Family affair

Something has happened in my riding life that I must say is very unexpected.Feels crazy just typing this.My husband Joe has started riding with me.Gosh that sounds strange.I have been through a few riding partners who I have lost due to horse lameness or work schedules or no interest in Endurance so was prepared mentally to train alone.Hard for me at times as much as I love to ride to keep up the motivation.My husband bought a walking horse a few months ago because he wanted to trail ride.I took it easy with him the first couple of rides thinking he would loose interest if I pushed him to hard,and besides he wasn't in it to compete .To my amazement he loves it.Last Fri he took a day off from work and did 13 miles.I found myself turning to him to ask for a trot.I even pushed it a bit when I said"hold on I'm going to canter a bit.Thinking that I would look back and find him a mile or so behind ;there he was next to me! I have told him that before he knows it ,I will turn him into an Endurance rider when he is not looking.I can hear it not:"Look Joe,the vets want to look at your pretty horse"as he comes into the vet checks."Awe,honey I think the end of the trail is just a little further".I now have visions of becoming a husband and wife team.This is nothing short of a miracle.
Update on training:last week I concentrated on long slow distance , and completed a combined mileage of 30 miles for the week.Fri began to incorporate walk trot intervals.The tough part this week will be trying to work him despite the rain forecast.Looks like I'll be riding in the rain which is not new for us.Last couple of Endurance rides were in the rain.Plan to begin using my heart monitor this week as well.Well,that will sum up the past week,.Will try to bring the camera along the next ride to post some pictures.Happy trails!

Getting back int he swing of things

Well,you know when you haven't been riding enough when after a ride your rear is sore.Yesterday I took Guinness is LBL for his first trail ride with any significant mileage.It was also the first real ride with any distance with my new saddle.We did a combined length of about 10-12 miles.Mostly walking with a couple trot intervals when the footing allowed it.We have had alot of rain and snow in Western Ky this winter so you can imagine how sloppy the trails are.Although we had a great season last year I feel we are starting this coming season a little behind.I had an injury in Dec and the search for a new saddle took longer than I had anticipated.I'm thinking however that the time off has been good for Guinness after a tough first 50 mile ride in Oct.With a 50 behind us I feel more confident that he can do this sport and can relax into a peace of mind knowing that we are on the right track.
Hmm,well now that I feel we must begin slowly to regain our fitness my goals have changed a bit.I plan to make Chicken Chase in April our first ride of the season.We will be riding the 30 as I want to show Guinness that every Endurance ride will not be as tough as the last ride he did.It will be interesting to see if riding in the same location effects him in anyway.For the next couple of weeks I plan to ride him a couple times a week on the trail ,focusing on long slow distance.Then a day of arena work of Dressage and lunging.Each trail ride I will focus on intervals of walking and trotting.
Always hoping that my gut instinct is right about training.

First things first

Well,here I go .the start of my own real blog.Not really sure why I feel a need to write details of my life and experiences.I must be some kind of frustrated writer deep down.The nice thing about this fourum is that I don't have to suffer rejections from publishers of cringe at constructive comments.:)
I have decided to make this about riding and my attempt at the sport of Endurance.Family stuff will just have to remain with me.Besides I think my family would revolt if they logged on to find stories of yelling kids,burned out parents and multiple stories of how we may not be living up to the idea of the "Clevers".However, let me fore warn you members of the Collin's clan;the most absurd and hallarious of happenings in our life will I'm sure sneak into Hoofprints as needed.
Purpose of this blog;hmmm.Well as I began my venture into Endurance I found a tough time getting "the real scoop" for Newbies.Yes,I found lots of good articles on the AERC website and more experienced riders were always there to help,but there was just something missing.Missing was the information and sharing of experiences from those of us who were lovingly called"Newbies".I wanted to know things like what exactly goes on at the vet check.Do I joke with the vet or carry on as if I knew what I was doing.What do you do if you have to go to the bathroom.Who in my area is "Newbie"friendly.What's the cool tak look like.Do I call it a race or a ride?Some of these I have found out the hard way.So,this blog is for all you riders out there like me who want to start there Endurance adventure ,and learn from the experiences and mistakes from a fellow "Newbie "who is not afraid to "put themselves out there" and post things that may not be the most flattering.Hopefully you can learn from me as I morph into an Endurance rider.Will post weekly about training rides,rides,tack and other things related to Endurance.I'm not the expert,just brave enough to post journey.
I have been training and riding Endurance now with my horse Guinness for about 11/2 years.It's been a joy to start my own horse.Still consider myself a Newbie and not sure when that will change.I think that I will always be learning and probably will never feel I at the top of my game.Can imagine even Sally Swift felt as if she was still learning about people,horses and riding till the day she died;and that will be me as well.
So as I close my first real true blog post ,buckle up and get ready for an exciting season.Welcome to Hoofprints.Enjoy the ride.