Dea Running Team

Ab heute moechte ich ueber das Training und die Abenteuer des "Dea Running Team" in einem anderen Blog berichten.
Es gibt weiterhin wie gewohnt Eintraege zu Brownies Training, Reisen und Abenteuer allgemein, aber auch ueber Jons und meine Lauferei und unser Leben in Florida. Einige dieser Eintraege werden in Englisch, andere in Deutsch erscheinen.
Ich halte es zu diesem Zeitpunkt nicht mehr fuer sinnvoll, mein Leben und Laufen zu trennen. Es gibt jetzt nur noch einen Blog fuer alles, zumindest als Testphase.
Das scheint mir gerade einfacher, als alles in verschiedenen Blogs zu schreiben.

Adventures of the Dea Running Team
Hier geht es nun also weiter mit unseren Abenteuern.
Ich hoffe, ihr lest und kommentiert weiterhin alle fleissig weiter mit!

NEW BLOG!
Jon, Kerstin and Brownie in Florida

Long Ride

Once a week Brownie's new endurance program has a ride that's longer than on the other days. This is usually be done on Saturdays to give working people more time to get the long ride in. That also means that we're starting to put on Easy Boots now which allow brief periods of trotting on asphalt and helps to reduce wear and tear on his feet. I hope we won't have to shoe him but just use the boots all the way through his training.

We're starting pretty slow here to get him used to all the non-stop trotting. Even though the endurance ride will probably be 25 to 30 miles long, today's long ride was only 6.3 miles, but it was still challenging because after a 7-minute warm-up walk Brownie had to jog for 5.7 miles without rest. It was pretty warm and humid for December, but he still did good. Maybe a little slow, but we're just getting started and he was all sweaty when we got back. Still Brownie sped up on the way back.

Jogging Splits:
2 miles @ 17:29 min. 8:44/mile
2 miles @ 16:31 min. 8:15/mile
1.7 miles @ 13:25 min. 7:54/mile

We went on the Powerline Trail almost all the way to 520, did a little jungle loop there and went back. It was a good ride. Brownie is a good horse!

MAP KLICK HERE!

6.30 miles in 1:01:52.

Riding in the dark

Horses see about seven times better in the dark than people.
I didn't have time to ride all day long, but could squeeze in a little ride in the evening. We were out of beet pulp, so I had to go out to the barn anyway. I also bought oats that Brownie is getting after our endurance training rides now.

Just went straight down James Road to I-95, rode around the lake and went back the same way, avoiding all the jungle where it's even darker. Brownie ran good and fast. It seemed like the time of the day, the cooler weather and the route was really good for him. We loped back beneath the canal, totaling 3.82 miles in 36:41.

After the ride I talked with Gwen for a while who is going to help at an endurance ride her horses brother is competing in on Saturday in Ocala.

Shelly is here!

Shelly just flew in from Washington for the holidays. She hasn't sat on a horse for half a year and was really craving a trail ride.
So Stephanie left work early today, we loaded up the horses and went back to Pine Island. We even got to the Indian River twice, ran up and down sand dune - our hill substitute here in Florida, and saw an armadillo. No gators today though.

The weather was great and we had a nice ride, covering 5.34 miles in an hour and 35 minutes.

MORE PICS KLICK HERE!
STEPHANIE'S PICS KLICK HERE!

Endurance Training Week 2, Tuesday

Monday is a rest day for Brownie, but on Tuesday I was back at the barn for a quick early morning ride. The temperatures were just right, it just got a little warm in the end but that might have also been because I was wearing a light coat over my long-sleeved shirt (gotta love the winter in Florida!).
Brownie and Endre were eating when I got there, so I gave them a little more time with their hay by taking a wheel barrow full of horse apples out of Brownie's pen. I had let that slack for a bit. It really needed to be done.

Brownie was saddled and ready to go - with Endre being locked up in her pen - at 7:45. I walked him to the road, climbed atop and started jogging. At first I stopped at most of the concrete driveways as usual, especially because I still didn't put any easy boots on his feet, but had a little faster start than last week.
When I finally got to the trails and could have him trot without stopping Brownie seemed to be running steadier. Faster in the beginning, not speeding up that much in the end. Maybe he's getting an idea of how an endurance horse is supposed to move?

After twenty minutes and 2.52 miles of continuous jogging on the trails, through the jungle and back down James Road - on the way back Brownie now always jogs over the crossing driveways - we got back to the dirt road that leads to our barn. I dismounted the horse and walked back.
Brownie wasn't really sweating that much when I took off the saddle. While he had his post-training grain I finished cleaning his pen.

Tuesdays are just perfect for morning rides for me. I had to be at the zoo at ten, but got home even before nine, so there was plenty of time to get ready. What a nice way to start a day!

3.84 miles in 41:49

Girls' Ride

I did so much endurance training all week, but today was all about recreation. For me though, not really that much for Brownie as it turned out to be the longest (timewise) ride of the week.
When I got to the barn in the late afternoon Stephanie was sitting in her kitchen with the door open and I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride.
So she saddled Roy who had tried to buck her of earlier this week and probably needed to get out. Brownie had a "not-again"-look on his face, but was happy about the company. Me too. Joey, Stephanie's older dog, came with us too, but little Jack had to stay at home. The horses were slow at first, but we were chatting so much that it wasn't really that bad. Stephanie told me about the plan for a weekend in February: We're going to ride 20 miles to Tosohatchee, camp out there with the horses and ride back the next day. I'm all about that plan and we started to talk about gear, how we'd get there, etc. I did those kinds of trips a lot in Germany and have always been waiting for another opportunity to do it again. It sounds like a lot of fun!
Short before the turn-around point the horses started to speed up and we let them run in a straight line for a bit before turning into the jungle.
It was already getting dark when we got back to the barn, but we had a good time and a very nice ride. Brownie was happy that it was feeding time.
I think I'll get him some oats that I can feed him after our endurance training rides. I want him to go a little faster on the way out from the barn. His very slow jog is killing me sometimes.

Endurance Training Week 1, Saturday

The nice thing about endurance training is that you get a good amount of mileage in relatively little time. I was at the barn at 8:30 am, rode Brownie and was back home before 10. It was a very nice ride, Brownie sped up on the way back and we did 26 minutes of non-stop jogging, the last 9 minutes at a good pace of 7:00min/mile.
It's very motivating to train for a purpose rather than just going out for a trail ride even though there's not really a big difference.

4.85 miles in 49:44

I walked the first and last 6 minutes on the dirt road as usual.

Endurance Training Week 1, Thursday

The third consecutive day of riding. That's pretty good for me!
It rained all day, but stopped late afternoon so I was able to get a quick little ride in.
It was nice and cool after the rain and we did 20 minutes of continuous jogging.

3.81 Miles 40:11

Just got back in time before it got dark.

Endurance Training Week 1, Wednesday

Only a short ride today, that took Brownie and me out to the trails between the barn and the highway. We did several loops, alternating 0.25 miles of walking and 1 mile of jogging. It rained last night and was warm and humid again. Brownie did the second jogging mile faster, so I was happy with him. Don't we all want negative splits?

2.80 miles 35:59
MAP KLICK HERE!

Of course he got grain again after the ride and enjoyed a nice roll in the sand before he and Endre got back to the pasture.

Endurance Training Week 1, Tuesday

Brownie's official endurance training plan started on Monday - with a rest day. He just got his feet trimmed and was ready for our first ride on Tuesday morning. It was much warmer than the previous weeks, so he was a little slow and got really sweaty. It was a very beautiful morning though and he did get a shower and extra grain after the ride.
We covered 3.81 miles in 42:43, lots of jogging, some walking, but no loping this time.

PICS KLICK HERE!
MAP KLICK HERE!

Canaveral National Seashore Beach Ride

On a cold and windy, but beautifully sunny Sunday morning Stephanie took Laura, Karen, Jon and me with our horses Patti, Mixie, Roy and Brownie up north to the only beach here that allows horseback riding.
She had found out who to call, I had made the reservation and still we almost didn't make it to the beach because everybody had forgot their Coggins papers at home. Luckily Stephanie's neighbors who were called into action were kind enough to run over to her house and fax all the papers over to the Visitor Center that manages beach rides.
There's only a short stretch of one mile on the beach that we can ride on, but it still made us very happy. It was the first time on the beach for all of the horses, but they were all as well behaved as always and we had a great ride.

At first the horses were very scared of the waves rolling towards the shore, but I made a vow to get Brownie into the water before we left. He jumped back from the dangerous monster waves a few times, always getting just a little closer. I let the matter drop for a while and let him run back and forth, which was a lot of fun. He would always stop immediately, but did run pretty fast when I asked him to.

Trying to get him into the water was easier now and after just a little hesitation he walked in. Of course everything got wet: The horse, saddle, my boots and jeans, but it was well worth it. When Stephanie saw that Brownie was in the water she joined us and now Patti walked in, too. We jogged through the waves, splashing salt water all over the horses and ourselves.

Back at the boardwalk Jon got to ride Brownie, too. I think it was the first time he really loped the horse, and he did really good. Brownie was nice enough not to take too much advantage of the situation and just tried to run up the dunes with him a few times where the really deep and soft sand stopped him anyway. Jon was always able to get him back down to the beach and start/stop running again.

After taking all different kinds of group pictures Stephanie offered me to borrow Roy so Jon and I could ride together. Everybody else was cold and had enough, so the two of us took of for another short ride. The horses didn't really like going out again at first, but got used to it soon. Roy needed some encouragement, but was good to ride and responded well.

It was a wonderful experience and just about the best time to spend a Sunday morning. Just loved it!

MY PICTURES KLICK HERE!
STEPHANIE'S PICTURES KLICK HERE!

Endurance Training

6.85 Miles 1:14:07

Brownie slow, but jogged/loped 3 miles without stopping. He sped up on the way back when it got cooler. Riding faster is really nice and enjoyable now that the temperatures are perfect for it. Haven't seen Gwen yet, but will talk to her about this as soon as I get the chance.
I might also be adding long rides, starting with 8-10 and working up to 18-20 miles once a week soon. Just let me get over with marathon training!

Brownie als Distanzpferd?

Stephanie mentioned Gwen showing interest in endurance riding. She might do a 25 mile ride next year. I think that's a very good idea and would love to join her.

So I was all motivated to get the training started and went on a nice fast trail ride in the afternoon. The dry and cool weather made it perfect for Brownie. He just kept going all the way.

6.07 Miles 1:08:12

Ausritt mit Jon

Letztes Wochenende ist Jon mal wieder auf den Geschmack gekommen, nachdem er Sonntag mit den anderen ausgeritten ist.

Heute Nachmittag wollte er mal ein bisschen flotter reiten als nur Schritt und so habe ich mir Bita ausgeliehen und wir sind zusammen ausgeritten.

Da er sowieso sehr sportlich ist und ueber gute Balance verfuegt, gewoehnte er sich recht flott ans Traben und konnte gar nicht genug bekommen.

Wir hatten beide viel Spass und die Pferde haben auch ganz prima mitgemacht. Sowohl Brownie als auch Bita waren gut zu reiten, kooperativ und - nachdem wir erstmal die weichen Sand- und Wiesenwege erreicht hatten - auch schoen flott, ohne davonrennen zu wollen.

Zum Schluss durften wir auf dem Rueckweg bei Stephanies gemeiner Nachbarin vorbei noch deren neueste Konstruktion bewundern. Die Dame aergert sich furchtbar, dass wir direkt neben ihrem Garten vorbei reiten, kann aber nichts dagegen unternehmen. Damit wir nun aber auch wirklich ja nicht ihren Rasen betreten, hat sie diesen mit wunderschoenem orangefarbenen Flatterband eingezaeunt. Wir konnten nur den Kopf schuetteln und uns wundern, wie jemand freiwillig seinen Garten so verschandeln kann...

HIER KLICKEN um die Strecke zu sehen!

Auf dem Reitplatz

Jon hatte den Nachmittag frei und ist zum Stall mitgekommen. Er hatte besonders viel Spass daran, Brownie mit Bananen zu fuettern.


Stephanie, die auch schon frueher nach Hause durfte, war schon mit Jade im Roundpen beschaeftigt als wir eintrafen.

Sie ritt Ruby, ich Brownie und Jon schaute ein bisschen zu, bis sie mich bat, ihr mit Jade zu helfen. Es war das erste Mal, dass sie das Jungpferd reiten wollte und da sollte ich lieber erstmal festhalten. Diese machte ihre Sache ganz prima fuers erste Mal, sodass ich sie schon bald alleine reiten liess.


Waehrend wir mit Jade beschaeftigt waren, nutzte Jon die Gelegenheit Brownie zu reiten. Sieht so aus, als wuerde er doch langsam wieder Spass an den Pferden finden.


Mehr Bilder HIER KLICKEN!

Back Home

Um die gefuerchtete "Feiertagskrankheit" Kreuzverschlag zu vermeiden, die bei Pferden am Ruhetag nach harter Arbeit auftreten kann, und weil ich sowieso schon so im "Reitmodus" war, bin ich am Mittag ein Stuendchen gemuetlich ausgeritten.
Trotz der vielen Reiterei am Wochenende und der langen Heimfahrt war Brownie flott dabei und zeigte keine Spur von Muskelkater.
Ich habe sogar einen neuen kleinen Urwald gefunden, in dem es nette Sandwege gibt. Ich bin nur nicht ganz sicher, inwieweit es sich lohnt, da oefter hinzureiten.
Mal sehen.

South East B B Fall Camping Trip

Drei Tage lang waren wir mit den Pferden in Nordflorida am Suwannee River.
Wir sind ganz viel geritten, haben am Lagerfeuer gesessen und viel Spass gehabt.
Was fuer ein schoenes Wochenende, wenn auch ganz schoen kalt.
Zum Glueck hatten Jon und ich eine Huette, sodass wir nicht bei Minustemperaturen zelten mussten.
Freitag

Samstag I

Samstag II

Sonntag

Stalldienst

Es ging darum, Sand in Brownies Paddock zu schaufeln, damit er sich bei Regen unterstellen kann ohne in einer Pfuetze zu stehen.
Ausserdem mussten jede Menge Pferdeaepfel abgesammelt werden. Das war unsere Mission fuer einen warmen Samstagnachmittag im November.
Ich bin ja schwach, also habe ich mir Jon als Hilfe mitgenommen. Der hatte die Aufgabe Sand ranzukarren, waehrend ich mit Abaeppeln beschaeftigt war. Brownie hatte gar keine Aufgabe, der hat nur zugeschaut.

Zugeschaut haben wir nachher auch noch ein bisschen, und zwar Stephanie und Baleigh beim Reiten. Stephanie ist Baleighs Pferd South geritten. South war eine Zeitlang beim Trainer und man sieht schon, wie schoen sie sich nun haelt und wie versammelt sie laeuft.

Schrittausritt

Es war heiss und schwuel und ich war furchtbar muede und kaputt.
Da bin ich in Shorts geritten und aus Ruecksicht fuer meine Beine nur im Schritt. Dabei kann man ganz hervorragend traeumen und Brownie schien auch keine Ambitionen zu haben schneller zu laufen.

Pine Island Trail Ride

Stephanie, Laura, Karen and I took advantage of a work-free Veterans Day, hauled the horses out to Merritt Island and went on a fun ride.
We saw an alligator, rode along the Indian River, loped up the highest "mountain" in Florida and practiced circus acts.

Everybody had their camera, so there are many pictures of people on horseback taking pictures.

My pictures KLICK here!

Stephanie's pictures KLICK here!

Samstag Nachmittag am Stall

Jon war mit, denn wir wollten direkt nach dem Reiten zur Cocoa State Fair. Aber als wir ankamen, mussten wir als erstes Roy davon abhalten, saemtliches Futter aufzufressen, das Stephanie hinten auf ihrem Truck gelagert hatte. Ein grosses Loch hatte er sich schon in den Sack gearbeitet, den Jon nun lieber in der Futterkammer in Sicherheit brachte.

Dann war es an der Zeit, Brownie zu satteln und eine halbe Stunde auf dem Platz zu reiten. Natuerlich bekam er wie immer Leckerlies von Jon, den er wohl fuer seinen persoenlichen Fuetterer haelt. Zwischendurch tauchte noch Laura auf und holte ihr Pferd Mixie ab, die bei Stephanie Manieren lernen sollte. Ueber Stephanies Fortschritte mit Mixie kann man in ihrem Blog nachlesen und Bilder anschauen.

Jon baute mir ein paar Tonnen und Stangen auf, damit ich Barrels ueben konnte. Das macht Spass und Brownie war wieder sehr kooperativ und gut zu reiten.

Arena Ride

Bin ich heute auch mal wieder auf dem Platz geritten. Brownie hat ganz schnell gemerkt, dass ich Sporen angezogen hatte und hat gut mitgemacht, nur manchmal war er ein bisschen rappelig beim Stehenbleiben, aber vielleicht war ich auch einfach nicht feinfuehlig genug. Daran wird's wohl eher gelegen haben.

Neugierige Endre

18 miles

Brownie had to work this week! I rode him three times with one long ride on Monday, a shorter trail ride out to the trails on James Road on Wednesday and a faster paced hour long trail ride today in the area between the barn and the highway. I had to ride around for quite some time and got some good loping and trotting in. Brownie always got faster when we approached the gate back to the barn, but didn’t really insist of going back once I’d told him that we were still going for more laps.

See more progress on: ride my horse 3-4 times a week

High Energy Cow

It’s finally cooling off and I haven’t been riding very much lately, so Brownie has way too much energy and is really annoying Stephanie by chasing, biting and kicking the other horses, running out of the gate and being a pain in general.

So I went on a long trail ride this afternoon and vow to ride him more. I want to do it at least every other day when I’m in town. Best would be to do one longer ride 1 1/2 to 2 hours a week. Only problem is that I run so much that I’m tired a lot, but I should just count riding as active recovery. Today I went out on the power-line trail. Parts of it are still under water. I had to pull my feet out of the stirrups if I didn’t want them wet. They did get wet anyway, of course, because Brownie was splashing so much. On the way back I was tired of slowing down to a walk for all the puddles and pools and just went back to the barn on the road.

See more progress on: ride my horse 3-4 times a week