Sep 20 2023
Salute’s First Endurance Ride
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If you had told me a year ago that I would be riding a green broke stallion on his first 50 (which turned out to be a 55) while sponsoring not one, but two juniors (one who was riding a mare), I would have thought you were crazy… but that’s exactly what happened on Sunday at the Lava Cast Memorial Ride in La Pine, Oregon.
I have so much to say about this ride, but for now I will say this. I am incredibly proud of my stallion, who, at 5 years old, has really only been under saddle on the trail for the last 6 months. FV Aur Salute has a phenomenal temperament, which is a testament to his outstanding breeding.
I would also like to think he has a pretty good trainer. I have had Salute for almost a year now and there hasn’t been a week where I haven’t put hands on him at least 4 times a week. We have done all the things: desensitization, all kinds of groundwork, including long lining and liberty, trailering, camping, riding alone, riding in groups, riding with mares, riding in the front, middle, and back.
I have also picked the brains of all those I know who have successfully ridden and competed with a stud and I will never forget something a friend and mentor said to me, “Just never forget he’s a stallion.”
I have maintained strict boundaries with Salute and at the ride on Sunday, I discussed all those boundaries with my juniors and those two girls stayed vigilant throughout the entire day. They never forgot my rules about approaching me while I was handling my stud. They gave us a safe bubble on the trail, made sure they didn’t drink from the same water trough at the same time as us, and understood that I would approach the vet check area only when there wasn’t a crowd of horses.
I am so proud of my stud, my juniors, and myself. It was a tough ride on Sunday, one that was mentally and physically challenging for me. I had to ride out some shenanigans in the beginning and then in the end, when Salute was tired, he took a bad fall. He was okay and so was I, but it was then that I knew he needed a break, so I ended up doing a lot of the last loop on foot, including running the last two miles next to him.
We made cut off with 10 minutes to spare. It was a long day, but so worth it. Salute finished his first endurance ride with amazing heart rate recoveries (he pulsed at 30 at the vet-in, 44 at the first vet check, and 52 at the finish). Two juniors finished, leaving one junior 55 miles closer to qualifying for the Tevis Cup, and another junior with her 10th completion this season!
Thank you to ride management and vet Cassie and the volunteers, to Addy’s mom, Kristy, for crewing for us, and most importantly, to my incredible stallion, Salute.
And last, but definitely not least, to my two juniors, for keeping me company all day long and making my ride so much more enjoyable and worth it. I can honestly say they probably sponsored me, not the other way around.
