Did or do you play team sports? I was (still am) actually more of an “Individual Team Player” and gravitated to swimming for my High School team. I competed against 5 others directly and the clock in races, plus in relays where I was part of the 4 person team trying to win, and of course the HS team itself as a whole earning points and standings in the state and region. Endurance is like that for me now – I compete against myself/the clock and others if I have a placing in mind, but I have a team that I contribute to in the Green Bean Challenge (sitting in 3rd place for our division currently!)

It isn’t just me though – I also have people on my team that help make this whole Endurance thing work! My family is like 90% supportive – it can be tough to find time away for training or going to rides. Work, well that is my prerogative when to take time off within my allotment 😊 Friends – I have a good group I like to do training rides with varying from 1:1 to larger situations, those I attend clinics with and work through issues, and of course endurance mentors I can tap into for help or bounce ideas off of.

What about the rest? It takes a team of folks to keep your horse healthy doesn’t it? Vet, dentist, Farrier, nutritionist, alternative therapies, and saddle fitter; even your barn owner if you board.
I have 2 different vets – the “regular” kind, and one that specializes in internal & external Osteopathy for when we need to dig deeper (and she is a well known Endurance rider!).
I have certainly seen how the wrong farrier as a team member can derail your plans (thankfully appear to be back on track), and the right saddle fitter made a huge difference for us too.
I use several different alternative therapies including the osteopath work, sports massage/ CST/ Reiki, PEMF and infrared/ceramic technology (boy would I love to get a Bemer set!) I would even call the Surefoot pads alternative. They all have their place in my arsenal of ways to keep my horse feeling and performing his best.
For myself it is mainly the Chiropractor and the occasional massage, but I also use CBD lotion on some problem areas like my ankle and elbow to assist in recovery.

Oh – and what about a trainer? I honestly subscribe to several different online blogs to keep learning: CRK Training (Callie King), Wendy Murdoch, Barbra Schulte, Amy Mitchell, and Carson James to name a few; and I attend horsemanship clinics with Emily Kemp. Do all of them understand my particular goals in Endurance – well no, but I think there is something to learn regardless.

Back to the big guy – Sully had that sore spot on his left side from Foxcatcher that I thought could use some additional help so I made an appointment with Carmen at Ride The Sky Massage for just a few days before the next ride to make sure he was good to go again. He felt great after, and had no issues at Fort Valley itself, though found some similar soreness and rubbing from the pad a few days later. Carmen came out again this past weekend to give him some further relief and show me some techniques for helping any swelling dissipate quickly. Sully was quite happy with his massage and released several times (only caught 1 of his yawns on camera but here he’ enjoying it with a lip quiver lol). The spot on his back is now less sensitive and he is happily relaxing in his pasture waiting for me to decide if we are going to JD’s!

Think about your support network : “The people that we surround ourselves with can raise us up, help us navigate the hard times, and celebrate the good times. Or. They can knock our confidence, make us question our choices and stifle our progress.” Said by Amy Mitchell, Founder of The Healthy Happy Horse Connection. Do you have the right team of folks helping you with your dreams? How about keeping you and your horse(s) on track? If not, reach out to friends you trust and start building your team up.