Do You Ache After You Ride?
03. Jul, 2009 
0 Comments
I’ll bet you don’t ache HALF as much as Belinda Daugherty will after she gets the first few miles under her belt in a 1000 mile ride. Though she is described as a “mature rider,” there is no reference to Belinda’s age. I admire her guts and passion, that’s for sure. How many of us would undertake something like this? At any age?
Monday, Belinda will be leaving her home in Ten Sleep, WY, to ride 1000 miles through Wyoming and Montana to the Canadian Border and hopefully win admission to the Long Riders’ Guild.
Beginning July 6th, Belinda and a companion will start out in Ten Sleep, Wyoming riding two horses: a seven-year-old Morgan named Petunia, and Sandy, an eight-year-old Quarter Horse. Both were raised by Belinda in rough country to be accustomed to camping and riding out where surefootedness and sensibility is essential. Belinda and her companion will also pack two mules, Jim Bob and Rosalita, who will carry a first aid kit, recording and photo gear, watercolors, a kettle, water filters, electric corral, hobbles, sheep bells (for bears) pepper spray and a handgun (she doesn’t mention who this is for).
The route will take the riders west through Big Horn Basin to Meeteetsee, WY, to the SE corner of Yellowstone National Park, and then on to Pahaska, and Cooke City Montana. Then on to The Beartooths and Dillon and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The projected halfway mark is the Spotted Bear Trail Head. Next stop: St. Mary’s at the east of Glacier National Park, with a possible foray into the park or to the Canadian border. The plan is to avoid large towns and ensure that they ride 1000 miles.
Take a look at the map:
courtesy matureriders.blogspot.com
I’ve never been to places with names like “Ten Sleep” and “Big Horn Basin.” It all sounds so glamorous in that Legends of the Fall kind of way. I’m going to keep reading Mature Riders just in case Belinda runs into Brad Pitt.
© 2009 enlightened horsemanship through touch and Kim Cox Carneal
If you like what you have been reading, please subscribe to the RSS Feed, and visit Bloggers Choice Awards to vote for Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch.
blogposts
Thanks for posting this great story. As a mature rider I can say, Aleve is my friend.
Great story. Hope they have no trouble along the way and a good time.
I don’t know how old she is,but after my ride on Dusty today, I did take two Tylenols. My legs were killing me, it was our longest and most productive ride so far.
Kim…are you tuned into everything going on in the horse world or what? Great story, and I sure hope they find Brad Pitt.
How goes it?
Love this. I want to go too.
Just me and my pharmaceutical company’s representative. Expect a Stock increase in Tylenol.
I’m guessing the handgun is for the really scary predators on two legs?
Ha! At first I thought, wait a minute, the rider’s name isn’t Aleve! Then I got it.
ghm
How long was your ride and what wonderful things did you accomplish? Glad it was worth the Tylenol
Lori
I’ve got dibs on Brad.
I was thinking that it would be great if the woman she rode with were a massage therapist, chiropractor, pharmacist and sharpshooter all in one.
One THOUSAND miles?!!? Wow. I guess I can’t complain any more about long days at the barn! This lady is impressive! And what an incredible experience as a horsewoman. I hope she makes it and I can’t help wonder what sort of equestrian clothing, horse tack and women’s riding britches she’s wearing because they must be as tough as she is.
Anne
Isn’t it amazing what people can do? I am looking for updates but so far haven’t been able to find any. As soon as I do, I’ll post them.
I also wonder what she’s wearing. As an english rider, I’ve always had trouble riding in jeans. But so many people do it without chafing and constriction. I just don’t know how. Maybe she has a whole saddle bag full of tailored sportsman for ladies!
I would imagine she has a heck of an endurance saddle. If she doesn’t, she needs one.
Wow… now that is what I call determination.
I ache after riding for a few hours I couldn’t imagine what it would be like after 10000 miles!
I would love to do something like this, what an achievement.
What a great horse women!
Hi Lisa-Marie
It is determination. Belinda has has some setbacks that have delayed the section of her ride from Meeteetsee, but expects to get going again soon with a new partner. I’ll be posting about her progress later again this week. Check back and live vicariously through her!