This past Friday started for us at 5:00 in the morning! Poor Sage was surprised when I started saddling him up before he'd even had his breakfast! We met Ted and Trevor Oxborrow on Toll Road just after sunrise, and spent some time taking promotional photos! You can see a sampling of them in the slideshow on the homepage or on our Facebook page. Here's one that didn't make the homepage:

Can you spot the out of place dog? Bella seems to have wandered off in this shot, replaced by Sebastian (who wishes he could go on the ride, but is far too old).

In other news, we're looking forward to the delivery of a brand new food dehydrator - generously donated by Michele Rupp in Erie, Pennsylvania. I've got an entire menu planned out for the trail (breakfast, lunch, and dinner... plus trail snacks!) and much of it involved dehydrating to save space/weight. I'm really anxious to start drying food items and storing them away for the fall!

There's still some important supplies that we need, so if you know of anyone that can help please pass it on! In the meantime, Sage and I will keep riding and getting into shape!

We're rapidly approaching the 100 day countdown!!!!

I've been busy whittling down the list of needed supplies. Many, many thanks to Ryan Powell, who so generously donated a brand new Gentle Control Hackamore bridle set for the ride! Have you heard about this hackamore? It kind of looks like a bosal, but it's got an aluminum plate that provides pressure under the jaw. Here's a picture:

I don't think they're well-known. I've only ever seen one other rider use it, but I've been very intrigued ever since. I love the idea of doing the whole ride bitless. I'm eagerly awaiting the delivery of our set so we can try it out and see if Sage takes to it! Thanks again Ryan!

But that's not all in new gear news... Today I got my new riding boots for the ride. Check out the Ariat Terrain H2O...

These awesome waterproof boots are like a combination hiking boot and riding boot -- perfect since I'm sure I'll be doing my fair share of ground walking! I took them out for a spin today, and boy are they comfy!

But wait! Thanks to the IRS, there's more! Just tonight, I ordered a new saddle pad and cinch for Sage. (If you're really interested in the details - I got this saddlepad and this cinch)

Sadly, there's still much more to buy before Sage and I are trail ready... But that's where you can help! I've updated the Get Involved page, with a new and improved wishlist. We've got great sponsors donating what they can, and phenomenal volunteers donating their time, but as for the rest of it... well, it's still just all out of my pocket. (And my pockets are not that deep!) We'd certainly appreciate all the help we can get so that Sage, Bella, and I can be fully prepared out there.

As for Sage, Bella, and I...

Bella is getting over a particularly nasty bout of roundworm. (Gross.) Sage and I are getting into shape. We've got a great riding/training schedule in place and we're sticking to it... even through all the wind we're seeing lately :(

We've got a photo shoot scheduled for next Friday (weather willing), so look for those to be posted shortly thereafter. We're entering the home stretch here... 100 days is and is not a lot of time. There's still much to be arranged, but we're working on it.

Do us a favor and help spread the word? Share this website and/or our facebook page with your friends, family, riding buddies, co-workers, or even random people on the street! Let's start getting a buzz going, and get people talking about the ride and mustangs!