Posted on by Jennifer Klitzke

2015 MnDra Novice Ride

heading out

By Jennifer Klitzke

The week after the Minnesota Horse Expo the annual MnDra endurance ride was held at Sand Dunes State Forest—my favorite place to ride. The footing is ideal for barefoot horses like mine and the scenery is breath taking. I took Indy to this ride in 2013 and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return.

Our weather couldn’t have been better. Our Novice group of four included two Arabians (one was ridden by our seasoned leader and the other by my friend), a Morgan, a Haflinger, and Indy my Spanish Mustang.

Our Novice Group
Our Novice Group led by a seasoned endurance rider kept us from getting lost. Our group included two Arabians, a Morgan, a Haflinger and a Spanish Mustang.
Following pie plates and ribbons
Following pie plates and ribbons to keep us on course.
The beginning of our 12 mile endurance ride
The beginning of our 12 mile endurance ride. (Note how clean we both appear.)
Our Novice Group
Cool photo by Hanks Hauser of our novice group.
mndra reflection
MnDra reflections.
What is that hanky doing there?
Indy wonders, “What is that hanky doing in that horse’s tail?”
(I kept him a safe distance not to find out.)
Heading toward the finish line
Heading toward the finish line after nearly two hours of brisk trotting.
(Note how not so clean we are.)
Completion awards
We made it back to receive our completion award.

Congratulations to my friend Michelle and her Arabian mare Molly who placed first in Novice out of nine.

Special thanks to volunteer photographers Bob Kaleido and Hank Hauser who took this fantastic photos and to the dozens of volunteers who made the endurance ride possible.

Visit www.mndra.com to learn about upcoming rides and get connected with these fun people on the MnDra facebook group.