MEET THE JUNIOR Paige Johnson

Story and photo by Tracy Blue

When she was just 8 years old, Paige Johnson took a horse riding lesson for the first time. "They're pretty and fun to brush," she thought at the time, "and I like the way they move." She took a few more lessons during the following year, and began attending horse camp when she was 10.

Paige doesn't have a horse of her own (yet) but quickly decided she needed a mentor, and connected with me in June of 2007. I'd been riding and mentoring for several years, and something in Paige's shy but persistent personality made me recognize someone special who would enjoy endurance riding.

Despite her initial reluctance -- "It's a long way, and it sounds boring!" -- Paige trusted our relationship and began trail riding and conditioning of the horses. Her first endurance ride was going to be the 50-mile ride in Maplewood, Minnesota, but after the first loop the entire ride was canceled due to soaking rains that made conditions unsafe. "It took me days to dry out," Paige remembers. But even those rains couldn't dampen her new-found enthusiasm.

Her second endurance accomplishment was the 25-mile Mosquito Run in Minnesota. By now Paige knew it wasn't too long or too boring, and she did a great job. Next came the 250-mile Michigan Shore To Shore ride, which Paige felt leery about. She wasn't sure she could even do 50 miles, but I had complete confidence in her ability and determination, and felt the same way about Bud, the horse she had chosen to ride.

By this time Bud was an old hand at Michigan Shore To Shore, and his patience and perseverance were equal to Paige's. During the week of Shore To Shore, Paige took great care of Bud, remembering the highlights of her previous training: pace yourself according to weather and terrain, remain hydrated, watch the trail markers, ride your own ride, and remember to duck!

I reminded Paige that finishing the ride with a happy and healthy horse that is willing to go out again is the most important part of the ride, and that to finish is to win. Paige and Bud were a good team, and I had high hopes for both of them.

Paige and Bud were the only junior team competing in all five days of 50-mile rides. They completed every day with flying colors and placed fifth overall for the pioneer five-day ride. Paige later confided that she was "really scared" before the start, and wasn't sure she could finish. But by the end of the first day, her confidence was high and she felt she and Bud had a good chance of finishing.

"The trails were easy and super fun," Paige says. "A multi-day ride allows you to get to know your horse really well, and I was happy to spend so much time with Bud."

Of course after some of the conditioning rides I required her to complete, almost anything seemed easier at this point. Paige says the people at the ride were very friendly, and couldn't say enough good things about Dr. Barney Fleming and Dr. Rae Anne Mayer. "My favorite parts were taking the horse into the streams at camp and walking over the long wooden bridges on Tuesday's ride," recalls Paige.

"Bud is an amazing horse," Paige adds. "I could just let go of the reins and trust him to make take the right turns, even when I thought we might get lost. Bud and I took good care of each other and had a good relationship."

Paige's goals for next year are to return to complete the Shore To Shore 250 a second time. She also wants to participate in the Grand Canyon multi-day ride and the Big Horn 100. I have no doubt that she will do a good job at each of them! Sometimes I'll ask Paige what she'd rather do: see a movie or ride, go shopping or ride, see her favorite band in concert or ride. Every time, the word "ride" comes out of her mouth before I can even finish my sentence.

There are certain kids for whom riding is a great joy. When I first met Paige, she seemed terribly shy, as many girls do, and would barely speak. Endurance riding has really allowed her to grow and gain immense confidence in her decision-making process and her ability to overcome momentary limitations.

Now 14 years old, Paige's riding has improved with every ride, and her determination is formidable. Paige has gained a lot of respect from other riders, including the ride vets, because of her abilities and the way she concentrates on putting the horse first, never worrying about placing or who's in front or behind.

As Paige Johnson's mentor, I feel it is an honor and privilege to help her with the sport and to provide her the opportunity to stretch and grow. Paige is becoming a confident young woman and an accomplished equestrienne. I think you'll be hearing her name a lot in the years to come! G

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