Karen's Musings & Endurance Ride Stuff » 2001 rides

I want to be an XP rider…..

Karen Chaton — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:59:45 +0000

by Karen Chaton

I wrote this in early 2001, printed it out and put it in my binder for the ’01 XP ride and I don’t think I’ve seen this since then, till last night. My grandmother is now gone, so reading that part was really hard. Her father (my great grandfather) rode a horse from Oklahoma City to New York and back twice, and from Oklahoma City to San Francisco, CA. Grandma’s family

Continue reading I want to be an XP rider…..

The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 7

Karen Chaton — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:20:01 +0000

This is the third of three articles that I wrote for Endurance News after the 2001 XP ride. This one was about the accomplishments of the horses and riders. It was pretty amazing when you think about it. Here is an excerpt:

230 horses were ridden 67,400 AERC miles by 104 riders in eight weeks. That works out to 1,348 fifty mile rides. This in itself is quite amazing, given that there are a

Continue reading The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 7

The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 6

Karen Chaton — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:13:32 +0000

Anybody planning on going on the 2011 XP ride should read this (click on link below) to get an idea of what to expect. Also, because this stuff is a decade old take it with a grain of salt and realize that while some of it still applies there may be parts that don’t. I’m just posting this to give people an idea of what to expect.

It can’t be stressed enough how important

Continue reading The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 6

Every picture tells a story, and an update on Bo

Karen Chaton — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:46:23 +0000

When I ran across this photo earlier while looking at photos to add to the previous posts about the 2011 ride I had to laugh.

I rode with juniors a lot on the ride and this day resulted in us coming up with a new rule.

No more Pony Express running mounts! Dave Rabe was always showing off how he could run alongside his horse and then hop up into the saddle and keep

Continue reading Every picture tells a story, and an update on Bo

The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 4

Karen Chaton — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:32:47 +0000

This was the 2nd of 3 articles I wrote for Endurance News following the 2001 XP.

XP’loring the Trail, 2000 Miles of Memories. Be sure to click on the link to read the entire thing! If you want to read my diary from the ride and see photos from all 8 weeks, click here. Karen

Talk about anticipation! Most of the riders had waited months, years even…for the start of this ride and it

Continue reading The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 4

The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 3

Karen Chaton — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:21:24 +0000

This is an article I wrote for endurance news about preparing for the 2001 XP. “Preparing for the 2001 XP”.

I surveyed and interviewed many if not most of the riders that went on the ’01 XP and got a lot of varied responses.

This may help some of you that are planning for the 2011 event. I’ve got lots more to post, so keep checking back.

Enjoy! Karen

Preparing for the 2001 XP

Continue reading The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 3

The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 2

Karen Chaton — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:15:58 +0000

Here is more basic information on the 2011 XP ride. This is also posted on the xprides.com website.

If you are interested in attending this event be sure to read a lot of the information that is on the XP website about the 2001 and 2004 XP rides.

The 2011 ride will be essentially the same as the 2001 ride was. This one will definitely be the last time it’s done by XP/The Duck.

Continue reading The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 2

The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 1

Karen Chaton — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:49:20 +0000

There is going to be another epic endurance ride on the Pony Express trail in 2011.

The ride will start in St. Joseph, MO on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 and finish in Virginia City, Nevada. The route will follow the original Pony Express trail as closely as possible and will be 2,000 miles. Riders will ride 50 miles per day, five days a week for eight weeks, Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday and Monday will

Continue reading The Twenty Eleven Ride, Part 1

2000 Mile Pony Express Ride Photos Are Up!

Karen Chaton — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:16:07 +0000

Diamond Springs Station - Where "What" is Buried

I finally got this project finished! Yep, that’s right – it only took 7 years . I’ll add the links below but you can also find everything on the 2001 XP page. Stay tuned for more information on another BIG RIDE!

Endurance News Articles: 1) Preparing for the 2001 XP

2) XP’loring the Trail, 2000 Miles of Memories

3) 2001 XP Accomplishments

Karen’s Personal Journal

Continue reading 2000 Mile Pony Express Ride Photos Are Up!

Ride and Tie Championship 50, September 2001 by Karen Chaton

Karen Chaton — Wed, 26 Sep 2001 00:12:31 +0000

I went to the Ride and Tie Championship yesterday and did the 50 mile endurance ride. It was several events in one, a 15 and 35 mile Ride and Tie, 35 mile Trail Run, 20 mile ride – 10k Biathlon, and a 50 and 25 mile endurance ride.

I had not pre-entered and really had not made my mind up about going until Thursday sometime around the middle of the day. I told my

Continue reading Ride and Tie Championship 50, September 2001 by Karen Chaton