Miles to go before they sleep
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325720)
Rockingham, Australia
September 10, 2016 8:06pm CST
We spent Saturday night at the race-course of a nearby town in Western Australia where we volunteered at an endurance (horse) ride. We've done this a few times. This ride was smaller than some and the first riders didn't leave till 7am which was a very respectable time.
In the photo you can see a group of riders heading out into the fog and past the bus. They have 80km ahead of them and will finish sometime after lunch. A few will get lost on the trail, a couple will come off their horses for one reason or another and several will be vetted out at the end. We were able to come home after the ride. With the bigger rides, we usually stay till the next day.
21 people like this
18 responses
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
12 Sep 16
@JudyEv I feel for the poor girl who was hurt but it's good that she will be okay. I absolutely love horses but I have only ridden a horse a few times in my life. I have always been afraid of either falling off or being thrown. I guess once it happens the first time, you don't worry about it anymore...lol. My fiance (who has since passed away) had horses and we used to spend all of our spare time with them. I loved cleaning out a stall and I never thought I would...lol.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
11 Sep 16
i'm so glad that y'all volunteer to do this sorta thingy, hon. i know 't can be most borin'...well, hopefully so anyhow. yepperz, some folks seem they'd benefit from bungee cords 'n duct tape to keep 'em'n the saddle, eh? hope nobody (includin' the equines) suffered any injuries.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
12 Sep 16
@JudyEv i know 
, that's why i quit doin' benefit rides. i feared i'd need bail money one day.
, that's why i quit doin' benefit rides. i feared i'd need bail money one day.
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
11 Sep 16
Sounds interesting. Best of luck to all the riders. Great photo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325720)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Sep 16
@Happy2BeMe They might start at 4am when they have to ride that far - particularly if it is going to be a hot day.
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@silvermist (19702)
• India
11 Sep 16
@JudyEv Good photo.Early morning .sun,fog slowly disappearing and the early riders going out.And a quote from Frost.Nice.
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@JudyEv (325720)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Sep 16
I would have enjoyed it when I was younger but some come back very tired.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Sep 16
that poem of Frosts is such a lovely poem, and that's a lovely photo to go with it
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
11 Sep 16
What's the point of an endurance ride? Sounds cruel to the horse.
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@JudyEv (325720)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Sep 16
I sometimes think that but there are lots of safeguards in place now. They have to qualify with shorter events and the horses are checked by the vets at pre-determined and regular intervals.
@JudyEv (325720)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Sep 16
The tracks and trails are marked with arrows - different arrows depending on whether they're doing 80, 40 or 20 kms. Some take the wrong turnings occasionally.
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Sep 16
Sounds like you always have a good time at these. Cool photo.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169940)
• United States
11 Sep 16
Wow, that is neat. It would be fun to go on a long trail ride. However, I went horseback riding once years ago, and just after an hour ride, I was so sore the next day. I discovered muscles I didn't know I had. I think my muscles may never recover if I went on a long ride!
