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[RC] Riding Buddies - Juli Bechard

I live on the edge of Jennings State Forest, in Jacksonville Florida.? I have 23 thousand acres to ride and condition on, ideal for someone who wants to compete in endurance.? However, what I don’t have is riding buddies.? My immediate neighbors have horses, however their idea of a long trail ride involves a two to three hour walking ride, which is fine, but not what I want to do.? At least they don’t pick on me about how fast my horse walks.? Then there is my mother-in-law, who also has horses.? I’ve been told by her over and over again that I’m going to ruin my Paso doing endurance, and that maybe I should think about doing competitive trail, because the competitive trail riders don’t run hell bent for leather all the time, but endurance riders do.? She also complains because Alpine walks faster than her horses, so I’m ruining him by allowing him to always be in front.? Finally, I have the across the street neighbors who board horses. ?I never actually see anyone over there RIDING the horses.

 

I have found a great 25-30 mile loop directly from my house.? I have ridden it once…sort of anyway.? I want to use it as a good conditioning ride, but I don’t want to do it by myself.? That’s a long time to ride all by myself.? So, are there any riders out there in northeast florida who want to come visit and go for a great conditioning ride?? By most endurance rider standards, I’ll ride it kind of slow.? My horse is just coming back into condition.? The last time, we ended up doing about 35 miles in about 7 hours, including one break of about ½ hour for lunch.? I even promise NOT to get lost like I did the first time…hence the 35 miles.? I have since been back and marked my trail so I remember where to turn on the way home.? My trail does involve a couple of good creek crossings and a lot of sand, but not a lot of hills. I have a spare room and a spare stall/pasture.? Alpine is good to ride with, he leads, or follows, doesn’t kick, and gets along with everyone pretty much.? I’m not horrible company…I can talk horses or dogs or anything else all day, and I grill a MEAN steak after a long ride!

 

So I am issuing an official invitation to anyone that wants to come visit and ride with me.?


Juli and the Herd

Alpine (I’d LOVE riding buddies)

Merlin (I like new horses…they are all my friends)