Tell us about your horse. When/how did you come to get him/her?  I found him in Fallon. He was perfect, big boned, 4 years old, trained, and the owners wanted to get rid of him.

What is your horses breeding?  Old domestic and CMK.
Sex:  G
DOB:  April of 1986
Horse height:  15 hh
Approx. Weight:  1050
Color:  Bay
Easyboot size:  2 Front, 1 hind

Why did you decide to purchase this horse (or if you didn't purchase, why did you choose to use this horse in endurance)?  It was love at first sight. He was being ridden in a lesson when I pulled up to look at him, and he was racing around the arena passing all the other horses.

Did you do endurance with any other horses before this horse?  Yes, I had a gelding that I had bred. He didn't seem to finish very many rides, so he was sold. I also had a super mare, she had a club foot and I didn't think she would hold for endurance, so she found another home.

How many different horses have you ridden in this sport?  A lot, I've raced probably 4 different horses and ridden many.

Do you participate in any other horse sports or activities?  no

How many years have you been involved with horses? In endurance?   I've ridden for 45 years, endurance 14.

What got you interested in endurance riding? What was it that kept you interested?   I love to ride, endurance is a sport you can do well in and not have a lot of money. It is a wonderful sport, someone goes out and marks a trail and you get to go out and ride it, then they feed you. You see some wonderful country.

How old was your horse when first started? First ride?  He was 5 when he did the Comstock 50.

How many rides did you do the first, second, and third ride seasons?  First year he did 100 miles, second he did 505, and 630 his third year.

What mileage distance did you start with?  50. I don't believe in 25's.

How long till you top tenned or 'raced'?  I went slow for the first 1500 miles.

How much time off do you give between ride seasons?  From the last ride in October or November until the weather gets better. We just go slow in the winter and trail ride.

If you have done 100's, how much time off do you give after doing one? What is your schedule in the month leading up to the ride?  Boomer gets two weeks off after a hundred. I usually just ride farther when I'm getting ready for 100's.

If you have done multidays, how much time off do you give after doing one? What is your schedule in the month leading up to the ride?  I've only done one ride that I rode all 5 days. It was in the Black Rock Desert and it was wonderful. I didn't do much different to get ready for the ride. I went just to finish.

What kind of tack do you use?  Big horn and Wintec, try to get the bit out ASAP, coolback or woolback. Cheap.

What kind of shoes do you use on your horse?  Eventers with pads.

What kind of problems have you encountered?  Boomer has a very bad high low foot problem. I have trouble getting his angles correct. He has been an iron horse, not very many problems.

What was the worst or most severe injury your horse has had?  I have been very very lucky, no bad problems. He was lame in the hind end once, I gave him 2 months off and he was fine.

How did you work thru it?  Time off, rest.

Describe the best ride you ever had on your horse?  In 1997 we came in 4th on Tevis. It was a perfect day, everything went right. I had very good luck that day.

Describe the worst day you ever had with your horse?  This year he didn't finish VC 100. I think he is done with 100's, too hard for an old horse.

What was your most humbling experience?  Getting pulled from Tevis the year after I came in 4th. Guess I thought I could win. Haha

What lessons have you learned along the way that you feel are the most important?   Go slow! Race only when your horse is ready (1000 slow miles) don't race the first time you go out. Pick 4 or 5 rides and race them, then just go to have fun and finish. You don't find too many really good horses, when you get one love them and take good care of them.

Where does your horse live?  He has a stall and turn out at my home.

What kind of environment did your horse spend the first few years of its life in?  No idea.

What are your horse's strengths? Weaknesses?  Boomer is made of steel, he is very tough and doesn't feel pain. He trips all the time, flops down the road.

What advice do you have for new riders?  Put your time in before you go fast. I hate to see people who up after doing 25's and win 50. You don't learn this sport over night. I run and when I ride I think, can I run in sand??? Can I run up hill fast??? What about running downhill fast, how will my knees feel? Can I go fast week after week, with no rest? Can I go fast if I'm not in very good shape??? Think about what you are asking your horse to do.

Looking back, what would you do differently?  Started this sport when I was younger.

What do you feel you did right?  Finding a horse that likes the sport.

What was your highest goal for your horse? Did you achieve it?  Boomer has done everything I've ever asked of him and more. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have a horse this special.

Describe your horse's personality? How is it like or unlike yours?  He is not like me at all, he wants to be treated like a horse, and he really doesn't like people unless you have food. He is a nasty mean horse who loves to bite other horses, very alpha.

What kinds of rides do you enjoy the most?  I used to like 100's the best. I can't go fast enough to do well on most 50's, I have a better chance on the 100's.

Describe your electrolyte protocol.  I only put them in a mash, they make Boomer sick if you push them down his mouth. I usually only use ½ of what they recommend. I have ridden 100's and come in top ten with no electrolytes forced down his mouth.

Is there anything special about your nutrition program you attribute to your success?   I feed alfalfa, beet pulp, Complete Advantage.

Are there any major changes you've made to your nutrition program (i.e., changed from one hay to another, added something special) that you feel made a noticeable improvement or solved a problem?  I make a mash of Complete Advantage and bran with a little salt before and during a ride. We have been having very good gut sounds with this sloppy mix.

What kind of supplements (if any) do you use?  All kinds of stuff. Finish line, Vitamin E, oil.

Do you give any kind of joint products?  I've been feeding Boomer Flex by Absorbine.

How far do you usually travel to rides?   Not too far, we are lucky in Reno, a lot of close rides.

Do you go to many rides outside of your region?  I wish I could.

Name three people involved in the sport of endurance that you look up to, and why?   Susan McCartney, Marsha Smith, Dave Rabe.

Did you have a mentor or first trail partner?  Bobbie Henriques, she got me out on the trail and out of the arena.

In choosing your next horse, what would you look for?  I have two new horses, one is a big polish gray, and a chestnut, with long legs and very racy looking. Only time will tell. Most horses will do well if you do your homework.

Please have fun, don't take this sport too seriously. I hate to say this but, can you remember who won Derby Ditch last year??? Winning doesn't matter, taking good care of your horse does.

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