It’s been a month since my last post, about my experience with Jazz at the Jackass Mail Run (read about it here). I’ve been busy with the end of the semester and other things. But I’ve been making big plans for the summer! This post will be a short update on our current conditions and what’s up next for Jazz and me.
Jazz’s current condition…
is on the chubby side! Considering that both my horses were thin enough in March that I was worried about the effects of their irregular feeding schedule, this is nice. Mostly! It turns out that my pasture is a horse-fattening paradise when the grass is in. (read about it here: What’s growing in my pasture?) Overall, I prefer Jazz to start out the summer on the fatter side. because he will be doing a lot of moving. However, right now, I can tell he’s heavier and a bit out of condition, compared with winter. Fortunately, with the semester over, I can now ride more than once every two weeks.
Apart from needing some work, Jazz is fine. He had a mild case of tying up at the Jackass Mail Run, caused mainly by hysteria. He jigged and danced for the better part of 15 miles, and refused to drink. He recovered well, and we’re working on collection. I take him out to their pasture and jog for 1-2 miles without stopping, during the heat of the day. That’s hard work! Far more difficult that trotting down the trail. I want him to be prepared for the next episode of psychohorse.
Every 7-10 days I’ve been going on a long ride, 20+ miles with 3,500′-5,000 total elevation gain. Around six hours, so slow. I’ve been exploring new trails and that takes time. It’s been an amazingly gorgeous spring, so riding has been spectacular. Muddy, washed out roads. Wild flowers in abundance. Wild life. It all makes for long slow rides. That’s all right. I’m aiming for six weeks of serious riding starting in June, so I want a fresh horse.
Above: Jazz and I spent a lot of time enjoying the scenery this spring!
Today’s ride
Because what’s up next for Jazz and me immediately is the Montana de Oro ride on June 3rd, we did our last challenging training ride today. We did 24.11 miles with 4,816′ total elevation gain. It was hot–between 80 and 90 most of the way–and relatively muggy. (Nothing compared to Oklahoma, but there were thunderstorms in the mountains so it was muggier than usual.) We went slowly, over seven hours altogether, with 6:07 total movign time.
At 14 miles, we took a break and Jazz got his treat–Triple Crown senior this time, with oat pellets. Jazz always loves his mid-ride snack. Now he’s on pasture and ration balancer (which he really doesn’t like), it’s extra special to get senior feed.
I used an old Western saddle (ordering a custom made one!). It weighs around 30 pounds, so it’s extra work. Oh, and I always ride with saddle bags for the horse and people snacks. Jazz does gret with them. You can see pictures and read the long thread of comments that resulted when I posted after my first ride with them on the AERC Facebook page by clicking here.
Jazz did well. I’ve heard Montana de Oro is a tough ride, but he should do fine. We won’t be going too fast anyway, because two weeks afterwards we’ll be heading north on our little tour.
Getting ready for Montana de Oro
Montana de Oro is in two weeks. Jazz will get 4-5 days off now, and then we’ll go back to jogging around the pasture. I’d like to get 2-3 short rides out as well,up to ten miles and slow. Because Jazz tied up, I don’t want him to have too much time off. If he were getting a lot of feed/grain, I’d be cutting him back on no-riding days. Because his primary food soruce is pasture, he’s going to eat what he’s going to eat. It shouldn’t make him predisposed to tie up, but you never know.
Besides, he’s on the fluffly side.
This will be Jazz’s first time at a ride without Fantazia. I’m hoping to see an improvement in his behavior. At the very least, he shouldn’t be trying to go back to camp for the first several miles. Fantazia won’t be waiting at the trailer.
I’ve also been cleaning and organizing my trailer. Taking one horse is a lot easier. Less food. More space in the trailer. But it’s really getting neater because I’m investing in furniture! (More in a later post.) I probably wouldn’t do this just for my next endurance ride, but U’ll be spending a lot of time in that trailer this summer.
Update: read about what really happened in The Montaña de Oro Endurance Ride.
A tour of (far) northern California is next for Jazz and me after MDO
I’ve been wanting to ride in northern California ever since I came back from Oklahoma and started doing endurance seriously. There’s just so much to explore up there! I lived in Arcata for four years and I love Humboldt County. Then there’s Siskiyou County, where my brother and his family live with views of Mt. Shasta. Lots of trails around there. And my cousin lives in Trinity, very conveniently close to the La Grange 50 ride just north of Weaverville. And Weaverville is halfway to Arcata (from Redding).
So, the plan (tentative):
Head north to my brother’s place. Stop for the night at Wolf Creek Ranch, home of old friends Debbie and Eitan Beth-Halachmy. We go way back… I’ve known Debbie since I was a child; some time since then, Eitan got lucky, and together they founded Cowboy Dressage.
Exploring northern California and Oregon
Spend about ten days based at my brother and sister-in-law’s place. From there I’d like to drive up to Lily Glen Park in Oregon, on the recommendation of various on the AERC Facebook page. I’d also like to explore the Marble Mountain Wilderness, which is very close to Montague.
Update: We never made it to Oregon because I forgot to get a vet certificate. But you can read about our time in northern California here: Jazz’s Adventures in the Far North and Riding in the Marble Mountains.
La Grange 50 and a visit to family
On June 30th I’ll need to head to Weaverville. Jazz and I will do the 50 the next day. I’ve been wanting to do this ride for years, ever since a friend did the LD with her mare.
On the second, I’ll head to my cousin’s cabin. Figure I’ll stay there through the 4th of July, then head south on 3 for the Buck Mt. Boogie.
Update: Read about our experiences in the Last La Grange Ditch 50.
The Buck Mt. Boogie on the van Duzen River.
If all goes well, Jazz ad I will ride both days in the Six Rivers National Forest. He’s never done a back to back, so we might opt for an LD for one or both days We’ll see how much horse I’ve got left after all the aforesaid shenanigans.
I’m very excited to do this ride. It’s bound to be beautiful. And it will be nice to be back in the area. No, I can never remember all six rivers at once, always takes thought!
Read about the Buck Mountain Boogie here.
and home…?
I haven’t figured out the rest yet. I need to pick up a mare who is currently in McKinleyville, but I’ll work that out with her owner. I’d love to visit Arcata and environs, but I’ll also need to be getting home. So we’ll see. I’m going to need a campground with corrals somewhere between Humboldt County and home.
What about Fantazia?
Fantazia is getting bred and will hopefully be pregnant. In any case, she doesn’t do well in heat, so she’s getting the summer off. The good news is that she’s 100% sound after completing four 50s early this year. I’ll try to do at least one ride with her in 2024, so we can go for decade team.
You can see how much fun Fantazia is to ride in the video below (or lead, as the case may be!)