..
It
was a strange summer, with the EHV preventing travel early on and then
a devastating loss in the family. We were in need of some down time, but
eventually, we, and most of the family, went to Ft. Stanton just to be
away, and together, all at once. It was a great ride, even though Magnum
ended it with a bang, literally. On day 6, Virginia and I were in 1st
place and she was holding my reins at a water trough as I went to refill
our water bottles. Magnum got spooked and took off at full blast, off
a 12’ drop into a rocky creek bed (somersault #1,) and then up and
blasting again through a barbed-wire fence (somersault #2.)
I never thought I would find him. Devastated, I listened to his thundering
hooves, crashing branches, and whinnies, until they disappeared in the
distance. I set off on foot, calling to him and getting nothing but echoes
in return. Sure enough, not 2 miles down the rocky road, there he stood;
front hooves in a pool of blood, lathered, shaking, and holding his back
right leg up. Happy to see him I called and he whinnied but wouldn’t
move, I thought he was caught in wire. I finally made it over to him and,
although my tack was destroyed and he was bleeding on his chest where
he hit the fence, he wasn’t tangled in anything. I tried to stay
calm but my heart was in my throat, and after readjusting…everything
on him, Virginia and I started walking the fence in hopes of finding an
opening to get back through (since he was now on the wrong side.)
We
found an opening, and walked back to the trough where the radioman called
the vet and a trailer to come get us. Miraculously, Magnum was “relatively
OK.” Although we were concerned he was on his way to a colic, and
gave him appropriate drugs to prevent it, he didn’t even need stitches,
all of his cuts and scrapes were minor. They bled profusely at first because
he is an extreme athlete whose heart was probably at 220bpm when he hit
the fence, but they were not major and dried up like anyday-scrapes. In
the end, he had a pulled hamstring and a fractured sacrum. All of which
will be fixed with time and therapy. I’m devastated and thankful
all at once, it could have been MUCH worse. But I will have my race horse
back soon, watch out for our return to the trails in 2012. I’m happy
to report that he is already doing VERY well.
We ended the summer on a better note at the AERC and AHA National Championship Ride, where Pearl took 3rd overall in the 100 mile race and Moxy took 8th in the 50 – her last training ride before Tevis! Moxy got her 1000 miles as Tennessee got her 6000 miles when they crossed the finish line. Tennessee was so proud of both mares, Pearl was so tough, she finished the 100 even after bumping her shin on a rock. They had to pull back from the front but maintained pace for a 3rd place 100 finish, and 2nd FW National Champion. And although she had to hold Moxy back in the 50, with Tevis as their true goal, she made sure to stay in front of the other Half-Arabs so Moxy gained the title of National Champion Half Arabian AND National Champion Half Arabian Best Condition!
After the Springdale experience, we were reluctant to go to any more “Spring” rides. But it’s hard to keep an endurance rider off the trails! Tennessee and Jody Goodman loaded up and went to the Old Pueblo Pioneer where they got what they were looking for, sunshine! Jody completed her first 50 on Rahj, his first 50 as well, riding with MRER teammate Kerry Redente, while Tennessee Tied for 1st on Magnum, the trio’s first “team completion.” The next day Tennessee got to sport her new secret weapon, Moxy, who she is training for Tevis, in the LD where she took 1st.
On April 26th, we woke up to a brand new baby boy, Calamity Jane did it again, she never clues us in! A beautiful big bay colt that we have named “RRQ Ballistic,” a full sibling to RRQ Shooter, by DWA Express (see Global Endurance for information on Express.)
On May 21st, at 3am, Tennessee and Sean (in their PJ’s) in the stall downstairs, pulled a beautiful Palomino colt out of Sabella, he was made to order! He is absolutely gorgeous, straight, and friendly as can be. Named “RRQ Moonlit Wanderlust,” for Tennessee’s endeavors (by Raleighs Full Moon.) Tennessee’s dream horse.
It
was torture, but Tennessee promised Sean to take the winter off. Sean
immediately winterized the trailer, emptied it out completely (and I mean
tack, feed, blankets…EMPTY), pressure washed it inside and out, and
stored it in the very back corner of his shop – triple parked in.
Guess there won’t be any quick, last minute “oh I’ll just
throw the horses in and go to one more ride,” trips.
Does February count as spring? As usual Tennessee got cabin fever and wanted to escape to the warm, dry trails of the South. But so much for that, it was all time record lows in Arizona for the Springdale Romp. The entire trip was a bit of a disaster; we got caught in a blizzard on the way down and had to stay in Albuquerque until the reopened the interstate, arrived at camp late, froze our butts off for 4 miserable but successful days, and planned on 2 more days but on day 5 Tennessee blew her back out (big time, she was literally immobile), the fan clutch blew on the way home, had to overnight in Socorro while they worked on the truck, and barely made it home, limping (the truck and Tennessee, not the horses.) Thank GOD Sean came on that trip!
After a summer dominated by training for FEI rides and Tevis, Tennessee opted to head down to the La Cienega 100 on a very fit and ready Khyber. She trailer-pooled to the ride, picking up Jennifer Shirley and Zorro (and some sushi) in Santa Fe on the way. As luck would have it Khyber smacked his shin on a rock on the first loop, trotted in sound, pulsed down, then immediately stiffened up to a 3-legged state as he grazed. Ten was aggressive with the treatment, icing and poulticing as she crewed for Jen throughout the rest of the day and evening. Jen and Zorro finished their first 100 miler in 3rd place! Khyber was sound the next day.
We finished the season, as usual, with family and friends in Moab. Sean took Rocky Top and both Neecee and Nelson brought horses to explore the canyonlands. Since this was not a “points” season for Tennessee, she opted to ride relaxing LDs with friends, she even got her mother, Neecee on
Rainbow
Bright Magnum on Halloween
Neecee
on Treasure in a Moab LD
NEWSFLASH
| Summer 2010
In
a futile attempt to qualify horses with very few FEI sanctioned rides
available to attend, Tennessee reluctantly took Khyber to the Ft Howes
FEI ride. The course up there is amazing but the weather always seems
to deteriorate just for the ride days. We had hoped that Pearl would be
able to complete her final 75 there, she was fit and staying sound but
the last thing we wanted to do was throw her into another 75-mile-long
mud puddle. In her stead, Khyber performed on-par for his FEI career...flying
down the trail calmly and then FREAKING OUT in the vet checks, at least
we expected it this time. Regardless, he completed in 5th, with straight
A's and 20 minute-drag-me-around-the-vet-check-whinnying recoveries, and
received his CEI**. At the last vet check he finally settled in and pulsed
down immediately; I guess it just takes him 60 miles or so to warm up.
Khyber and Dunedust got the mountain training treatment in preparation for Tevis. Tennessee rode Khyber and
Khyber
and Tennessee at Tevis
Duncan
McLaughlin on Dunedust
Cougar Rock, Tevis
Unfortunately, it rained for days and the course was a mess. All Pearl needed was a completion, since she
FLF's Steady's Tempo and
Tennessee at Git'R'Done
In May Remuda Run took horses to Mt Carmel, where Magnum did his first back to back 50’s, and Sangre Scenic, where he tied for 1st in his first 75 miler! On May 16th, Sabella gave birth to the most beautiful, perfect, bay filly one could ever ask for. Her name is Beaujolais, in honor of the DWA wines and her French sire DORAN. She’s everything we hoped she would be, we are a proud family.
Tennessee took advantage of the Indian Summer and drove Dunedust, on their “maiden voyage” together, to Las Cienegas in Sonoita, AZ along with Magnum. They both did great, Dunedust completed her first ride since 08 and Magnum started his season with one 2nd and one 1st & BC. The trio was then chased all the way home by “the biggest snow storm since the 30’s…”-CS
The
winter season was broken up with monthly trips to Randy Eiland’s
rides in fair-weathered Southern New Mexico to keep everyone loose and
fit. Tennessee & Sean drove all the way back down to Ocala, FL to
kick off the FEI season at Gallop on the Greenway and the trip went well,
although Dunedust was the only one who brought home a star. This allowed
her to enter the FEI 75 at Sun City, where she took 2nd, Khyber took 1st
in the FEI 50 there as well, kicking off his FEI career. Albeit a difficult
winter, Remuda Run’s 2010 season is off to a fair start!
You
Better Run aka “Runner” is strong,
Tennessee rode FLF Ruleta; a beautiful little white mare owned by David and Tracy Kaden, at the Kentucky Cup in Lexington. The pair was setup to have a great ride but the weather was just too much for Ruleta. It rained the entire week
As usual, the Moab Canyons Pioneer was a wonderful gathering in a beautiful setting. It’s great to be able to end the season at such a fun ride. On day 1 Tennessee and Sean did some pleasure riding through the scenic desert. Magnum and Khyber were rockstars on days 2 and 3, both taking Top 10 placings, plus Magnum took High Vet Score & Best Condition, his very first! On Day 3, Tennessee rode through her 4,000th AERC mile on Khyber, with Dian Woodward on Salty by her side. Both rides we’re so much fun; beautiful and challenging, and the horses felt great. They now have the base on them that they needed so watch out for them on the trail next
Pearl and her foal "You Better Run"
soaking up his first day of sun
Tennessee riding Khyber in Moab
for her 4,000th AERC mile
Pearl is now mother to a beautiful chestnut colt, affectionately named You Better Run. She wisely decided to wait and have her foal in the warm foaling stall during a dinner party upstairs, she must have known Zack (Equine Repro,) was one of our guests. We all got to see the whole thing, and yes, I teared up.
It’s been a busy summer, packed with crazy weather, great rides, and big surprises. The great rides included lots of 50’s on Magnum and Khyber, who really stepped up to the plate to fill Pearl and Sabella’s shoes, and four 100 milers
Tennessee and Sean came home to the ‘big news,’ Pearl’s pregnant! Yes, Pearl, Tennessee’s FEI horse (aka DWA Sabsons Abby) is pregnant. Last Thanksgiving, while everyone was feasting on turkey elsewhere, a gate got left open and all of Tennessee’s mares got out and backed up to Shoguns Joshua Fadjur’s fence and yes, they all got bred. “Not to worry!” the vet said, bring them in in a couple of weeks and we’ll ultrasound them to see if they took. So we did just that, and no one was pregnant, so we never thought of it again until…we got back from Tevis and saw…the baby bump! We are over the initial shock of it all and now making preparations and excited about the baby which should be joining us around Halloween. Surprise!
Tennessee
and Salty approaching
Forrest Hill, about 70 miles into Tevis.
Magnum and Tennessee "breaking
the curse" at Happy Jack.
Pearl and Tennessee are well on their way to being qualified for the 2010 tryouts. They've completed every FEI challenge that lay in their path and have done everything neccessary apart from Pearl growing another Hand in height and Tennessee putting on 20lbs to make wieght! There's only so much one is capable of! They are excited yet aware that this still doesn't mean anything as far as selection. With thousands trying out for 6 available positions there's bound to be lots of bottlenecks to squeeze through.
across the finish line at the
FEI Owyhee Fandango 100 miler."
As usual, winter is a quiet time for the endurance horse and rider (at least in the mountain region;) lot’s of blankets, warm mash and time off. But forget taking the whole winter off! With fairly mild weather it was too irresistible, November and December flew by and suddenly I found myself driving down to Southern New Mexico in search of warm, sandy trails. What a great time of year to take it easy, get back in shape, and just enjoy your horse’s company.
morning's first rays of warmth along
the new corral posts.
With the Mountain Region’s endurance season coming to an end, and cold weather on the way, we have no choice but to fatten up our fit horses and
Sabella
has been receiving shockwave treatments since immediately after her injury
this summer and ultrasounds are showing amazing results. We are excited
to say that she will make a wonderful recovery! We will be giving her
the 2009 season off and breeding her this Spring to make sure we don’t
satisfy the urge to bring her back sooner!
Moab Canyons while on a pleasure
ride with Tennessee and Fletcher.
It was great to end the season off on a good note, Pearl bwas awarded her 5th Best Condition on her second day out at the beautiful Grand Canyon XP ride and the whole family (including Sean and Fletcher) had a fun, relaxing Halloween weekend at the Moab Canyons ride.
Although we ended up reaching every goal we set for ourselves here at Remuda Run this summer, we definitely had a more relaxed approach to this endurance
Remuda Run welcomes home its new resident stallion; Shoguns Joshua
toward the second of three vet checks
at the Big Horn 100.
While couch bound after her foot surgery, Tennessee had plenty of time to rethink her goals for the season, and research ways to improve her performance.
With the goal of completing 100’s on Sabella and stepping up Pearl’s 50 miler game, Tennessee eased her mares in to the ’08 season at Color Country at a less aggressive pace. In April, Tennessee and her mare, Sabella,
to a 1st Place and BC at the Owyhee
Fandango Pioneer in Idaho in May 2008
Tennessee’s foot is still recovering, but there have been some problems and delays because she got back in the saddle a little too soon. She’s still struggling with it but has her sights set on completing another 100 on Sabella this summer.
Also this Spring, Remuda Run welcomes it's newest family member, Rocky Top, a gorgeous 4-year-old, 16.2H-and-growing, half-Arab half-Quarter horse gelding. Congratulations, Sean, on your first horse! See Rocky Top on the RR Horses page.
All the girls are bundled in their blankets and enjoying the new shed that Sean built for them. They're getting a significant increase in grain and hay rations
After several years of extreme pain in her left foot, especially when riding, Tennessee decided to have surgery on December 27th. In short, the Doctor broke two bones, removed a couple chunks, then pinned and screwed it all back together. The pins will be removed after 6 weeks, at which point she should be able to make a full recovery, and get the girls back in shape for the '08 season.
the shed that Sean built for them.
NEWSFLASH | Fall 2007
Sabella, Pearl and Tennessee were pretty exhausted after the Great Santa Fe Trail race (SFT,) both horses contracted Scratches while in Kansas which
After about a month of R&R, Sabella, Pearl, and Tennessee were done licking their wounds, and the three of
the finish line of the Santa Fe trail race.
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