| Flying Critters Endurance Horses |
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| Tonkah's Toy Soldier
This is "Soldier", he is a National Show Horse (3/4 Arabian and 1/4 Saddle bred). I got him from Montana as an unbroken four and half year old. I spent the first couple of months just bonding with him and doing ground work then I backed him on May 1, 2006. He was wonderful from the start except he did not like a bit in his mouth so I just put him in a "bitless bridle" and he has really done well in it.
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2006 - 2007
This is Soldiers' first season and we plan on doing just Limited Distance rides and some Competitive Trail rides. This is the teaching year where we concentrate on being able to keep a steady pace and not caring about horses passing us or leaving horses and going on ahead without waiting for them, I also like to do multi-day rides as it builds stamina. So we trained hard all hot summer and now ready to compete.
October we started with a multi day in Alabama at the Yellow Hammer Ride and Soldier came through like a champ. We completed the three days totaling 80 miles and surprised ourselves by finishing in the top ten on the second day! Only 17 horses and riders completed the three days and we finished 9th over all. Way to go Soldier!!
This year we also completed the Goethe Series and earned a "bronze" blanket with Soldiers name embroidered on it.
So the year ended with us taking 4th place over all with SEDRA and 7th place for the southeastern region with AERC in limited distance.
What a way to start an endurance career - we are so proud of our boy!
2007 -2008
This year we are looking forward to stepping up to endurance competition and trying 50 mile rides, so far Soldier has done great and should not have a problem.
We got off on a rocky start, Soldier was pulled from two rides for metabolic issues I just could not get him to pulse down in time and for a while I thought endurance was just not for him. But after cutting back on his training, changing up his electrolytes and putting him on different supplements to raise his blood count and replace things he was missing we seemed to find a balance that worked.
So we went to Georgia and competed at Pow Wow and managed to top ten with 8th place in the two day 100! We also came home with 1st place feather weight and the turtle award for finishing last - now how many people can say that?
Of all the rides we did this season one of my favorites has got to be Million Pines in Georgia, the trails are wonderful, the campsite is breathtaking and the food - well that was to die for!! It was a long drive for us but we were accompanied by my friend Bany and her horse Mo. We also camped with good friends Julia and Cindy so it was worth the drive and a definite "must go" for anyone who rides in the Southeast.
We ended the SEDRA year getting our 250 and 500 mileage awards.
We are now on vacation waiting for the summer to be over so we can come back and try again next season.
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| Jadyn
Here is our Jadyn, know to those who love him as Baby Jay. He is full Arab and turned 4 in March '08. My husband, Jeff, bought him for me as a New Years present and we love him as he is very sweet but aloof.
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After doing the usual ground driving and ponying him off Soldier I finally backed him in May and he did very well. In June Bany and I took Jadyn and her horse Mo and set out to North Georgia to stay with her cousin and train in the mountains. Jadyn took to it like a mountain goat but if you ask him he will tell you his favorite part was being able to run and graze with his friend Mo in the 30 acre paddock. After a great vacation we headed back to the swamp and began training in the heat, humidity and the water but Baby Jay is holding his own and keeping up with the "big boys".
Now it is time to condition and wait to see what the coming year has in store for us.
We will keep you posted and look for you on the trails!
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If you are interested in doing distance riding feel free to contact me and check out the following sites:
AERC ( American Endurance Riders Conference) www.aerc.org
SEDRA (Southeastern Endurance Riders Association) www.distanceriding.og
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