I will try harder this time.

It has been quite the eventful year. Much has happened since my last entry, an entry so full of hope and rebirth and sheer excitement for the 2010 season it was hardly containable. We were derailed, yet again, by circumstances not under my control. However. My passion and desire to compete in Limited Distance and Endurance riding has persevered, and here are my recent efforts, delineated, for your reading pleasure:

Apollo and I have reached 130 training miles this season, with plenty of hilly terrain done at Long, Slow Distance mixed in with easy, level fast workouts. He is "raring to go", as the saying... goes. I have changed my tack preferences up a bit this year, returning to the Crazy Ropes Indian Bosal as the primary head gear, among other minute changes. Last summer, following a very traumatic experience not horse-related, I lost much of my confidence in all areas of my life. So, regrettably, I subjected Apollo's mouth to the bit for a few confidence-building months. Thankfully I have light hands, so as not to shock his mouth too much with the hard, cold steel. A few rides ago, he was hesitant to allow the bit into his mouth when tacking up, and after another refusal at the next ride, he happily accepted the Bosal when I offered it. This made me smile, and my heart sang arias for the duration of the 16 mile working ride, for we flew over the soft dirt track with nothing, man nor metal, holding us back.

I have been riding horses since my early high school years, and in that entire time, I had never had the occasion (or monies!) to purchase my own saddle. I was always borrowing my mother's Wintec 2000, or using the ancient, rotting Italian generic brand hunt saddle with the broken tree as a poor substitute. So, it is with little reservedness that I announce my *new* status as Abetta Aire-Grip Endurance saddle Owner! Ta Da! To go along with the lovely new (ahem... eight months old as of today, in fact) saddle, in regards to comfort for both Horse and Rider, I have purchased a Toklat Woolback Endurance pad and a 100% Merino wool sheepskin seat saver. I have my eye on a very nice 100% mohair cinch, but for now the polyblend rope cinch will do. I promise pictures of the whole get-up, mainly for my own viewing pleasure!

It is for real, this time. I have entered myself and Apollo into the 32.2 Limited Distance Old Dominion No Frills ride, coming up soon on April 9th. I have paid my AERC dues for the year, the check for the ride tuition went out in the mail a month ago, and I have been carrying my AERC member card with me for months now in anticipation of this momentous occasion. Fingers crossed, chakras aligned, incense lit to stave off bad vibes and to ensure a lovely first ride! Huzzah!