Team Snail Hits The Trail, Virtual Tevis 2023 Begins

Awareness of the outside world. Western States Endurance Run: Trail Stewardship.

~~~

We’re off. Virtual Tevis 2023 starts today. We have until Sunday 30 July to ride 100 miles. Counting the start and end days, I get 103 days to ride 100 miles.

After their extended time off, the horses top out at a mile. That leaves us almost no wiggle room. Consistency is going to be a key factor this year.

The plan.

One. Get out every possible day.

Two. Count ring work. I’m using 2 mph as an estimate. So 15 min of ring work is 0.5 mile. I haven’t included ring work in the past. This is not the year to leave steps on the table, as I did in 2021 or 2022. [Moving the Goal Posts, Virtual Tevis, 98 Miles and Holding, 73 Days 2021, Virtual Tevis Announced For 2022]

Three. Work up to longer mileage. We need miles in the bank for days when the weather dice or the logistics of life don’t roll in our favor.

It’s doable. We need to start diligent, stay diligent, and hope everything stays shiny side up.

“In 2020, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Western States Trail Foundation Board of Governors voted for the first time in history to cancel the annual Tevis Cup Ride. But we wanted to offer a way for our riders, crews, volunteers, supporters and lovers of the trail to still be able to participate. Thus the creation of this virtual event, which was so well received we have decided to host as an annual fundraiser.”

The Tevis Cup: Virtual Tevis Cup 2023

Virtual Tevis Posts [Archives]

Onwards!
Katherine

The Tack Room Door Creaks Open Again

Awareness of the outside world. Climate Clock. “To stay under 1.5°C warming, and prevent the worst effects of climate change from becoming irreversible.” Climate Clock: Our Story.

Earth is dying! Well, not really. Worst case scenario, there will be global adjustments, minor on a geological scale. The thing is, people don’t live on a geological scale. Worst case, the planet is gonna be fine; the human race, not so much.

I bring this up because I think it is an error of messaging. Make it real to people, to you, to me, to us. Altruism is nice. Self-interest gets people moving.

~~~

Tack!

On Milton!

Long lines. Walked a bit. Trotted a circle in each direction.

Once he got over the surprise of going back to work, he remembered fairly quickly. Also got worn out fairly quickly.

Go, Milton!

Onwards!
Katherine

That Reminds Me Of A Story, Life with Horses Is Never Orderly, Book Club Blog Hop

Welcome to the Book Club Blog Hop. “So, for post content, I would be more interest hearing stories that only you could tell.” [Stall Rest Chronicles 11 Feb, and Book Club Blog Hop Announcement]

Life with Horses Is Never Orderly, by Morgane Schmidt (Trafalgar Square 2021).
From the webcomic The Idea of Order

New Story

He’s never done anything like that before. Page 7. The Idea of Order: Every.Single.Time.

Tried out a horse for sale. Walk. Trot. Between trot & canter, horse misbehaved. I don’t remember the specifics, but it was a dealbreaker. Owner said ‘he’s never done that before.’

Actually, she was quite friendly about it. She understood that we would not want the horse after that. If she were trying a horse, she wouldn’t either.

But really, he’s never done that before.

She was mystified.

Stories I Have Already Told

Top 10 Ways to Bring About Lameness (in the not so distant future) #6. Step up and get a USDF lifetime registration for your horse. Page 34. Cartoon, Horse Nation: Top 10 Ways to Bring About Lameness. Rider rather than horse, but the spirit is similar. “I splashed out on life memberships for the USDF and the USEA … I have never used them.” [Ambushed By My Mailbox]

The barn … where time goes to die. Page 165. Cartoon, The Idea of Order: Barn Time… . Saddle seat lesson day. “A 10 am lesson means I get home no sooner than 3 pm. I arrive home hungry, tired, and in need of a shower. By the time I repair the damage, it is 5 in the evening and I am wondering where the day went.” [Have You Got All Day? Anatomy of A Saddle Seat Lesson]

Blog Roll

(Your post here)

Links

Eventing Nation: Ocala’s World Equestrian Center Opened for Hurricane Ian Evacuees, Morgane Schmidt on Sep 29, 2022

Instagram: @mschidt83
Facebook: Schmidt Dressage
Twitter: @Messerschmidt

The Musings of Morgane Schmidt: X, halt, salute. Five months of a blog in 2015.

More links on announcement post [11 Feb]

Onwards!
Katherine

Stall Rest Chronicles 13 April, Liberty Day!

Explanation. We HAD a horse on stall rest following colic surgery.

Fourth month post surgery
Two weeks at clinic DONE
Four weeks of at-home stall rest DONE
Four weeks/one month of paddock rest DONE
One month of pasture rest DONE

DONE!

As of today, Milton is no longer under veterinary orders.

DONE! DONE! DONE!

Patient is feeling fine. Patient is feeling feisty. Small, unsightly dangly bits have dropped off and the incision is closing rapidly. [Milton’s Stubborn Zipper]

Onwards!
Katherine