Steed:
Heading off for the Big Hill:
Bottom of the Big Hill:
C and Sonny ready for the Hill:
Looking back down the hill from the top!
It was a good, sustained climb. We trotted for a bit and when their heart rates got too high (well, Sonny’s, C was directing our progress as I don’t care to use a heart rate monitor, too much crap to worry about for now) we slowed to a walk for a few minutes at most and then trotted on. I forgot my phone and my GPS kicked the bucket so I had no mileage or speed tracker and it made me twitchy. Become addicted to that stuff! Even my random mileage tracker phone app is better than nothing. But we did about 9 miles in 2 1/2 hrs. We hand walked the horses back down the hill and it was a good stretch of the legs.
Posing in the wild flowers at the top…You can just see Collins Lake and the valley in the gap of the trees behind my head, we could see the whole Butte Range and valley from the top of that hill!
The much cursed and beloved stream crossing. Cursed for the booting issues it causes and beloved for the horses to cool their toes and get a good long drink, as Desire did on the way back to the trailers..
I’ve had it with the Gloves. I’m glueing on for (hopefully) 2 50s at Hat Creek next week, and after that I’m trying out some used Renegades that are coming down the pipeline from a friend. If I like them she’ll sell me the used ones. I’ve invested A LOT into the Gloves already and my husband is Over It. I am too though, and I’ve tried every conceivable thing to make the Gloves work, but it just isn’t!
I got home and rage-mowed the lawn before I even went in the house. About halfway through I was tired and whiny and hungry and out of rage, but I had to finish, so there’s that.
Redheaded Endurance 
ahahahah rage-mowed ahahahah
But seriously, I know how infuriating it can be… hugs!
Boots, bah. Garrett and the staff at Easycare were wonderful and helpful and did *absolutely everything* that they could possibly do to make sure that I got exactly the right kind of Glove, and they still zinged off my mare 3 or 4 times on each training ride. Link here:http://bit.ly/u0EQDg
Then I tried Renegades with much more success. Link here:http://bit.ly/dKDolR At least, they stay on.
But my mare takes itty-bitty choppy strides when she wears boots because her feet hurt . With steel shoes, her feet don't hurt.
That's my experience, and your mileage may vary–but I'm stickin' with steel!
Wow, that's a hill and a half! What a great place to condition. I hope the Renegades work better for you.
Damn! I sooo feel your pain, though my issue has been with the Renegades. Mine seem to fit better now, but you never know. I think gluing is a great idea, you really have tried everything! After the ride you can deal with it. I'm the total same bi-polar on frustrating rides, glad you took it out on the lawn!
But I do have to say, Desire looks hot! And that hill looks so awesome to train on.
DUDE! I think the boot thing makes me as mad as a horse leaning over and crushing a fence. And almost nothing makes me crazy like that!
Hug ya back next weekend! 🙂
I HATE BOOTS. I mean, I keep barefoot horses..hahah, oh man I am just o-v-e-r it. When my mare powers out those suckers are *gone* and not being able to power out on this mare is like keeping your Ferrari under 10 mph.
If I had any faith in any shoer around here I would just do it. And I mean a GOOD shoer, because she's always been barefoot and it's just a crime to let any of the local fools near her nice feet. I've tried 7 different farriers and wouldn't have any out again.
Thanks! here's hoping..without much hope..haha!
It's a heck of a hill! About 20 minutes haul from my house 🙂
Don't tell me that! They're my only hope! LOL. Just kidding, I need to know any and all things good and bad re: booting. I have hopes that they'll work for her as my friend's gelding has the same hoof measurements and size in Renegades and has done thousands of miles in them…we'll see.
hi bird,
have you seen anyone using equine fusion boots in your area? what are the reports on these boots? to me they don't look suitable for endurance but they claim they are.
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Spelling issues over here, lol..anyway I've never heard of that type of boot, have to do some googling!