The weather has been kind this fall with beautiful sunny weather and cool temps, so it was time to hit the endurance rides!
We were very excited to have a ride almost in our backyard - Paul Sidio created a new ride on the Ozark Trail in Black, MO based out of Brushy Creek Campground. A couple of our boarders had made that a favorite spot to visit, and we were eager to check out this ride!
(Brushy Creek pastures pic left)
With stalls for horses, a lodge with a restaurant, and miles and miles of trails, what a great place for an endurance ride!
Paula Kaigh brought her two geldings, Ibn Desert Dhelall and DB Dahman, Lori Zackrie brought her mare Emirah and her gelding DB Bolero. Cindy Stafford and Sheri Devouassoux brought DB Hula Mayya and DB Al Amhara for their first endurance rides. They were joined by Kate Davis and Elena Macia who were riding DB Airs Aidah and DB Bint Dahmah in their first and second endurance rides respectively (picture left - Hula Mayya and Ibn Desert Dhelall chilling out in their comfy stalls)
In the Friday 25 mile ride, many successes among the Desert Breds in what turned out to be a very challenging trail. Single track most of the way, with very technical footing. There were quite a few pulls, but 100% completion among the Desert Breds. Sheri piloted DB Al Amhara to a top 10 finish! (Sheri and Al Amhara pictured left, photo by Brushy Creek photographer). Paula Kaigh and Ibn Dhelall sponsored Cindy and Hula Mayya to a very steady finish in 13th and 14th places. Ibn barely noticed the 25 miles of hills - at the finish line he didn't have enough sweat for the P&R guy's heart monitor to register a pulse! And most importantly of all, congratulations to Lori Zackrie at winning Best Condition in the 25 on her (non Desert Bred) mare Ehmirah (with a 3rd place finish)! It's been wonderful watching Lori and Ehmirah's growing partnership together while they train at our stable, The Riding Center.
In Saturday's rides, Lori (on DB Bolero), Kate (on DB Airs Aidah) and Elena (on DB B. Dahmah) swept the top 3 spots in the 35 mile LD, with Lori winning Best Condition once again.
In the 60 mile endurance ride, Paula and her lamborghini of a horse DB Dahman tied for first with Julie Jackson, with Paula winning Best Condition! (left pic - Paula leaving the vet check with Dahman)
Left - Kate Davis and DB Airs Aidah pose for the camera before starting their 2nd loop. Airs Aidah and Kate finished 2nd place
Left - Lori and DB Bolero, winner 1st place and Best Condition.
Left - Elena and DB Bint Dahmah sailed into a 3rd place finish.
After the Ozark ride, DB Airs Aidah and stallion DB Khrush took on the AHDRA III ride in Oquawka IL. Kate Davis and Aidah won the 30 mile LD as well as Best Condition! Sarah Sanders and DB Khrush finished the 60 mile endurance ride in 5th place. Congratulations ladies!
