Ridecamp: Re: [RC] standardbred endurance programs with USTA??

Hey!  I ride a Standardbred and took her through my first endurance ride last 
month (a tough 50 miler - the Hog Wild).  One important observation - she is 
NOT an Arab, and we finished dead last!  :o)  That is, in last place and 
nearly dead.  LOL  We continue to condition, we are riding 50 again in the 
Malibu ride this month, and we are having a blast.  The conditioning is 
coming along, but another important observation - she is NOT an Arab.  My 
wife rides an Arab.  She does half the amount of riding and conditioning, and 
her Arab is already better suited to a distance ride.  I love my 
Standardbred.  She is willing, beautifully tempered, has tough hooves, 
beautiful confirmation, an intelligent mind, and a strong heart.  But yet 
another important observation - she is NOT an Arab.  :o)  This weekend my 
wife and I rode into a really stupid place...with sheer rock cliffs and scrub 
so thick that finding the little bit of decent footing there was, was nearly 
impossible.  Thought we were both going to die!  I finally got off and led my 
willing equine partner up and out of danger - where we stood and waited for 
nearly an hour for my wife to get her Arab calmed down enough to come out 
with her as well.  So one last important observation - she is NOT an Arab!  
LOL  Would also love to hear from more folks who ride Standardbreds in the 
sport.  It pains me to say that I don't ever think one will really 
excel...but they are such wonderful horses, such perfect company over the 
hours of a good ride, that I intend to keep riding mine.  If the sport's 
motto is true, then my beautiful Mahogany Bay Standardbred is already a 
winner - we finished!  
Scott (just glad to be alive)
   TR Solitaire (what were you stupid humans thinking?)
Ginger (LOVE my Arab - even when he is "temperamental")
   TR Mirage (mental?  you're calling me mental???)

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