Endurance for the Clueless

Thank you for the responses everyone! They are appreciated. :)

As I said, I'm more or less clueless on what Endurance riding takes. I'm aware that competing seriously is a bit further in the future (if there at all).
I'm still in the beginning stages of learning and would need a far better feel for the sport of endurance and far more miles in the saddle simply riding before I make any commitments.

Volunteering is an excellent idea! I'll ask the couple I met about any volunteering opportunities they might know of. Endurance isn't typically huge right in my area so they are probably the best people to point me in the right direction.

The QH I'll be leasing might not be for speed but I'm sure we can train to finish, starting with limited distance. That's a much more reachable goal for us. :)

If you are in or around Houston, look up Darolyn Butler at this link
Cypress Trails - Endurance

She leases some of her seasoned endurance horses and not all Arabians are bat poo crazy!!!

Darolyn is hosting a ride (just a trail ride type ride - not endurance) at Pundt Park on May 12. My cousin and I are going. I thought I had wedding cakes to make but woot!!! Just party cakes!!!! Biscuit and I have rode at Pundt Park twice - once together and once with other rider/horse (when I owned my other horse and Biscuit belonged to a friend.) It is a terrific park.


Greater Houston Horse Council
Come on up, over, or down… We’ll be riding Spring Creek Trails and experience the incredible amenities of Pundt Park. We want new blood, new friends, new members and ya’ll need to ride some new trails.
If you don’t already know about Pundt Park, well partner, it’s time. I’ve been riding the beautiful sandy trails of Spring Creek for nigh on 35 years. Always said it was Harris County’s best kept secret. Now Pundt Park with its excellent parking, picnic area, and “indoor” toilets has really spiced up the area and made it possible for anybody with a rig to access the gorgeous creek area. A Dog Park opened a few weeks ago and an archery course is soon to follow.
This is definitely the place to ride if you want many miles of riding and just about the most scenic pine forest and white sandy beaches you’ll ever see.
If you prefer a bike, or jogging, the County, has installed an asphalt jogging/biking trail parallel to the horse trails. Not to mention a 3.5 Million dollar bridge across Cypress Creek. Let’s give some kudos to Precinct 4 County Commissioner Jack Cagle. This man is making it happen in Precinct 4.
We’ll start the official ride at 10:00 A.M, but you are welcome to come earlier if ya have a hankerin’ to get an early start on the trail and you’ll need a little time for registering and becoming a new member of THE GREATER HOUSTON HORSE COUNCIL. And that membership fee of $20, covers the ride and your lunch…. WHAT A DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!
Eat a hardy breakfast ‘cause lunch won’t be served until about 1:30. It’s 8 miles to the “new Bridge”… 16 miles round trip… but don’t fret if this is more than you are ready for… the trails are so well marked… you may just decide to turn around anywhere and head back when you think you OR your horse have gone far enough. So you can “tailor make” your own ride. There will be plenty of guides out there to point the way and the trail system is so well marked that it is hardly necessary.
We have not gotten a commitment yet, but County Commissioner Jack Cagle has been given an invitation to join us… We hope he can make it. It would be great for the Horseman of this area to have an opportunity to thank him in person for an incredible place to ride and picnic.
After the 1:30 lunch, you are certainly welcome to continue riding the trails if you like… and we think you will like. There’s a total of 32 miles of trails along Spring Creek now.
THE GREATER HOUSTON HORSE COUNCIL is just so happy that you could join us, and we welcome the opportunity to show off the newest stone in the crown of the Spring Creek Greenway project.
Don’t forget to RSVP if ya can, so we’ll know how many vittles to cook up.
You Can join GHHC on site or you can go up on their web page & join using PAYPAL.
Darolyn@swbell.net 281 446 7232 PUNDT PARK 4129 Spring Creek Drive Spring, Texas 77386 (281) 353-4196
Happy Trails, Darolyn Butler (GHHC Board of Directors)
Darolyn Butler

Cypress Trails & Horseman Video Showcase
21415 Cypresswood Dr. Humble, TX 77338-1287
(281)446-7232 FAX(281)446-0113 E-mail: darolyn@swbell.net
Web Page: www.horseridingfun.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/CypressTrails

Ah! I've been there twice before about a year ago for a trail ride with my sisters; rode one of her good Endurance horses actually... I believe his name was Cintron.

And while Houston is my home... I'm currently stationed on the complete other side of Texas in El Paso.

When I go on vacation back to Houston I'm hoping to attend a lesson or clinic with her to get a better feel of Endurance.

Have fun on that ride QOS!

Cytron?? Nice! I knew that horse's sire (R-Kon).. amazing offspring. Cytron certainly has a resume to be proud of!!

Whoo!

I guess you guys get used to posting for hours at a time. I worked a lot of posting trot two days in a row in my lesson and I am quite sore despite the fact I work out daily during the week. You guys have all my respect. I post in lessons, but not as much as I have been doing.

He was a very nice horse! Didn't like being bridled, but aside from that he was far from being "bat poo crazy".

This past week when visiting family in Houston for the 4th, I couldn't help myself and had to set up a lesson (or more like an introduction to Endurance and question-asking session) with Darolyn Butler. It was SO much fun to blaze down those trails on an actual endurance horse. It was just a taste of the sport, but it might have been enough to get me super interested. Certainly something I would love to get into. I can see how conditioning your horse (and yourself- w/t/c on trail is way different than arena work... I'm sore!) takes work and time however! The Arab mare I rode was in shape and lovely.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to work towards a 25 LD ride on my lease. I need to figure a few things out with the owner first however. If anything it will be just to get a taste of the actual competition setting and to enjoy the trail.

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Fantastic!!

I would love to get to sit on one of her horses and see some of those trails. I can see why you would be hooked!

Rode some gorgeous Arabian endurance horses a few years ago, they loved galloping up steep paths and would get to the top of the mountain barely out of breath. I just admired them so much as someone who sucks at running!

I'd love to do it again, don't have the money at the moment though because Brock broke into my bank account and ate it all...
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