Back from the Desert….

It’s been quite awhile since my last post, crazy how life passes by with a blink of an eye! I know people say that all the time, it’s true..especially when you are active and never sit still!! Yet, I wouldn’t change anything in my life, I love living full throttle, as does my entire family…..

My mom, Melody Blittersdorf was invited to ride in the prestigious HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup in Dubai, UAE on her lovely horse, Frankie Thunderheart. She was invited with two other Americans, Heather Reynolds and Willemina De Boer and 23 other foreigners, with a total of 172 starters. The race is a 100 mile race (160km), similar to Ultra 100 mile foot races, except the horses do go through very thorough vet examination holds throughout the race. I was lucky enough to be invited with my Dad and sister to crew for her and Frankie. Madly packing Tuesday am, I got a message from my friend, MK asking me if I’d like to ride Sheikha Madiya Al-Maktoum’s horse, Hot Lion in a 90K Ladies race in Abu Dhabi on Friday (the day before Mom’s big day). In my mind, I’m like “YES, OF COURSE I DO!!!!!!” MK would also be riding Thursday in a qualifying race with a youngster and Friday in the Ladies race, as well as riding in the 160k on Saturday….WOW! I’m sore and tired just thinking of doing all that 😉 I ran it by mom to make absolutely sure she would be covered since I’d be missing the first day and a half of my mad crewing duties. My dad and sister, Karrie pitched in double (THANK YOU!!) and got Frankie bathed and booted and the other million things to get done for the big day.

Handing off cooling water bottles to my Mom, Melody Blittersdorf and Frankie
Photo credit: Karrie Blittersdorf 2015

I just want to give a shout out to Madiya, MK, Anne, Ali, and all who helped me at the Ladies race. Everyone was so helpful and treated me with respect and kindness. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to be introduced into the culture and horse world of Dubai. The one moment I wished I’d had my phone on me was when I passed a herd of camels on my right as I was zooming through the desert on my trusty steed at 22kph!! I can honestly say in all the years I have been riding and running, I have never been so sore! I was chafed in places that are not pleasant to talk about and my back felt like I was run over by a train, but I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything in the world!!! When you are a little girl who is horse crazy, you wish about a day like this. It was almost like living my dream of being Alec Ramsay in “The Black Stallion”, racing through the sand dunes on a beautiful horse, with nothing but the sand and sun…..a memory I will cherish forever……..thank you!!!

If you ever get the chance to visit UAE, go!! It’s a beautiful land with amazing people!