Red Barn Run 2012
We love riding and competing in endurance races in the South. The folks, as a group, are friendly and genuinely glad to see new comers. The vets are used to seeing alternative breeds other than Arabians.

The location of the ride is Chester GA. It is so tiny that it could be a suburb of Mayberry. It has the claim to fame of having been the home town of Pretty Boy Floyd. I mean the famous criminal, not the speed racking horse. It seems that Floyd left town for greener pastures. In a classic southern tradition not unlike direction advice that starts with, “turn where the tavern used to be”, the ride is named after a red barn that is no longer on the property.

The ride site is owned by the Perry family. They own all 4000 acres of the ride site, and this ride is the only time the family place is open to the public. Camping is great but rustic. There is a water spigot and you have to haul water back to your trailer. The Perry’s own an off site winery, and they offer wine and wonderful concoctions they call “slushies” that many women, including my wife Sandy, loved. Both the Friday and Saturday evenings were catered as a part of the ride fee. Friday night was barbecue chicken and Saturday night featured barbecue ribs.

The Perry’s are great folks and they turn the dinners into a Mayberry- like impromptu skits where they end up making fun of their relatives or friends. The top awards feature things like hand-made wooden giant rocking chairs and mounting blocks. The vets included Otis Schmitt, Ken Marcella and Dee Dee Huff. Each of the 4 rides had about 60 entries. The trails are flat, fast and often a bit sandy. Each road crossing is manned and the crossing guards are usually the Chester volunteer fire department or friends of the Perrys. This is one of our favorite rides and I urge you to try it.

It is always great to see the Angie McGee family, Joe Schoech, and the other SE riders. We had to haul 11 hours to get there and that means getting up at 3:30 am. My plan was to ride my sweet heart twh mare Kate both days, and take the twh Jazz as my back up. Sandy took one of her twh mares Cheyenne. I loaded the horses in the dark and off we went. Shortly after leaving, the dash cluster on our 2007 Ford diesel 250 went dark and the gauges went dead and the battery light came on. The motor did not die and when the gas pedal was tapped, the power came back on. This happened on and off for the whole trip. It meant you could not really listen to the radio and required us to go to a “happy place” as we drove.

We got to Southern Ga. no worse for wear and set up in a cotton field. While unloading the horses, Sandy happened to mention that I had brought Savanah instead of Jazz as my backup. Oops. I loaded the wrong black horse in the dark. So, we brought the wrong coggins and travel permits. That will teach me to go to bed earlier.

Sandy crews for me the first day of some rides so she can rest and ride the second day. I love my little Kate and she has the heart of a lion. But, she is not a speed horse and considering I am planning on riding her multi day here, I knew I was riding for completions. I also decided to hold Kate back during the first 15 mile loop to save her energy for later in the day. I let the leaders go and then kept riding slowly. I was 6 miles into the first loop when I saw a woman on her back on the ground and a rider who was a nurse caring for her. Horse traffic was sent slowly around them and it turned out she was fine after being checked at a local hospital.

Kate handled the excitement of almost 60 horses well as she always does. Watching the heart rate monitor and the GPS gave me something to do. I rode conservatively all day. Kate did great and I started planning on how to get the turtle award. At mile 40, I learned I really had no chance, so I started thinking about Kate being on her feet in the heat longer than necessary. I gave her head and asked her to go to the barn. She did just that and ended up 25th place.

1 04:48 McClary, Deborah Psyches Traveler (Traveler) (BC)
1 04:48 Gielen, Robert Vagas (Vagas)
3 05:14 McAfee, Lois LMS Hoosier (Hoosier)
4 05:14 Klingerman, Linda Thrust
5 05:14 Bunnell, Becky BR Jubaleigh (Bailey)
6 05:26 Crowe, Wesley Koweta Bentley (Bentley)
7 05:26 Silbert, Denise Arciem Alicyn (Ali)
8 05:31 Hamilton, Melissa A. Kabirs Dakota (Birs)
9 05:32 Tyler, Lisa Laizer ()
10 05:32 Gantt, Amy Warrant Promise

The LD results for top ten on Day 1 were as follows:
1 02:34 Mike De Chant on Koweta Pendleton
2 2 02:35 Amy Sumrall on DK Shadow Dancer
3 3 02:43 Bill Armstrong on Prima Donna
4 4 02:43 Scott Carroll on Tempest On Tha Bay
5 5 02:43 Pamela Houmere on Belladonna BC
6 6 02:43 Theresa Carroll on Deverish On Tha Bay
7 7 02:55 Margaret Clower on Aliya Jewel
8 8 03:03 Jerry R. Brown on The Jenerator
9 9 03:06 Alice C. Farrar on SMS Apache Shadodanz
10 10 03:28 Christy Smith on Koweta Ferrari

Day two was a going to be in the lower 80’s so it was a bit cooler. However, the humidity was higher and the sun was out with no cloud cover during much of the day. It was going to be horse management time. Cheyenne was wound up during the warm up so Sandy changed her plan to go out with the hotter front runners and stayed back with Kate and me. During the first 3 miles we settled in to about 40th place out of 59 riders. Kate moved the best she ever had and did a wonderful running walk.

Cheyenne, however kept calling for the alpha female horse we had left at the trailer. She would throw her head around and jumped around a few times, just to let us know how unhappy she was to leave Savanah behind at the campsite. Sandy was not having a happy time…

She said, “I cannot do this for 50 miles, I am going to have to get off and walk her back the three miles to camp.” I had her stop and pull off the trail and we let the field go by. Hello 54th place. I got off and checked her head stall and bit. There was nothing wrong with the horse’s gear. She was simply pining for her alpha mare buddy. Sandy said, “What do I do, I cannot continue like this?” I said, “Well, I am not telling you what to do, but what I would do is make her listen by giving her some rein on a shoulder and hip and telling her NO! when she misbehaves again.

I said, “You are apt to get a rodeo when you do this.” She said, “Okay, will you do this for me?” I said, “I would love to, but if we swap horses on the course we are both subject to being disqualified.”

I watched and when Cheyenne started to toss her head, Sandy said, “NO” loudly, and let Cheyenne have a rein on her shoulder and hip. Cheyenne is a very big, strong mare. We were doing about 7 mph. She lifted her front end off the ground for a step or two and then launched with all four feet off the ground as though she was a lipizzan. I heard something like “AHHEE” from Sandy.

Thankfully, my wife has velcro on her backside. They hit pretty hard, but there was no buck or further rearing. Sandy gave Cheyenne a slight collection and off we went with Kate in tow. We went 8, 9, 10,11 and then 12 mph. This was too fast for Kate and Cheyenne was not showing signs of slowing. I yelled, “12 is too fast for Kate, I’ll see you at the finish, make me some coffee!” I pulled Kate over and turned her backwards on the course and we waited.

From then on Kate and I were looking to finish the last 45 miles and try for the turtle award. I watched the heart rate and gps. Kate’s heart rate was wonderful all day but she did pant in the humidity. Each vet check showed her with low gut sounds which concerned me. We went back to the trailer, she ate the whole break and then her gut sounds would be A- or B+. Once her heart rate hung for a few minutes at around 60 until she peed and then her heart rate immediately dropped into the 40s. I intend to work on peeing on command like they use with TB’s in race track training.

Kate averaged 118 H.R. from mile 25 to mile 40 which was in full sun and less water than I would have liked. Kate came down quickly but still panted in the humidity. More eating during the break and her gut sound came back strong. We averaged 108 heart rate during the last 10 miles.

At the finish I saw my new friend Cheryl Van Deusen and she graciously pitched in and quickly helped me get Kate down to 60. Kate passed the vet in and completed although she was still panting. Dr. Ken Marcella said it was just her way of cooling in the humidity and she was not having a problem.

We ended up missing the turtle for the day but did take the turtle for the 9 horses that completed both days of 50s. The panting quickly stopped and Kate ate like a horse.

Sandy finished 25th place and Kate ended up 41st. Sandy and Cheyenne finished over an hour and 45 minutes ahead of us! I was very proud of how Sandy handled Cheyenne and that she did not panic during the starting problems. My lovely wife is my hero.

The Endurance Results for top ten for Day 2 were as follows:

1 04:51 Myers, Lee WA Love Letters (Mo)
2 04:51 Lorey, Taryn Moons Cygnature (Buddy)
3 04:51 McGhee, Josie TM Cade
4 04:51 Cruz, Willie Cookie Bear
5 04:58 Bunnell, Becky BR Jubaleigh (Bailey) BC
6 04:58 Bryant, Jordan Isabells Dream
7 04:58 Bryant, Rusty Fancy
8 05:04 Kollath, Marbeth FFC First Csea Lord (Winston)
9 05:04 Newman, Stagg Jake LW TOP TEN
10 05:14 McAfee, Lois LMS Hoosier (Hoosier)

Day 2 LD top ten were as follows:

1 on CM 02:32 Ashley Wright on Classy
2 2 02:34 Michelle Wright on Nicky
3 3 02:34 Suzie Anderson on Rhythm In Red
4 4 02:41 Margaret Anne Christie on FF Special Delivery
5 5 02:42 Amy Sumrall on SWA Amazing Finish
6 6 02:42 Mike De Chant on Koweta Pendleton
7 7 02:43 Jeri Flint on Mr. Honey
8 8 02:45 Madison Nagel on Sayyid Rahul PR
9 9 02:45 Melissa A. Hamilton on Jaazil BC
10 10 02:45 Johnny PetrasMorrocco

During the great awards and dinner, we shared peach slushies and BBQ with new and old friends. I was pleased to win a pair of new Renegade boots for Kate.

We will definitely go back, as the SE in general, and these folks in particular, know how to put on a great ride. I give them an “A+”. Next year we will go a day early to try and get ready for the humidity and heat and I will try to load the right horses…

Rack on!
Keith and Sandy Kibler
Shawnee Sunrise Farm

Early spring is too cold in the Midwest for rides and summer is too hot. So, Sandy and I have to travel. I have a 500 mile limit for Drs. Otis Schimtt, Dee Dee Huff and Ken Marcella. This ride was right at 500 miles and offered both Otis Schmitt and Dee Dee Huff.

It is also the only ride out of 15 that my twh mare Kate had not finished. Last year, I did a rider option at mile 85 due to a look in her eye and have been thinking about it. I know I did the right thing but I still think about it. I love my little 874 lb. Kate but she is the most challenging gaited horse to ride that I have owned or ridden. She is also the only horse I have ever ridden that gets stronger after 40 miles into a ride.

I can call this girl and she will leave the mare herd and come to me and kiss me. She may think I am her food slave but I fancy that she loves me and I sure do love her. Sandy wanted to ride (one of her) favorite Missouri Foxtrotter mares, Savanah, in the mare’s second 50 mile ride. So, off we go to southern Mississippi.

Naturally, we had truck problems. In the past we have blown trailer tires on trips. This time I replaced two extremely expensive truck tires before we left so I thought we were good. When, just into Kentucky, the engine light came on. Now, I had $ 8,000 of warranty work done on this truck in the last year and thought it was good to go. I was wrong. We pulled into a Ford dealership and they said it was just an EGR valve and I could keep going until I got home. 100 miles later it started surging. Okay, that gets your attention. Then, the entire dash cluster started going dead and shutting off completely. This was definitely starting out interesting. We prayed, drove on and prayed some more.

We finally got to Laurel, met Terry Price and parked. We looked for my friend Jody Rogers-Buttram but learned she had broken down too. My buddy Paul Sidio showed up. My endurance friends are an important part of my life and although I don’t get to see them often, I sure enjoy running into them as gypsy vagabonds with these horses we love. Some of my friends and fellow competitors and characters that showed up included Paul, Steve Huff, Jody Rogers-Buttram, Angie McGhee and Lucy Estabrook.

Sandy got the horses looking great with a spiffy weave into both of their manes. I am so proud of Sandy. She is my hero. Most women of her age would have retired to the couch with her physical challenges long ago. She will not go quietly into the night.

In the 50, Sandy started with her MFT mare Savanah, my friend Steve Huffman and his Spanish Mustang and 26 Arabians. Savanah sometimes pretends to be tired in rides and tries to fake Sandy out. So, Sandy decided to push Savanah and make sure she did not fake tiredness without a reason. When she heard “the trail is open”, she went to the lead pack. Sandy rode with a woman named Nelia all day. Savanah got almost all A’s and pulsed down quickly, but was 5 minutes behind Nelia going out the last loop. In the last 5 miles of the last loop, they caught up with a rider that had passed them earlier in the second loop. When they saw the finish line ahead they looked at each other with a “let’s go!” look. The three of them raced for the finish line. Sandy’s GPS showed 18 ½ miles per hour…Nelia got 4th place and Sandy ended up 6th overall and was thrilled. Her time was 5 hours and 42 minutes. Savanah did great for her 2nd 50 miler.

Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

Here was the finishing order for the top three per Terry Price:
1st Amanda Mead 4:49
2nd Gwen Douty 5:01
3rd Eva Kucerova 5:16 BC

Kate during the warm up before the 100

I got up at 4:00 am so that Kate and I could start the 100 at 5:30 am. We showed up at the start line 10 minutes early and the only people there in the dark were a group of locals that were camping. I asked where the 100 check in was and I was told they had already left. Panic hit my stomach, “how could that happen?” Just then Jack Price, the race director’s husband pulled up and said the out timer was a little late and that I was just the only one there. There had been others there and they had gone back to camp to find the timer in the dark.

The trail was declared “open”. Well, actually the “road” was declared open as the first 15 miles was completely road. I settled in at the back. These folks and their Arabians were absolutely flying. Kate was moving horribly even though I was trying to keep her just under 10 mph most of the time. She had “go” on her mind and “go” equals the horrible pacing movement that feels like a drunk sailor on a rolling ship. I brought her down to a running walk, then moved her up to a rack, then she went to a stepping pace. A few minutes later and she went to a hard pace. I repeated this and I repeated this and I repeated this.

My intention was to ride with my friend Paul Sidio and his horse Piper. They were going too fast for us and I had to let them go. I finally had to put Kate down into the soft earth runoff area beside the road and let her have her head. She went to 12 mph and her heart rate went to 102. There was obviously nothing wrong with metabolic. We ditch rode a good part of the first 15 miles and then had a 7 mile trail loop back to camp. She went back into gait on the trail. I had to surmise the movement problem was the road. I walked her into the vet check and did not remove the saddle nor did I sponge her. I just presented her with her halter on. She made heart rate in about 60 seconds from hitting the timer. She paced right through the trot out.

The next loop was a 24 mile trail that included about 4 miles of road. She moved okay on the trail but hard paced on the road. It was so bad it made me wonder if something could be caught under her shoe wall. I got off and checked the front left and back left. There was nothing and I did not bother checking the right side. She was again near perfect at the vet check. As the vet handed me the card and said “great”, she mentioned that “you do know you are missing a right front shoe don’t you?

Pilot error is what that was. I had not checked the right front when I checked shoes on the road. I had an easy boot, but that is not the best solution for Kate as she needs equal weight on both front feet to do her best movement. I had 4 shoes for her at the truck but needed a farrier. It seems at least one was in the 50 and was between his 1st and 2nd loop. He offered to help but had no tools, shoes or nails with him. I had every hand tool imaginable for emergencies and shoes but no nails for shoes. Someone had nails for shoes at their trailer and Paul’s wife hurried to their trailer. The farrier walked graciously to my trailer with Kate during his hold and used my automotive and trailer tools to put the shoe on. I had to force him to take money and a banana. He passed on the fruit and was wonderful.

Keith and Kate at mile 70, Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

That is the thing about riders in general and in the south particularly, the folks are simply the best.

We got out on time somehow and was soon caught by Clair Summers and her fantastic Arabian Mardi Gras. Clair has done Tevis on another horse but this was Mardi Gras’s first 100. Mardi Gras was named that name because he was born on, well you know.

Mardi Gras ate up the next 24 miles at 9.5-10.5 mph and we settled in behind most of the time. The next vet check was again near perfect but Clair was late to get out so Kate and I left word we would mosey out slow and wait for them. Within 2 miles they trotted up and we hooked on and off we went like a trail. Most of the time, they road on one side of the road on the 15 mile road loop and we rode on the other side of the road. There was very little water on this loop and only one actual water stop half way through. It got dark just a few miles before camp.

We hit the 85 mile and Kate took a couple of minutes longer to come down to heart rate than she had been, although I still did not untack her or sponge her. This made me wonder if I should back off her speed for the last 15 miles. This always presents a dilemma. We all know how horses gain strength from each other, so losing a buddy in the last bit of a 100 can be a negative. However, you have to balance that loss against the need for riding your own ride.

Clair had more horse under her and they still wanted to move 9.5 miles per hour. At mile 90 Kate and I let them go and I moved Kate down to 6.5 – 7.5 mph and we headed for the barn. We missed the two of them but I decided it was time to ride our own ride to the finish line. At mile 95, I took her to a walk with interspersed running walk breaks. Even though we walked most of the last 5 miles, we still beat our best time by 50 minutes and had a finish time of 14.09 and Kate went through the vet check with all A’s and one B. We were 11th place and I was tired, but thrilled. There were only 2 pulls in the whole 100 which was phenomenal.

Here are the top three finishers for the 100.
1st Ruth Anne Everett 10:36 BC
2nd Amanda Fant 12:02
3rd Josie McGhee 12:02

Dr Ike Nelson got his 11th straight LD BC which is incredible.

1st Ike Nelson 2:42 BC
2nd Jeff Thacker 2:45
3rd Jason Williams 2:46

Dr Ike Nelson sings to his horse before getting BC, Could this be his secret? Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

One highlight of the awards banquet for the 100 was that Josie McGhee won a copy of her Mom’s book on endurance. She accepted it and said, “I never have read this, I lived it with her”.
Someone thought she had some chance of getting it autographed.

This was Kate’s 4rth completion in 100’s out of 5 tries and we both needed some rest afterwards. This ride is a wonderful mix of good people and great times and I hope to see a more diverse mixture of breeds there next year.
Keith Kibler

http://shawneesunrisefarm.net/

My partner in life and best buddy picked out this ride months ago. She said we were going. One day rides hundreds of miles away are not high on my list but if Moma isn’t happy, well you know what I mean?

I have a points thing going on with my main twh mare Kate. So, I got her ready. Then she found a piece of wire 10 days pre race and got it wrapped around a front leg. Vet time and no race. Another competitor bought Niki, so she was race ready but not with me any more. Blues was not in the right cycle of training. Jazz, a 6 year old twh mare had been raced at 50 miles in September but pretty gently so she was my next choice.

The race director was Jody Buttram. She is an experienced competitor, who is an internet friend of mine and with whom I have ridden with before in southern rides. Raptor Run is in the William B. Bankhead National Forrest. To say this is an “old growth forest” is like saying Tevis is a trail ride. You have a feeling here that you are riding in something special and that you and your horse might just get eaten by some creature at any time.

There are no campgrounds available for the big rigs, so camping was in a big beautiful freshly mowed cow field. The horses loved the grass in that field. 61 horses showed up and 30 of those were in the 50. The first mile of the ride was controlled on a down hill gravel road. Then the lead rider, on a fine Spanish mustang politely said, “the trail is open” and bedlam in-sued. Sandy was riding her MFT mare Savanah who was in her first 50 mile event. To meet Sandy you would be convinced that she was the shyest and most demur southern lady you have ever met. Well, let’s put it this way; Don’t be standing in her way when someone says “the trail is open”. Sandy and Savanah went out with the leaders and I tried to keep a handle on Jazz.

Jazz was a bit concerned by the numerous Arabians running by her at a cantor or gallop or extended trot. Today was going to be a training day for Jazz and I wanted her far away from what I call “race brain”. We settled in mid pack and racked away.

Jazz eating up the road

The first loop was the most wonderful riding loop for a gaited horse I can imagine. Open enough to rack on, but rocky creeks and some trail debris that the trotting horses had to slow down. With one foot down all the time in a racking gait or three feet down in a running walk, Jazz cruised through the trail. She worked her way from around 15th place to around 6th by the end of the first 17 miles. We caught Sandy and Savanah and came into camp together. The horses where great through the vet check but Jazz had one loose shoe and one missing shoe. A short 40 minute hold meant the farrier cost me at least 10 minutes extra on my out time.

We watched our GPS and heart rate monitors closely and went racking down the second loop. It also featured a 1 1/3 mile gravel road beginning. Sandy, who is at times a little more cautious than I am by nature started to worry that Savanah was getting tired half way through the second loop. This loop was the most beautiful trail I have encountered in an AERC ride. Yes, you heard me right. This was the mother lode. It was single track trail through old growth forest. Giant trees with giant silver leafs stood guard as you wound through rock formations. I kept expecting a dinosaur to step out from behind a rock formation. Jody had told us in the ride meeting that their were wild hogs and mountain lions, and this place had the feel of a creature watching you.

Jazz gaiting up hill while looking for Raptors!

The trail became smooth and fast. The pace picked up and I asked Jazz to rack on. Savannah followed most of the way but did lead some. At a few hundred yards from the vet check, we got off and walked the horses in. Jazz has an amazing heart. Her resting heart rate is 36 and just like the first vet check, she was down to at least 64 beats as I walked her up to the vet check without removing the saddle or sponging her. Savanah was down quickly but the vet said her gut sounds were quiet, so we needed to put more food to her and bring her back to be checked again before going out for the last loop. Both horses ate well but the short hold time of 40 minutes and the need to have the vet listen to her sounds again made fore another late start.

Sandy was now worried and was wanting to slow down for the last loop. The last loop was the same as the 2nd loop with the addition of another 3/4 of a mile of gravel road in the beginning. Savanah had Sandy convinced she was tired. I stayed with Sandy and Savanah until several riders had passed us and we had dropped out of the top ten. Sandy then said, “I want you to go on!”. I said no. She said yes. She said yes more emphatically. She used logic and said, “Nothing is wrong with this horse, and you would send me on!”. I went ,but then stopped to wait again. I was now in 11th place. Sandy announced clearly that she did not want me waiting on her anymore. So, I went. Between the trail riders and the number checkers I found out that Jazz and I were between 30 seconds and 4 minutes out of 10th place. We kept having to slow down for the numerous trail riders, but that is just part of the day and you have to deal with it. You have to do it with it with a mind to promote endurance.

I decided that the trail was too fast to catch the 10th place rider and I just needed to enjoy the rest of the ride. I felt sure I was 30 minutes at least in front of Sandy. With about 3 miles to the finish, I heard a noise and 4 young women came flying up to me on extended trots. Jazz went into the most even 4 beat rack and kept in front of them. I asked over my shoulder if they had seen Sandy and her big MFT mare. They said, yes, she is right on our tail!

Savanah had been dogging it and just needed some flying Arabians to give her a mental boost up. I knew I could not keep ahead of the Arabians in a drag race up the last 1 1/3 gravel road as I do not gallop Jazz. So I worked her through the corners, where she is very nimble and opened up a lead on the 4 Arabians and Sandy. By the time I started up the hill I was far enough ahead that I could not Sandy or the Arabs. I watched the GPS and the heart rate monitor. We were moving well and her heart rate stayed between 115 and 145. depending upon the grade. With about 800 yards to the finish line, I heard a galloping hoard of Arabians coming up on me. Then they were beside me, then they were gone in a cloud of dust. I was surprised but not shocked. What did shock me was that tucked in right behind them was Sandy and Savanah.

Sandy gave me a look that we are still discussing at home. Let me just say that it was very “Lance Armstrong like”. You know the look that seems to say, “how do you like me now?” She pulled ahead and beat me by a horse length through the finish line. I was very proud of her. Savanah was 15th and Jazz was 16th.

Sandy and Savanah got the first mare award which was an extremely nice engraved silver plate. Jazz got the first TWH award which was a very nice TWH coffee table book that I had been thinking about buying for a while. The ride then fed us ribeye sandwiches and we had a great professional country singer entertain us. Let me say that some female endurance riders can really dance when they get enthused.

1st place was Karen Dely on her Arabian. Let me say that Karen was one of those dancers previously mentioned. BC was Steve Huffman on his Spanish mustang. The ride featured Arabians, Arabian Standardbred crosses, TWHs, MFTs, Paso Finos, Quarter horses, a warm blood, etc.

1st in the LD, was Eddie Edwards and BC was famous ride vet Ike Nelson. This was Ike’s 8th consecutive BC. Way to go Ike!

We will go back, as this is not only on our list for next year, it is our favorite ride that we have ever done. The trails are wonderful, the people are fantastic and the memories are truly heartfelt.

In trying to determine what made this ride so special I interviewed Jody Rogers-Buttram the ride manager.

1Q. Jody, what possessed you to step up and manage a ride?

Answer: Not really sure, but maybe some strange insect bit me while I was sleeping at another ride. Like a RM bug bite??? I have a great National Forest in my backyard, and this particular forest has been the site of past endurance rides. They started back in the early 70′s, and ran through about 1992. Then the ride just fell apart. Mainly because we didn’t have a campsite that was large enough to accommodate the big rigs of today. I lucked out when Ronnie Alexander walked into my office one day, and I discovered he had a 120 acre farm….right next to the horse trails.

2Q. How is it possible you have a daughter the same age as you?

A.She just aged quickly and I stopped aging, secret of using Raptor Pee as a wrinkle cream.

3.Q Why did you name your ride “Raptor Run”?

A.There are places in the Bankhead National Forest that look as if you have stepped back millions of year with the plants and rock formations. Some places (which the ride didn’t get to see) has areas of eroded rock forming ‘culverts’ in the stone that are large enough to ride through with just a slight opening at the top for the limited sunlight to reach through. Misty, mysterious, and other world like, and possibly harboring such creatures as Raptors.

4. Q Do the Raptors eat the wild pigs?

A. The forest service wished that they did….but alas, to this day, the pig population has still managed to climb in spite of the presence of raptors and mountain lions.

5. Q What were the giant leaves on the ground that were silver on their back size and appeared “horse eating” to some of the ponies?

A. Not sure what the true scientific name is for those, but for years, we (my family) have referred to them as “umbrella trees”. The do work well if caught out in a rain, to shed some of the water off of you.

6. Q The trails were immaculate, how did you do that?

A. I am a trail fairy???? No, the Back Country Horseman of the this area worked very hard to clear away about 20 downed trees from tornado and wind damage. They even went out on Friday and cleared one more that I discovered while marking trails. Other than that, I removed many of the “tripping rocks” and sticks/logs/roots by hand while jogging and marking trails.

7. Q This ride featured the most eclectic assortment of horse breeds in the years we have been riding AERC rides. How do you account for this?

A. Years ago when I first started endurance, 1979, we had a much more varied group of horse breeds represented. So, I decided that I wanted this ride to be “different, more fluff and lot’s of extras”. One way was to encourage different breeds to come and do the ride. Many people that are getting into the sport of endurance think that they must have an Arab or part Arab to compete. Simply not true. I have seen QHs, TWHs, Mustangs, Morgans, Appys kick Arab butt over the years. So, I promoted my ride as a ride to bring what you own, ride the ride and get an award for such a breed if you finish. As a result, I had Appys, Morgan, Spanish Mustang, TWH, Missouri Fox Trotter, QHs, Paso Finos and even one Warmblood enter the ride. And most of them placed very well. And maybe I even managed to recruit some new distance riders in the process.

8. Q There were no mules or TBs in the 61 horses at the ride. Could they be afraid of raptors, or maybe wild hogs, or is it mt. lions?

A. All of the above. The mule people stayed home knowing that their mount would have spent all it’s time trying to stomp the hog, lion or raptor. The TB people stayed home because they knew their horses would simply try to out sprint the hog, lion or raptor. And the trails are just not made for a dead run. Maybe next year we will see a mule, we own an arab mule….Joni will want to ride her in the ,I am sure.

9. Q How did you get professional live entertainment from a man who could not only sing and play but shoe a horse?

A. You left out “look totally hot while doing so”. Connections. Being a farrier myself, we tend to know each other, plus he is also close kin to the endurance rider Bud Davidson. And he (Joseph) also agrees with me, that Marty (who I purchased from Bud) is the best horse Bud ever owned, and he thinks Marty is the most loved horse in the world too.

10. Q Great breed awards, silver plates, how did you get silver engraved plates?

A. Ah, can’t give away all my secrets, but will say this, just some smart thinking, planning ahead and wanting to have the awards leave an impression.

11. Q What did you learn and what were you surprised at?

A. I learned that I * can * still run…for miles without getting tired, although if I were a rat, I would have long since gnawed my leg off above the knee. That if you plan ahead carefully, then surround yourself by the best people, things will work out. I know that I am already planning for next year and some improvements. I think I was most surprised that people really liked my trails, to me they are boring, but we see them all the time. I suppose if you are surrounded by beauty all the time, you begin to take it totally for granted.

Rack on my friends, eh, well the rest of you can trot on.
Keith
Shawnee Sunrise Farm

Lincoln Trail 100, 2011

A TWH and Gypsy the Mule

My name is Kate. I am a grey TWH. My human is Keith. Sometimes he is my best buddy, sometimes he is my food slave. You would not believe how I have this guy trained. I can go and stand at the gate and Keith brings me food. I have him trained to give me an apple treat every time I nuzzle him. He was a little slow to train, but he is catching on. Part of my training of Keith is that I take him to endurance rides. Giving him a job has made him a much better human.

One of my favorite places to take Keith is Stephen Forbes State Park in Salem Il. It is only a 90 minute drive and the course is really technical and it is almost always muddy with lots of climbing and creek crossings. I like that. I finally convinced Keith that he was ready for 100 mile rides a year ago.

Cheyenne, one of my pasture mate TWH’s went with her human, Sandy. For some reason, we decided to take Samba. She is just a 4 year old MFT. I think we took her so she could see what a ride camp iss like. You know how youngsters can be.

The 100 started off at 5:45 and it was very dark. This trail has always been very muddy and it is mostly in woods. The trail is not completely cleared and you have to duck under limbs and go around occasional trees that completely block the trail. There are never any glow sticks on the trail. I appreciate Keith’s light on his helmet. I went to the lead and off we went.

It was a small group consisting of 3 Arabians, me, and a big bay horsey thing with big floppy ears. I had never seen anything like this big eared horse. Her name was Gypsy. Keith said she was a mule. She had a really sweet human named Sheila from somewhere called Iowa.

At one point, I could hear horses coming up behind our group. They were really moving faster than us. I pulled over and let them go past. My pasture mate Cheyenne, a big grey TWH with Sandy on board zoomed past. Cheyenne is much faster than I am, but Sandy just lets her do 50 miles at a time. When I try to do a 50 with her, she makes me work too hard to try and keep up.

We all zoomed around pretty good and smooth on the trail most of the way through the first 20 mile loop until Keith pulled off the trail and took me into the woods and tied me to a tree. Keith got sick, really sick. All the other horses, plus the big eared horse went away. It made me a little nervous. Eventually Keith untied me and we went looking for the others but we did not catch them. They must have been going faster. Vet check is always fun. I get to eat, have my human give me a sponge bath. I do get a bit annoyed by new humans putting things on me and calling out numbers when I am enjoying my food and sponge bath. I like the thing they call the “trot out”. All the other horses sure do move funny. It makes me giggle. I get to do my favorite movement. Keith calls it a “pace. He thinks he won’t let me do it when I choose to take him for a ride but sometimes I fool him by sneaking it in. I humor him because we really are best buddies.

After a great meal at the trailer, we are off looking for the other riders. The trail sure is hard and dry this fall. I wonder if they are going too fast. Keith has slowed me down for some reason. We caught Gypsy the mule. She and Sheila had stopped to eat grass. Gypsy did not like to go in the lead, so off we went with Gypsy right behind us.

At the next vet check, one of the leaders in front of us stayed in camp. I guess she wanted to rest. I wanted to go. We did the same loop again. I learned it pretty good and knew where the best grass and water was. I do a trick for the humans they all seem to like. I know how to put my whole nose in the water when I drink and blow bubbles out of my nose as I drink. It seems to make them happy so I amuse them. We saw Cheyenne again and got to ride with her some, as the 100 mile loop and the 50 mile loop covered some of the same trail. Cheyenne told me that some of the 50 mile riders where staying in camp too so Sandy had slowed Cheyenne down. I kept noticing that the trail was very hard and the footing was often bad. Sure glad my running walk lets me keep 3 feet on the ground and my rack lets me keep one foot on the ground. I think it makes difficult trails easier on me than on some of the trotting horses.

Keith lets me canter and sometimes gallop up hills. I like it a lot. I know that we get to slow down and rest some after this, but it is fun for me. I also like jumping things but Keith won’t let me do that very much in these 100 mile rides.

At the 60 mile vet check, we found out that only one arabian was still on the course and that she was an hour and 27 minutes ahead of us. I heard Keith tell Gypsy’s human that all the pulls where a problem and that we were going to ride conservatively if she want to go along. Gypsy liked that, but I can’t tell that Gypsy likes too much of anything else except her human. Once, while I was eating, she walked by me and narrowly missed kicking me in the head. Another time she tried to bite me. She was very grumpy. That confused me as I liked her just fine. Well, all but the kicking and biting part.

Before we left ride camp at the 60 mile mark Cheyenne told me that her and Sandy had finished and that they were 3rd in the 50 mile ride. She said they would have done better but that her heart rate had been a bit higher than usual. She told me to come on back to camp and we would eat dinner together. I don’t think she knew how far I was going to take Keith on this ride.

As we got a few miles out of camp, the remaining Arabian on the course came
backwards on the trail towards us and his human was on the ground walking. Keith wanted to help her but the human said that he had twisted his leg on the trail somehow and that they were finished and walking back to camp. Keith stopped and let me eat and had a talk with Gypsy’s human. He and Sheila said we were on our own and needed to conserve us on this hard trail and that we just needed to keep us sound and finish. That sounded good to me.

The 80 mile vet check was fine and off we went in the night. I have a great memory and knew just where all the best grass spots where on the trail. This seemed to surprise Keith as I would stop in the same spots every time around the trial. I have no idea why this surprises him as he remembers where the barn is and where the pond is.

Keith turned his light on for me and Sheila put her light on behind us. This trail would have been dangerous without the lights. Once, even though Keith had his light on he barely ducked in time to partially miss a limb that hit him in the head. It would have drug him off had he not seen it at the last second. I am glad he was okay as I do like living with him. The trail got kind of spooky. In places it was very grown up and close with high weeds. In other places it was foggy and misty. It got cool and we got wet. No one was on the trail except for me and Gypsy. We came into camp just before midnight and passed our vet check.

Gypsy said she was done and did not want to come back for B.C. under any circumstance. She was having dinner and going to bed! Since I had finished in the lead, I let Keith take me to B.C. Sandy put a blanket on me but I was pretty wet and cold in the cool and moist air. I got a Charly people in my inside rear leg. Keith and Sandy rubbed and rubbed on me and that made it feel better but it was still a little ouchy for me so no one got B.C.

Back at the trailer again, Cheyenne woke up and I ate dinner. The long rides sure make me hungry. Actually, everything makes me hungry. We had a great time together and I would take Keith back there again. I hope to see Gypsy again and try and make her my friend. This is a picture of us the next morning. You can see that I am looking at her kind of funny. She had just reached across Sheila and tried to bite off my face about 2 seconds before this picture. These horses with big ears sure are cranky!

Until next time,
Kate

The two finishers of the Lincoln Trail 100

This is my buddy Cheyenne. Her human, Sandy, declined being photographed. Silly humans, I get treats when I get my picture taken!

Dead Dog Creek 2011
Gaiting for a Weekend

This is one of my favorite rides. It is named after a creek that the race managers used to race through on another course that has absolutely nothing to do with this course. Then, they found out that “Dead Dog Creek” itself was actually named something other than “Dead Dog Creak”. They kept the name for this event and in the world of endurance that makes perfect sense.

The course is windy, wet and is frequently crossing creeks and has climbing. What more could a gaited horse want? It is also within 2 hours from our home, and that is a real blessing. On top of that, Aaron and Linda Mowrer are real peaches as the ride managers. They are non assuming, old school endurance to the bone. They don’t care if you ride a 3 legged pogo stick if your horse can do the deal and they will encourage you and help you along the way. They get 5 out of 5 stars.

So, we had 7 horses ready, and only 6 trailer spots. I elected to leave Blues at home and accept the help of my friends Kelley Powell and Jeff Anderson. I would put Kelley on Niki, who I thought fast enough to keep up with Sandy and Cheyenne in a 50 on Saturday and then have Jeff ride with Sandy and Savannah on Pippin in a Ld. on Sunday. I decided to ride Jazz in a 50 and then follow up with Kate in a 50. Blues is the fastest critter we have but he was staying home. So 6 horses, two rigs and 4 riders went to Salem.

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