Update:

*Aug 12, 2010

The Observation Trials were held on Aug 10, in Danville, Illinois. We arrived safely. Carl left us and flew back home. I set up camp with my friend and coach Trevor Copland from New Zealand, along with Iza Watcher from San Miguel, Mexico and both Steel and Bogart.

Acclimating to the weather has been great. HOT and Humid can't even begin to cover what we have lived in.

It has paid off, with the fact that we don't feel the heat any longer even though it has been in the 100+ and 85+% humidity.

Horses have a way of bringing us the greatest joys as well as teaching us life long lessons. I am grateful to have experienced both and this trip was a mixture of the two.

The horses were going well, although I still had concerns that Steel's knee was a bit problematic.

Bogart VF was perfection.The day before the trials Trevor, and I along with Sue Hedgecock and Cheryl Dell were out previewing the trail. Trev was cantering in the rear and suddendly the trail gave way and he was knee deep in a hole.

Thankfully Bogart did not break anything, but certainly stained himself.

When we returned, we felt he was slightly off. BUMMER! Becky came up about that time and I let her know. If I could have withdrawn him, I would have. I knew that I did not want to risk any permanate injury, but without starting the trials my chances would be over. Bogart is a great horse with a hugh heart, tougher than nails and fiercely competitive.

Between the two of us, Trevor and I did some body work on him and within the given time we were able to vet him in sound.

The next day rain was predicted but as we had experienced all week, it would pour down with thunder and lightening, then stop. Once it stops the sun shines, the ground steams and the air becomes heavy.

The first loop was fast and slippery because of the dew. My shoes were not perfect for the conditions, but I felt that Steel was doing well. Trevor was riding Bogart in a separate group. As any of you know, no one rides Bogart but Carl and myself, Trevor did a fine job riding him. They definitely had a good repoiire and I was confident that they would be successful.

Because of the humidity the horses were all struggling a bit to recover, but both Steel and Bogart were doing alright.

Unfortunately Steel's knee was slighlty ouchy at the first loop he was pulled after the first loop. The vets were super conservative pulling horses so that they were not to create added injury. Steel looks pretty good today and with a little time off should be ready to start training again.

I got the approval to take Trevor's place on Bogart when they came in. Lady luck was not on our side and Bogart had a bit of glitch also so he was out. 12 horses finished out of 29 starting. The rain hit and the trial had become vey slippey. They called the course at 52 miles instead of the set 80 that they had anticiapted.

Yesterday we all had to re-present the horses. Trevor showed Bogart fantastically. He looked spectacular. We had hope that the pull was not our demise.

We all waited for 5 hours while the selectors, Chef d'equipe and vets met.. The squad was announced and I was named as alternate.Which means we need to stick around until Monday.It is disappointing but I have maintained a positive outlook and won't concede until the end. It's not over until its over.

I am looking to see why things happen as they do and haven't worked out the lessons yet, but will keep you all posted. I have met some fine people and learned a bunch.

We changed up my shoeing and I think that was a fortunate thing. Without the slipping and sliding I wouldn't have had the opportunity to work with the team farrier, Jeff Pauley.

Carl, has been as always supportive and helpfu and along with Augustine, Iza and Trevor worth their weight in gold.

Maybe one of the reasons for all of this is to discover who we are in the face of adversity. The most stressful pat of any endurance ride is the before and after, The riding for me is always the easy part.

To be on my horse riding though the country, gives me a sense of freedom unparelled. I am Blessed, no matter the outcome of this journey.

Plans are in the works to go to Tasmania for the Qulty in 2012 on a horse of Trevors.

European Championship next year...WEG, 2012 in England....

Keep your fingers crossed for Monday when they tell me they need me. As they say" it's not over until the fat lady sings".

My special shout out goes to Shannon Grieffer of MOBen clothing and Bank Card USA for their generous sponsorship.

xox

Charisse

July 31, 2010

Hello ALL. Sorry to be remise in communications.. Cell service is dismal and WI FI almost non existent..
We got on the road as planned in the wee hours of the 27th of July.
Trevor,my good friend from New Zealand flew in on th 26th so that he could travel with us. He has come to give me a hand and ride on of my horses in the Trial.. ( Horse still to be determined).
All was going well as we left. Carl, Trev and myself in the truck, and Iza my intern/ groom or as she affectionaltely calls herself, " my slave" in the Living quarters of the trailer.

^ hours later we stopped for fuel in Needles. When we restarted the truck, it had a " funny sound".
Continued forward to Kingman AZ and thanks to our trusty Iphone was able to find a Dodge dealer and Fairgrounds.
Dropped off the trailer along with Iza, Trev and myself at the FG and Carl went to the dealer.
It was hot or so we thought ( nothing comparable to Illinois).
Carl arrived back and we waited until the mechanics wee able to look at it.
We had no shelter for the horses in the arena unless we put them in a box stall which I did not want to do so they hung out in the HOT HOT sun all day. Good training for what we were heading into. They ran around for a bit then settled and rolled and ate and rolled and sweated and rolled ......
Finally around 4pm nechanics called back and said we needed a new engine but "how about a new truck instead?'
We called our mechanic Gary, back home.
Decided to flat bed our trailer back home, but then were STUCK in Kingman!!!!!

In life we are lucky to count on one hand friends that will bed there in a pinch for you, my dear friend Robin is a friend like that. She was the only person I could think of that had a truck equipped to pull our rig.
I know that she DOES NOT loan out he truck so to call and ask was a difficult call to make.

She thought about it for a nano second and said yes. WOW what a friend..
We organized for her hubby Bill to drive out and then to return with the flatbed and out truck..
He arrived about 4 in the morn and we were back on the road by 5am.
In the interim we all sprawled outside under the trailer or gooseneck, trying to survive the flies and heat. Inside of the Living quaters was hotter than outside and outside was bloody hot!
On the road again and happy with it, Carl and Trev traded off driving and we hauled nearly 24 hrs ending up in Oklahoma city, OK and a great place, with turnout space and hot showers.
Had some sleep and headed out again in the late afternoon to travel thru the night.
Arrive in Danville, Ill the next day around 10:30,

It took all day to set up, go shopping, and eat, by the time we finished up it was 9pm. We needed to get some sleep, we were all working on about 2-3 hrs of sleep so far. Carl had a flight back home at 5 am, so we had be on the road by 1:30 am to drive to Indianapolis ID to the airport. Trev came with me and Iza stayed in camp. Trev and I returned back around 6 am, had a few hrs sleep .
One note about our sleep depravation... Iza made up for all of us in the sleep department. She managed to sleep most of the journey here, with wake up breaks for food and water. So no one can accuse us of overwork to our slave.

No in Illinois , the weather in AZ seems mild. The other day was 105-115degrees with 100% humidity. It was like living in sauna. It was so hot that the stores and gas stations closed down because the electiricy went out.
Flies as big as a silver dollars, mosquitos, fleas, chiggers just add to the fun!

A few days ago, we had a great thunder storm with the lightening actually hitting camp.
Blew out the electricity and the water pump.

Trevor and I went out yesterday and rode 4 hs thru out the park. Mainly at a walk, exploring all of the nooks and cranies. There is a river that runs thru it and lots of watering holes for the horses and dogs.
Tezi, Chloe and Saka are here, Trooper had to stay home.

There are good parts on the trail that will be fine at speed, but there are concerns about the quality of some of the trail...
We'll see how it plays out in the next few days.

More to come so stay tuned, but dont forget to send your energy this way on August 10th!!!!
about a minute ago · Edit Post · Delete Post

As many of you know, I have been training for the USA Endurance Team, one of 8 disciplines to participate in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). It will be held September 26, in Lexington, KY.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a Southern California endurance rider, the only So Cal rider qualified and nominated for the World Equestrian Games. My qualified horses are also born and bred in So Cal, Bogart VF from Ventura Farms and Steel Patriot aka Steel, from breeders Kristine and Robin Lindsey.

Since Endurance Racing is not yet an Olympic sport, the WEG is the highest International level that an Endurance rider can aspire to.

It has been a three year process. I set my sights on having multiple horses qualified to give me the best possible chance to make the elusive slot as one of 5 riders for the team.

I have met my goal by successfully qualifying two horses, Bogart VF and Steel.

Last Fall I was a member of the PAC South team, competing in the North American Endurance Team Challenge. The NAETC was a competition that was comprised of 5 teams from the USA, two teams from Canada and a team from Mexico. This event was held on the WEG course in Lexington, KY, giving riders a chance to preview the course. I was one of two riders on my team to complete the course that day. The conditions were terrible- torrential rain and deep mud, and unfortunately a majority of the starters were pulled. With concern for the horse’s welfare, the race directors actually shortened the course from 160km (100 miles) to 120km (75mile).

The process has been long .The Endurance Riders Ranking List (ERRL) was created in 2007 in order to make the selection process more egalitarian. In Dec of 2007, I was on the first ever ERRL.

Once on the ERRL, through a point system, you needed to qualify in the top 35, which constitutes the National Training List.
From that you needed to maintain your position, qualify your horses through a series of named FEI ( Federation d’Equestian International) events and qualify yourself as well.

Each time I have made it to the next level which was in fact the “short list”. The “short list” then became the “long list” again.
I have felt like I am in a virtual video game, I Keep moving up a level, without getting any closer to the end

Well Now I do feel closer…
I just returned from Oregon, which was the first of three Selection Trials. Only nominated, qualified horses competed there. Not really a competition as much as an exhibition, it was a place for our Chef d’Equipe (coach), Becky Hart, to ask us to ride at very specific speeds for specific distances. We needed to exhibit speed, soundness and metabolic stability in our horses. The riders needed to exhibit focus under pressure, determination, sportsmanship and clear thinking. Our crew needed to show that they were experienced and professional. The Selection process consists of a panel of 5 Selectors, 3 Veterinarians and the Chef d’Equipe to evaluate the horses, riders and crew.

I am now on my way to the second Selection Trial that is being held in Danville, Illinois mid-August.
I am packing for 8 weeks on the road, with fingers crossed that I move up to the next level.
In Illinois, they will make the “Official” cut to 10 riders and 12 horses.
Because of how the WEG is organized this year, there will be 5 riders and one alternate horse (not alternate horse and rider) for the team. Which means that one rider must have two qualified, sound and FAST horses.

From Illinois, I will head out to Kentucky to acclimate for three weeks before training together with the other “10” at Shaker village.
On Sept 17, 9 days before the WEG, the team of 5 will be named.
My sights are set on being on the team of 5, and with Lady Luck on my side, I will make it!

Charisse with Dyll at Ribiers ** France