Horseshoe Bend Fundraiser

Yesterday was the annual fundraising trail ride for Horseshoe Bend Park. Meg Sleeper hosts the event every year, and endurance riders often go out to show their support. The ride offers a few distances (6, 8, and 12 miles) so it attracts a wide variety of riders. The longer distance makes for a good conditioning ride, especially given the park's varied terrain, many hills, and open fields. When Holly offered to let me ride one of her horses, I readily agreed. Mike was working so it gave me something to do!

Mike asked who I would be riding and I replied, "I don't know, but they're all so nice, it doesn't matter."

We were supposed to meet at the park at 8:30am, and I actually managed to arrive on time despite the fact that I pulled over to take pictures of the view along the way. The mist was rising off the Delaware River and the colors were stunning. The photos don't do it any justice.

Cell Phone Photos

MAN I am behind!!!

Working this job has made me love mornings again.

Is it weird to love a tree?

Bailey has the best spots.

Camera Clearing

If I was more motivated, I could probably do all my photos in one post, but I'm not so I won't. Here are some photos from my actual camera over the last few weeks. Cell phone/IG dump coming soon.

NotOurCat being ridiculous in the driveway.

Mustang Memorial 2017

Stop me if I sound like a broken record.
"I had plans to ride X Ride, and ended up crewing instead..."
Story of my 2017 ride season.
Not that I'm complaining.

As I hinted in my last photo dump, I was supposed to ride one of Holly's horses (Poetrie) at Mustang. Unfortunately, Holly had five horses entered, but only (only?) has a four horse trailer. Since my horse was the only one that wasn't going FEI, my horse was the one that got bumped. I was planning to crew on Saturday anyway, so I agreed to just crew both days.

I don't know if I 'm just burned out or what, but I feel like this entry isn't going to be very exciting.

On Thursday, I worked the morning, then rode Booger and Val, before heading home to pack and hit the road. Mike came home early so we could swap cars. His plan was to work Friday and then come down to ride camp to join me.

Mustang is roughly an hour from our house, but the drive down was slow and full of traffic. I did spot a trailer in front of me and, judging by the LQ, out of country plates, and Hi-Ties, I was willing to bet it was a fellow endurance rider (I was right).

Val Updates

Val's first 30 days are up already, and it was a busy month. I can't remember everything we've worked on so I'll do a little bit of photo updating and general statements, and then cut to the drama (because there's always drama, isn't there?)

She is a pretty thing.

Merrill Creek

Mike recently bought himself a new camera, and has been itching to take it out and play with it. Last weekend, we went up to Merrill Creek Reservoir to do just that. We parked at the dam and walked right over to the Dead Woods, instead of hiking the whole trail like we normally do. We spent a few hours snapping pictures and playing with settings, and just enjoying being outside on a nice fall day. As a result, you guys get some filler photos while I start working on some actual updates...

Some of my photos (I learned some new things about my camera too!)