Endurance Ride Start

My blog banner has the tagline, From Endurance to Dressage, but many of you did not know me during my years as an endurance rider.  I've shared photos and some of my experiences, there's a great story coming from Speedy's last endurance ride, but I am sure that most of you can't quite picture what an endurance race actually looks like.  DM, a friend and local endurance rider, just returned from a race and had this video to share.  It's just the first few minutes of riders leaving basecamp, but I think it gives a good idea of the organized chaos that characterizes most ride starts.  Enjoy!

AarenaX, of Haiku Farm, and I were "discussing" what riders from different disciplines have to offer.  I think the equestrian world can learn a lot from endurance riders.  After watching the video, what do you think about 20, 30, 50, even 200 horses quietly ambling off to tackle 50 or 100 miles?  Endurance horses learn their jobs well and can do it without all the theatrics that most people assume must exist.  It takes real skill to safely navigate your horse through a pack of horses speeding off down the trail!

And 'cause I can ... here's picture of Speedy G cruising down the trail at the 2010 Git-R-Done 55 miler.  

2010 Git-R-Done 55: Inyokern (Mojave Desert), CA