Horsehead Ranch
Where Legends Never Die
Grey Cloud
by Kim Kingsley
Grey Cloud had been on the endurance and competitive trail ride circuit for several years, 1976 was the big one for him. He entered more competitions than ever before, all in the AERC Midwest Region, and placed in every ride entered.
His conditioning has gotten down to an exact science as reported by owner Kim Kingsley. It was inspired by the innovative method of 1965 AERC champ Elwin Wines, as described in his article entitled, " My Way," from the May-June 1976 Saddle Action magazine (we're trying to get permission to report this article but so far no luck). It begins in his spring with regular trail riding for approximately two weeks. When Grey Cloud gets into riding shape the real work begins, but Kim is very careful to work his horse gradually. Over conditioning is definitely not what they want. Grey Cloud is built up to a schedule of riding 12 miles one day, six miles the , 12 miles the following day, one day off, then repeat.
On the 12 mile day they ride the first four miles at about a ten mile per-per-hour lope up hills whenever possible. Then they run one mile full out. Kim then brings Grey Cloud down to a 15 mph lope and covers 5 1/2 miles, this helps to bring down the pulse and respiration (PR) rate down. this should take about one hour to complete. When they get home Grey Cloud's legs are washed down with water and he's walked around to cool down. If it's a chilly day a blanket is needed.
On the six mile day, they lope for 2 1/2 miles at between 10 and 12 mph. Then they run full out for one mile; then for 2 1/2 miles home they lope very fast at about 15-17 mph.
This strict schedule is adhered to for about three weeks and at the end of that period Grey Cloud is given a two day rest. After his rest, he's hauled someplace different and ridden about 30 miles at a relaxing pace. The 12-6-12 schedule is ridden over the same course, which gets boring for both horse and rider, but Kim says you must know your course, with mileage points worked out in advance.
Feed during conditioning consists of 7 1/2 quarts of oats, 2 1/2 quarts of Purina Omolene, and two heaping hands full of Purina Sweetena, along with plenty of good quality hay.
It is important to match the size of the horse to that of the rider. Because Kim is a big guy he has enlisted the help of Diana (Deed) Slone for most rides as well as for part of the training.
Each competitor has his/her own preferences for equipment. Kim likes to use a heavy saddle during the training program, switching to a lighter tack for the actual rides, to give Grey Cloud every advantage. He prefers synthetic saddle pads and cinches as he feels they are cooler. He stresses that new material avoids cinch sores.
Kim uses electrolytes during competition but does not train with them. He sponges his horse down during rest stops but does not wash him anywhere behind the middle of his back. He recommends a blanket over the kidneys to keep the horse from getting bunched muscles. This is really important, for on the Governor's Cup Race, three out of six horses that finished required muscle relaxing shots because of this problem. Grey Cloud did not.
This type of competition provides lots of excitement during the rides but sometimes traveling to and from as well. For example, traveling to the Wisconsin Hoof beat 50 miles Endurance Race, their trailer tipped over in a strong wind just out of Fargo. They hurried back to find Grey Cloud standing on the roof, apparently undaunted, for he went to place sixth in that race. In the St. Croix 25-mile open competitive trail ride, Grey Cloud missed first place by three points. He felt so good in that ride that it took some doing to discourage him from playing in the water of a deep river they had to cross. Grey Cloud, like most of our Spanish Mustangs, is a rare individual!
Though Kim and Deed are proud of Grey Cloud's achievements in all of his competition, they are most pleased with the 1976 North Dakota Governor's Cup Endurance Race, a 120 miler. Deed wasn't available for this race so Kim enlisted the help of another friend, Judy Roquette. Grey Cloud wasn't used to Judy and she didn't know what she was getting into either, but even with these handicaps they did well. Of the 21 starts in that race, only six finished. Grey Cloud was fourth in the lightweight division and sixth overall. At the end of the first day they were sitting good after 55 miles of riding, but on the second day the vets in charge made Grey Cloud, a stallion, start last because one mare was in heat, otherwise he would have started second. The trail was poorly marked on the second half but they still had covered 10 miles in 9 1/2 hours. Grey Cloud, exhibiting that stubborn streak many of us have noticed in our own horses, had his new rider buffaloed and began to poke along for the last twenty miles. At a time like that, spurs are a decided advantage. At the end of the race he still took notice of the mare in heat, so guess he wasn't too tired!
Kim wants to send his special thanks to Deed Slone for her help in taking Grey Cloud to his Trail Horse of the Year prize, and to Bill Valentine for his enthusiastic and continued support of the Spanish Mustangs. And the rest of us want to say, "Thanks, Kim" for showing the country what an outstanding Spanish Mustang can do. Keep it up!
Originally printed in the 1976 SRM annual.
Mike Turnock-- 218-851-4677
e-mail : jomike@frontiernet.net
Kim Kingsley-- 701-845-2048
web design by Jo Turnock
jomike@frontiernet.net