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Sierra Nevada Sporthorses

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Sierra Nevada Sporthorses

Providing high quality sport horse prospects and creating long-lasting partnerships between horse and rider.

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!!!

There's something about having a whole year ahead that feels so fresh, exciting, and full of promise. I usually try to pack WAY too much into every year, month, day, and hour 🤣 but it keeps life interesting!

is: what are your New Year's goals? Tell me in the comments!!

Despite my craziness, I actually have very "loose" goals when it comes to horses and my riding life. I let the year morph my aspirations, since things can change quickly. First and foremost is always happy, healthy horses.

I want to continue developing Peggy, would love to take her on some trail rides, and biggest goal of all for her would be to attend some small shows (either dressage, h/j, or a grasshopper/intro event)!

I would love to get Tide out for some LD rides. No major goals besides that! I just want her to enjoy it and think rides are fun.

Dreamer will be ONE next year 😮 and I want to take her for an off-property adventure! Maybe she'll even turn into my occassional hiking buddy.

Griffin, the newest addition to the team and most seasoned horse I have, will hopefully join me for all kinds of adventures! I'm still getting to know him, but after talking with his past owner it sounds like his love of endurance will match mine. I want to hit a lot of rides I've never done before, and Griffin will be my main man.

You may also see me reappear on some past competition horses, which I'm very excited about!!

🎊 Here's to 2025, take the year and make it what you want 🎊

PS: this video was taken at 10,000 feet elevation in the Uinta Mountains in Utah, from Dark Sun's back ❤

12/31/2024

💥2024 was more than I hoped for! At the end of 2023 when I was thinking about goals, for riding I simply wrote: "have a good year". Nailed it!💥

- Raced in four states.
- Two back-to-back Pioneer awards.
- 2nd place at AERC National Championships in the 50.
- Rode the most miles in a season I've ever done (560).
- 14 rides with 12 completions.
- 10 top 10 finishes.
- Finished the year in 7th place Lightweight for the West in the points standings with Niwots Dark Sun.
- 2nd place Lightweight in the Belesemo Arabians Pioneer Award with Dark Sun.
- For the second year in a row, ZERO PHONE DROPS!!

Outside of endurance, I welcomed Dreamer into the world and got my Peggy Slew back from baby duty. Outside of horses even more happened, but since this page is for my horse life, I'll keep it at this!

THANK YOU to the owners that made my season possible, the incredible horses I've had the privilage to partner with, to my supportive and understanding husband, and my best friends who crew every time I ask. All of you help breathe life into my dreams, and I couldn't do any of this without you.

12/27/2024

You know Hazy didn't escape this round of photos either! Question: do you dress up your pets, or let them live in peace?!

Mine mostly get to live in peace LOL. I only bring out the outfits and decorations around the holidays, if I manage to think far enough ahead 🤣

12/26/2024

My Christmas Dreamer McDreamy ❤

Seriously, what a good baby to let me drape all kinds of outrageous things on her for pictures! My little BFF, I can't believe we get a lifetime together. She kind of looks like a turtle in the second pic but that's okay 🤣 I actually do call her my little turtle sometimes when she walks slow and drags her feet, she'll also stick her neck super long and the resemblance in uncanny 🐢

12/25/2024

All those years I begged Santa for a horse, thirty years later he sure made good on it!

🎄 Merry Christmas! May your day be filled with whatever brings you joy. 🎄

12/24/2024

Today we have a Christmas Eve Peggy Slew!

I think Peggy might be the most photogenic of all my horses. She just seems to know when the camera is pointed her way, and is such a little ham! Peggy has been coming back to work slowly (the torrential storms we keep having every few weeks haven't helped). Even before having back-to-back babies, Peggy was stiff under saddle. She's a bit like riding a 2x4 🤣 there are days we just ride at the walk, working on flexion, bending, and stretching. She also needs to spend a lot of time walking hills to build strength.

This is my second Christmas with Peggy, and she gave me the greatest gift of all this year in baby Dreamer 🥰

12/23/2024

It's Christmas week! Remember my week of thanks, and the Thanksgiving photoshoot with the ponies? You better believe I maximized my husband's willingness to come out and take pictures, did a fast outfit change, and made all my horses pose for Christmas too 🤣

Today is a Christmas Tide ❤ my girl has been doing amazing in her conditioning! We've done up to 9.5 miles on hills, but it's slow going. The plan is to go slow, steady, and build miles, then we will eventually add speed. More than anything, I don't want to ruin her willingness and love of the trail, which she's shown me in excess so far. I am truly, down to my core, loving the journey with this spotted unicorn!

12/22/2024

My final post in the roll call series is for my two Tevis catch rides!

Tevis. The infamous, treacherous trail from Robie Park near Truckee to Auburn. Considered the ultimate test of endurance, horsemanship, and true grit. It’s a trail that eats you up and spits you out, but for those insane enough, it keeps calling you back. If you don’t get that finish, you want it; and if you earn the buckle you have to see if you can do it again. I have three starts and no completion, an unfinished vendetta with the mountains, canyons, and rocks that have extinguished my dream year after year.

Except for the first attempt with Rambo in 2006, my two subsequent Tevis horses have been last minute catch rides. A bit dicey to not thoroughly know your horse going into a trail that could become life or death, but luckily for me, both mounts were solid citizens.

In 2023 I caught a ride on Melissa Montgomery's beautiful Arabian gelding, MV Krypton, known as Snickers (pictures 7-9). He danced through nearly 60 miles, powering through the canyons and making light work of tough trail. He was suddenly off at Chicken Hawk and our day was over.

In 2024 a week before Tevis, I got invited to ride Courtney Brain's mare Kiss Curl MHF and couldn't pass up the opportunity (pictures 1-6). Kiss and I fought for every mile in one of the toughest years with one of the lowest completion rates, and at Foresthill I rider optioned knowing that incredible mare had given literally everything she had.

It's a huge honor to be trusted with someone's horse and I'm thankful for the owners and trainers that gave me these opportunities ❤ I never seem to have plans to ride Tevis and it finds me anyways. One day I'll break this curse and make my way to McCann Stadium!

12/21/2024

For today's roll call I’m sharing with you a special young gelding named Corona Xtra, known as Cruz! Cruz is a coming eight-year-old Arabian gelding owned by my friend Karen Gardella. Karen extended the offer to catch ride Cruz at the Redwoods ride this year, and since I’d never been and always heard this ride was magical, I instantly loaded up and headed to the North Coast of CA!

Cruz is plucky, perky, and incredibly athletic! As we cut through the early morning coastal fog clinging to the massive redwoods, his bright copper coat seemed to shine like a beacon as he ate up the hills. Karen and I rode together, laughing, navigating, and having a great time. After the first few miles, Cruz was on the buckle basically the whole rest of the day.

We found ourselves in a pack of horses headed to the finish, and since the horses still felt fresh we decided to let them canter in with the pack. Our goal had been to enjoy the day, and when we crossed the finish to learn we’d placed 10th it was the cherry on top!

Cruz is already building an impressive resume, and I think the best is yet to come for this sweet boy. Thank you, Karen, for sharing your wonderful horses with me!

12/20/2024

Next up is Niwots Dark Sun, possibly one of the most legendary horses I’ve had the privilege to partner with.

Dark Sun is an Appaloosa/Arabian that was bred, raised, and started by Jacob Cukjati. They’ve achieved immense success together, including a NASTR Triple Crown win!

I was given the opportunity to campaign Dark Sun this year, and it was one of the best riding years of my life. Dark Sun and I rode 50’s all three days at the Wild West Pioneer in June of this year, bringing home the Pioneer Award for fastest overall time. Two weeks later we were headed to Strawberry Fields XP Pioneer in Utah, where we again rode three HARD days of 50’s, bringing home another Pioneer Award.

Two back-to-back Pioneer Awards, especially at Strawberry which I consider some of the most challenging riding I’ve ever done, really cemented in my mind Dark Sun’s larger-than-life status, and is a testament to the way in which Jacob has conditioned and built this horse.

Dark Sun got a month of rest, then we headed to Oregon for the AERC National Championship 50, where we raced our hearts out and came in 2nd! It was the most exhilarating ride of my life. I’d seen the multiday version of Dark Sun, and now got to experience the true racehorse version of Dark Sun. What an athlete he is. For as long as I live, I’ll never forget the feeling of simply sliding my hands forward, giving a soft cluck, and having him surge forward with ears perked, no matter the terrain or circumstance.

After another month of rest, we finished our year in Nevada at the Red Rock Rumble, cruising through the day (actually holding him back) to a 10th place finish in the 50. Dark Sun and I shared 8 starts with 8 completions, finishing 7 in the top ten.

Fun fact about Dark Sun; he HAS to itch when you hop off! We usually make our way back to the trailer and let him go wild scratching himself against it LOL.

I’ll never stop thanking Jacob for sharing his boy with me this year. Forever and always a Dark Sun superfan!

12/19/2024

Fourth in the roll call is my strawberry freight train, the first spotted who stole my heart, one of the horse loves of my life, MM Sonora!

This is the story of another mustang with a difficult past. Sonora had a history of bucking and other bad behaviors that caused her to bounce around until she landed with one of my closest friends, Rachel Shackelford. Rachel invested in figuring the mare out, and uncovered an incredible horse.

I met Rachel on a killer hill of an endurance ride in 2022, and we’ve been nearly inseparable since. In 2023 she invited me out to Utah to ride the Mount Carmel XP Pioneer with her, I hopped on a plane, and the rest is history! I first rode Sonora at Mt Carmel, and it was love at first sight. Between the backdrop of breathtaking red rock canyons and her powerful stride eating up the tough terrain, I was in awe.

Sonora is a big, eye-catching appaloosa who always looks like she's dishing out serious side-eye 🤣 She pretends to have a hard exterior but is actually a softie and a very loyal, loving mare.

I’ve ridden Sonora straight into a lightning storm, through whipping 60+ mph winds, and in the dark, moonless night across desert sagebrush. We've navigated deep sand, rocky terrain, and been beaten by rain and hail together. When you cover enough ground and conditions, a horse begins to feel like home. Swinging a leg over Sonora will always feel like that, and I don’t have enough words to thank Rachel for sharing her with me.

PS: it was painful to only pick 10 pictures of Sonora, as I have about 10,000 just of her 🤣

12/18/2024

Third in the roll call of endurance competition horses is extremely near and dear to me; Favor the Bold, known as Ivan!

It will be hard to keep this story short, I could write a novel about Ivan the legendary little mustang. I am endlessly grateful to his owner and my longtime friend, Alicia Boyd, for sharing him with me!

Ivan was an incredibly difficult mustang to break and the stories from his younger years are enough to make you cringe, though you’d never guess it meeting him now. Jen Mayfield took the young, headstrong Ivan and created a well-trained, promising endurance horse. Jen and Ivan completed two Tevis rides together before Alicia purchased him and continued his career.

Alicia and Ivan completed two more Tevis Cup’s, and countless other top ten’s with multiple best conditions. Ivan is a bit of a best condition freak, with a low resting heart rate, great recoveries, and an uncanny ability to maintain himself throughout the ride.

In 2023 while Alicia was pregnant, I was the lucky rider who took the reins on Ivan! We completed eight rides together, seven in the top ten, with four best conditions and four first place finishes. Truly, Ivan is one of the most amazing horses I’ve sat on.

Though relatively small, about 14.3, Ivan has the presence of a large horse. His compact body powers down the trail efficiently, and in true mustang fashion, he wastes no extra movement or energy (usually). Ivan can be “special” on occasion; 97% of the time he is predictable and solid, but you have to be on your toes for that 3% LOL!

There is a special place in my heart for this little bay mustang with a heart of gold; the sights I’ve seen framed through those ears and the many miles we’ve traveled together are forever etched into my memory.

12/17/2024

Next up on the roll call of past endurance horses is VG Aur Kilauea Dream, known as KD!

In the fall of 2022, after I’d been itching to get back into endurance (my last race had been in 2007), I got the opportunity to catch ride the 50 at Red Rock Rumble with Andrew Marlen on his gelding KD. I can’t thank Andrew enough for giving me an opportunity to get back into the sport! Though it had been 15 years since I’d been in endurance, Andrew offered me the ride and it explosively reignited my passion.

This was a true catch ride in that I met KD the day before the race, went for a short pre-ride to fit tack and stretch his legs, and then the next morning Andrew and I saddled up in the dark and took off for 50 miles through the Nevada desert!

KD is an incredibly impressive horse, both in looks and talent. He is a tall, bright chestnut with chrome, proportionally put together, with a very endearing personality to top it off. He is powerful and effortlessly covers ground. I remember wondering what I’d gotten myself into during the first five miles of the Red Rock ride in the freezing Nevada dawn, sitting on a very fit horse doing everything possible to get to the front of the pack!

Though KD is strong and competitive, he’s a good boy and listens. Which is why when Andrew reached out in 2024 to ask if I’d ride with him through the American River Classic 25 it was an easy yes. Thank you to Andrew and KD for my reentry into the sport! I would not be where I am today without them.

12/16/2024

Since I always seem to appear on a variety of different horses, I thought I'd do a roll call of all the endurance horses I've competed! You may see me reappear on some of them in the future 😉

Going way back in time and first up is Rambo Bay!

Rambo was the endurance horse that started it all! I’ve posted about him and my introduction to endurance before, so I won’t repeat myself too much. Rambo was owned by Chris Martin, who hired me when I was in high school to help condition and race his horses. Talk about a dream after school job!

I was entirely new to the sport and Chis taught me everything I know. I am forever grateful that he took a chance on a 16-year-old kid who had hardly left the arena, and opened up a whole new world for me.

Rambo was a tall, handsome, solid bay Arabian gelding that I believed was a unicorn. While I was a decent little rider, I was green to the world of endurance and I learned the sport from his fast and forgiving back. He rode in a hackamore, had an absolutely incredible trot, and was so sure footed (especially on the downhills) that we would make up a ton of time in rough terrain. I was young and fearless, and if Chris told me to go for it on a ride, I would go.

Rambo and I started six rides together, finishing four in the top ten, a 13th place finish at Virginia City 100, and our only non-complete was Tevis when we slipped and went down on Cougar Rock. I rode mostly alone as a 16-17-year-old, with Chris crewing. Rambo and I raced all three 50’s at the Wild West Pioneer in 2006, and I believe took home the Pioneer Award for fastest time over all three days.

I’ll never forget the formidable Rambo, the first endurance horse who stole my heart!

12/05/2024

I missing running and jumping, so today is a to the last of my eventing days!

At the time when I was competing the heaviest in three day with my first horse Regal, I was so broke I could hardly afford to feed myself and keep a roof over my head in the two bedroom apartment split between myself and two of my close girlfriends. For those doing the math on that, I slept on a mattress in the living room! I did everything I could to keep Regal going, and it's one of my greatest regrets that I never was able to buy our show photos.

These are some grainy and old pictures of a few great horses that gave me wings. I'm really crossing my fingers that Peggy Slew will enjoy eventing! I never thought I'd say this, but honestly even getting to go out and do a grasshopper or intro sounds like a blast 🤣

11/29/2024

Not a horse, but I had to close out my week of thanks with my dog, Hazy!

Hazy is a three year old mutt I adopted from the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. She was the runt of her litter and the last one to be picked. The shelter sent me her puppy photo and I just knew she was meant to be ours. The timing was terrible; it was the middle of winter and there'd been non-stop storms. For those unfamiliar with the area, Hazy was at a shelter essentially on Donner Pass, which can become impassable at certain points during the winter due to high elevation, extreme weather and snow. I made a white-knuckled drive to the shelter and the rest is history.

We did a DNA test and it came back 50% bluetick coonhound, 45% American bully, and 5% pitbull! She is my constant companion, whether at the farm, on a trail run, or sleeping at home in one of her three beds (or her favorite spot, on the couch with my husband). Hazy is certainly not a runt anymore, weighing in close to 70 pounds!

Hazy loves absolutely everyone and if you meet her in real life, she will try to lick you to death!

11/28/2024

Thankful for these three amazing souls and the ability to pursue my dreams with them! I have gratitude for everyone who has supported us, near and far.

Happy Thanksgiving from my herd! As always, go hug your ponies today 🧡🍁

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Lincoln, CA
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http://www.sierranevadasporthorses.com/

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Videos

Happy New Year!!! There's something about having a whole year ahead that feels so fresh, exciting, and full of promise. I usually try to pack WAY too much into every year, month, day, and hour 🤣 but it keeps life interesting! #QOTD is: what are your New Year's goals? Tell me in the comments!! Despite my craziness, I actually have very "loose" goals when it comes to horses and my riding life. I let the year morph my aspirations, since things can change quickly. First and foremost is always happy, healthy horses. I want to continue developing Peggy, would love to take her on some trail rides, and biggest goal of all for her would be to attend some small shows (either dressage, h/j, or a grasshopper/intro event)! I would love to get Tide out for some LD rides. No major goals besides that! I just want her to enjoy it and think rides are fun. Dreamer will be ONE next year 😮 and I want to take her for an off-property adventure! Maybe she'll even turn into my occassional hiking buddy. Griffin, the newest addition to the team and most seasoned horse I have, will hopefully join me for all kinds of adventures! I'm still getting to know him, but after talking with his past owner it sounds like his love of endurance will match mine. I want to hit a lot of rides I've never done before, and Griffin will be my main man. You may also see me reappear on some past competition horses, which I'm very excited about!! 🎊 Here's to 2025, take the year and make it what you want 🎊 PS: this video was taken at 10,000 feet elevation in the Uinta Mountains in Utah, from Dark Sun's back ❤ #happynewyear #newyear #newyear2025 #newyearsameme #stillcrazy #adventure #neverstopexploring #endurance #enduranceriding #ridinglife #sierranevadasporthorses

💥2024 was more than I hoped for! At the end of 2023 when I was thinking about goals, for riding I simply wrote: "have a good year". Nailed it!💥 - Raced in four states. - Two back-to-back Pioneer awards. - 2nd place at AERC National Championships in the 50. - Rode the most miles in a season I've ever done (560). - 14 rides with 12 completions. - 10 top 10 finishes. - Finished the year in 7th place Lightweight for the West in the points standings with Niwots Dark Sun. - 2nd place Lightweight in the Belesemo Arabians Pioneer Award with Dark Sun. - For the second year in a row, ZERO PHONE DROPS!! Outside of endurance, I welcomed Dreamer into the world and got my Peggy Slew back from baby duty. Outside of horses even more happened, but since this page is for my horse life, I'll keep it at this! THANK YOU to the owners that made my season possible, the incredible horses I've had the privilage to partner with, to my supportive and understanding husband, and my best friends who crew every time I ask. All of you help breathe life into my dreams, and I couldn't do any of this without you. #seasonrecap #2024season #whataride #memories #getit #thankful #thankfulgratefulblessed #horselife #endurance #enduranceriding #alwaysadventuring #workhardplayhard #workharddreambig #sierranevadasporthorses

✨ Monday Mood/Motivation/Memory ✨ Flying through the coastal redwoods on an amazing horse, Corona Xtra aka Cruz! #endurance #enduranceracing #enduranceriding #endurancehorse #redwoods #adventure #mondaymotivation #mondaymood #memories #bestview #thisisheaven #sierranevadasporthorses

A talkative little bean sprout with a tantrum at the end 🤣🙈 Dreamer and I take little daily walks to explore the farm, and we’re starting to go farther and farther. She is always so perfect, I can’t help but giggle when she actually acts her age! #daretodream #dreamer #hanoverian #warmblood #filly #babygirl #dailywalk #babyfit #tinytantrum #sierranevadasporthorses

Nothing beats racing your shadow through the desert 🐎🏜️ #endurance #enduranceracing #enduranceriding #nevada #desert #desertracing #gofast #getoutside #sierranevadasporthorses

Currently stuck behind my desk working, but mentally always on a horse somewhere 🤣💁🏼‍♀️ Cute picture at the end of what was waiting for me back at the trailer after this ride with Tide 🥰 My husband has been tagging along lately! He is recovering from spine surgery so these are nice outings for him. We’ve been talking for years about getting him a horse, and I think once he’s healed up it might finally happen! #timeandtide #tide #mustang #appaloosa #trailride #endurance #happyplace

Last weekend’s 50 mile ride at Red Rock Rumble in one minute! #endurance #enduranceracing #nevada #getoutside #happyplace #betweentheears

For those that might not know, I work a desk job (boooo). I used to ride and train full time, but finished my degree late in life and now work in Land and Environmental Management! Definitely not as fun as riding all the time. Luckily I still get out for plenty of adventures, and have these fun videos to look at when I’m stuck inside 😆 #timeandtide #tide #mustang #appaloosa #endurance #traillife #lovemyhorse #sierranevadasporthorses

Favorite place, favorite sounds 😌 yesterday afternoon’s adventure with Tide! #timeandtide #tide #mustang #appaloosa #endurance #happyplace #betweentheears #puttinginwork #lovingthejourney #sierranevadasporthorses

The last week’s worth of adventures with Tide!! I’m so impressed and happy with how this girl is coming along. I’ve been going slow, really tuning into what makes her happy, and starting the work of putting a good fitness base on her for endurance. There is so much that goes into being a successful endurance horse: traveling well, eating and drinking, navigating all types of terrain, being calm and collected in the face of literally ANYTHING (you never know what you’ll encounter out there), the list goes on. That is all before you even think of adding speed to race. There’s no shortcut; you have to put in the time, work, and countless hours. Luckily, Tide is making it all so fun, I’m thoroughly enjoying the journey with her ❤️🌊 #endurance #timeandtide #tide #mustang #blmmustang #appaloosa #endurancetraining #progress #puttinginwork #onthetrail #traillife #betweentheears #happyplace #sierranevadasporthorses