trying to keep up. He only slowed on the last loop (there were four out of camp), so at least they enjoyed riding at a more moderate pace then. We still tied for 9th place, so once again a Top Ten!

Poor Vickie got pulled at the first VC on the 25...Boo was off, but she was a great crew!

Next was the Virginia Highlands ride. Another good one. This year unlike last, the away VC was going to be in one spot, so made it much easier to handle without a crew. However, ML was our crew, so we really had it made! Greg and I rode in the 55 miler. The rest of the Ducks went to OH to do a CTR. They did great, finished a team and got us some much needed points!

The opportunity presented itself, and Noways was in perfect form, so we found ourselves running up front! We were actually leading at the halfway point, when he lost a shoe, then another one. After numerous applications of the #@^&% Easy boots, I finally gave up and rode him on into the VC without front shoes. Got new shoes tacked on there, but, we lost precious time fooling with those boots and slowing for the rocks... still we managed to get 4th place! The three front runners tied for 1st. I have I feeling we missed a rare opportunity to place 1st here. Noways certainly had it in him to get there with ease.

Picture is Dr. Otis checking him over for BC judging...I think he looks might fine for having run for 55 miles

Next was the Big South Fork ride in TN. Another beautiful ride. Got Noways and Sully reshod, so they were ready to go. Mary Lynn was to ride Sully, as Paige could not go. She opted to ride two days of 30 miles with Brenda. Greg, Vickie and I rode the 50 on the first day. The most beautiful, but also the hardest. Noways wasn't quite his usual self, but we still finished 6th with Greg 7th. Vickie finished on Boo. Mary Lynn and Brenda both finished their thirty and rode again the next day with Amy who did the fifty. The Ducks really racked up the points this weekend!

Greg, Vickie and I crewed the second day, which worked out great!

Mary Lynn on Sully & Brenda on Elite...