July 28, 2010 • Endurance, Gaited Horses, LRG Customers, Testimonials, Trail Gear Tips • Author: Julie • Comments: (0)
Lynda Zimmerman, and her Paso Fino mare, Zia, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, forge a river at the 2010 Wildcat Ride.
“One word: AMAZING! Well, I could add more adjectives: remarkable, significant, superb! The EZ Ride Stirrups and saddle tush cushion made a HUGE improvement for me (I also wore the new Ariat boots/riding shoes I mentioned).
My back was still a little tender the morning of the ride (after unloading and setting up our campsite Fri. night), and I wondered if I was going to be able to walk at the end of the day. Overnight we had a thunderstorm with heavy rain which turned the “pretty level trail terrain” into puddles, lakes, rivulets and submerged trails with tree roots, rocks and lots of mud. That turned the easy ride I was expecting into a jostling, dodge-the-obstacles, and trot whenever we can trek. We had a couple river crossings, and one was chest-high on many of the horses.
There were two holds for the 35 comp. ride, and each time I dismounted I felt twinges of pain. But, I tried to stay loose and relaxed in the saddle, and stretched my back some by leaning forward on my mare’s neck and reaching toward the sky with alternate arms. I was exhausted by the end of the day, but not feeling too bad. When we returned to camp, I stayed on my feet and kept moving around so I wouldn’t stiffen up…
The BIG difference came Sunday morning when I woke up with less back pain than Saturday morning pre-ride! Amazing! I’m sure the stirrups and tush cushion played a significant part in the improvement. We trotted a lot, walked only a very little - and that was through mud or water - and did almost no cantering. The back of my neck, arms and shoulders were tired from the exertion, but my back was GREAT! Thank you!
You probably can’t see the EasyCare Stirrups very well or the Cashel Tush Cushion at all, but they were there helping us get through the day. They made a significant difference for me!
…We took 3rd place.. and this was our first 35 mile distance! Yahoo! We have been very fortunate to place at each of the three rides we’ve completed this year, and we’ve completed all that we attempted. This is our Rookie year, so I have lots to learn, but it is going very well. I’m very relieved that I don’t have to worry about damaging my back anymore! In fact, I think we will try two 25 mile events back-to-back on the next ride, depending on how Zia does…
My husband, Bob, took pictures at the river crossing (by special Jeep trip and half-mile walk to get there). Thanks again for all your help and for making sure the items reached me in time! I feel like we can continue on with the competitions now!” 
~ Lynda
Lynda’s Paso Fino mare, Zia, sports other gear, including a royal blue Toklat CoolBack Pad, Zilco Tack, and a Stowaway Pommel Pack. Click on the thumbnails for beautiful ride photos by Lynda’s talented husband, Bob. Rides include the Wildcat Endurance Ride & the Mosquito Run, both put on by the Upper Midwest Endurance & Competitive Rides Assoc.
At the 2010 Wildcat Ride, photographer, Bob, gets a new hair style from a fellow rider's horse in camp.
July 17, 2010 • Arabians, Trail Gear Tips • Author: Julie • Comments: (1)
Attached are a few photos of my boy, as you can see he is wearing his Dr. Cooke’s Bitless Bridle, and loves it. I happened to see you sold them. He is so happy, he feels free - I would never use a bit again. My pony is Saeed Nabil. He is a purebred Arabian and only stands at 13.2 hands. He’s 14 years old. We were doing a 14-mile ride in aid of RDA, at Cranborne, Wiltshire, England. The photos are from DPI Photography. –Thanks again, Carole.
July 12, 2010 • Gaited Horses, LRG Customers, Trail Gear Tips • Author: Julie • Comments: (1)
Here is a picture of my sweet TWH mare, Destre. We went on vacation to The Big South Fork in Tennessee over Memorial Day week. I think she looks wonderful in her electric blue Zilco tack. She looks gorgeous in the burgundy and pink set, too. A black horse can wear just about any color. Destre likes having options, LOL!
Hubby let me ride his red chocolate Rocky Mountain mare, Mesa, that week. I decked her out in my pink and burgundy Zilco tack and I think she looked smashing in pink! I’m “allowed” to use the pink bling when I ride Mesa, but hubby is sticking with his black leather tack, at least for now. He did like the idea of hosing off everything after a long, sweaty ride though. He may come over to the Zilco side one day!
The last pic is of my Rocky Mountain mare, Gidget. The original “Pretty In Pink” girl! She struck a pose on the trail and hubby had the camera ready. Of course, Gidget has Burgundy Blitz Renegade hoof boots to complete her ensemble!
I love the ease of the Zilco halter/bridle and cleanup is a whiz. I’m so glad I purchased these sets!
–Lindsey
July 9, 2010 • Endurance, International Customers, LRG Customers, Trail Gear Tips • Author: Julie • Comments: (0)
Here is a picture of me and Candelita, my Arab cross mare. This was taken at or first competition together, last month. Where we achieved our Certificate of Capability (COC) for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky. I purchased Candelita with the hope to get the COC as she already had the experience and rides required, but when she arrived at our barn she had a couple of really bad back galls and was really sore. My team and I had to train taking great care of her.
We selected the Toklat Woolback Saddle Pad to use with her, and purchased one from Long Riders Gear. They were really professional in all aspects of service and assistance in the purchase. The pad arrived just in time for the event and we did not have much time to test it, but everybody on the team was very impressed with the quality and we decided to try it on the first loop (25 miles). At the vet stop Candelita´s back was in such great condition - she had absolutely no rubs and no pain. The product performed flawlessly, so we decided to keep it until the end. It was great to have such comfort for her, and to be able to take one worry of my mind during that very important ride.
Guatemala has completed the qualifying process to the WEG, proudly announcing that we have our 5 binomials qualified. They are: Jaime Mansilla on Candelita; Clarrissa de Wit on Ail; Robeto Hernandez on Mr. Ha; Laura Paiz on Ganador, and Fernando Paiz on Faraon.
So thanks to many people and especially to Long Riders Gear and Toklat…!
Thanks! –Jaime Mansilla, Guatemalan Rider
Below are some photos from Jaime’s most recent ride… we agree with him, the last photo is pretty funny as it looks like he’s riding in the pickup bed! (Click thumbnails for a larger view.)
July 2, 2010 • LRG Customers, Riding Vacations • Author: Julie • Comments: (0)
Dynomite is a 7 year old John mule that I have owned since he was a yearling. He is out of a 16.3 hand Thoroughbred mare and by a 14.1 hand jack. This month I hauled him from Albany, GA to Hernandez, NM, about 30 miles NW of Santa Fe. We rode in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (picture with snow), in the Jemez Mountains along the Continental Divide Trail, in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness Area, and in Copper Canyon. Cooper Canyon is near Abiquiu, the area made famous by Georgia O’Keefe, and where City Slickers was filmed. The trail elevations ranged from 5,500 to almost 12,000 feet. We rode 7 days and covered over 100 miles, all barefoot.
I left Dynomite in New Mexico and will go back to ride one or two more times this summer before I bring him back to Georgia. I used Debbie Spickerman of Equine Escapes as a guide on this trip and highly recommend her. Northern NM is a superb place to ride, and after you eat the local cuisine you will never eat Mexican food on the east coast again! –Allen
Allen’s Mule Dynomite is sporting Dr. Cooke’s Bitless Bridle the supple and popular RJ Yacht Rope Reins, and the Zilco Saddle Crupper.
June 29, 2010 • Arabians, Competitive Trail • Author: Julie • Comments: (0)
I am John Soper from Michigan and belong to the Great Lakes Distance Riders Association here in the Great Lakes area. I am 61 years old and ride with my 21 year old daughter Rachel who tries to keep up.
Here are a couple pics of me and my horses. The first is a painting of me and my 3 year old Arabian colt Roo. He will be started next year in CTR’s as a 4 year old. The second is Sabu, my Arabian gelding who had his first and second 25 mile CTR this year, taking Best Arabian and Best Conditioned horse on his first time out. –John Soper
June 23, 2010 • Gaited Horses, LRG Customers, Testimonials • Author: Julie • Comments: (1)
Tonka is a 7 year old Tennessee Walker gelding. I have had him for 2 years. I have only been riding for about 5 years and he has been the perfect horse for me. This pic was taken this past Sunday (June 13) at the end of the Michigan Shore to Shore ride - 230 miles in 10 days starting in Lake Huron and ending in Lake Michigan.
I purchased a JMS Endurance / Western Sheepskin Saddle Cushion from Long Riders Gear and received it just days before the ride. All I can say is WOW…I could not have finished the ride without it. Thank you Tracy at Long Riders Gear for your help making sure I had it before the ride.
May 25, 2010 • Arabians, Competitive Trail, LRG Customers • Author: Julie • Comments: (0)
This photo was taken by a very dear friend of mine and ride photographer, Gary Nathanson, at a NATRC ride in Oklahoma about 4 years ago. Connor (aka, Reining Monarch), my grey Arabian gelding (and my main squeeze, I might add) and I rounded a corner and saw Gary in the bushes. Connor, being the ham that he is, and liking Gary for the treats he brings him, posed for this shot when I told him, “Oh, look! There’s Gary!” Needless to say, we love Long Rider’s Gear and the products they offer for riders like us.
–Deborah Pennington
May 24, 2010 • Appaloosas, Competitive Trail, Endurance, International Customers, LRG Customers • Author: Julie • Comments: (0)
This is a ride close to Wellington (tough ride too)! The city and the harbour are in the background.
Sharon and I belong to the Wellington Area Trail Riding Club (WATRC). The club runs rides from late September to Early April in the lower western part of the North Island of New Zealand. The focus is on Competitive Trail Riding CTR)rather than pure endurance. Venues vary from beaches and dairy farms to steep hills in regional parks. Anyone can join WATRC, and as long as they have a sound horse and can stay aboard it somehow, then there is a class that will suit.
I’m on the Appy (in my martian hat … really keen to get something more comfortable. That’s Sharon on the black. The photographer is my partner David Fitzgerald-Irons. Note from LRG: See Leslie’s new, “More Comfortable” Riding Helmet
May 20, 2010 • Arabians, Inspirational, LRG Customers • Author: Tracy • Comments: (1)
I am a big fan of your products and the education you provide to your customers.
My name is Tami Montalvo and I am blessed with a handsome Straight Egyptian Arabian by the name of Samir. I live in Spring, Texas and board my friend in Pinehurst. I can’t imagine anything more fascinating, beautiful or powerful than horses.
I fulfilled my lifelong dream of owning a horse in my 40’s. By the way, this is my hope for all those who loved horses as a child or still find them intriguing as an adult. Find an opening somewhere in your life and dive through it! Once you find you realize your dream, make the time and enjoy your horse. You deserve this experience!
Over the past 4.5 years, Samir and I have been riding the trails of Texas. Proud to say, I have logged over 1,000 hours in the saddle! Not bad for a working girl. What’s most important is that I have a relationship and a bond like no other I have every experienced in my life. Samir is my friend, playmate, and my therapist.
Samir was trained by the legendary, Rhita McNair of Arabian Horse fame. Now in her seventies, Rhita still rides daily, and offers lessons to both people and horses. She is an incredible woman and an exceptional trainer. I have learned so much from Rhita - aren’t horse people the best? Samir loves the trail and is enthusiastic about his work. He has evolved into an exceptional trail horse and is a perfect gentleman. He responds to cues with ease and minds his manners. Samir actually takes care of us. We have become one unit, and I can actually “think” him into action – amazing. He loves a brisk gallop and when trotting through trees and low branches, he identifies the least difficult route and leaves space for my knees.
I really LOVE this guy and I know that so many of you can relate. If you read this, I would love to hear all of your stories too. I know that the folks at Long Riders feel the same way!
Here are pictures of my fabulous partner and friend who gives me an imperial view of the world from his strong back! This is Samir! Blessings! –Tami Montalvo
