Thanks, Sharon! I enjoyed your story and I do think you made the
right decision. Next time, you'll have a different mind set. {: >

I think you have some good ideas. I also have a horse who has no
speed when he's by himself. Here's some of the things I do.

1) I ride with spurs and a crop. It doesn't take that much to keep
him going, and I'm not bruising his ribs with continual kicking.

2) Dressage lessons! One of the things we work on in the arena
is "forward." And how I can help, with my body position, to open his
gaits.

3) To get him to work harder on conditioning rides, I try to ride
with others. The "best" person is my husband on our NSH who refuses
to be rated or take care of himself. Right now, Stormer actually
pushes Boo along. We ride at 10 mph instead of 6 mph, at least for 5-
6 miles. At the end of our last such ride, Boo's heart rate was 72
and Stormer was at 52, so I think it's working. Boo will never be
asked to do a 50 again (he's 19 and just scary about not taking care
of himself).

4) Riding hills. Just as you suggested. Last weekend, Stormer and I
got in 4 good, stiff, mile long hills during a 20 mile ride.
Everything else was less steep, but still hilly.

I don't get off much either. {: > I learned NOT to do that when I
was riding Boo because if he had gotten away from me, he would have
finished the ride by himself - following all the ribbons, but
probably detouring around the vet checks, which he hates. Stormer
will stay with me, but is sometimes too slow unless I can jog. I need
to get myself in better condition, but don't know when that will
happen.

You've learned a lot about yourself, your horse, and your crew. Next
time - success will be yours!

Robin Everett (preparing for Swanton) {: >

--- In new100milers@yahoogroups.com, "Sharon Levasseur"
<sharon1359@...> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone, here it is:
>
> http://www.zegifts.com/Stories5.htm#vt08
>
> Whew. I think that was 5 straight hours of writing. Still, it was
far less
> time than I spent in the saddle, and (as always) it was very
therapeutic to
> write it all out.
>
> -Sharon L. in Maine
>