Riding On

Y'all know Digger, aka Diggs, aka Dorkboy, aka My Little Man, is my #1, right?  I absolutely adore that horse, probably more than I should sometimes, but really.... he IS a charmer.   He and I have been getting in a lot of ride/training time together this fall and we've been having a blast.  He's been working extremely hard and you should see the muscles he's put on (even under his winter coat).  The sad state of affairs for him, however, is no matter how conditioned he is, he has a Fox Trotter metabolism.  Which means, he can be in great shape, but he still runs a resting pulse rate in the low to mid 40s.  Now, most endurance rides have a parameter for pulse rates of 60 to 65 (depending on the length of the ride) before the vets will allow the horses to continue.  So, you can imagine that dropping a pulse rate is a whole lot easier when your resting pulse rate is.... say....... 32.... or 28....instead of ..... say....... 40 or 45.

I had known from the beginning that Diggs would not be the best-suited horse for endurance, but that was okay - and IS okay - he needs a job and it will not hurt him one bit to be an uber conditioned hard-body either. However, I really want to ride more than 25s, and probably more than 50s, and that's gonna be hard for him to do.  So, I began a search for an Arabian, whose body physiology lends itself so well to endurance (it's what they were bred for in a lot of cases, originally), who could get me through 50s without really having to worry about getting pulsed down and meeting vet criteria.

Now, I'm not sure if y'all are aware, but there is kind of a universal mental image of the Arabian breed as being hot-headed, kind of out of control, fiery, high-spirited - that sort of thing.  So, I set off to find a horse that could handle the physical aspects of racing, but I did NOT want some whacked-out wild horse to sit on and be potentially stupid and dangerous for 50 miles either.  Not exactly the easiest blend is it?  Heart and endurance to go the distance, but a calm, gentle nature.

I totally hit the jackpot.  Totally.

Enter Bhen (Bhenkaleb is his full registered name).  He's a 10-year-old, black bay gelding.  He's really only just a bit bigger than Diggs.  His current owner, Sally, says 14.2 hands, but I think he's a little taller than that - maybe not much, but a bit. Bhen's an old pro.  He already knows how to trailer long distances, camp out overnight, eat his hay out of a big mesh bag, eat and drink on the trail and take care of himself.  He's got great big strong feet (he even goes without shoes!), and best of all, a great, big strong brain attached to his Arab pulse and respirations.

Bhen's got over 800 competition miles on him.  He's done 25s, 30s, 50s and 60s.  He has the whole hang-out-at-the-trailer thing down.  And doesn't mind other horses coming and going.  (Sally likes yellow, can ya tell?)

And Bhen's a thinker.  He thinks about where to put his feet in a sensible way.  Dogs blasting out of the sagebrush, old car parts, trail boogie-monsters don't really phase him much.  He looks at them (you can't be too careful, you know), but he just keeps his feet going on down the road.  And did I mention not much phases him?

Yeah.  That's Bhen in the front.  Sally's the one dressed as a pink flamingo.  (She hosts the Pink Flamingo Classic ride in Idaho every year).  It takes a certain calm disposition to blithely go out to ride while your human partner is dressed as a flamingo. (Maybe a certain amount of personal self-esteem too, but I'll have to ask Bhen about that. I feel sure he and this other horse in the picture spent the whole ride going "Oh geez!  What is next with these crazy gals?")

So now, not only do I have my bestest trail-horse buddy, Digger, he's also got a new friend coming to live with us at the end of the month who can show him some camping-out ropes, and help me figure out how the heck to stay on my horse for 50 miles and come into the finish like a trooper.

And Sally.....you may wish to check the comments after this entry posts.  I have a feeling you'll see a lot of nice things said about your boy, and there's no WAY my kind blog readers won't be keeping an eye on him with you, so you know he's gonna be in good hands.

All for now......

Comments

[PJ]

WOW Bhen is Beautiful! Now, you know me the 'blog reader that knows absolutely nothing about horses', so I'm intriqued every time you post trail pictures! This sounds like a wonderful addition! I can't wait to see more!

[Mary in VA]

He is a beauty! Course I've always had a soft spot for Arabs and black bays!

[Jean]

I know just a bit about horses; the last time I rode was when I was in HS - twenty something years ago (doesn't seem that long - how'd that happen? ack!). Bhen is gorgeous - I love his coloring and proportions, mmm...

Enjoy!

[mary lou]

Cute cute! And I rode a bay arab in a police horse despooking class for a friend. He was by far the best horse there, demonstrating how to handle the obstacles to all the others, totally blowing my prejudices about Arabs being flighty and stupid right out of the water. May you have many happy rides with him.

[Marcia Cooke]

I think I'm in love! He is gorgeous, not to take anything away from Digger, but what a hunk! Good trip to Idaho, eh?

[Sheepish Annie]

I don't know from horses...but I sure do know beauty when I see it. That is one gorgeous animal! And those eyes? You could get lost in 'em. I think that he and Digger will get along famously, too. I do believe that you have found the perfect new member of the family!

[Chris]

Congratulations on the handsome new fella! You know you don't have to convince me about the brains, temperment, beauty and all around wonderful horsiness of an Arabian.

[Margaret]

What a handsome fellow! Sounds like he will be a great addition to the team. Hope Digger won't be too jealous.

[Kit]

He looks very smart and wow is he ever handsome. I'm not a horse-girl by any stretch of the imagination but I'm in love with your Bhen. :)

[Miri]

That first picture of Bhen took my breath away! He is gorgeous!!

[Miriam]

I wanna see him when he comes down. He's a beauty! Maybe I can convince C we should all have dinner or something?

[Cathy]

I'm a bit smug. Bhen looks like Gypsy. But you already know that with those 1000s of hours of phone conversations.

[minnie]

yeah, i read the black stallion like a lot of teenage girls who loved horses, lol.

bhen is gorgeous, though! wonderful choice!

[Monica]

WOW! What a beautiful horse! I have always wanted to do endurance rides, but being currently horseless is a bit of a disadvantage. We are moving and getting some property, so I hope I get as lucky as you when I go in search of my next four legged friend.
P.S Love the brand too!

[Birdsong]

I am so excited for you! How lucky to find the right physiology AND the right personality. He looks like a real 'go-to' kind of guy... me, I've been eyeing a mule...

[margene]

I can't wait to meet him! You'll be changing that yellow out for purple, right? Congratulations to you both!

[Ruth]

Hubba, hubba! What a beauty Bhen is ... that first picture is calendar-worthy. Add in his temperment and experience, and you've really hit the jackpot with him!

[Lark]

How wonderful to find heart in a package like that!

[Sally T]

I am to thrilled to hear and read all the wonderful comments about Anne's horse-mommy character and skills. It is really hard to pass the mommy-batton to Anne but I know, especially now, what a wonderful mom she'll be to my boy. I love that horse, he's a good egg. He's tough as nails (or should I say knitting needles?) and I know he'll take care of her, too.

[Kim]

What a stunning boy! For what it's worth, any of the Arabians that I have known and loved were independent, but sweet horses.

You are going to have alot of fun!!!!

[Cookie]

What a beautiful boy!

[Karen]

He's beautiful (bays are my favorite) and sounds like an absolute dream! He'll be great for endurance rides.

[AmyP]

I have absolutely no idea what all of that was, technically speaking, but he looks like a handsome boy!

[Karen]

He is just beautiful! Congratulations!

[Beth S.]

What a beautiful horse! And smart, too? Lucky you. :-)

You're absolutely making me recall my childhood Marguerite Henry fantasies, but they're good memories. ;-)