Goethe Challenge 2011

The last time Farley and I competed at Goethe we completed the 75 mile course. It was my first 75 and I was tired yet elated about the completion and how well Farley and I worked together. The cold beer afterwards was nectar to my body and soul. It was a good feeling.

This year was different as we only did the 25 mile course for several reasons: With Farley coming back from his recent tie-up I didn't want to over do it yet I wanted to see how he was in his performance level (as good as ever), I had told friend and ride coordinator Helen I would volunteer the remainder of the day and that can be hard to do after riding the longer miles and I also don't do well in humidity and it wasn't lacking on ride day. All in all, I made the right decision for the right reasons. We came in 9th place with a 3 hour ride time and a very good card. CRI's were 52/44...nice. Doesn't mean I won't stop worrying when he doesn't drink as often as I think he should but he seems to have recovered which was most important to me. It was still a good feeling.

A few of us dressed for the occasion. That is, we decorated our horses and ourselves for Christmas. Oh sure it was an FEI ride but as AERC riders we thought a little holiday cheer would liven up the place. Debbie and Boomer were bedazzled in red & green glitter with green tinsel braided in Boomer's mane. Come nightfall, battery operated Christmas lights were adorned. You could see the pair coming a mile away. Jody and Stormy aka Snowflake were sporting large snowflakes and silver glitter. Oohs and ahhs were heard all over camp. Farley was dressed in traditional red ribbons with Christmas bells. His bridal wrapped in berries and mistletoe and we both wore antlers. Pictures were taken, fingers pointed. It was fun.
I volunteered, which I like to do when I can, for many reasons...to watch how other horses vet through, learning the ins and outs of timing &scribing, assisting in any way and of course...the jokes, gossip and carrying on with each other. You have the opportunity to learn so much about the folks you have been competing with for years.

We are all so much alike in that our lives cater to the funding of our addiction...horses and endurance riding. And we all seem to have similar "when I first started endurance riding" stories.

Talk to anyone who has been in this sport for awhile and most of us have one thing in common...we over rode our first horse. We were sure that to have a fit horse we HAD TO RIDE miles upon miles weekly and we had to do it as fast as the horse could. Thank you to all of those kind first horses that went the extra mile (literally) for us to get this far.

Many of us try telling new people to the sport that too far, too fast, too soon is TOO MUCH. More often than not, they learn by experience. I think it is because it is a competition and it is assumed we may have an ulterior motive but we don't. We help each other for the better of the horse, for the education of the rider.

What would have been MORE helpful to me as the above is the following:

If you are a female in the sport then at some time you are going to experience the "screaming pee-pees". Sounds funny but this is no laughing matter. The wrong saddle, wrong underwear or just too much friction on your "hoo-ha" and you'll know as soon as you go pee. Trust me, there is no "ha-ha" in a rubbed raw "hoo-ha". LOTS of ointment before peeing and during riding helps this malady tremendously. Seriously.

Our significant others know that any celebrations we do after the ride that involved the "screaming pee-pees" won't be involving the "hoo-ha". NO WAY, NO HOW. Talk to us in about 3 days until then, be one with yourself. For real.

Overall Goethe was a tough course this year. Florida has been in a drought and with that the sand becomes deeper. I always find a flat sand course more challenging than a course through the mountains.

Congratulations to all who completed and to those who didn't, I have no doubt a valiant effort was put forth in both the rider and their horse.

Super Easy and Yummy Recipes

Most of us will be invited to some kind of holiday social gathering with a request to “bring a dish”. Back when I worked for the newspaper each division had a party and I tried to make all of them if for anything, the food! We had some amazing cooks at the paper.

For the time and kitchen challenged I am sharing 3 recipes that have 3 ingredients that will get you rave reviews and more than one request for the recipe. None of these are "my" creations but they have become standard at my house around the holidays.

My Dad and his wife hide their cans of cookies from each other. Dad's wife had thought hiding her cookies in the freezer was safe. Unfortunately for her she was WRONG. Imagine her surprise when she went to snack on her hidden gems only to find out my Dad doesn't mind eating frozen cookies!

(If you Google any of these recipes you will most likely find a pictorial demo if needed)

Mint Oreo Truffles

(You will need a food processor or blender and wax paper)

1 bag of mint Oreo cookies (or any other flavor)

1 block of cream cheese, softened

1 package of white chocolate or regular chocolate bark

Crush cookies until fine. Mix crushed cookies with cream cheese. Roll into small balls. (I have a melon scoop that makes the perfect size)

Melt chocolate bark per package directions in a bowl big enough that you can dip balls into. (Refrigerate the balls for about 15-20 minutes if they get too soft before dipping into chocolate)

Roll balls into the chocolate using a fork, tap fork on bowl rim so that the excess chocolate can drip off, then let harden on wax paper.

Once set, place on serving tray or store in covered container

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

(You will need wax paper)

1 Box of Ritz crackers

Peanut butter (smooth)

White chocolate bark

Place a dollop of peanut butter between 2 crackers making a sandwich. Make the sandwich so that the flat side of the cracker is on the outside. Do this with the entire box of crackers.

Melt chocolate bark per package directions in a bowl big enough that you can dip the sandwiches in.

Dip sandwiches in melted chocolate with fork, tapping fork on bowl rim allowing excess chocolate to drip off, place on wax paper to harden.

Once set, place on serving tray or store in covered container

Onion Dip (hot)

2 Cups of sliced onions (Vidalia or Spanish or a mixture of both)

2 Cups of shredded Swiss

2 Cups of Mayo

Mix together in oven proof casserole dish and bake in preheated oven on 350 for 20-30 minutes. You want the top to be brown and bubbly.

Serve warm with pita chips and/or tortilla chips.

Three recipes using three ingredients which I assure you will get you rave reviews.

Just Three Words

I have been saying in my house for years that we could make lots of money in the music industry if we could come up with the right combination of just three words.

Like A Virgin, Red Solo Cup, Someone Like You…Just three words incorporated with a few lyrics have made the writer and singer of that song LOTS of money.

One day I hope to figure out the money making combo of just three words, One Day Soon. But for now lets discuss what we can do with just three words that can make a difference today.

Just as just three words can make someone cash rich, they can also make someone emotionally rich.

I love you, you are smart, I need you, don't give up…

Just three words can bring comfort, strength, encouragement. Just three words can give us emotional support when we need it most.  When we are physically impaired or mentally drained, hearing just three words can help us through the rough time.

Many combinations of just three words lets us know that someone cares, someone loves us or someone needs us and we feel better emotionally and in turn we feel richer because of it.  

When on the receiving end of just three words, we find the strength to carry on. Finding the right combination of just three words enriches the giver too.

No real money involved with just three words in this scenario yet they have a great deal of value…sense of worth.

Let’s take a moment to come up with just three words to encourage a friend, a co-worker, a child, a parent... anyone who needs to hear them.

You might find out that they… Really Appreciate You.

Change

This is the time of year when most of us are excited with the holidays…the cookies, the big meals, the gift giving and party going. We also get ready for the coming of the New Year where we vow to make changes…lose weight, quit smoking, etc.

There are plenty of advertising campaigns to fuel the fire.

And with the thought of change we assume, at least I assume, it will be BETTER. My boss calls me a Pollyanna. I call her other things but that’s a story for another time.

Many of my friends are going through changes right now. No reason to wait for January 1. Some of the changes I feel will be good while others…I don’t know but I hope they work out for that person how they wanted, needed.

Me? I am about to make a change. I don’t know if it will be for the better.

I am selling a horse I absolutely adore. I rescued him 3+ years ago from a terrible situation, lame and 200+ pounds underweight. I paid the $$ the seller was asking and brought him home. For 6 months I allowed him to be just a horse. To eat, to run, to be. He needed it.

It took him 3 days to realize his pasture was bigger than a 100 x 100 foot lot, under a busy interstate and that there weren't 12 other horses to share it.

He’s big now. You’d never know he was scrawny. Close to 16 hands and 1100 pounds, he is a power house. I get mesmerized every time I watch him trot across the pasture. He is my dream horse.

Most days he trots down the trail effortlessly. You have no idea how much ground you have covered until you realize nobody is behind you. On other days he Piaffe's down the trail, or goes sideways, or up or backwards…More than 4 horses just blows his mind. I don’t know why.

But, with his change for the better, he has become too much horse for me. He is competitive, and he needs to work daily. He isn’t dangerous he’s just silly and with his size it scares me.If I were young and full of P&V this would be a non issue. I have ridden that type of horse before and enjoyed it.

Now, not so much. I don’t have the ability to keep his body and MIND focused daily.  He needs a job and a rider who can bring out his full potential. I truly wish it was me.

He is kind, he is inquisitive and he would be the most liked boy in school as he can be very charming.

I need the nerd.

With the New Year I hope to give this horse the opportunity he was bred for with a rider who can bring him to his full potential. And hopefully that will be the best change for both of us.

(To a special friend: You are Smart, You are Beautiful, You are Important.)