You gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em

Knowing when to go big and when to go home is probably one of the hardest things to learn about the sport of endurance riding.

Many of us are riding our pets. We only have one horse and she has a forever home with us.  We err on the side of caution because we don't want to hurt our beloved pet.

On the other hand, we are all capable of extraordinary things. To quote T.S. Eliot, 

"You have to risk going too far to discover just how far you can really go".

I recall my first foray into distance riding on my 15 year old Arab mare, Sera. We entered the 28 mile novice CTR Northwind Challenge in Buckingham, Quebec. I had very little trail riding experience and knew nothing about distance riding. We rode regularly W/T/C to prepare for dressage shows, Arab shows and horse shows at local fairs.  I had no clue about how hilly and rocky the trail was, or even how far 28 miles was! Without even knowing it, I risked going too far. 

We set out with a few other novice horses and riders and the experience forever changed me.

Sera eagerly carried me down the trail, up and down hills, along quiet roads and though bush trails. There had been a lot of rain, and some of the clay trails were quite slick. I was amazed at what she could do! We finished a full hour later than the optimal ride time, but still got a completion, albeit with the maximum amount of time penalties.

We were both tired and muscle sore for a couple of days, but none the worse for wear. 

Thus was born my passion for distance riding. Wow! If we could do that, what else might we be able to do? 

Over the next few years, Sera accumulated over 500 CTR miles with a 100% completion rate. 

As I began doing endurance rides with Sera's fully, Luba, I had to learn how to safely push the envelope, developing a young horse into an endurance athlete. Make haste slowly for sure, but at some point you have to raise the bar and go for it. The first 50. Faster 50s. Harder 50s. The first 75. And the first 100 miler. 

Each time we went out of the comfort zone, to go farther and faster, I was faced with the dilemma of knowing when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. 

One thing was certain: pushing boundaries and reaching the next level was an addictive magical elixir.

There is a fine balance between the desire to complete the ride and the desire to do what is right for you and your horse. 

At the VT 50 this weekend, I had to strike that balance once again. Luba passed the vet check at mile 38 with an A- for gait. She took a couple funny steps on the way out and was scared of the door and the mirrors at the far end of the arena. But she trotted soundly on the way back. We needed a recheck for quiet gut sounds, so I had Denise trot her out again so I could watch. Same result. 

Given the wet sloppy trail conditions and the fact that we would ride the last 12 miles in the dark without a even a moon to light the trail, I decided to rider option. It was a decision made easy only with the experience that comes with wet saddle pads and lots of ride entries. 

I know that the next magical outside-the-comfort-zone experience is only possible if my pet pony is happy and healthy doing her job. 

So we are grateful for 38 miles of beautiful, challenging Vermont trail, breathtaking views, and cheering supporters. 

And we live to ride another day!