I just returned from the XP series at Shellbourne Nevada. It was a
great experience. Five days of rides from the same camp in a
beautiful setting. Camp was just off the highway, next to a
bar/cafe in sagebrush country. Everyday we rode up over a
mountain--had a vet check at 25-miles or so in a grassy meadow with
a stream running through it (different meadow each day). Ann
Nicholson and Lavonne Booth graciously provided sandwiches for riders
as the horses munched and rested. Then we'd ride back over a different
mountain back to camp, where ride management provided hot showers! It
was a routine I could easily get accustomed to!
They had 73 starters on the first day. Approximately 60 on each of
the next 4 days. I saw alot of old friends and met some new ones.
But noone I talked to was hooked up to the internet!!
Tanya Chandler was overall fastest time. Becky Glaser and Tio won
overall BC. I believe 34 horses completed all 5 days.
As for me, my plan was to alternate my veteran horse and my young
horse. My veteran (Ambers Thorn) finished in the top 10 on the
first day. But my young horse came up lame on Tuesday. So Thorn
had to cover the rest of the days. His 4-day total
brought his career mileage to over 5000! I'm pretty proud--I
believe he is only the 5th horse from Idaho to go over 5000. But his
accomplishment was somewhat overshadowed by the fact that there were
so many high mileage horses on this ride--Dr. Thunder Bask, Rushcreek
Mark, WK's Riva Run, Surrablue, Vals Shibumi etc. There were also
more stallions on this ride than I have ever seen at a single ride.
All were extremely well behaved.
Anyway, if anyone is thinking about doing this ride, I highly
recommend it. I think the Duck will be doing a point to point next
June, but you don't need a driver for his fall XP ride in southern
Utah, and I hear the country there is even more spectacular.
Karen Steenhof
Boise, Idaho