Then Saturday, Mom and I walked up to this little tack shop, and bought two breast-collars. Mom got a boring black one, but I got electric blue! Then we just pretty much hung out at our camp until 7:00, when we went up to the pre-ride meeting and the riders' dinner. After dinner, I wanted to ride Banjo, whose nickname is John, so I slipped on the bridle and rode up to this grassy place. After riding for about an hour, I headed back to camp. Then I went over to visit for a while with some friends we made. After getting back to my camp, I couldnŐt sleep, as I was so excited! Because tomorrow, I was riding in my first endurance ride!

Sunday morning I woke at 5:00, and after getting to bed at probably 11:00, I was dog-tired. But I was too busy getting ready for the ride to be thinking about more sleep! Finally the horse and mule were ready. Mom and I rode up to the starting area, and I couldn't tell whether I was nervous, scared, or both. I decided on both.

Finally the leader led the way to the trail we were starting on! We started trotting, and soon we came to the prettiest little creek you could imagine. Barnabas drank a lot, but John turned up his nose. Then we were on our way again! Soon, we were done with this loop. We had completed this 10-mile loop in about an hour and a half. Not bad! Then after our 50-minute break, we were on our way again! This time it was the 15-mile loop.

After about seven or eight miles, Barnabas began to drop back. He looked like he was roasting! So did John. (Well, they still had their winter coats on.) We are from southern Iowa, and this particular ride was in southern Indiana. No wonder they were so hot, it must have been 90 degrees that day! John was still spunky, but about three miles later, he started acting like the 22-year-old mule that he is. We still had a few miles to go yet, but John and Barnabas still did their best. Soon we came to another creek, and Barnabas drank like water was going out of style. John, however, just touched his lips to the water then walked on. After a while, we came to another creek; same story. I was starting to get worried. Then finally, the horse and mule dragged themselves up to the vet-check area! We had finished the ride.

But the vet who was checking John looked a little worried. "Has he drank much today?" he asked me. "Hardly anything," I answered. "Well, get him over to the water tanks and start sponging him. After a few minutes, give him some water. If he doesnŐt drink, call me."

So I took John over to the tanks and sponged him. But he still wouldn't drink hardly anything! He had a little swallow, then he quit. I went and got the vet. He was just about ready to consider treating him, when John suddenly drank, and drank a lot! Boy, we were so relieved. But here came the bad news. "I don't think that mule should be used for any more endurance rides. He's old. If he had to go on for one more loop to finish this ride, I wouldn't let him go. Well, take care of that mule." And the doc left.

After we tied John and Barnabas to the trailer, we walked up to get our awards. Mom got a T-shirt and a cup, but since I'm a junior rider, I got a T-shirt plus a cup, Girl Scout cookies, a rope halter and a feed bucket! I was so happy. Then, we got in the truck and headed back to our little farm in Iowa.

A special thank-you to the countless people who gave me and my mom encouragement, help, and time on that ride. Their kindness was really sweet. It's nice to see people, even competitors, be so kind to each other. I like endurance riding, and I plan on continuing with this. I may not make any more rides this year, but next year I sure am! We have decided to retire my dear old mule John from endurance riding. I'll be on another horse on my next ride, but I'll still share all the adventures with my sweet old mule.