Distance Riding on Al Khamsa horses
Through Annie's Ears — The Great Adventure Episode Five: 2017 by Ellen May, with Cathy Rochon
Introduction:
2017
This is Episode Five of a story of an amazing feat: A journey that took more than six years from start to finish and covered more than twenty-five thousand miles. Ellen May started with a dream, an indomitable spirit and a curiosity about all the places she’d never seen. Her dream, first conceived somewhere around the summer of 2012, was to ride in all of the lower forty-eight states on the same horse. Her partner for this remarkable journey has been a little red chestnut Al Khamsa Arabian mare whose willingness to go places and do things is no less remarkable than Ellen’s own. “Annie” or more formally Sabiaana (Masada Sabar x Masada Adriaana) was born on Ellen’s farm in 2006 from a breeding recommended by Walter Schimanski. Ellen has done all of Annie’s training herself and they have become a team to be reckoned with. Episode One was in two installments in Vol. 30 No. 1 and No. 2. Episode Two was in Vol. 30 No. 3. Episode Three was in Vol. 30 No. 4. Episode Four was in our first digital issue, Vol. 31 No. 1. The rest of Ellen and Annie's Journey will appear in our next issues!
July 15, 2017: The itinerary is set for our upcoming “Great Lakes Ride-About” (#39-42 on our 48-state journey). Leaving in one month. Much gratitude to those offering camping, layovers and trail riding suggestions. Send me a P.M. if you are interested in joining us along the way! Aug 15-16: Ft Scott, KS (friend’s) Aug 17-18: Smithville Lake, MO (near KC) Aug 19-20: Libertyville, IA (friend’s) Aug 21-22: Volga River, IA (Solar eclipse anyone??) Aug 23-24: Mystery Cave, Forestville, MN Aug 25-26: Zumbro Bottoms, MN Aug 27-29: Wildcat Mt/Kickapoo, WI (End of the Trail) Aug 30-31: Waupaca, WI (friend’s) Sept 1-3: Sagola, UP of MI (Getaway Stables) Sept 4-5: Wetmore, UP of MI (Kenbuck Resort) Sept 6-7: Mackinaw City, MI (riding Mackinac Island 9/7)
This feature is “mostly” in Ellen’s own words, in diary format, much like Lady Anne Blunt’s travels. We join Ellen and Annie at the beginning of their "2017” trip in the Midwest ………>
Sept 8-9: Beulah, MI (Turtle Lake) Top: Group ride at Yankee Springs, Michigan. Ellen and Annie, left.
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