In which we start out swimming and end up trotting to the finish line
What the heck, why not sign up for the 75-miler?
Especially since, this year, I have a goal: I want Fiddle to win the United States Trotting Association "Endurance Standardbred of the Year" award. I know all about this award, mostly because I was the person who proposed it to the USTA several years ago.
It's not like the competition is enormous. There are 139 Standardbreds and 17 half-Standies currently registered with the American Endurance Ride Conference. 8 of them competed last year, and four of those are in my region. One of them is Fiddle's brother Hector!
But since the award was started, I've had (in series): a young horse, a low budget, and a broken body. For the last two years, my friend Heather and her horse Bunny have won it. And now Susan Garlinghouse has a new Standie filly that she will be bringing along as her good fellow John Henry starts to wind down a bit.
The competition is heating up. I'd better get busy!
To prepare, I figured …
Especially since, this year, I have a goal: I want Fiddle to win the United States Trotting Association "Endurance Standardbred of the Year" award. I know all about this award, mostly because I was the person who proposed it to the USTA several years ago.
It's not like the competition is enormous. There are 139 Standardbreds and 17 half-Standies currently registered with the American Endurance Ride Conference. 8 of them competed last year, and four of those are in my region. One of them is Fiddle's brother Hector!
But since the award was started, I've had (in series): a young horse, a low budget, and a broken body. For the last two years, my friend Heather and her horse Bunny have won it. And now Susan Garlinghouse has a new Standie filly that she will be bringing along as her good fellow John Henry starts to wind down a bit.
The competition is heating up. I'd better get busy!
To prepare, I figured …