In Texas..

Just completed the Tarrant Ranch CTR this evening.  Had a good weekend riding with old friends (Alice) and new friends.. Barbie, Candy, Linda, and Christa.. Saw lots of people I "talk" to on different chat groups and some I hadn't seen for years.  Saw 2 of my fellow Appaloosa Distance Riders, Bill and Julie..

I had a nice and uneventful trip coming from Pryor, Oklahoma.  Had rain for  about a couple of hours then, nice sunshine..  I must have gone the long way as 325 miles took me 9 hours, with stops.

Buddy didn't travel well.  He had not eaten or drank in in Ok.  Worried about his new roommates, there trying to eat him, I guess.

When I unloaded him at the ride site Thursday afternoon, he hadn't pooped in the trailer at all.  For those non horse people reading this, that's a sign that  a horse is stressed.  It's never good to take a stressed, dehydrated horse out and ask them to do hard work.  Never a happy ending there.

So pulling out all I have learned on taking care of Endurance and CTR horses, I dived in and got him
re hydrated and much happier.   We had all day Friday to make sure he felt well, and I asked my friends on different distance horse related  "chat lists" if they thought I should "follow my gut" and compete at the lower stress level.  Most people agreed with my gut too..  Funny how that works.

 So he went slower and shorter (miles per hour and total mileage).  He was tired on Saturday (it was really HOT) and today he was so perky, he was pulling on me to get back to camp. We finished, but didn't get any ribbons, however, he didn't lose any points for being unsound (lame) and no metabolic issues.. Hooray.

Now I'm making plans to go to an area of Texas called the LBJ Grasslands to meet up with my friend Jonni  and ride there with her on Tuesday..  I'm hoping the weather cooperates and the high winds die down,  it's supposed to storm and have high winds tomorrow.  I know they need the rain here, so let's hope it's just showers.

Then off to New Mexico.

Disclaimer: I will admit to a major anxiety attack and wanting to have my head examined on  the Tuesday before I left..  But- so far, I'm having a great time and don't plan to go home anytime soon..

Feed the fish!