WEDNESDAY
I had been packing on and off for days. I'd been thinking and planning this ride for a very long time it seemed. I was about to take my 9 year old Arabian gelding, Tanna, to Fort Gordon near Augusta, GA, for his very first endurance ride. He successfully completed a Limited Distance (LD) ride of 25 miles in April. That was his second LD, the first having been 2 and a half years ago with his previous owner. Last month, he finished strong, pulling and ready to go for many more miles, so Liberty Run was going to be his chance to go for 50 miles.
I also was going for my first endurance completion. I had ridden Tanna in April and also had ridden 2 LDs four years ago on my previous horse. But never had I attempted a 50. The moment of truth was coming.
After I got home from work, my husband, Daniel, and I loaded up Serts, a horse owned by my best friend that I have the pleasure of taking care of. Serts was not going to be attending this ride. He is a great horse and I would love to do some LD rides on him at some point, but with our small 2 horse trailer, we need the extra stall to pack stuff into. So we took Serts to a good friend, Judy, and left him in her capable care for the long weekend. We used to board Serts and Tanna with her, so she knows Serts well.
We were planning to leave out very early Friday morning, but after returning to the house, Daniel and I decided to leave on Thursday and overnight near Chattanooga at his parents' house.
So I spent a couple of hours packing with more intensely. Then fell into bed to sleep and dream of the upcoming ride.
THURSDAY
I got up early to prepare for work, then decided I would work from home. I have an hour commute each way, so decided we could get going 2 hours earlier if I would just work from home and skip the driving. I cleared it with my boss and started down to business. It was hard to concentrate, but at 2 PM, I was finally done and turned off my laptop and started last minute preparations to leave.
At 3:40 PM, we were headed out our driveway. A stop for gas and to drop something off for a coworker, and then we were on the road.
We made good time, and arrived in the little town where Daniel and I both lived for years and where his parents still live. We stopped off at our favorite restaurant and picked up some sandwiches to take with us to Mom and Dad's for our dinner.
We settled Tanna in a small 10' x 10' pen. We had hoped to make it bigger, but there was just no more room. Oh, well, better than tying him to the trailer.
We went in and visited for quite awhile, waiting for Daniel's sister and brother-in-law to appear from town. Then we visited some more! Finally, I begged off and went to our camper to bed. There was a room all ready for us in the house, but I felt better being right next to Tanna and the dog, Serena, in case there was a problem overnight. Besides, we were self-sufficient. I usually read a bit before dropping off to sleep, but I read only a page and a half before going to sleep. I don't even remember turning off the light. Wow, if I'm this tired now...
FRIDAY
I had hoped to wake early enough on Friday to saddle Tanna for a ride around my old haunts. I learned to ride in this tiny town and knew all the trails for miles around. I had (over)trained my first horse for endurance here before I sold him after only 2 LD rides. I had spent many happy hours roaming around with my best friend (Serts' owner) when we were teenagers, her riding Serts, me riding whichever horse I could beg, borrow, or steal. I really wanted to introduce Tanna to some of my trails and spend some time reminiscing about those carefree days. But unfortunately, it was after 8 EDT before I woke up. No time for a ride.
So I took Tanna and Serena for a leisurely walk along the sidewalk, past the graveyard where my uncle is buried and my grandparents will one day be buried. Past the field where I rode for the first time in a year after a bad accident and was so scared that my thigh muscles were cramping and I was scared out of my mind that I would fall off the small pony I was put on for my first ride back. Past the house where I spent nights keeping a crotchety old woman company for $20/night because I desperately needed the money in my college years. Near to the high school that I spent 2 years staring out the windows to the horses across the street, counting the minutes to rush out to ride one of them. Down the sidewalk that I once dragged 50 lbs of feed through 2 and a half feet of snow to the horses across from my high school because their owners couldn't get out to feed them. I also turned down the street that I used to live on for 6 years. In sight of my in-laws' house. My house no longer there, just a tiny, empty lot, but memories aplenty.
Good thing I didn't go more than 2/10s of a mile down the road! Many more memories just along that stretch and more ranging out further. One of these days, Daniel and I are going to have to take the horses to Collegedale and just ride all around.
After returning to the house, Daniel and I went into the house to eat warmed-over pizza for breakfast. Yummy. :-) Then we asked Mom to take us to the little specialty grocery store in town to get some vegetarian meat substitutes and some sandwiches for our trip to Augusta. She happily obliged and dropped us off while she went to get my sister-in-law and nephew to be able to see us before we took off again.
Back at the house, we introduced my 2 and a half year old nephew, David, to Tanna. He was interested until he saw how big Tanna is. Tanna's small. 14.1 on tip-toe. Maybe 14.1 1/2 if he's levitating. But to a little boy, he's huge. So I left Tanna in his pen to convince David that he was ok. We fed carrots to Tanna and David squealed with excitement every time Tanna bit off a chunk. He'd grab a carrot and want to feed it to Tanna, but his courage would fail him before he could get close enough for Tanna to get the carrot. So he'd give it to his mom to feed. Finally, Tanna had enough carrots and turned his nose up them. David lost interest and his mom took him in the house while Daniel and I packed up the trailer again.
I grabbed a syringe and electrolyted Tanna, explaining to Mom why. She is used to horses, but doesn't ride. I bragged on how well Tanna loads and he didn't disappoint me. I pointed him to the trailer and he jumped in with gusto. Good boy!
After we left town, we stopped in a nearby small town at a bank to get some cash and then at the tack/feed store I used to frequent all the time when I lived there. I was worried about the amount of beet pulp we had brought. I was afraid it wouldn't be enough, so we stopped to get some. I was pleasantly surprised to see they now stock the shredded beet pulp instead of pellets. They used to have pellets only, but that was YEARS ago. Trish, one of the owners chatted with me a minute or two. "Got a horse doin' poorly?" she asked me after I told them what I wanted. "Nope," I said proudly, almost busting, "gottan endurance horse!" She asked after Serts and was pleased to hear he is sleek and healthy.
I followed Daniel out to the trailer and held the gate while he tossed the bag of pulp in the trailer beside Tanna. Unfortunately, we forgot to warn Tanna and he went crazy. Kicked out with both barrels and tried to bolt then kicked when he couldn't bolt. I tried to calm him from where I was, holding the door, but Tanna wasn't paying attention. He wanted AWAY from that crackling bag that was about to kill him. So I had Daniel move so I didn't have to hold the door and rushed to Tanna's head. I talked to him and patted him. He was shaking like a leaf and still quite uneasy, but definitely was calmer with me there. Daniel was trying to get the bag settled. Finally he did. Whew. Poor boy. But he wasn't getting out of the trailer. I wasn't about to unload him and let him get the idea that if he pitched a huge fit, he'd get out. So I patted him a few more times and we headed out.
Off to Augusta! My plea for directions had been answered, so we were confident of where we were going. We had the GPS units pointed to the right gate to enter at Fort Gordon, but we just wanted to be sure we had directions for after entering the base. Thanks to Angie and those that answered privately with directions. :-)
After an hour and a half, we stopped at a Wal-mart to pick up all those things one has to get. Daniel was worried about our "new" truck's battery, so we invested in a good battery and a set of long jumper cables. We didn't stop to install it, but it came in handy a couple of times when the truck wouldn't start. We just used the new battery and jumper cables to jump the truck. Self-sufficient.
We breezed into Atlanta and onto I-285 without a bit of trouble. Then a few miles onto I-285, brake lights. Knew it was too good to be true that we'd be able to breeze through Atlanta on the Friday before Memorial Day. It took a long time to get to I-20 and the traffic was still backed up. We had a carbon monoxide detector in the trailer with Tanna and we could hear it going off through the camera speaker. It would quit when we could move at 25+ mph for longer than a minute or two, then start up again. Gotta do something about that.
Finally, the traffic cleared and we were moving again. After we got a bit out of Atlanta, I looked on the GPS for the next rest area. We stopped there and unloaded Tanna and the dog for some exercise, grass, and water. We tried to get Tanna to eat beet pulp, but he ignored it and the water for the most part and went after the sparse grass. Since he didn't drink, I didn't electrolyte him again. After 15 or 20 minutes, we loaded up and moved out again.
Finally, we were approaching Fort Gordon. We pulled up to the check. They looked at our licenses, looked all around the truck and trailer, gave Tanna a few scratches and sent us on. The turns were well marked, I didn't even need those directions after all!
We pulled into camp. WOW! LOTS of people. Wow. Where to park! We drove up through the camp, looking and discussing. Finally we came to the end of the road and needed to circle around what we found out was the restaurant. Unfortunately, the ride meeting was taking place, with people blocking the circle. There was just enough room for us to camp right near where we were, but we were told we couldn't park there. Something about too many horses near the restaurant or something. Ok. So Daniel turned the rig around and we headed back the way we came. We went all the way out to the main road to turn around and try again.
We were planning to head further into camp, but we spotted some empty space behind some other trailers. It looked a little muddy but we tried it anyway. Uh, no. We got stuck. We sat in the truck for a few minutes looking at each other. Now what! We were both tired and were so glad to be in camp, but now we were stuck. So we got out of the truck. A helpful camper nearby suggested we go try to find somebody to help us get out.
So we headed up the road. We spotted Roger Rittenhouse and chatted with him for a minute before continuing towards the restaurant. Then I saw Susan Reid. Susan bought a horse from Judy last year and had Malak (the horse she bought) there at Liberty Run for a 25 miler. May looked great, even though I did't have a chance to go over and see her right away. In fact, our paths didn't cross again. :-( But Malak looked awesome and I saw her after her ride from a distance and she was napping, but looked good still.
When we reached the restaurant, we were told that lots of people were stuck and couldn't we just camp where we'd gotten stuck? I tried to explain that there was standing water and mud and I didn't want my horse standing in that all weekend. I must not have done a very good job because Daniel and I were the only ones concerned. Sigh.
"Come in and get some food." We declined. After all, we had paid for meals for SATURDAY night, not FRIDAY night and we weren't going to eat somebody else's food, and/or pay more. Besides, we had to get back and figure out what to do while there was still a little light left. Little did I know that that WAS the meal we paid for. :-( They'd had to move the meal to Friday night because the restaurant opened for Saturday. So I didn't get my rider meal. :-( And Daniel didn't get the extra meal that we paid for. :-( But nobody explained that to me. I found out the next afternoon when I was standing in line to vet in.
We walked the 1/4 mile back to where we'd gotten stuck. Daniel was determined and told me to stand back. He got into the truck and gunned the motor, willing that truck to unstick itself. The tires spun, throwing mud high on the trailer. They spun some more and then caught and started moving, to my surprise and delight. The truck dragged the trailer about 50 or 100 feet before Daniel shut it off. Self-sufficient.
Doesn't sound like a lot, but it moved us out of the standing water. There was a perfect place for Tanna that was a bit muddy, but on higher ground that would dry if it wouldn't rain anymore. And there was no standing water where we were to put Tanna.
Wearily, we set up camp. Daniel got the panels off the top of the trailer and set up a 400 square feet pen for Tanna. I added hay, beet pulp, and water. We ran a line for the dog and snapped her lead to it.
Finally this day was over.
SABBATH
I slept fairly well. It wasn't too hot at night and since I was tired from the day before, I slept soundly. I certainly was glad I had Sabbath to rest, though. I couldn't have imagined trying to do a 50 after that traveling and the being stuck ordeal.
We're going to have to be more careful about where we park in the future. Yeah, yeah, 4x4 would have been nice, but we needed a dually and dually 4x4s are more expensive. We were lucky to be able to get the dually at an affordable price. So we just have to be careful in the future.
I listened to the horses coming and going for about an hour before getting up to get Tanna's breakfast. Wow, only 8 AM. Thought it'd be later. I went outside and fixed his feed. I stood around offering him carrots and watching the horses. From where we parked, we could see the horses leaving camp, then taking off down the trail parallel to the camp road. Finally, after about 45 minutes, I gave Tanna the beet pulp and went back into the camper.
We spent the morning leisurely getting our own breakfast, loading up a cart with empty water containers and hiking the 1/4 one way to fill them up, checking my email (laptop and cell phone), walking the dog around, and asking when I could check in for Sunday's ride.
Around 1 PM or so, I decided to saddle up and take Tanna for a look at the starting stretch of the ride (which was also the last stretch for all riders). I used his Tacky Tack pad instead of his woolback pad, which I was saving for the 50. I also used a new girth I'd just gotten. A very soft neoprene girth. I think this new girth will become my standard girth, but since I'd never used it on a training ride, I wasn't about to try it on his first 50. I was sticking with what had worked so far.
I was wearing light stretch cotton Dockers and decided not to change into riding tights. After all, I was just going out for 45 minutes or so for a mostly walking ride. Hah. I guess Tanna didn't get the message when I told him that.
He was totally full of himself, but controllable. We wandered to the start of the trail and I asked him to pick up an easy trot. He did, shaking his head, asking for more rein to go faster. No way. I could feel my dockers already rubbing the insides of my knees. I had him walk for awhile, then let him canter out, stretching. He loved it. Ears up, alert, happy. We turned back to go back to camp after 2 miles. My knees were killing me already. I really should have taken the time to change into riding tights. I had seen a few riders that were in the race, headed back towards camp. Tanna was ok with them passing him, although he asked to turn around and follow them, he was ok.
As I headed back, I was overtaken by a pair of racers going into camp. Tanna pitched an absolute fit when I pulled him to the side of the trail to let them pass unobstructed and then wouldn't let him chase them. I turned him up an unmarked trail while I pulled my gloves on. I sure didn't need to rip up my hands like my knees were being ripped up. When we got back on the trail, I let him pick up a trot to get rid of some of the excess energy. He wasn't thrilled with that slow speed, but he liked it better than walking.
I spotted another two riders heading back to camp. Tanna started to pitch another fit, so I jumped off and moved him off trail while they passed. Today would not be a good day to die. I hand-walked him up the trail for a few minutes before I felt he was safe enough to remount. Then I let him trot until we came into sight of them. They were at the finish line, getting their time written on their vet cards. Daniel was hanging out at the finish line talking to the volunteers that gave out the time to the riders. Together we headed into camp near the vet check instead of going all the way back to our trailer. I walked Tanna through some scary camp stuff. He did nicely and settled down after a few minutes.
We went back to the trailer and unsaddled him, sponged him off, getting the muddy, sweat off from around his saddle and girth areas. Then we took him up to get checked in and vetted in. I gave my name to Vicki, the ride manager, and she asked for Tanna's paperwork. I stared at her blankly for a minute and then said, "OH, his coggins and health certificate." Arg. I'd left it at the camper! Sigh. "I'll be back." So we did the 1/2 mile round trip to get the papers.
After getting my vet card, we weighed Tanna on a scales set up near the vet check area. 752 pounds. I really thought he weighed more than that! Guess not. We went through to vet in. Stan Eichelberger was the vet for my vet in. I think the only thing he said to me was "Here's your ticket to ride." Well, at least we vetted in ok. I was hoping for a bit more encouragement or something considering this was my first 50 and Tanna's first 50 and I'd said it was a first for both of us.
At the ride meeting, there was some confusion about the last loop for the 50s and 2-day 100s. First loop was the orange loop. 15 miles. Then back to camp for a vet check and a 40 minute hold. Second loop was the purple loop. A different 15 miles, then back to camp for an hour hold. Third loop was the yellow loop. A 10 mile loop to be done twice. After doing the first 10 miles, a rider was to come back to the vet check, pulse down to 60 and then could go back out again. There was some confusion about who to go to for the pulse down. On Saturday, several people went to Nancy Gooch, the timer, and got their pulse down, and went. That was what was understood, but at Saturday night's ride meeting, Stan said no, the riders were to go to the VET. The VET would check the pulse and then have the horse trotted out to check gait. THEN they could go. And any riders that did it differently did it wrong. Ok, so we'll remember that.
We got back to our camper and Daniel worked on the GPS units I'd be taking with me. Two GPS units. The Geko that would be strapped to my upper left arm and the Garmin V that would be in a padded cell phone case on my hip pack's belt.
I laid out everything I could think of that I would need in the morning. Saddle, pad, girth, heart rate monitor (HRM), aloe gel for the HRM electrodes to get them working first thing in the morning, desitin for the backs of his heels to protect them from sand and water rubbing, brush, breast collar, 2 1-liter bottles (one with water, one with weak gatorade), fly spray, fly lotion, and then all my stuff.
We set the alarm for 4:15 EDT. Start time was 6:15 AM.
SUNDAY
I was awake before the alarm went off. I even got up about 3:30 to give Tanna more food. Sometime after the ride meeting, Tanna decided he was going to have to work and he'd better eat everything he could find. So all night he'd been slurping up his very wet beet pulp/grain mix. My neighbor, Betsy, said SHE even heard him in the night. Oh, well, at least he was getting water in him!
I crawled back in bed until the alarm went off, then got up and got myself ready for a ride. I ate a couple of meatless hot dogs (no buns or anything) and a small bowl of oatmeal, accompanied by a Chicken Chase cup full of hot chocolate with a scoop of capuccino mix for a jolt. (BTW, a Chicken Chase cup is a cup that we got at the Chicken Chase ride last month!)
We walked Tanna up to the scales. Man, he tanked up!!! 784 pounds! He gained 32 pounds overnight. Good gracious.
Back at the camper, Daniel and I teamed up to ready Tanna for his ride. We both worked on the saddle. Then I spread desitin on his heels. Then I held the light while Daniel took Red Kote (a red oil medication) to spray paint Tanna's ride number on his butt. I never did see any livestock markers around the check in area, so we had to make do with what we had. I'll have to buy a marker and put it with my stuff I guess. Somehow, I thought that was provided at rides. Daniel painted a very nice "54" on Tanna's butt. Looked good to me.
Then time to get my helmet and the GPS units on. After getting the antenna wires straight and the helmet strap buckled, I was all ready to mount up. Then I remembered I needed to change my shoes. Sigh. So off I go to put my boots on. My tennis shoes can slide through the holes in the cages on my easy ride stirrups. Kinda defeats the purpose of safety cages.
There, this time I was ready. I lamented to Daniel that Laura Tichenor hadn't been able to come along and help me out on my first 50. I really would have liked her company on this ride, but I mounted up, ready to do it on my own. Self-sufficient.
I just hoped Tanna wouldn't go ballistic and throw me. I really hoped that the 2 years I have had him, working on our bond and his brain would be enough to keep him from losing his mind and exploding because I wouldn't let him run full out for 50 miles...Well, at least try to. He can't do that. I'd have to rate him and that wouldn't be easy.
I slid the bit into Tanna's mouth (oh, yes, a bit. A hackamore works just fine in training, but the line of control is very thin at a ride, so I've decided we'll use a French link snaffle during competition at least until he proves he is safe enough for the hackamore.). As I was working on the bit, Daniel was fiddling with the GPS on my arm. I kept moving and he made an impatient noise. I said, "I move with him, you move with me. I'm not bothered by what you're doing, just do it while I move." So that's what we did. Fine tuning our timing and working together.
Finally, ready to mount up. Daniel held the reins to keep Tanna from circling, like he usually does when I mount. Up I went. Whew, no explosion. Sometimes he'll go to bucking as soon as I mount up. I went and gave our ride number (54) to Vicki and asked how long until the start. 3 minutes. Ok. I'm not going to be around when all the horses take off. Something like 36 started the 50 on Sunday. So Daniel walked beside me while I took Tanna back up to the vet check area and offered him water at the large round trough there. No go, but that reminded me we needed electrolytes. I'd forgotten to give them to him. We went back to the camper. I really didn't want to try mounting again, so Daniel dropped the bit and gave Tanna the e-lytes. He clipped the bit back on the sidepull and off I went. We were about 15-20 minutes after the start of the other riders.
I got on the trail and walked for a bit. I noticed two riders were starting behind me. I had been certain I'd be the very last! I picked up a slow trot, fully expecting the two riders to pass me soon, dreading the explosion from my horse if they cantered past because I wasn't about to let him go fast in the beginning, seeing as how that was the reason we started late. The riders didn't pass me. Tanna sped up to a medium trot. They still didn't pass me. Hmmm. Ok. Maybe they're going to go slow, too! Maybe I could ride with them.
After a mile or so, we were moving at a good fast trot, but not an extended one yet. The other two riders had closed the distance between us, but weren't passing. Before we'd made the first turn, I'd introduced myself and they had done the same. Jamie Ginter from GA and Kim Williams from FL. Jamie was riding a 10 yo mare, Wiggles, coming back from a series of freak accidents. Kim was riding a mare on, I think, the mare's first 50.
They were very nice and we were all going about the same speed, so I stayed with them. I was glad for the company and the fact that Tanna was still controllable! I thought they might leave me at the first vet check, but I had been most worried about the first loop, so even if they did, I'd be happy just having the company for the first loop.
When we reached the first water, Kim's horse (sorry, I totally forgot the mare's name!) dunked her head in the trough and slung her head around. It was very funny! Tanna kinda looked at her and then half-heartedly tried to copy her before taking a long drink. Good BOY!!! Then to further my joy with him, he stretched out right there and peed. What a good boy.
We continued on at a good trot. Slowing down to a walk through the deep sand. We were making decent time, though. We offered the horses water at all the opportunities on that loop, I think. I ranged back and forth. Sometimes riding just in front, sometimes riding behind the mares. Kim told me that her mare is off the track and didn't like it when Tanna was too far in front. She was ok if Tanna was just in front, but got too strong when Tanna pulled away. So I tried to watch that and stay close.
I also watched Wiggles. She'd been known to kick, and even though Jamie thought it was probably related to her being in heat at the time she kicked, Jamie was still concerned and didn't want Tanna hurt. I appreciated that and tried to watch where my horse was. We had no incidents with that the whole ride, so that was good.
After a water stop, Kim suggested we stop and electrolyte our horses. I foolishly tried to electrolyte from the saddle. Haha! Got it ALL over Tanna's nose! Fortunately, I had set the plunger to stop at 10 cc, so I had another 10 cc. I jumped off and administered the rest the way I usually do. Tanna looked silly with it on his nose. I didn't wash it off, but I probably should have. He has a bald spot on his nose now. Anybody know if Lyte-now e-lytes will take the hair off? That's the only thing I can think of. Either that or he rubbed his nose raw trying to get the e-lytes off, but I don't know when he would have done that since I was on him or with him the entire day and by the end of our day, his nose was bald.
For my on-the-trail electrolytes, I had decided to use single dose (26 cc) tubes of Lyte-now. So I ordered some tubes from Jeffers in plenty of time to get them for the ride. But they were on back order. I did get the 2 3-dose (80 cc) tubes that I had ordered. So I gathered my strongid wormer tubes that I had kept back and filled several of them with 20 cc of Lyte-now from the larger tubes. I had an empty 80 cc syringe from Chicken Chase and then 2 more from filling the smaller syringes. I intended to use those empty syringes to administer Summer Games electrolytes mixed with applesauce.
Since I only put 20 cc of Lyte-now in the empty wormer tubes the plunger was partially in, so I didn't have to worry about the plunger working itself out. That's one concern I have with full tubes because I had that happen to one of my 80 cc syringes. Something put pressure on the plunger from the side and it popped out of the syringe. Could have been a mess, but wasn't because the tube was wedged on its tip in a bucket of other stuff, but in my cantle bag...
I know 26 cc is usually the dosage, but Tanna is quite small, only 750 pounds, so I figure a 20 cc dose is good for him. Certainly was this weekend. He drank a lot most of the day! I was extremely proud of him.
Anyway, I digress. Where was I? Oh, yeah, stopped for e-lyting. Poor Jamie was having a hard time with Wiggles. The mare didn't want that syringe anywhere near her! Finally, though, she was forced to submit and we were off again.
When we got near camp, I saw my husband and happily waved at him. I told him I had to go up to the timer to get my in time and I'd meet him at our camper. He agreed and we parted again. I got my time marked on my vet card and hand-walked Tanna the short distance to our camper. I checked his pulse. 56 beats per minute. Wow, down already. Okey dokey. Daniel got there and took over Tanna while I went in the camper to use our porta-potty. I had drunk almost 2 liters of fluid on that loop. By the time I got back out of the camper, my wonderful husband had Tanna stripped of his saddle and had sponged him down really well. I grabbed a bag of carrots and we headed toward the vet check 1/4 mile away. I almost forgot my vet card and had to run in and get it out of my hip pack. Whew! I'm glad I didn't forget that!!!
Tanna wasn't one bit interested in food. He ate maybe one carrot or two from me. I was a little worried. I wanted him to eat! He hadn't eaten much at the Chicken Chase vet check either, but that was only a 25 mile ride. This was FIFTY! He had to go all day and if he didn't eat, he'd never make it. He had no idea he was going all day, though.
We weighed Tanna before taking him to the pulse takers. 750 pounds. WOW! He lost 32 pounds since the start of the ride! What a loss! I was getting quite an education. I figure most of the 30 pounds was water weight that he had gained overnight anyway. He just peed and sweated it out. I wasn't too worried since he had weighed in at 752 the day before...before he began to tank up. I'm glad I weighed him before he tanked up and after, otherwise, I might have been worried. But I wasn't too much. Only if he lost that much after every loop!
Tanna was right at 60 beats per minute when we got him to the pulse takers. "Time on 54!" my pulse taker yelled. "Pulse time on 54," Nancy echoed. "9:08." I thanked them both and we moved through the caution tape-marked vet lines. I saw Kim and Jamie with their horses and helpers in front of me. Tanna pretty much ignored my carrot offerings. He wanted the wisps of hay trampled in the mud from horses before him. Silly goof. Nothing there, eat a carrot. No way. So I stood in line with him and scratched his ears and face.
We had Kathy Eichelberger for our vet this time. She asked how he was doing. I told her he was drinking a lot and trying to eat leaves from trees and would grab grass when he saw it. She gave us a B on guts and A on the rest. She was pleasant and helpful. I wasn't too concerned about his guts. I hoped he'd eat when he got back to the camper, though. He had to have some food to keep going all day. Even though we were going slow. From the start time to our pulse time (when our 40 minute hold started) was almost 3 hours. Just over a 5 mph speed. Course, we started 20 minutes late.
We got back to the trailer and we turned Tanna into his pen with his beet pulp slop, hay and water. I grabbed some food while Daniel refilled my water and gatorade bottles, checked my GPS batteries, and listened to me babble about the ride so far. Tanna peed and only nibbled at his food. He'd eat a little hay, a little beet pulp. He didn't go near the water. I wasn't concerned since he was drinking well on the trail.
By the time we got back to the trailer after waiting in line for the vet and walking back to our camper, our 40 minute hold time was more than half gone. With 7 minutes or so left, Daniel and I started retacking Tanna. We took awhile trying to figure out what was up with the breast collar and finally got that straightened out, dumping the saddle off and then replacing it in the process! I tightened the girth and realized I'd forgotten to place the HRM electrodes. Argh! Loosen girth, lift saddle, place electrode. Agh.
I don't want to go back out, I complained. I can't even resaddle my horse! I'm tired, the inside of my knees are raw from riding in those stupid pants yesterday and this isn't helping. Tanna's not eating and he's gonna drop dead from lack of food and I don't wanna go back out! Daniel patiently continued to saddle Tanna while patronizing me and telling me it's ok, and not as bad as I was making it out to be. Finally, I said, ok, fine, I'll keep going.
Whew. Daniel e-lyted Tanna while I disappeared into the trailer to get my helmet, GPS units, and hip pack. As I was in there, I heard Jamie and Kim calling for me. I answered, but I'm not sure they heard me because I was in my trailer.
I rushed out and Daniel held Tanna again while I quickly mounted. Tanna was jumping around like he was going to buck me off. Something had to be wrong. That's when he bucks...when something's wrong. Something as little as a flapping nylon strap from my cantle bag. Daniel spotted it. The saddle pad was slipped way to the right. Argh. I jumped off, loosened girth, replaced pad, tightened girth, remounted. Tanna wasn't doing his "I'm gonna buck if you don't fix that" dance. That must've been the problem. Ok, kiss hubby, off I go.
We trotted quickly to the out timer. I called my number out to them and they waved me on. Daniel had told me, go out to the road, turn left, then take the next dirt road to the right. Ok, I came to the dirt road, but didn't see any purple ribbons! AGH! I asked the closest onlooker if this was the start of the purple loop. Didn't know. I called to another group. Yeah, yeah, that's it.
I took off at a canter to catch Jamie and Kim before they got too far ahead of me. I really wanted to stay with them. I watched for ribbons, and began to panic. There were STILL NO RIBBONS. Here I was out on a ride, dead last place, trying to catch my riding buddies, and I was cantering down the wrong trail. Finally I spotted a purple ribbon. Whew. But it was awhile before I saw another ribbon so I started to panic again and thought I had imagined the first ribbon. When I finally started seeing ribbons more regularly, I breathed easier.
I caught up with Jamie and Kim after awhile. They must've really been moving. Of course, they also had a few minutes on me since I'd had to stop and fix my pad. We did some more cantering on this loop. The road was wide and boring. There was some sand that we had to slow down and walk through. I cantered beside Kim and her mare for a good distance. Tanna would pull, but not too hard. He was going strong and felt great. Still drank good. We gave the horses opportunities to eat along the way when we could.
At our e-lyte break, I was able to pee behind a bush (not much of a bush, I'm becoming more like you, Laura). I wasn't too worried because we were the last ones and I didn't expect any guys to come up on us. I also finished a tube of nuts I'd started at camp and had put in my waist band and forgotten about. And Tanna's saddle pad had slid again, so I fixed it better this time. I was still mounted and ready to go before poor Jamie got that silly mare to take her e-lytes.
Off we went again. We were moving about the same average speed we had before. That loop seemed longer to me. It wasn't. The first and second loops were pretty much the same length, but the second one seemed longer. It even took about the same amount of time (if you discount our late start). I was glad to see the road we'd come in on. Just a mile or two to camp. We trotted and cantered in.
As I gave my number to the in timer, Daniel appeared. I dropped Tanna's bit and passed the reins (now attached to the halter ring) to Daniel. Back to the trailer to repeat our first vet check procedure. I went into the camper and Daniel stripped Tanna and sponged him off. He was again down to 58 or so before the saddle came off.
I grabbed the carrots and a hay bag to go up to the vet check. I slung the hay over my back and Tanna took an immediate interest. All the way to the pulse area, he grabbed hay from the hay bag. I was very pleased! He was eating with gusto. We got up to the vet area and Daniel used the community hose to spray Tanna down really well. Tanna continued to grab hay from the bag on my back even while being hosed down. I scraped the water off him to keep the water from insulating and heating him up again. He felt cool to my touch. We went and weighed him. 748 pounds. Only lost 2 pounds that loop. Good!
Then we went to get his pulse taken to get the start of our hold time. Due to a miscalculation earlier in the day, this hold was only 40 minutes instead of an hour. Man, I was looking forward to that 1 hour hold! Might have even been able to get a nap in or even just sit down for a minute (gasp). The other 20 minutes of hold time would be taken at our pulse check after the next 10 mile loop. Ok, that would work for me, too. I was wanting to take some time then. This would just make sure Jamie and Kim would have to take that time, too.
While waiting for the vet, Tanna continued to eat. He ate and ate. If I got too far away from him (Daniel was holding him), he'd give me the eye until I got back in range and he'd grab another bite. I was SO glad he was chowing down. I guess he thought he was done and could eat or he thought, she's crazy, I'd best eat while I can. We'd already gone longer than we'd ever gone before. 27 miles was the longest ride we'd ever done up to now. (He did do a 30 mile LD with Dee Fortner before I got him, though.)
I got Stan as the vet this time. He said to give him some sloppy food. Sure, thing, doc, soon as we get back to the trailer. That was about the only thing he said this time. I was so pleased Tanna was eating anything, I didn't even mind too much that the vet didn't say much else. Tanna got all As, but a B- on guts. But I was sure that would be ok, since he had decided he needed to eat.
He ate about 3/4 of the way back to the trailer. Partway back, he decided those carrots looked really yummy and started nosing the bag until Daniel alerted me and told me to give him some carrots. Finally, he decided he'd had enough hay and carrots, and walked calmly back to the trailer. As soon as Daniel turned him into his pen, though, he headed for the hay hanging on his pen. Chomp, chomp. I climbed into the camper and I could hear him slurping at his beet pulp. YES! Crunch, that must've been a carrot. Chomp, slurp, crunch. Tanna had gotten serious about this food thing.
He quit eating after awhile and looked VERY surprised when Daniel brought the saddle again. You could almost see his thoughts. I just DID my ride! What do you THINK you're doing? I laughed at him. See, I TOLD you you'd be out all day, I chided. Daniel also laughed at him. He lowered his head and just waited as we finished attaching everything.
I ran back into the camper to pee again. I'd drunk 2 liters on the second loop and another 20 oz or so during the hold. While I was in there, I heard Daniel talking to Jamie or Kim. I thought I heard one of them wasn't continuing on. Hmmm. Wonder what happened.
I mounted up and headed for Jamie, who was waiting on Wiggles. I gave my number to the timer and we headed across the bridge toward the 10 mile yellow loop that we would do twice. Turns out Kim's mare had a bad CRI, so was asked to come back for a recheck. Jamie and I would continue on alone while Kim decided whether or not to push her mare or just quit for the day.
We chatted as we trotted along. We caught up with a lady riding a horse named Jim. She (didn't catch the lady's name) was on her second time around the 10 mile loop. She'd be almost done. We informed her we were just starting our first time on that loop and were the last riders. We were planning on tying for the turtle award. She was going a bit slower than us, so we left her after awhile.
We alternated trotting and walking, giving the horses some breathers. Tanna was a bit confused that I was still riding him, but responded well when asked to trot. About a mile or so before the water troughs on that loop, several riders passed us up. Again, on their second loop, almost done with their ride. I envied them! But my horse was re-engergized by their passing and pulled on me, asking, insisting to go faster to catch them. No way! Settle down, goof, we still have to do this loop again! Tanna shook his head with impatience and I kept squeezing and pulling back. Wow, he's strong.
Finally, the horses got out of earshot and eye-sight and Tanna settled a little. We slowed to a walk when we reached the water. There had been a spotter out there taking numbers to be sure nobody cut trail, but nobody was there that late. No matter, we still did the trail right. :-) The riders that had passed us earlier were just finishing at the water trough and took off just before we reached them. Tanna wasn't sure about them leaving, but decided that water did look good. He stuck his head in the trough and sucked down lots of water. Good boy. Still drinking well. Jamie and I took a few minutes, letting the other riders pull away from us and sponging our horses good. It was the hottest part of the day and we still had another loop to do. Tanna still acted freaky a few times seeing that blue sponge arise out of the trash can. "That blue water monster is BACK!!"
After a few minutes, we started out again. We passed another place to get water, but since both horses had just drank and been sponged well, as well as there were already other riders blocking the way. So we continued on. Shortly after that, we caught up with a friend of Jamie's that wasn't looking so good. She was flushed and listless and admitted she didn't feel well at all. I was told her name, but forget now. We were about 3.5 miles from camp I guess. The lady was on her last loop. Jamie didn't want to leave her and I agreed. We had plenty of time to complete our ride, even with having another loop to do. We gave her food and water and Jamie gave her some little hard candies to suck on. The lady kept saying she didn't want to hold us up, but Jamie was adamant about not leaving her on her own. I also agreed and didn't want to go on either. Besides, if something DID happen there would need to be two of us anyway. One to stay with her and one to race into camp to get help. But the candy seemed to help and the lady made it in just fine. We left her at the finish line because she could go ahead and cut down to the vet check and we still had to finish our loop and go up to the timers.
I jumped off Tanna and let Daniel have him and we walked directly to the vet without untacking and called out asking for a pulse down. A different vet (can't remember her name) that had vetted on Saturday and rode on Sunday, took the pulse, watched Tanna trot up and back, and said, "yep, you're clear to go on." Jamie was also up there for her pulse down. Then we spent a few minutes trying to figure out who exactly would write on our cards our pulse down time and the time to go out since there was a 20 minute hold after the pulse down. Finally we got Nancy to do it and were able to head back to our trailer.
I seriously didn't want to go out again, but I did anyway. I'd hate myself for stopping so close to the end. We'd already done 40 miles and he was good to go out again. Besides, if I didn't go out, Jamie would have to do that last 10 miles alone and I didn't want to do that to her. Daniel just ignored my saying stuff about quitting and checked my GPS while I gulped down more peanuts. A few minutes later, I tightened Tanna's girth, mounted up, and we headed off on our last 10 miles.
At the timers, we gave our numbers and our out time. 3:32, I told them as I reached for my vet card. "Never mind the card, we believe you." Go on. The big clock next to them said 3:41. Late out, but still plenty of time. 2 and a half hours to do 10 miles. No problem.
I had been having major problems all day with my stirrups being too long. I had no way to shorten them, so had tried putting them on the fenders backwards (well, frontwards...my stirrups are on backwards to start with). But I just couldn't keep my stirrups that way, so not long after starting the loop, I had to stop and put them back the way I had them for the first 40 miles. The pain wasn't pleasant, but at least I could keep my stirrups. Since my stirrups were too long, I spent a lot of time on my toes, trying desperately to keep off Tanna's back and post properly. Hard to do on my toes and painful to boot. I spent part of that last loop clutching the pommel to help my balance. I admired Jamie's ability to post and keep her hands off her pommel. Oh, well. Gotta get those stirrups fixed. I need to burn another set of holes so I can have them shorter. Or rip the fenders out altogether, replace them with 2 inch stirrup leathers (can you get 2 inch leathers?), shorten the top bars on my stirrups, and cover the leathers with fleece to keep them from pinching. That way I can make them short for my short little legs and they'd be able to be adjustable. For training rides, my longer stirrups are just fine. It's just that Tanna's fast trot and his power trot are very hard to ride with the long stirrups. And riding longer, of course, just enhances the problem.
We did the rest of the loop alternating trotting and walking. The horses would draft off each other, then tire and we'd let them walk and grab bamboo or whatever from along the trail, then repeat. We did that all the way around, talking and falling silent by turn. Sometimes I would even close my eyes and "sleep" for a bit. Tanna kept trotting right along. What a boring loop. :-)
Finally, we hit the road to the finish line. Whooohooo! We were ALMOST THERE! Less than a half mile to go. We trotted in, Tanna occasionally breaking into a canter. We approached the finish line together, side by side. We didn't see the finish line timer! Where were they? They'd better be there. And sure enough, Nancy was there waiting for us a little past the finish line. I saw Daniel standing beside Nancy's truck with his camera. I raised my hand and waved happily. WhooooHOOOOO, I yelled! Tanna started. I don't usually yell from his back. I was so proud of my boy I could bust!!
Finish time was 5:21 for a total ride time of 9 hours 26 minutes. Then to get him to the vet. We had 60 minutes to show up for the vet. I walked Tanna to our camp site, stopped him and waited for a minute. Contemplating having to dismount. I knew it would hurt. And it did, but I did get off. It was only fair to Tanna to get off him after having gone 50 miles. :-) We stripped his saddle for the last time. I dropped my helmet and the GPS units and went in the camper to pee and change my boots for more comfortable shoes.
We wandered up to the vet check area. We saw Kathy and she asked if we needed a vet for a vet out. I said, yeah, but that we were in no hurry, we wanted to spray Tanna off first. We sprayed Tanna for a good long time, giving him a good massaging shower. He likes his showers. Kathy took her horse to the scales and weighed him. We weighed Tanna after she was done. 746 pounds. Not bad. Not bad at all. Only 6 pounds lighter than the day before when we had vetted him in.
I held Kathy's horse while she checked my horse (only fair, you see) and Nina Murphy scribed for her. He vetted out ok, but he was a bit tired. Got mark downs for gait and impulsion and a B for guts again.
But he DID finish. Jamie and I tied for SECOND to last place. Argh. Jim Holland and Flinn Anderson (I think) tied for last place. How'd they sneak behind us? :-) So now I'm an endurance rider and Tanna is an endurance horse! Sadly, I didn't get a T-shirt for my accomplishment, but Daniel says I can get horsedesigns.com to make me one of my very own! LOL.
We had some mild trouble getting home. We had a tire start to peel, so had to limp into a place to get 2 new tires. But we got into town early enough to drop Tanna off at home and go straight to get Serts.
We had a few problems and I'm sore some, but not as much as I thought I'd be. I am on ibprofen every 4 hours, though. :-) But at least I can function. Tanna looks great! Running around in his pasture. Not sore. He had a couple of sores on his mouth though, from the bit. I was pulling at him way too much. Not sure how to fix that. Have to think on that for awhile.
We did decide to skip the OD 25. Too long of a drive for only a 25.
Tanna is going to get some weeks of well-deserved rest. Serts will be getting some riding now to keep me in shape. :-)
I had a great time, overall. I have such a feeling of accomplishment. I couldn't have done it without Daniel. He was great! Supportive, helpful, and jumped right in there and worked like an experienced crew. I also couldn't have done it without Jamie and Kim. I really enjoyed riding with them and wish Kim could have completed with us rather than pull. The two of them showed me how to get a horse through a 50 miler. Tanna and Wiggles worked well together. Can't wait for the next ride. Thanks to Vicki, the vets, and all the volunteers that put on Liberty Run. And a big thanks to my little 750 pound, 14.1 Arabian gelding. He's a sweetie.
To finish is to win and boy, did we win!!!
April
Nashville, TN
Sunday, June 01, 2003
Sunday, May 25, 2003
2003 Little Manistee Memorial - Maggie Mieske
May 10 & 11, 2003
The Little Manistee Memorial Ride in Luther is a special ride for me...it is also the trail for Tin Cups Springs and I have done this trail at every ride that Jay and Becke Grams have had here since I started distance riding (about 350 miles total!). I love this trail and my horses love this trail and I have made some very special friends at this ride. And I make new ones every year! There are just no people in the world like distance people!!! Whether they ride endurance or comp, they know about "going the distance" and continue to make me feel welcome and support my efforts at passing it on!
In keeping with a typical Michigan spring weather pattern, we experienced one of those rides that went from a typical July day for heat and humidity (esp. humidity) on Saturday to typical April thunderstorms and pouring rain that night to typical October winds and blustery showers throughout the day on Sunday!
Since we had a good ride at White River, I decided to let Malik decide how the ride would go. We started out with the front runners and fell back to being a few minutes behind with a few others halfway through the first loop. It was cool and foggy but comfortable when we started at 7:00 a.m. but the humidity got uncomfortable as the sun came out and it got pretty muggy. Nelson soon took over custody of my sweatshirt! I opted to sweat it out in my sleeveless T-shirt (which my arms suffered for through the day from whipping branches, a few thorn trees, sunburn and such). We did the first loop (about 12 1/2 miles) in just under an hour and actually ended up coming in to the first check with the front runners. Malik was eager and excited and it took us 8 minutes to come down. That hurt. But he peed and had ALL A's and the vet was pleased so I was pleased. He ate like a pig but refused to drink...not unusual. He often doesn't drink until the halfway point. We were out with Gene and Shelley Dake from this check and I had the opportunity to ride behind them into the halfway check in camp. Gene and Shelley often ride together and they have a system that works...let's just say, when you have the chance at a ride to see them work and ride together, take notice and pay attention. You'll learn something!
Malik was still doing well at the halfway check, all A's again though not drinking. We had a 50 minute hold and took advantage of it. We were both feeling really good. The Dakes left out 3 minutes ahead of us. We left camp at an easy canter and alternated that with a strong working trot. He was feeling good but maybe not as motivated as before and he drank very little during the check. We passed some comp riders a couple of miles out. We were going a little slower than the first time on this loop. What concerned me was that he had started panting so hard....he often breathes hard and sometimes it's a mixture of scenting the air (maybe he knows exactly who is ahead of him and how far?) and working hard but this time, it was PANTING which he has never done. We took extra time to cool him with slosh bottles when Nelson and Mary (my MUCH older sister) met us at pit stops. He sipped a bit of water. After the first pit stop, I sensed he was needing to pee again (same dilemma last weekend!) and he continued to pant hard. He was moving fine at a trot and a canter so except for allowing the occasional "slow down and move a bit off the trail in case he has to pee" strategy, we continued to move along at a decent clip. He finally drank fairly well at a pit stop and I let Nelson electrolyte him there, too. About two miles from the vet check, he stopped on his own (not at my suggestion) and peed and peed and peed. He walked off a few steps, put his ears forward and to the tune of "Grandma's Feather Bed", we took off at a canter. I had a new horse! And yes, I SANG to my horse in an effort to motivate him...I figured if nothing else, he might just want to go faster to get away from it or get back to camp faster! Nelson met us once more at the road before the vet check and as he drove off after pitting us, Malik took off after the van at a full gallop. He was feeling good again. No more panting either. But we had lost too much time and were WAY behind the front runners. The Dakes had even made up the time and were within a couple of minutes of the front runners by this point. I talked to Dr. Steve Halstead at the vet check about the panting and not drinking as he usually does but he did an extra thorough check on him and Malik still had all As with the exception of a B+ for impulsion. His skin tenting was great and he recovered quickly at this check. MAJOR POINT OF INTEREST: I shudder to think what our ride might have been like if I hadn't used Susan's advice about tanking up on wet beet pulp and hay on the Thursday before the ride. Current research indicates that many horses start rides already dehydrated. I will NEVER, EVER sacrifice the extra time and effort it takes to feed him continuously all day long on Thursday with lots of beet pulp and wet hay as well along with his apples and carrots...I think this also starts getting him psyched up and prepared mentally...he is so used to the routine since this is our 4th season doing it this way! Read Susan's articles and take heed. Malik could have been in major trouble if he had been dehydrated. He never got below an A- on hydration during the ride. THANKS SUSAN!!
Anyway, he ate and drank like a pro at the 3rd check and this time, our view from our "spot" allowed us to see the riders a little ways over as they finished the 4 mile loop that comes around and behind the check on the way back to camp...he watched all the horses with much interest and when it was time to saddle up, he was itching to go out there and find those horses, he didn't care that we were an hour behind!! The last loop was awesome and I was very proud and happy to be a part of this team... I let Malik teach me again how to let him guide ME. Though I try to watch and warn him of tricky spots with rocks and roots, etc., I also sometimes simply let the reins lay loose in my hands and tell him to take me through it and there are some nasty tricky spots on this trail with deep, deep sand and some downhill with washouts and rocks and roots that in the past, I have always walked through. But when I ask him to be careful and get us through, he does....every ride I gain more and more confidence in my ability and in my horse. He is an amazing creature. We are now going faster and stronger than ever together. It's such a rush! He knows how to break into a canter at just the right place going downhill before he hits the bottom and we start going uphill...at first it scared the crap out of me but he is very adept at it and knows exactly what he's doing. I didn't teach him that though I read about it in one of Lew Hollander's books. In fact, in a couple of attempts at guiding (foolish human that I am), I was at fault for causing a fumble. In a couple of tricky spots in particular where the trail virtually diverges into two paths, he knew EXACTLY which direction to go in (I did, too though...I was just testing him!). And in trying to correct my posture during one of his cantering surges, I caused him to lose momentum and stumble a bit. He recovered in spite of his stupid human! He is an amazing horse. Sorry to keep repeating myself. I worry that I am not going to be able to ride him to his potential but I'm going to give it my best shot!!
Anyway, to make a long story short, we finished our ride in just over 5 hours and in 8th place (51 minutes behind Wendy Peterson who was first to finish and Linda Hamrick who was 2nd...Wendy gallantly came back to help Linda after Linda's horse spooked about two miles from the finish and she came off...aren't endurance riders wonderful??). I think our official time will be 5:14. I find that very respectable and am pleased with how our ride turned out. Malik vetted out with all As. In spite of being so far behind in time, we were only 10 points from Best Condition which went to Shelley Dake and Count Chaska. And they are pros with great vet scores...that's one thing I am always impressed by-the great vet scores both Gene and Shelley get with their horses and I aspire to that myself, not because I want Best Condition (well, yes, I do) but because high vet scores should be a top priority OVER fast times. Being able to combine the two takes some strategy and experience and KNOWING your horse and your TEAM. I continue to work on all of that.
I'd also like to mention that 5 riders braved this quirky Michigan weather and rode out in grey skies and gusty winds for the 25 mile Limited Distance ride on Sunday. Tom Peterson was first to pulse down and won Best Condition. A brand new rider (this is his first endurance format ride and second distance ride) named Scott something or other was 2nd. I made sure he got a GLDRA newsletter and schedule and some other distance riding information. Apparently SOMEBODY had been talking about me at Brighton because he already knew who I was (hmmm, who might that be, JEANIE MILLER????). But it's always fun meeting new riders and helping get them all fired up! I apologize that I can't for the life of me remember the other riders though I remember that Lauri Williams was 5th...the other two riders were juniors.
I LEARNED a lot at this ride...the panting scared me and I knew Malik had to pee. But he was not tired or overstressed and there is a difference. Had it been a vet I didn't know, I might have questioned my vet scores. But Steve has vetted Malik at rides every year since we started and even when we voiced concern and he double checked, Malik was fine and looked great. Steve doesn't tell you your horse is doing great if he isn't. I learned to also trust my own instinct and to let my horse guide me. I read a lot of ride stories and I know there are a lot of riders and horses out there with major issues to overcome both for themselves and their horses and I feel lucky to have Malik. We have a long journey ahead of us and boy, do I look forward to enjoying every minute!!
Speaking of journeys and life and all...Jenny did not ride this weekend. It was prom night. She could have gone out with friends and done typical teen activities for prom weekend but she actually SAID she would rather be there helping out. She volunteered as time keeper at the outcheck. She got dressed and ate a little bit at our potluck and we took pictures and oohed and aahed over her dress and her corsage...she cleans up pretty good!! :) The neat thing about it all was that she wasn't all caught up in looking perfect ("if they don't like how I look, they can kiss my ***" is what she said) and so though she was beautiful in her prom dress, her confidence and self assurance was what shone through and added the most to her beauty. I attribute a lot of that to this sport, her horse and the people she has come to know through it. And she was home by midnight, too.
Many thanks to the folks who came out and helped including Jenny, my sister, Mary and Nelson and Ridecamper KAREN Casemier who has never even done a ride yet but took a whole weekend and came out and put up with all of us...I, of course, in fine form, nodded when she introduced herself (thinking all along this is the new vet that one of our clients had told us about and realized I recognized the name from somewhere but not which person it should belong to!!) and basically, was I embarrassed later when I got it all figured out. And I kept trying to call her Susan. Duh! DIMR, right??? I hate to claim Distance Induced Mental Retardation, especially BEFORE the ride, but it's the only excuse I have!!! In any case, Becke Grams was very pleased with the volunteer help this year. She almost cancelled the ride but the volunteers saved the day!
We also welcomed out of state riders Wendy Mancini and Pat Oliva. I think they are BOTH ridecampers. It was a pleasure to meet both of them!
It was also great to see Shannon Weston at the ride...she is the one of the former managers of the Bear River Ride and helped me immensely last year when I took over the Wolverine. Her help was invaluable. I know she has had some major life changes this year but I am so relieved and happy that distance riding did not get left out of the equation. I'm trying to convince her to ride a couple of fifties with me on Max, Jenny's horse. Even though Malik and I had a good ride, it just isn't the same riding alone (whine, whine). And Max and Malik are a special team. We brought Mykal, Malik's half brother this weekend so Nelson could show off his driving horse...Malik was NOT impressed at this unwelcome interloper. He tolerated his presence (with about 6 feet of space between their pens) and mostly just turned his back to him after giving him the "look" that said "I'll come over there and kick your butt if you don't behave!". Malik and Max usually spend time scratching each other's withers and nipping at each other's faces...their favorite activities when they're not on the trail! I think Malik really missed that. I know a horse should be able to "go it alone" but I don't feel there is any shame in riding as a team...if it's more fun for the people, it has to be more fun for the horses!
And so ride season seems to have begun in earnest for us here in Michigan and God willing and the creek don't rise, we are hoping to make it to Grand Island with definite plans to do 50 miles (and an occasional fleeting notion that I really could and should do the 100). Actually, it's not the creek I have to worry about but the TRUCK and transportation issues that plague us every year. :) We are still waiting for the diagnosis from our mechanic and this weekend borrowed a friend's truck to haul to LMMR as it's only 30 or 40 minutes away. It all worked out and we are especially determined this year. I really feel this is Malik's year to shine, actually the first of many years, I hope. Yee ha!!! Here's to miles of smiles for everyone!!
Maggie and the awesome Mashallah AlMalik
The Little Manistee Memorial Ride in Luther is a special ride for me...it is also the trail for Tin Cups Springs and I have done this trail at every ride that Jay and Becke Grams have had here since I started distance riding (about 350 miles total!). I love this trail and my horses love this trail and I have made some very special friends at this ride. And I make new ones every year! There are just no people in the world like distance people!!! Whether they ride endurance or comp, they know about "going the distance" and continue to make me feel welcome and support my efforts at passing it on!
In keeping with a typical Michigan spring weather pattern, we experienced one of those rides that went from a typical July day for heat and humidity (esp. humidity) on Saturday to typical April thunderstorms and pouring rain that night to typical October winds and blustery showers throughout the day on Sunday!
Since we had a good ride at White River, I decided to let Malik decide how the ride would go. We started out with the front runners and fell back to being a few minutes behind with a few others halfway through the first loop. It was cool and foggy but comfortable when we started at 7:00 a.m. but the humidity got uncomfortable as the sun came out and it got pretty muggy. Nelson soon took over custody of my sweatshirt! I opted to sweat it out in my sleeveless T-shirt (which my arms suffered for through the day from whipping branches, a few thorn trees, sunburn and such). We did the first loop (about 12 1/2 miles) in just under an hour and actually ended up coming in to the first check with the front runners. Malik was eager and excited and it took us 8 minutes to come down. That hurt. But he peed and had ALL A's and the vet was pleased so I was pleased. He ate like a pig but refused to drink...not unusual. He often doesn't drink until the halfway point. We were out with Gene and Shelley Dake from this check and I had the opportunity to ride behind them into the halfway check in camp. Gene and Shelley often ride together and they have a system that works...let's just say, when you have the chance at a ride to see them work and ride together, take notice and pay attention. You'll learn something!
Malik was still doing well at the halfway check, all A's again though not drinking. We had a 50 minute hold and took advantage of it. We were both feeling really good. The Dakes left out 3 minutes ahead of us. We left camp at an easy canter and alternated that with a strong working trot. He was feeling good but maybe not as motivated as before and he drank very little during the check. We passed some comp riders a couple of miles out. We were going a little slower than the first time on this loop. What concerned me was that he had started panting so hard....he often breathes hard and sometimes it's a mixture of scenting the air (maybe he knows exactly who is ahead of him and how far?) and working hard but this time, it was PANTING which he has never done. We took extra time to cool him with slosh bottles when Nelson and Mary (my MUCH older sister) met us at pit stops. He sipped a bit of water. After the first pit stop, I sensed he was needing to pee again (same dilemma last weekend!) and he continued to pant hard. He was moving fine at a trot and a canter so except for allowing the occasional "slow down and move a bit off the trail in case he has to pee" strategy, we continued to move along at a decent clip. He finally drank fairly well at a pit stop and I let Nelson electrolyte him there, too. About two miles from the vet check, he stopped on his own (not at my suggestion) and peed and peed and peed. He walked off a few steps, put his ears forward and to the tune of "Grandma's Feather Bed", we took off at a canter. I had a new horse! And yes, I SANG to my horse in an effort to motivate him...I figured if nothing else, he might just want to go faster to get away from it or get back to camp faster! Nelson met us once more at the road before the vet check and as he drove off after pitting us, Malik took off after the van at a full gallop. He was feeling good again. No more panting either. But we had lost too much time and were WAY behind the front runners. The Dakes had even made up the time and were within a couple of minutes of the front runners by this point. I talked to Dr. Steve Halstead at the vet check about the panting and not drinking as he usually does but he did an extra thorough check on him and Malik still had all As with the exception of a B+ for impulsion. His skin tenting was great and he recovered quickly at this check. MAJOR POINT OF INTEREST: I shudder to think what our ride might have been like if I hadn't used Susan's advice about tanking up on wet beet pulp and hay on the Thursday before the ride. Current research indicates that many horses start rides already dehydrated. I will NEVER, EVER sacrifice the extra time and effort it takes to feed him continuously all day long on Thursday with lots of beet pulp and wet hay as well along with his apples and carrots...I think this also starts getting him psyched up and prepared mentally...he is so used to the routine since this is our 4th season doing it this way! Read Susan's articles and take heed. Malik could have been in major trouble if he had been dehydrated. He never got below an A- on hydration during the ride. THANKS SUSAN!!
Anyway, he ate and drank like a pro at the 3rd check and this time, our view from our "spot" allowed us to see the riders a little ways over as they finished the 4 mile loop that comes around and behind the check on the way back to camp...he watched all the horses with much interest and when it was time to saddle up, he was itching to go out there and find those horses, he didn't care that we were an hour behind!! The last loop was awesome and I was very proud and happy to be a part of this team... I let Malik teach me again how to let him guide ME. Though I try to watch and warn him of tricky spots with rocks and roots, etc., I also sometimes simply let the reins lay loose in my hands and tell him to take me through it and there are some nasty tricky spots on this trail with deep, deep sand and some downhill with washouts and rocks and roots that in the past, I have always walked through. But when I ask him to be careful and get us through, he does....every ride I gain more and more confidence in my ability and in my horse. He is an amazing creature. We are now going faster and stronger than ever together. It's such a rush! He knows how to break into a canter at just the right place going downhill before he hits the bottom and we start going uphill...at first it scared the crap out of me but he is very adept at it and knows exactly what he's doing. I didn't teach him that though I read about it in one of Lew Hollander's books. In fact, in a couple of attempts at guiding (foolish human that I am), I was at fault for causing a fumble. In a couple of tricky spots in particular where the trail virtually diverges into two paths, he knew EXACTLY which direction to go in (I did, too though...I was just testing him!). And in trying to correct my posture during one of his cantering surges, I caused him to lose momentum and stumble a bit. He recovered in spite of his stupid human! He is an amazing horse. Sorry to keep repeating myself. I worry that I am not going to be able to ride him to his potential but I'm going to give it my best shot!!
Anyway, to make a long story short, we finished our ride in just over 5 hours and in 8th place (51 minutes behind Wendy Peterson who was first to finish and Linda Hamrick who was 2nd...Wendy gallantly came back to help Linda after Linda's horse spooked about two miles from the finish and she came off...aren't endurance riders wonderful??). I think our official time will be 5:14. I find that very respectable and am pleased with how our ride turned out. Malik vetted out with all As. In spite of being so far behind in time, we were only 10 points from Best Condition which went to Shelley Dake and Count Chaska. And they are pros with great vet scores...that's one thing I am always impressed by-the great vet scores both Gene and Shelley get with their horses and I aspire to that myself, not because I want Best Condition (well, yes, I do) but because high vet scores should be a top priority OVER fast times. Being able to combine the two takes some strategy and experience and KNOWING your horse and your TEAM. I continue to work on all of that.
I'd also like to mention that 5 riders braved this quirky Michigan weather and rode out in grey skies and gusty winds for the 25 mile Limited Distance ride on Sunday. Tom Peterson was first to pulse down and won Best Condition. A brand new rider (this is his first endurance format ride and second distance ride) named Scott something or other was 2nd. I made sure he got a GLDRA newsletter and schedule and some other distance riding information. Apparently SOMEBODY had been talking about me at Brighton because he already knew who I was (hmmm, who might that be, JEANIE MILLER????). But it's always fun meeting new riders and helping get them all fired up! I apologize that I can't for the life of me remember the other riders though I remember that Lauri Williams was 5th...the other two riders were juniors.
I LEARNED a lot at this ride...the panting scared me and I knew Malik had to pee. But he was not tired or overstressed and there is a difference. Had it been a vet I didn't know, I might have questioned my vet scores. But Steve has vetted Malik at rides every year since we started and even when we voiced concern and he double checked, Malik was fine and looked great. Steve doesn't tell you your horse is doing great if he isn't. I learned to also trust my own instinct and to let my horse guide me. I read a lot of ride stories and I know there are a lot of riders and horses out there with major issues to overcome both for themselves and their horses and I feel lucky to have Malik. We have a long journey ahead of us and boy, do I look forward to enjoying every minute!!
Speaking of journeys and life and all...Jenny did not ride this weekend. It was prom night. She could have gone out with friends and done typical teen activities for prom weekend but she actually SAID she would rather be there helping out. She volunteered as time keeper at the outcheck. She got dressed and ate a little bit at our potluck and we took pictures and oohed and aahed over her dress and her corsage...she cleans up pretty good!! :) The neat thing about it all was that she wasn't all caught up in looking perfect ("if they don't like how I look, they can kiss my ***" is what she said) and so though she was beautiful in her prom dress, her confidence and self assurance was what shone through and added the most to her beauty. I attribute a lot of that to this sport, her horse and the people she has come to know through it. And she was home by midnight, too.
Many thanks to the folks who came out and helped including Jenny, my sister, Mary and Nelson and Ridecamper KAREN Casemier who has never even done a ride yet but took a whole weekend and came out and put up with all of us...I, of course, in fine form, nodded when she introduced herself (thinking all along this is the new vet that one of our clients had told us about and realized I recognized the name from somewhere but not which person it should belong to!!) and basically, was I embarrassed later when I got it all figured out. And I kept trying to call her Susan. Duh! DIMR, right??? I hate to claim Distance Induced Mental Retardation, especially BEFORE the ride, but it's the only excuse I have!!! In any case, Becke Grams was very pleased with the volunteer help this year. She almost cancelled the ride but the volunteers saved the day!
We also welcomed out of state riders Wendy Mancini and Pat Oliva. I think they are BOTH ridecampers. It was a pleasure to meet both of them!
It was also great to see Shannon Weston at the ride...she is the one of the former managers of the Bear River Ride and helped me immensely last year when I took over the Wolverine. Her help was invaluable. I know she has had some major life changes this year but I am so relieved and happy that distance riding did not get left out of the equation. I'm trying to convince her to ride a couple of fifties with me on Max, Jenny's horse. Even though Malik and I had a good ride, it just isn't the same riding alone (whine, whine). And Max and Malik are a special team. We brought Mykal, Malik's half brother this weekend so Nelson could show off his driving horse...Malik was NOT impressed at this unwelcome interloper. He tolerated his presence (with about 6 feet of space between their pens) and mostly just turned his back to him after giving him the "look" that said "I'll come over there and kick your butt if you don't behave!". Malik and Max usually spend time scratching each other's withers and nipping at each other's faces...their favorite activities when they're not on the trail! I think Malik really missed that. I know a horse should be able to "go it alone" but I don't feel there is any shame in riding as a team...if it's more fun for the people, it has to be more fun for the horses!
And so ride season seems to have begun in earnest for us here in Michigan and God willing and the creek don't rise, we are hoping to make it to Grand Island with definite plans to do 50 miles (and an occasional fleeting notion that I really could and should do the 100). Actually, it's not the creek I have to worry about but the TRUCK and transportation issues that plague us every year. :) We are still waiting for the diagnosis from our mechanic and this weekend borrowed a friend's truck to haul to LMMR as it's only 30 or 40 minutes away. It all worked out and we are especially determined this year. I really feel this is Malik's year to shine, actually the first of many years, I hope. Yee ha!!! Here's to miles of smiles for everyone!!
Maggie and the awesome Mashallah AlMalik
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Neversweats 25 Mile - Crysta Turnage
My horse, CT’s Sinatra (so named because he’s a paint-cross gelding with two blue eyes), and I enjoyed the beautiful weather and gracious hospitality of our hosts this weekend at the Land of the Neversweats Ride. He and I were going for a completion on the 25 LD on Saturday, or second ride ever. I’ve only had him since February of this year and we’ve been slowly conditioning and getting ready for rides.
I left Reno on Friday around 2:30 and arrived in camp around 5 pm. Not bad for 100 miles in an old truck that’s getting a new engine this weekend! Pre-ride vetting was supposed to be happening between 4 and 7 pm. I was met at the gate to the Nucking Futz Ranch (yes, that is the correct name) by a helpful volunteer who directed me on where to park and let me know that they were going to provide dinner to all the riders on Friday night at no charge as well! I got my gelding unloaded and camp all set up. He had handled the trip very well and although eager to check things out, he was behaving himself very nicely. Spending the entire day tied to the trailer at the Washoe Ride two weeks ago while I volunteered and scribed for the vet was the BEST thing I could have done for him. He is starting to take all this traveling and excitement at rides very much in stride. Not bad for a 5 year old that hadn’t been out much before I bought him.
Dinner was excellent but due to a sudden illness by one vet and an emergency with our other, Dr. McCartney didn’t arrive to start pre-ride vet in until almost 7 pm. Everyone lined up and patiently waited while she checked each horse. This ride was hosting a 25 on both Sat and Sun, a 55 on Sat and Sun, and a 2-day 105 mile ride. After vetting was completed we had our pre-ride meeting in the dark around 8:30 or so. Dr. McCartney warned us to take very good care of our horses tomorrow, there were 63 horses and only one vet, which meant that if she had to treat a horse, then they may have to stop the ride. They staggered the start of the 55 and 25 so that she could attend the away check that the 55’s had around the 20 mile mark (I’m not exactly sure on that mileage). The 55’s would start at 7 am and the 25’s would have a leisurely morning and start at 10 am. I turned off my alarm clock (there was NO WAY I was going to sleep that late) and finally crawled into bed around 9:45 pm.
I slept a lot better than I expected in the truck cab. It's just long enough I could stretch out. My biggest problem was the full moon was SO bright it was shining in the windshield and right into my eyes. So I slept with my head under the covers for a while. =) I need to get a windshield shade. The other windows are tinted really dark and you can't see in. I woke up when they made the rounds honking the horn at 6 am…. What to do for the next 4 hours??? I got up and gave my horse his breakfast and then crawled back into my sleeping bag and read my book for a while. Sat around and watched the 55’s get ready to go. Finally it was time for me to start saddling my horse and before I knew it, it was 10 am and they yelled, “Trails Open!”
There were 11 of us entered in the 25 mile ride. We all left at a nice leisurely walk and after a few 100 yards, took up a nice working trot. Sinatra was feeling good and behaving himself very well. We were soon passed by a lady on a big Morgan gelding who was traveling much faster than I wanted to that day (she ended up winning the ride). After about 6 miles, our little group (as in all 11 of us) ran into Dave Cootware going the opposite direction. He was the front-runner in the 55 and was kind enough to let us know we had all missed the turn about a mile back. So we all turned around and back-tracked, oh well, at least when EVERYONE misses it, it makes things fun and very fair! That was the ONLY section of trail that was not clearly marked that day.
Sinatra was doing great on pacing. I love this horse! We ride and train by ourselves quite often so he’s not very attached and will let me know when he wants to speed up or slow down, regardless of what the horses in front of him are doing. Today was the first time he felt a little “racy” with me but he was still very easy to rate and control. He’s just starting to understand that endurance is a lot of fun and it’s even more enjoyable in company! We did a lot of trotting with intermittent walking where it was rocky or he needed a break. I ended up riding the first 10 miles or so with a really nice man by the name of Heinrich (I believe) from Napa on a dark gray 6 year old Arab. The trail was really nice, with a lot of single track and jeep roads. There was some rock but you could just slow down and walk through it. There was also some deep sand, but we have sand we train in at home so Sinatra didn’t mind. There were some rolling hills and great views of the surrounding valley. Not a tree in sight though, unless it was hooked to someone’s sprinkler system! This is the N. CA desert after all, only a few miles from the NV border.
After a short but really steep hill, I got off to adjust my girth and didn’t really see Heinrich again (he ended up finishing 5th). So I rode the last 10 miles back into camp with a lady from Red Bluff (sorry, I’m absolutely HORRIBLE with names!). Our two horses were pretty evenly matched and we enjoyed taking turns leading and following. About ½ mile from the finish, she and another couple behind us decided to walk their horses in. Sinatra had been having great recoveries all day and was happily trotting along at about 100 on my heart rate monitor so I let him cruise on in. I walked him the last 100 yards and by the time we go to the In Timer, he was at 70. I jumped off, grabbed my vet card, got my time, and walked him around the corner to the P & R where he pulsed in at 56. Good boy! At our first ride, vetcheck was so exciting that it took him about 5 minutes to get used to everything and come down, even though he was walking in at 70 at that time as well.
Since we had an hour hold at this point (20 miles) I walked him back to the trailer to untack. He drank a BUNCH of water (he always does) and dove into his beet pulp mash (soaked Manna Equine Senior w/ electrolytes). I made myself a sandwich and let him eat. When he was done with his mash, I took him over to get vetted. He received all A’s except for a B on capillary refills and his pulse after his CRI was 40! Wow! This horse is doing awesome!
We went back to the trailer and hung out until I thought it was time to go. I saddled up and walked over to the Out Timer to discover I had hit it right on the nose and it was exactly time for me to leave. So I got on and started on the orange 5 mile loop. This loop was REALLY rock, lots of loose shale and big river rock in a dried out wash. Sinatra and I were taking it slow and easy (he was doing his “slug horse” walk) and the couple who was behind us right before the first vet check came up. I followed them for about 3 of the 5 miles and then trotted towards the finish as they walked their horses in. Again, Sinatra was just happily cruising along on a loose rein, choosing his pace, at a nice 100 bpm on the heart monitor. Suddenly, about 100 yards from the finish line…. There was a HORSE-EATING DONKEY!!! At least Sinatra thought so. He stopped, snorted and then plowed through the sagebrush in an effort to get away from the donkey, who was calmly standing by the fence on the OTHER side of the road! Silly horse! Oh well, there went my low heart rate and two finishing positions as Sinatra shot up to 130 on the monitor and took a little while to settle down. He finally pulsed in at 54 about 3 minutes after the donkey episode, still a very fair recovery. But the couple ended up passing me at the finish and I was 8th out of 11th.
I took Sinatra back to the trailer and gave him some carrots and an apple. I untacked and sponged him off. We then walked back to get our completion check. He was all A’s this time with a CRI of 40 again. I was so proud of my guy! He did AWESOME this ride! I weighed him after the ride and he only lost 9 pounds! From 833 to 824, he stands about 14.3 with his shoes on. =)
At the awards that night, I was absolutely thrilled to learn that we won the Horse of Excellence Award!!! It’s a beautiful sheepskin rug (the kind with the really long fleece). My 10 month old son loves to lay on it but I have it on the back of our sofa so he can’t get it too dirty. My thanks to Ride Manager Rosalee Bradley and all the volunteers and sponsors for this ride. EVERY rider in the top-10 for every ride that weekend got their choice of a nice prize and top finishers in their weight division also got a bottle of fly spray (I was also top Featherweight). The food and hospitality were absolutely fantastic and very much appreciated! I will definitely be back next year, hopefully to ride the 55!
Things I learned on this trip:
1. Food: I made some of that box Pasta Salad and added cut up ham pieces and some peas. It was GREAT cold for a Friday night dinner and snack after the ride. They also were providing potato soup and rolls on Friday night for dinner for free. It was excellent but I did not do it justice. I had oatmeal for breakfast, I just sat and read my book and forced it down a little at a time (I have a nervous stomach and cannot eat before a ride). I did eat two packages. I had a tuna w/cheese sandwich for lunch. It was good cause I made it with a lot of mayo and relish (and GARLIC, yum) so was plenty moist and went down easy. Sinatra was SURE that he wanted some, even though I told him horses don't like tuna, but he persuaded me into giving him my last bite (mostly bread crust) and he agreed with me, horses DON'T like tuna! =) I drank a TON out on the trail. I filled my big water bottles (about 32 oz) with 1/2 Poweraid and 1/2 water and drank one whole one before our 15 mile hold. I drank the last bottle on my last 10 miles of trail and drank an additional 16-20 oz or so at the vetcheck back in camp. I had to PEE when I got into camp for the check and again when we were done, so that's really good for me! Dinner was plentiful and good. Pork roast with applesauce, rolls, potato or macaroni salad, corn, coleslaw, and a TON of desserts. I skipped dessert too, I just can't handle a bunch of sugar after something like that. The applesauce was plain out of the jar but tasted SO good!
2. Check that your water tank doesn't leak BEFORE you fill it up. Someone at my barn was being helpful and put in a 90 degree elbow for me so my on/off valve was below my built in holder and it leaked (slowly, luckily) where the valve connected to the elbow. I was thankful I had bought one of those BIG muck buckets cause I put it under to catch the drips and it was more than 1/2 full when I got there and had sloshed out some. So my water that should have lasted me all weekend was gone by Friday night. Luckily I had bought water bottles for me and my big bucket and my 5 gal bucket were full so I didn't have a problem and they had water troughs close by.
3. I LOVE my big muck bucket. I filled it up when I got there and ended up dumping about 1/3 when we left Sat evening. Sinatra drank out of it some and I used it to fill smaller buckets to sponge him off with. But I need to buy a little net like for a fish tank to clean off the hay that blows in there.
4. Train horse to wear shipping boots. Sinatra had a FIT when I put one on his right back leg on Thursday night so we made the trip without. He did look awfully cute in his fly mask that he wears in the trailer to protect his eyes from flying hay bits. And he LOVED his polar-fleece cooler on Friday night (it was pretty cold and windy).
5. Husbands are great at helping you clean and wash the horse trailer, but they look at you kind of funny when you try to explain how your water tank got filled up ALL the way before you noticed it leaked and then created a 1/2" of mud in your tack room.... Husbands can also pull out those rubber mats much better than wives can! =)
I had a GREAT ride and a nice trip and am really looking forward to the ride in two weeks at Silver Springs, NV hosted by the NEDA club. Hope to see you there!
Crysta and Sinatra (who definitely stands out in the crowd!)
I left Reno on Friday around 2:30 and arrived in camp around 5 pm. Not bad for 100 miles in an old truck that’s getting a new engine this weekend! Pre-ride vetting was supposed to be happening between 4 and 7 pm. I was met at the gate to the Nucking Futz Ranch (yes, that is the correct name) by a helpful volunteer who directed me on where to park and let me know that they were going to provide dinner to all the riders on Friday night at no charge as well! I got my gelding unloaded and camp all set up. He had handled the trip very well and although eager to check things out, he was behaving himself very nicely. Spending the entire day tied to the trailer at the Washoe Ride two weeks ago while I volunteered and scribed for the vet was the BEST thing I could have done for him. He is starting to take all this traveling and excitement at rides very much in stride. Not bad for a 5 year old that hadn’t been out much before I bought him.
Dinner was excellent but due to a sudden illness by one vet and an emergency with our other, Dr. McCartney didn’t arrive to start pre-ride vet in until almost 7 pm. Everyone lined up and patiently waited while she checked each horse. This ride was hosting a 25 on both Sat and Sun, a 55 on Sat and Sun, and a 2-day 105 mile ride. After vetting was completed we had our pre-ride meeting in the dark around 8:30 or so. Dr. McCartney warned us to take very good care of our horses tomorrow, there were 63 horses and only one vet, which meant that if she had to treat a horse, then they may have to stop the ride. They staggered the start of the 55 and 25 so that she could attend the away check that the 55’s had around the 20 mile mark (I’m not exactly sure on that mileage). The 55’s would start at 7 am and the 25’s would have a leisurely morning and start at 10 am. I turned off my alarm clock (there was NO WAY I was going to sleep that late) and finally crawled into bed around 9:45 pm.
I slept a lot better than I expected in the truck cab. It's just long enough I could stretch out. My biggest problem was the full moon was SO bright it was shining in the windshield and right into my eyes. So I slept with my head under the covers for a while. =) I need to get a windshield shade. The other windows are tinted really dark and you can't see in. I woke up when they made the rounds honking the horn at 6 am…. What to do for the next 4 hours??? I got up and gave my horse his breakfast and then crawled back into my sleeping bag and read my book for a while. Sat around and watched the 55’s get ready to go. Finally it was time for me to start saddling my horse and before I knew it, it was 10 am and they yelled, “Trails Open!”
There were 11 of us entered in the 25 mile ride. We all left at a nice leisurely walk and after a few 100 yards, took up a nice working trot. Sinatra was feeling good and behaving himself very well. We were soon passed by a lady on a big Morgan gelding who was traveling much faster than I wanted to that day (she ended up winning the ride). After about 6 miles, our little group (as in all 11 of us) ran into Dave Cootware going the opposite direction. He was the front-runner in the 55 and was kind enough to let us know we had all missed the turn about a mile back. So we all turned around and back-tracked, oh well, at least when EVERYONE misses it, it makes things fun and very fair! That was the ONLY section of trail that was not clearly marked that day.
Sinatra was doing great on pacing. I love this horse! We ride and train by ourselves quite often so he’s not very attached and will let me know when he wants to speed up or slow down, regardless of what the horses in front of him are doing. Today was the first time he felt a little “racy” with me but he was still very easy to rate and control. He’s just starting to understand that endurance is a lot of fun and it’s even more enjoyable in company! We did a lot of trotting with intermittent walking where it was rocky or he needed a break. I ended up riding the first 10 miles or so with a really nice man by the name of Heinrich (I believe) from Napa on a dark gray 6 year old Arab. The trail was really nice, with a lot of single track and jeep roads. There was some rock but you could just slow down and walk through it. There was also some deep sand, but we have sand we train in at home so Sinatra didn’t mind. There were some rolling hills and great views of the surrounding valley. Not a tree in sight though, unless it was hooked to someone’s sprinkler system! This is the N. CA desert after all, only a few miles from the NV border.
After a short but really steep hill, I got off to adjust my girth and didn’t really see Heinrich again (he ended up finishing 5th). So I rode the last 10 miles back into camp with a lady from Red Bluff (sorry, I’m absolutely HORRIBLE with names!). Our two horses were pretty evenly matched and we enjoyed taking turns leading and following. About ½ mile from the finish, she and another couple behind us decided to walk their horses in. Sinatra had been having great recoveries all day and was happily trotting along at about 100 on my heart rate monitor so I let him cruise on in. I walked him the last 100 yards and by the time we go to the In Timer, he was at 70. I jumped off, grabbed my vet card, got my time, and walked him around the corner to the P & R where he pulsed in at 56. Good boy! At our first ride, vetcheck was so exciting that it took him about 5 minutes to get used to everything and come down, even though he was walking in at 70 at that time as well.
Since we had an hour hold at this point (20 miles) I walked him back to the trailer to untack. He drank a BUNCH of water (he always does) and dove into his beet pulp mash (soaked Manna Equine Senior w/ electrolytes). I made myself a sandwich and let him eat. When he was done with his mash, I took him over to get vetted. He received all A’s except for a B on capillary refills and his pulse after his CRI was 40! Wow! This horse is doing awesome!
We went back to the trailer and hung out until I thought it was time to go. I saddled up and walked over to the Out Timer to discover I had hit it right on the nose and it was exactly time for me to leave. So I got on and started on the orange 5 mile loop. This loop was REALLY rock, lots of loose shale and big river rock in a dried out wash. Sinatra and I were taking it slow and easy (he was doing his “slug horse” walk) and the couple who was behind us right before the first vet check came up. I followed them for about 3 of the 5 miles and then trotted towards the finish as they walked their horses in. Again, Sinatra was just happily cruising along on a loose rein, choosing his pace, at a nice 100 bpm on the heart monitor. Suddenly, about 100 yards from the finish line…. There was a HORSE-EATING DONKEY!!! At least Sinatra thought so. He stopped, snorted and then plowed through the sagebrush in an effort to get away from the donkey, who was calmly standing by the fence on the OTHER side of the road! Silly horse! Oh well, there went my low heart rate and two finishing positions as Sinatra shot up to 130 on the monitor and took a little while to settle down. He finally pulsed in at 54 about 3 minutes after the donkey episode, still a very fair recovery. But the couple ended up passing me at the finish and I was 8th out of 11th.
I took Sinatra back to the trailer and gave him some carrots and an apple. I untacked and sponged him off. We then walked back to get our completion check. He was all A’s this time with a CRI of 40 again. I was so proud of my guy! He did AWESOME this ride! I weighed him after the ride and he only lost 9 pounds! From 833 to 824, he stands about 14.3 with his shoes on. =)
At the awards that night, I was absolutely thrilled to learn that we won the Horse of Excellence Award!!! It’s a beautiful sheepskin rug (the kind with the really long fleece). My 10 month old son loves to lay on it but I have it on the back of our sofa so he can’t get it too dirty. My thanks to Ride Manager Rosalee Bradley and all the volunteers and sponsors for this ride. EVERY rider in the top-10 for every ride that weekend got their choice of a nice prize and top finishers in their weight division also got a bottle of fly spray (I was also top Featherweight). The food and hospitality were absolutely fantastic and very much appreciated! I will definitely be back next year, hopefully to ride the 55!
Things I learned on this trip:
1. Food: I made some of that box Pasta Salad and added cut up ham pieces and some peas. It was GREAT cold for a Friday night dinner and snack after the ride. They also were providing potato soup and rolls on Friday night for dinner for free. It was excellent but I did not do it justice. I had oatmeal for breakfast, I just sat and read my book and forced it down a little at a time (I have a nervous stomach and cannot eat before a ride). I did eat two packages. I had a tuna w/cheese sandwich for lunch. It was good cause I made it with a lot of mayo and relish (and GARLIC, yum) so was plenty moist and went down easy. Sinatra was SURE that he wanted some, even though I told him horses don't like tuna, but he persuaded me into giving him my last bite (mostly bread crust) and he agreed with me, horses DON'T like tuna! =) I drank a TON out on the trail. I filled my big water bottles (about 32 oz) with 1/2 Poweraid and 1/2 water and drank one whole one before our 15 mile hold. I drank the last bottle on my last 10 miles of trail and drank an additional 16-20 oz or so at the vetcheck back in camp. I had to PEE when I got into camp for the check and again when we were done, so that's really good for me! Dinner was plentiful and good. Pork roast with applesauce, rolls, potato or macaroni salad, corn, coleslaw, and a TON of desserts. I skipped dessert too, I just can't handle a bunch of sugar after something like that. The applesauce was plain out of the jar but tasted SO good!
2. Check that your water tank doesn't leak BEFORE you fill it up. Someone at my barn was being helpful and put in a 90 degree elbow for me so my on/off valve was below my built in holder and it leaked (slowly, luckily) where the valve connected to the elbow. I was thankful I had bought one of those BIG muck buckets cause I put it under to catch the drips and it was more than 1/2 full when I got there and had sloshed out some. So my water that should have lasted me all weekend was gone by Friday night. Luckily I had bought water bottles for me and my big bucket and my 5 gal bucket were full so I didn't have a problem and they had water troughs close by.
3. I LOVE my big muck bucket. I filled it up when I got there and ended up dumping about 1/3 when we left Sat evening. Sinatra drank out of it some and I used it to fill smaller buckets to sponge him off with. But I need to buy a little net like for a fish tank to clean off the hay that blows in there.
4. Train horse to wear shipping boots. Sinatra had a FIT when I put one on his right back leg on Thursday night so we made the trip without. He did look awfully cute in his fly mask that he wears in the trailer to protect his eyes from flying hay bits. And he LOVED his polar-fleece cooler on Friday night (it was pretty cold and windy).
5. Husbands are great at helping you clean and wash the horse trailer, but they look at you kind of funny when you try to explain how your water tank got filled up ALL the way before you noticed it leaked and then created a 1/2" of mud in your tack room.... Husbands can also pull out those rubber mats much better than wives can! =)
I had a GREAT ride and a nice trip and am really looking forward to the ride in two weeks at Silver Springs, NV hosted by the NEDA club. Hope to see you there!
Crysta and Sinatra (who definitely stands out in the crowd!)
Thursday, May 08, 2003
Synergist Ride - Elaine D. Parker
I decided on the second loop of the Synergist last Saturday that I was definitely going to die. Not later and not of old age. I was going to die just as quickly as I got back to camp. That way Garry, my SO, best friend, bestest ever crew and farrier, would be there for Weeble's sake and I could die knowing he'd be cared for. Also, that way I wouldn't have to go back out for the last and longest loop.
I didn't die and I did go back out. Reluctantly and thinking that I was insane, I wasn't having fun and I really needed to visit a psychiatrist and find out what form of insanity I had and if there was hope for a cure if I made it back. It was long, it was hot, it was humid and it was dry. Humid and dry? Yep, the Synergist was held in the Withlacoochee forest. Basic Florida sandhill country. I don't know the correct geological name or the correct designation of the type of forest. I just know we native Floridians call them the sandhills, pine flatlands, scrub barrens, blackjack country, etc. Not flattering, but accurate. They're the forest that grew up on what used to be (millions of years ago) coastal dunes. There's water, but it's deep and you have to get it from wells. I don't know the area that well and there may be some streams or standing water, but I didn't see any. No natural water on the trail equals a dry ride. And on a humid day that got up to ninety it could have been dangerous.
The loops were long and the distances between water was far longer than I've ever had to go on a ride before. But then, this was only my 4th fifty so that didn't really signify. I do know that during the ride I was griping along with every one else about the paucity of water. The huge concrete water troughs in two spots were permanent tanks left over probably from the years of cattle ranging there. The one other trough away from camp was located at the Tillis Hills campground that we passed during the last loop. All of those were blessed by everyone when we met them.
Guess what? Not once did my horse or the ones at the water spots when I was there turn up their noses and/or play guessing games with the riders about whether or not they were going to drink. MY horse stuck his head in the trough and sucked and sucked and sucked. No nudging and irritating the other heads that were in there (they weren't paying any attention to what horse was drinking next to them, they just wanted to drink). He was dead serious about drinking RIGHT NOW!! AND his gut sounds were as good or better than usual? HUH? But the water was way apart and not only he, but I got extremely thirsty between them. Course when we got there we really tanked up.
In retroflection I'm glad that the last vet check was the only one that was an away check. I have to admit, once I got somewhat re-hydrated (I had made the mistake of taking only full strength GatorAid and I was suffering some stomach cramps and nausea by the time I got to the last check where the human water was available - my fault and a real learning experience) I decided that it was a beautiful spot. I believe that it was originally the old Perryman homestead, though no habitation ruins were there, but it was in a small hammock (in the sandhills that's an island of reasonably rich soil) and the grass was lush and plentiful. Weeble ate and ate until he finally got enough of it to allow me to insist he eat some of the beet pulp mix Garry had packed in a baggie for my cantle pack. He then promptly went back to eating grass. When we got the okay to go we still lingered for a few minutes and they still wanted to eat even as we rode off. Weeble kept reaching down for just one more bite and Nikki, Inta's horse, had so much grass in his mouth as we walked out of the vet check that he looked like he had a green beard.
If it weren't for my riding partners, Teresa and Inta, I would have made the mistake of walking too much for the last few miles. It wasn't until Teresa reminded me of what time it was and that we only had about two hours (and tired horses) for the last eight or nine miles that I realized we could come in overtime if we didn't pick up the pace. Thankfully it had cooled off somewhat and the horses perked right up and trotted home.
The ride camp itself was spacious and well set up. There were water troughs and FOUR water hoses for our use. Two of which were right by the vet check for our convenience. These hoses were very fortuitous for me as Weeble got a rope burn Friday afternoon just after we got there. Immediate hosing and the availability of that running water enabled us to deal with it and still complete the ride. Dr. Doug Shearer checked him for me right after it happened. Said to wait a couple of hours and see how it did and then he'd let me know whether or not he felt I should even vet in. I attended the clinic John had offered and Doug okayed Weeble to vet in afterward. He never did swell (hosing) and though the pastern was stingy to the touch (you could tell he didn't care for us putting ointment on it) he never was sore.
We came into the final vet check with a pulse of 57 hit 48 by the time the vet checked him and the CRI was 52. All other parameters were A's. Not bad for what I perceived as a stressful day. John DiPietra, the ride manager, was a funny and very generous person. He gave away one of his Synergist saddles (nope I didn't win it) and was very free with advice on balanced riding. He was also very complimentary about the quality of riding from all of the participants that he was seeing.
It was a tough, tough ride for me. I'm pretty sure that a lot of the riders felt that it was tough. It was hot and we all got really thirsty. BUT there were no treatments for horses. The riders all did a very good job of taking care of their horses. When I was thinking about this ride Sunday I decided that we're a little spoiled and I was ashamed of myself for griping. The concept of endurance is to meet the trail that you have that day and ride it that day, bringing your horse and yourself home safely and soundly. No matter what it is that makes a ride more difficult than what you're used to, finishing the ride is what matters. I'm proud of my little guy. He did a great job, he brought me home safely and he's perky and in good condition.
What more than that can you ask of any ride? Good camping, pleasant volunteers, a great ride dinner (best salad I've seen at a ride) and the satisfaction of finishing a hard ride. I know that I earned this t-shirt. This ride was not easy. It was very satisfying to be able to say, we done it!!
Elaine D. Parker
AERC - M19651
I didn't die and I did go back out. Reluctantly and thinking that I was insane, I wasn't having fun and I really needed to visit a psychiatrist and find out what form of insanity I had and if there was hope for a cure if I made it back. It was long, it was hot, it was humid and it was dry. Humid and dry? Yep, the Synergist was held in the Withlacoochee forest. Basic Florida sandhill country. I don't know the correct geological name or the correct designation of the type of forest. I just know we native Floridians call them the sandhills, pine flatlands, scrub barrens, blackjack country, etc. Not flattering, but accurate. They're the forest that grew up on what used to be (millions of years ago) coastal dunes. There's water, but it's deep and you have to get it from wells. I don't know the area that well and there may be some streams or standing water, but I didn't see any. No natural water on the trail equals a dry ride. And on a humid day that got up to ninety it could have been dangerous.
The loops were long and the distances between water was far longer than I've ever had to go on a ride before. But then, this was only my 4th fifty so that didn't really signify. I do know that during the ride I was griping along with every one else about the paucity of water. The huge concrete water troughs in two spots were permanent tanks left over probably from the years of cattle ranging there. The one other trough away from camp was located at the Tillis Hills campground that we passed during the last loop. All of those were blessed by everyone when we met them.
Guess what? Not once did my horse or the ones at the water spots when I was there turn up their noses and/or play guessing games with the riders about whether or not they were going to drink. MY horse stuck his head in the trough and sucked and sucked and sucked. No nudging and irritating the other heads that were in there (they weren't paying any attention to what horse was drinking next to them, they just wanted to drink). He was dead serious about drinking RIGHT NOW!! AND his gut sounds were as good or better than usual? HUH? But the water was way apart and not only he, but I got extremely thirsty between them. Course when we got there we really tanked up.
In retroflection I'm glad that the last vet check was the only one that was an away check. I have to admit, once I got somewhat re-hydrated (I had made the mistake of taking only full strength GatorAid and I was suffering some stomach cramps and nausea by the time I got to the last check where the human water was available - my fault and a real learning experience) I decided that it was a beautiful spot. I believe that it was originally the old Perryman homestead, though no habitation ruins were there, but it was in a small hammock (in the sandhills that's an island of reasonably rich soil) and the grass was lush and plentiful. Weeble ate and ate until he finally got enough of it to allow me to insist he eat some of the beet pulp mix Garry had packed in a baggie for my cantle pack. He then promptly went back to eating grass. When we got the okay to go we still lingered for a few minutes and they still wanted to eat even as we rode off. Weeble kept reaching down for just one more bite and Nikki, Inta's horse, had so much grass in his mouth as we walked out of the vet check that he looked like he had a green beard.
If it weren't for my riding partners, Teresa and Inta, I would have made the mistake of walking too much for the last few miles. It wasn't until Teresa reminded me of what time it was and that we only had about two hours (and tired horses) for the last eight or nine miles that I realized we could come in overtime if we didn't pick up the pace. Thankfully it had cooled off somewhat and the horses perked right up and trotted home.
The ride camp itself was spacious and well set up. There were water troughs and FOUR water hoses for our use. Two of which were right by the vet check for our convenience. These hoses were very fortuitous for me as Weeble got a rope burn Friday afternoon just after we got there. Immediate hosing and the availability of that running water enabled us to deal with it and still complete the ride. Dr. Doug Shearer checked him for me right after it happened. Said to wait a couple of hours and see how it did and then he'd let me know whether or not he felt I should even vet in. I attended the clinic John had offered and Doug okayed Weeble to vet in afterward. He never did swell (hosing) and though the pastern was stingy to the touch (you could tell he didn't care for us putting ointment on it) he never was sore.
We came into the final vet check with a pulse of 57 hit 48 by the time the vet checked him and the CRI was 52. All other parameters were A's. Not bad for what I perceived as a stressful day. John DiPietra, the ride manager, was a funny and very generous person. He gave away one of his Synergist saddles (nope I didn't win it) and was very free with advice on balanced riding. He was also very complimentary about the quality of riding from all of the participants that he was seeing.
It was a tough, tough ride for me. I'm pretty sure that a lot of the riders felt that it was tough. It was hot and we all got really thirsty. BUT there were no treatments for horses. The riders all did a very good job of taking care of their horses. When I was thinking about this ride Sunday I decided that we're a little spoiled and I was ashamed of myself for griping. The concept of endurance is to meet the trail that you have that day and ride it that day, bringing your horse and yourself home safely and soundly. No matter what it is that makes a ride more difficult than what you're used to, finishing the ride is what matters. I'm proud of my little guy. He did a great job, he brought me home safely and he's perky and in good condition.
What more than that can you ask of any ride? Good camping, pleasant volunteers, a great ride dinner (best salad I've seen at a ride) and the satisfaction of finishing a hard ride. I know that I earned this t-shirt. This ride was not easy. It was very satisfying to be able to say, we done it!!
Elaine D. Parker
AERC - M19651
Saturday, May 03, 2003
Purple Passion - Tom Noll
Greetings:
On the last week in April, the Purple Passion Endurance Ride was held in the Eagle Foothills northwest of Boise Idaho. Why it is called Purple Passion, I don't know. Perhaps it is the purple wildflowers that bloom in SW Idaho around this time of year, or perhaps it is the skin color one sometimes sees after riding in the cold and the rain.
Pam Haynes amiably manages the ride and offers 75 miles, 50 miles, 25 miles, and a trail ride on trails and roads through private land. Purple is the ride theme and Karen Steenhoff even went so far as to appear in a stunning purple quilted outfit with purple hair winning the Passionate about Purple award. Various outer layers covered my purple clothes due to the weather.
I chose the 50-mile ride for Frank and myself (Frank is my horse). Purple Passion was our second ride of the season. Even though we have been riding all through the winter, there are many miles and trails between now and November. Fifty miles seemed to be the correct distance.
It rained during the night and I saddled up under cloudy skies. The 50 started at 7 AM and around 6:30 it started to rain. By the 7:00 start it was sleet and rain. I pulled up the hood on my jacket and wished that I hadn't left my thicker water-resistant bike tights at home. We started up the trail near the end of the pack at a nice quick walk with two fellow riders from the PNER Outlaw Team, Regina Rose and Linda Black. I don't know too much about endurance organizations, but the Pacific Northwest Endurance Riders have a team competition where team members' points are totaled at the end of the season. There are various rules regarding teams and points, and it was an honor to be asked to join a local SW Idaho team called the "Outlaws" earlier this year.
The trail was muddy and gritty and there were horses ahead of us on the trail. Frank can be a competitive horse and we worked our way up to Outlaw Beth Bivens. Beth and I rode together for the first loop. Frank has a nice quick trot whereas Beth's horse Niles prefers to canter. Frank likes to canter as well, and when he hears Niles canter then Frank gets the idea and wants to canter too. At the canter, the speed can rapidly increase. So I spent most of the first loop signaling Frank to slow down and Frank spent most of the first loop signaling me to go faster. For nearly the entire loop there was another rider about a quarter-mile ahead and Frank desperately wanted to catch that horse.
The weather had cleared when we started the second loop. Beth mentioned that she was going to take a more relaxed pace so Frank and I headed off up the trail alone. After a few miles of riding alone, we came up to Linda Voigt and her horse Carlos at a water tank. Carlos and Frank made their greetings and then began to work together as they traveled along the trail. The trail goes through sage-covered rolling hills and on one hill we rode beside a young bald eagle flying in the wind at our level. Eventually the trail leads back to camp for the second vet check and hold.
The weather looked questionable for the start of the third loop so I put on my jacket. It was pleasantly warm when the sun was out, but I knew that the weather could change quickly. Frank was somewhat slow leaving camp but we saw Linda and Carlos just ahead on the trail and Frank was loosened up and ready to go when we caught up to them. We loped along the ridgeline and then headed down to the creek. Up along the creek bed it began to rain and in a few miles we were in a full-on snowstorm with rain and graupel (graupel is small snow pellets for y'all down south). We were riding up and down muddy hills and into the wind and snow (just like the old cowboy song - Lighting and thunder and it's pouring down rain, my golldarn slicker's in the wagon again...). I noticed that Frank's heart rate was higher than usual on the hills. It is hard work running up hills in the mud. Eventually the storm passed and we made our way back to the creek and then to the ridgeline and trails near camp.
We came out of the hills and onto the nice sandy road leading back up to camp. Frank wanted to move so we cantered on in towards camp. Frank was more relaxed after having traveled nearly 50 miles so I thought it was an ideal time to practice flying lead changes. We cantered up the road doing a lead change every quarter mile or so. As we neared the finish line I asked Linda if she wanted to tie at the finish but she graciously hung back one length while I finished.
At the Purple Passion, there are riders doing the 75 and 25 on many of the same trails as the 50-mile ride and there are often riders ahead of you and behind you on the trail. Until the finish, I had never checked our place in the field of riders. There was some hootin' and hollerin' as we approached the finish line and we were surprised to learn that we finished first and second in the 50 (to be completely honest, the weather discouraged some very good riders from starting, and two riders ahead of us missed a turn and had to repeat a section of trail). The weather cleared in the afternoon after the ride and we enjoyed a nice potluck dinner with the other riders, the ride managers, and the ride veterinarians, all of us relaxing in the sunshine.
Frank is quite a horse. We went out and did an even quick 50 at a nice pace and finished first.
Best Regards,
Tom Noll
SW Idaho
On the last week in April, the Purple Passion Endurance Ride was held in the Eagle Foothills northwest of Boise Idaho. Why it is called Purple Passion, I don't know. Perhaps it is the purple wildflowers that bloom in SW Idaho around this time of year, or perhaps it is the skin color one sometimes sees after riding in the cold and the rain.
Pam Haynes amiably manages the ride and offers 75 miles, 50 miles, 25 miles, and a trail ride on trails and roads through private land. Purple is the ride theme and Karen Steenhoff even went so far as to appear in a stunning purple quilted outfit with purple hair winning the Passionate about Purple award. Various outer layers covered my purple clothes due to the weather.
I chose the 50-mile ride for Frank and myself (Frank is my horse). Purple Passion was our second ride of the season. Even though we have been riding all through the winter, there are many miles and trails between now and November. Fifty miles seemed to be the correct distance.
It rained during the night and I saddled up under cloudy skies. The 50 started at 7 AM and around 6:30 it started to rain. By the 7:00 start it was sleet and rain. I pulled up the hood on my jacket and wished that I hadn't left my thicker water-resistant bike tights at home. We started up the trail near the end of the pack at a nice quick walk with two fellow riders from the PNER Outlaw Team, Regina Rose and Linda Black. I don't know too much about endurance organizations, but the Pacific Northwest Endurance Riders have a team competition where team members' points are totaled at the end of the season. There are various rules regarding teams and points, and it was an honor to be asked to join a local SW Idaho team called the "Outlaws" earlier this year.
The trail was muddy and gritty and there were horses ahead of us on the trail. Frank can be a competitive horse and we worked our way up to Outlaw Beth Bivens. Beth and I rode together for the first loop. Frank has a nice quick trot whereas Beth's horse Niles prefers to canter. Frank likes to canter as well, and when he hears Niles canter then Frank gets the idea and wants to canter too. At the canter, the speed can rapidly increase. So I spent most of the first loop signaling Frank to slow down and Frank spent most of the first loop signaling me to go faster. For nearly the entire loop there was another rider about a quarter-mile ahead and Frank desperately wanted to catch that horse.
The weather had cleared when we started the second loop. Beth mentioned that she was going to take a more relaxed pace so Frank and I headed off up the trail alone. After a few miles of riding alone, we came up to Linda Voigt and her horse Carlos at a water tank. Carlos and Frank made their greetings and then began to work together as they traveled along the trail. The trail goes through sage-covered rolling hills and on one hill we rode beside a young bald eagle flying in the wind at our level. Eventually the trail leads back to camp for the second vet check and hold.
The weather looked questionable for the start of the third loop so I put on my jacket. It was pleasantly warm when the sun was out, but I knew that the weather could change quickly. Frank was somewhat slow leaving camp but we saw Linda and Carlos just ahead on the trail and Frank was loosened up and ready to go when we caught up to them. We loped along the ridgeline and then headed down to the creek. Up along the creek bed it began to rain and in a few miles we were in a full-on snowstorm with rain and graupel (graupel is small snow pellets for y'all down south). We were riding up and down muddy hills and into the wind and snow (just like the old cowboy song - Lighting and thunder and it's pouring down rain, my golldarn slicker's in the wagon again...). I noticed that Frank's heart rate was higher than usual on the hills. It is hard work running up hills in the mud. Eventually the storm passed and we made our way back to the creek and then to the ridgeline and trails near camp.
We came out of the hills and onto the nice sandy road leading back up to camp. Frank wanted to move so we cantered on in towards camp. Frank was more relaxed after having traveled nearly 50 miles so I thought it was an ideal time to practice flying lead changes. We cantered up the road doing a lead change every quarter mile or so. As we neared the finish line I asked Linda if she wanted to tie at the finish but she graciously hung back one length while I finished.
At the Purple Passion, there are riders doing the 75 and 25 on many of the same trails as the 50-mile ride and there are often riders ahead of you and behind you on the trail. Until the finish, I had never checked our place in the field of riders. There was some hootin' and hollerin' as we approached the finish line and we were surprised to learn that we finished first and second in the 50 (to be completely honest, the weather discouraged some very good riders from starting, and two riders ahead of us missed a turn and had to repeat a section of trail). The weather cleared in the afternoon after the ride and we enjoyed a nice potluck dinner with the other riders, the ride managers, and the ride veterinarians, all of us relaxing in the sunshine.
Frank is quite a horse. We went out and did an even quick 50 at a nice pace and finished first.
Best Regards,
Tom Noll
SW Idaho
White River Ride Spring 2003 - Maggie Mieske
The first ride for us this season. Thank God winter seems to have given us a reprieve! In spite of ever present problems with hauling to rides, we made it to the ride site, confident that the impending arrival of Jenny's uncle (the genius mechanic) would solve the funny noises in our truck's engine.
Max and Malik immediately settled into the routine. These guys are getting to be pros. They know about eating and drinking and hanging loose. I LOVE it! They both vetted in with As. Malik, as always, must be entertaining. This weekend, he met up again with Rae Birr as his vet and I do believe he kept looking over at Steve Halstead (vetting comp across the way) wondering why Steve wasn't vetting him! He does seem to have a liking for Steve. Except for dancing a bit for Rae, he behaved within reason and gave her the proper "airs above the ground" performance for which he is famous in order to impress her. I am sure she was duly impressed until he tripped over his feet just as he made it back to her from our trot out! How embarrassing! To make matters worse, as we walked away, Max suddenly stopped directly in front of Malik and absentmindedly, almost as if he were being obliging, Malik halfheartedly started to mount him (didn't make it, of course) and then backed off with a silly look on his face. I don't know if he was embarrassed or not, but I sure was! Everyone had a good laugh!!! (And no, he wasn't even dropped or anything...I think he was daydreaming!).
Anyway, Friday night got COLD. There was ICE on the waters in the morning. I had trouble sleeping and finally got up at 4:30 and tried to rekindle the fire with no luck. So, I bundled up under the canopy in a lawn chair and admired the stars, remembering the meteor showers I try to enjoy every summer. Just as I was thinking it was too much to ask to see even one shooting star, one streaked across the sky in a blaze of glory. AMEN! As ridecamp started to stir and the birds started to announce the coming day, we all got up and got ready for the day and the ride. Our only goal at this ride was to complete....I had two things really that I wished to achieve. White River had been my first 50 in 1998 and it took me a loooooong time so I hoped to improve that time (which I didn't think would be hard since I was riding Malik and in MUCH better physical condition than I was then...I also have stopped smoking since then). It was also Malik's first 50 in 2000 and his first pull. Back then, his hindquarters just weren't ready for that sand then! So, we both had something we needed to accomplish.
We tacked up and warmed up with some walking and trotting and a little prancing. As Malik settled down, we finally checked in and simply were able to stand around at the start line and wait. It is wonderful to be able to do that. I enjoyed it immensely and even bragged a little bit to some of those around me. Big mistake. We didn't have a problem waiting there not even when the hot foot riders took off at the start. As we started walking toward the trail, Malik became Mr. Parade Horse doing his elegant canter almost in place only circling a bit this time and almost, almost acted like maybe he might just climb a tree if I didn't let him go. However, I was not going to allow any out of control behavior and we went off to the side and discussed it momentarily. I won. Kind of. So we TROTTED off down the trail. Good compromise.
The horses had no problem with the first 15 miles though I was still trying to slow down the pace (my stomach was not agreeing with me that morning). Nelson and Uncle Daniel were faithful in their pit crewing though the horses really had no interest in water yet. The first check was total chaos...I don't remember there being that many horses at White River when I have been there and horses were crowded around the vet in area. Rae had reduced the pulse parameters to 64 bpm to slow down some of those riders. When we presented Malik, he was at 68 (he had been down under 60 but the horses literally crowding around must have been too much excitement for him). So we had to wait. As we did, riders who came in behind us came up and went around INTO the vetting area, ignoring what might have been a line. We eventually got our pulses taken and wasted much time...had I been a front runner and vying for top ten, I would have been quite upset but our goals were more modest this time. In this case, "don't sweat the small stuff".
Horses ate and drank like champs in camp during our hold and off we went for our 10 mile loop at an easy canter. Malik finally settled into his huge trot and my stomach settled down and life was more efficient. The day warmed up. Uncle Daniel quickly settled into his slave labor role as the "water boy" (keep in mind "Uncle Daniel" is about 30 something) and was a fast learner. What he hasn't learned is that there ARE paybacks for those who get their riders wet at pit stops.
The second vet check was much less eventful than the first. The front runners were really running hard but far enough ahead of us to not cause any congestion at the check. Now all we had to do was do it all over again. The hour hold seemed almost too long and I wondered how I'd get back into it but I did and was surprised at how easy it was to mount up and go again.
We slowed down on the 15 mile loop this time...the first ride of the season is a rude awakening! We are never as ready as we hope we are!! I had also been sick with a nasty cough the week before and my lungs were complaining and causing some wonderful coughing spasms from time to time. We were also more careful because the more horses that go over this trail, the looser and deeper the sand gets and it seems to be 40 miles in sand that in the past has been Max's and Malik's nemesis and they had both been a little tight at the 2nd check.
We made it through the 3rd check with flying colors, improving all their scores. Only ten more miles to go!!! Our hold went by quickly. We took off at a gallop out of the last check (psych out tactics really...not for the competition but for ourselves and our horses!). We settled into a trot but it was not "the" trot. Malik had to pee. I know this "I gotta go" trot. I tried all of our usual little tricks to induce him to pee. He had peed previously in the ride so it wasn't like it was a vital thing but it's hard to ride a trot that feels like your horse is trying to cross his legs! I knew he wasn't tired (maybe some but not THAT tired). We decided to canter. That was much more comfortable, for both of us it seemed though my cough was making breathing difficult at times. Whenever we trotted, it was THAT trot so we would canter again (after trying the tricks again). Both horses were still interested in spooking at stupid stuff so I didn't feel even one bit sorry for him!!! This is the first time my "tricks" to encourage him to pee didn't work.
They were quite glad to turn onto that last 2 or 3 miles of trail where they stop for a drink and cool their feet in a little stream and their energy surged even more as they knew camp was ahead. I watched the two of them drink side by side, playing their little tricks on each other, dripping water on each other's necks and rubbing their heads (a wild, vicious Arabian stallion and his little gelding buddy) and realized what a TEAM they are. What we achieved we achieved TOGETHER and TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE (T.E.A.M.). I remembered enjoying the wild cherry trees in bloom and the marsh marigolds in all the wet places. Blue violets and the beginnings of what will soon be forest ferns and trillium lillies. Little, itty bitty leaves the size of my pinky fingernail and miniature purple buds waiting to burst into lilacs in a few weeks. The little kids who run out to the road to see the "horseys". The rushing water through the culverts washing away the last of winter's surplus. The smell of the woods. The warm sun on our faces, the blue of the sky. I will miss Jenny when she leaves for college and I am experiencing some serious doubts about our ride season (or most of the ride season anyway) without Jenny and Max. Not that we can't ride alone...we have, can and will. But for me, as much as it thrills me to charge up the hills and fly around the trees and through the forests and splash through streams (or LEAP across them as it suits Malik), none of the possible awards for this sport....not first to finish, not Best Condition, not ANYthing can equal the rewards I have reaped sharing this sport with my daughter who is also my best friend even if she doesn't think so.
And so, we FINISHED and in that respect, we WON. I really have no idea what our placing was (NOT top ten) and I don't even care. We finished in 5 hours and 49 minutes ride time and I am happy with that. Next weekend is Jenny's prom...she is going to volunteer at the Little Manistee Memorial Ride. Malik and I will go it alone there. Oh, and did Malik really have to pee? Well, after we finished, we went back to camp to untack and let the horses take a breather before vetting out. On the way to see Rae for the last time, Malik stopped and peed one lake, two ponds and a couple of decent puddles! Figures!!
I do know THIS...I am NOT ready for the Grand Island 100 this month. It's too early in the season. I am not going to set us up to fail. I am going to wait until the end of the season and perhaps if fate is kind, our truck will see us through to Spook Run. I will, in the meantime, have the opportunity to ride the Shore to Shore (that should really test my mettle!) and by the end of the season, Malik and I will both be in better shape, mentally and physically and perhaps by then I will have recovered from my empty nest syndrome. Oh, and I will by then be back in college myself, finishing my teaching degree! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me in my 100 mile endeavor...I have not given up, I have postponed. It is still my goal for this year to try a 100 miler so keep it coming!! :)
In closing, I must remember to thank our pit crew, Nelson and Daniel. Yeah, maybe we could do it without them on a ride like this with all the checks in camp but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun! THANK YOU, guys. And I must say, I enjoyed banter with our guest timer, Mike Caudill (regretfully did not get to meet Connie! Darn it!). Never did get to say Hey to Mary and her mighty Morgan either. I'm sure I'll see them all again somewhere soon!!! And many thanks to the vets, Wayne and the multitude of volunteers that I know it takes to put on a ride. I am so happy and glad that I have a whole season full of rides to look forward to!!!
Maggie
P.S. The truck will live to haul another day. It's off to the mechanic for some TLC and inspection to pinpoint the problem, but genius mechanic doesn't seem terribly concerned about its fate.
Max and Malik immediately settled into the routine. These guys are getting to be pros. They know about eating and drinking and hanging loose. I LOVE it! They both vetted in with As. Malik, as always, must be entertaining. This weekend, he met up again with Rae Birr as his vet and I do believe he kept looking over at Steve Halstead (vetting comp across the way) wondering why Steve wasn't vetting him! He does seem to have a liking for Steve. Except for dancing a bit for Rae, he behaved within reason and gave her the proper "airs above the ground" performance for which he is famous in order to impress her. I am sure she was duly impressed until he tripped over his feet just as he made it back to her from our trot out! How embarrassing! To make matters worse, as we walked away, Max suddenly stopped directly in front of Malik and absentmindedly, almost as if he were being obliging, Malik halfheartedly started to mount him (didn't make it, of course) and then backed off with a silly look on his face. I don't know if he was embarrassed or not, but I sure was! Everyone had a good laugh!!! (And no, he wasn't even dropped or anything...I think he was daydreaming!).
Anyway, Friday night got COLD. There was ICE on the waters in the morning. I had trouble sleeping and finally got up at 4:30 and tried to rekindle the fire with no luck. So, I bundled up under the canopy in a lawn chair and admired the stars, remembering the meteor showers I try to enjoy every summer. Just as I was thinking it was too much to ask to see even one shooting star, one streaked across the sky in a blaze of glory. AMEN! As ridecamp started to stir and the birds started to announce the coming day, we all got up and got ready for the day and the ride. Our only goal at this ride was to complete....I had two things really that I wished to achieve. White River had been my first 50 in 1998 and it took me a loooooong time so I hoped to improve that time (which I didn't think would be hard since I was riding Malik and in MUCH better physical condition than I was then...I also have stopped smoking since then). It was also Malik's first 50 in 2000 and his first pull. Back then, his hindquarters just weren't ready for that sand then! So, we both had something we needed to accomplish.
We tacked up and warmed up with some walking and trotting and a little prancing. As Malik settled down, we finally checked in and simply were able to stand around at the start line and wait. It is wonderful to be able to do that. I enjoyed it immensely and even bragged a little bit to some of those around me. Big mistake. We didn't have a problem waiting there not even when the hot foot riders took off at the start. As we started walking toward the trail, Malik became Mr. Parade Horse doing his elegant canter almost in place only circling a bit this time and almost, almost acted like maybe he might just climb a tree if I didn't let him go. However, I was not going to allow any out of control behavior and we went off to the side and discussed it momentarily. I won. Kind of. So we TROTTED off down the trail. Good compromise.
The horses had no problem with the first 15 miles though I was still trying to slow down the pace (my stomach was not agreeing with me that morning). Nelson and Uncle Daniel were faithful in their pit crewing though the horses really had no interest in water yet. The first check was total chaos...I don't remember there being that many horses at White River when I have been there and horses were crowded around the vet in area. Rae had reduced the pulse parameters to 64 bpm to slow down some of those riders. When we presented Malik, he was at 68 (he had been down under 60 but the horses literally crowding around must have been too much excitement for him). So we had to wait. As we did, riders who came in behind us came up and went around INTO the vetting area, ignoring what might have been a line. We eventually got our pulses taken and wasted much time...had I been a front runner and vying for top ten, I would have been quite upset but our goals were more modest this time. In this case, "don't sweat the small stuff".
Horses ate and drank like champs in camp during our hold and off we went for our 10 mile loop at an easy canter. Malik finally settled into his huge trot and my stomach settled down and life was more efficient. The day warmed up. Uncle Daniel quickly settled into his slave labor role as the "water boy" (keep in mind "Uncle Daniel" is about 30 something) and was a fast learner. What he hasn't learned is that there ARE paybacks for those who get their riders wet at pit stops.
The second vet check was much less eventful than the first. The front runners were really running hard but far enough ahead of us to not cause any congestion at the check. Now all we had to do was do it all over again. The hour hold seemed almost too long and I wondered how I'd get back into it but I did and was surprised at how easy it was to mount up and go again.
We slowed down on the 15 mile loop this time...the first ride of the season is a rude awakening! We are never as ready as we hope we are!! I had also been sick with a nasty cough the week before and my lungs were complaining and causing some wonderful coughing spasms from time to time. We were also more careful because the more horses that go over this trail, the looser and deeper the sand gets and it seems to be 40 miles in sand that in the past has been Max's and Malik's nemesis and they had both been a little tight at the 2nd check.
We made it through the 3rd check with flying colors, improving all their scores. Only ten more miles to go!!! Our hold went by quickly. We took off at a gallop out of the last check (psych out tactics really...not for the competition but for ourselves and our horses!). We settled into a trot but it was not "the" trot. Malik had to pee. I know this "I gotta go" trot. I tried all of our usual little tricks to induce him to pee. He had peed previously in the ride so it wasn't like it was a vital thing but it's hard to ride a trot that feels like your horse is trying to cross his legs! I knew he wasn't tired (maybe some but not THAT tired). We decided to canter. That was much more comfortable, for both of us it seemed though my cough was making breathing difficult at times. Whenever we trotted, it was THAT trot so we would canter again (after trying the tricks again). Both horses were still interested in spooking at stupid stuff so I didn't feel even one bit sorry for him!!! This is the first time my "tricks" to encourage him to pee didn't work.
They were quite glad to turn onto that last 2 or 3 miles of trail where they stop for a drink and cool their feet in a little stream and their energy surged even more as they knew camp was ahead. I watched the two of them drink side by side, playing their little tricks on each other, dripping water on each other's necks and rubbing their heads (a wild, vicious Arabian stallion and his little gelding buddy) and realized what a TEAM they are. What we achieved we achieved TOGETHER and TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE (T.E.A.M.). I remembered enjoying the wild cherry trees in bloom and the marsh marigolds in all the wet places. Blue violets and the beginnings of what will soon be forest ferns and trillium lillies. Little, itty bitty leaves the size of my pinky fingernail and miniature purple buds waiting to burst into lilacs in a few weeks. The little kids who run out to the road to see the "horseys". The rushing water through the culverts washing away the last of winter's surplus. The smell of the woods. The warm sun on our faces, the blue of the sky. I will miss Jenny when she leaves for college and I am experiencing some serious doubts about our ride season (or most of the ride season anyway) without Jenny and Max. Not that we can't ride alone...we have, can and will. But for me, as much as it thrills me to charge up the hills and fly around the trees and through the forests and splash through streams (or LEAP across them as it suits Malik), none of the possible awards for this sport....not first to finish, not Best Condition, not ANYthing can equal the rewards I have reaped sharing this sport with my daughter who is also my best friend even if she doesn't think so.
And so, we FINISHED and in that respect, we WON. I really have no idea what our placing was (NOT top ten) and I don't even care. We finished in 5 hours and 49 minutes ride time and I am happy with that. Next weekend is Jenny's prom...she is going to volunteer at the Little Manistee Memorial Ride. Malik and I will go it alone there. Oh, and did Malik really have to pee? Well, after we finished, we went back to camp to untack and let the horses take a breather before vetting out. On the way to see Rae for the last time, Malik stopped and peed one lake, two ponds and a couple of decent puddles! Figures!!
I do know THIS...I am NOT ready for the Grand Island 100 this month. It's too early in the season. I am not going to set us up to fail. I am going to wait until the end of the season and perhaps if fate is kind, our truck will see us through to Spook Run. I will, in the meantime, have the opportunity to ride the Shore to Shore (that should really test my mettle!) and by the end of the season, Malik and I will both be in better shape, mentally and physically and perhaps by then I will have recovered from my empty nest syndrome. Oh, and I will by then be back in college myself, finishing my teaching degree! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me in my 100 mile endeavor...I have not given up, I have postponed. It is still my goal for this year to try a 100 miler so keep it coming!! :)
In closing, I must remember to thank our pit crew, Nelson and Daniel. Yeah, maybe we could do it without them on a ride like this with all the checks in camp but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun! THANK YOU, guys. And I must say, I enjoyed banter with our guest timer, Mike Caudill (regretfully did not get to meet Connie! Darn it!). Never did get to say Hey to Mary and her mighty Morgan either. I'm sure I'll see them all again somewhere soon!!! And many thanks to the vets, Wayne and the multitude of volunteers that I know it takes to put on a ride. I am so happy and glad that I have a whole season full of rides to look forward to!!!
Maggie
P.S. The truck will live to haul another day. It's off to the mechanic for some TLC and inspection to pinpoint the problem, but genius mechanic doesn't seem terribly concerned about its fate.
Friday, April 25, 2003
Hog Wild - A Newbie's First Multiday (sort of ) - Scott
One hundred miles in one weekend. Okay, not quite the same ring as 100 miles in 1 day, but we've all gotta start somewhere! What an amazing experience. What an incredible ride. Tammy Robinson and the gang at Trail-Rite know how to do it.....well.....RITE!
The trails were impeccably marked - even the one or two riders who got lost admitted as much! There was a good reason to get lost, however, because the trails were BEAUTIFUL this year with hock-high mustard-weed fields and California poppies everywhere. It would have been so easy to be taking in all the scenery and miss the plethora of ribbons! The footing was incredible. The skies were a crystal blue. The volunteers were plentiful and knowledgeable and helpful. The food was delicious.
And the trails? Outstanding! There were single track winding paths on ridges with views of five mountain ranges, wide well-groomed dirt roads, long, twisting, sandy washes, and a final loop that took us through a semi-residential area where "movie folks" keep monkeys, orangutans, emus, llamas, and a huge one-hump camel! This ride has everything. You want a hilly challenge? The first loop'll do ya. You wanna race on a well groomed flat? There's plenty of that too. You want the adrenaline rush of picking your way carefully along narrow ridgecrests where you'll put all of your training to the test and trust your mount's ability to place its feet where you want 'em? Oh, boy. Hog Wild's got it! :o) I've obviously never ridden the Tevis - but I overheard several who've done so referring to this ride as a mini version of that classic challenge. I cannot recommend it enough. It's the only ride I have repeated (last year and this) and I will do it again and again - as long as Tammy and her family are insane enough to keep putting it on. How 'bout a three-day next year, Tammy? I'll help you blaze more trail!
If anyone is wondering how Solitaire and I did, here ya go........
We completed the first day middle-of-the-pack and healthy - which is exactly what I was hoping to do. At the final check, Solitaire had almost straight A's - her only B was (if I remember correctly) for impulsion. She was tired, but very fit. :o) I decided not to push her and opted not ride her the second day. Then Tammy offered me a wonderful opportunity - I could ride drag with her the second day on one of her incredible horses, TR Pistol Pete. (Yikes! I was going to ride a damned Ah-rab! LOL) I immediately took her up on it, especially since she would be riding her mare, Kate, and a completion would give this incredible horse 4,000 career miles! And this after taking time off to give Trail-Rite Ranch the miracle of healthy, stunningly beautiful TWIN foals last year!!!! Well, I pulled my tired newbie-butt up onto Pete the second day and rode off with Tammy for a milestone - my first multi-day. I completed (it'd be hard not to on this Trail-Rite trained horse - Pete is truly a "Pistol") and earned my 250 mile badge. But that paled in comparison to Tammy and TR Katie Bar the Door. I rode over the finish line with them and watched Tammy on the verge of tears as she rubbed Katie's neck. 4,000 miles. Wow.
It was a weekend to remember. This is an incredible sport full of incredible people and even more incredible and outstanding horses. My butt might be a little sore today but, with the high I'm on, I haven't noticed yet. :o) Thanks, Tammy and everyone at Trail-Rite. And a BIG thank you to Ginger who volunteered and sat as the in and out timer in base camp for a total of over 20 hours while I was out having all the fun.
Well, I'm gonna try to go to sleep now, but it may be hard. My mind is still "drinkin' the wind." :o)
Scott
The trails were impeccably marked - even the one or two riders who got lost admitted as much! There was a good reason to get lost, however, because the trails were BEAUTIFUL this year with hock-high mustard-weed fields and California poppies everywhere. It would have been so easy to be taking in all the scenery and miss the plethora of ribbons! The footing was incredible. The skies were a crystal blue. The volunteers were plentiful and knowledgeable and helpful. The food was delicious.
And the trails? Outstanding! There were single track winding paths on ridges with views of five mountain ranges, wide well-groomed dirt roads, long, twisting, sandy washes, and a final loop that took us through a semi-residential area where "movie folks" keep monkeys, orangutans, emus, llamas, and a huge one-hump camel! This ride has everything. You want a hilly challenge? The first loop'll do ya. You wanna race on a well groomed flat? There's plenty of that too. You want the adrenaline rush of picking your way carefully along narrow ridgecrests where you'll put all of your training to the test and trust your mount's ability to place its feet where you want 'em? Oh, boy. Hog Wild's got it! :o) I've obviously never ridden the Tevis - but I overheard several who've done so referring to this ride as a mini version of that classic challenge. I cannot recommend it enough. It's the only ride I have repeated (last year and this) and I will do it again and again - as long as Tammy and her family are insane enough to keep putting it on. How 'bout a three-day next year, Tammy? I'll help you blaze more trail!
If anyone is wondering how Solitaire and I did, here ya go........
We completed the first day middle-of-the-pack and healthy - which is exactly what I was hoping to do. At the final check, Solitaire had almost straight A's - her only B was (if I remember correctly) for impulsion. She was tired, but very fit. :o) I decided not to push her and opted not ride her the second day. Then Tammy offered me a wonderful opportunity - I could ride drag with her the second day on one of her incredible horses, TR Pistol Pete. (Yikes! I was going to ride a damned Ah-rab! LOL) I immediately took her up on it, especially since she would be riding her mare, Kate, and a completion would give this incredible horse 4,000 career miles! And this after taking time off to give Trail-Rite Ranch the miracle of healthy, stunningly beautiful TWIN foals last year!!!! Well, I pulled my tired newbie-butt up onto Pete the second day and rode off with Tammy for a milestone - my first multi-day. I completed (it'd be hard not to on this Trail-Rite trained horse - Pete is truly a "Pistol") and earned my 250 mile badge. But that paled in comparison to Tammy and TR Katie Bar the Door. I rode over the finish line with them and watched Tammy on the verge of tears as she rubbed Katie's neck. 4,000 miles. Wow.
It was a weekend to remember. This is an incredible sport full of incredible people and even more incredible and outstanding horses. My butt might be a little sore today but, with the high I'm on, I haven't noticed yet. :o) Thanks, Tammy and everyone at Trail-Rite. And a BIG thank you to Ginger who volunteered and sat as the in and out timer in base camp for a total of over 20 hours while I was out having all the fun.
Well, I'm gonna try to go to sleep now, but it may be hard. My mind is still "drinkin' the wind." :o)
Scott
Monday, April 14, 2003
Whiskey Town Chaser (aka Underwater Scavenger Hunt) - Pat Super
Perhaps this year, the ride should have been called Whiskeytown Underwater Scavenger Hunt. The instructions on the driving directions reminded participants to be certain to stop at park headquarters to secure a parking/camping certificate. The Forest Service Ranger advised that there was a storm warning out and at least 2" of rain was expected with snow forecast as low as 2000 feet. (Kanaka Peak, part of the trail, is at 4000 feet)
At 11 am on Friday the sun was shinning brightly and the skies were blue. I had ridden this ride for the first time last year and enjoyed it so much that a return engagement was definitely on the calendar. In fact, I anticipated a big attendance and so made special effort to get there early to secure a good parking spot. Imagine my surprise when we approached the campground and saw only a very few trailers where we anticipated bunches. After securing a great spot and getting the horses settled, we wandered over to the ride manager's area. On the tables were an array of truly nice awards including some exceptional ceramic horse sculptures donated by a local rider. Obviously much effort had been put into securing top notch participation awards. We were informed that there had been at least 15 cancellations just that day because of the dire weather forecast and anticipated bad driving conditions. But everyone was upbeat and slowly, trailers began arriving and things began to look up. When we rode out to stretch out the horses and check out the first few miles of trail, the weather was delightful, perfect riding weather and we commented that it was hard to believe that heavy rains would dampen the ride.
My riding buddy, Leighsa and I would both be riding "babies" for whom this would be their first endurance ride. Our plan was to ride at a slow but steady pace and concentrate on having a calm start. The goal of rides with them this year will be to develop an expectation of quiet and disciplined rides. Imagine my surprise and utter embarrassment when I presented Scrimshaw to vet in and she would not let the vet approach her. She whirled and danced and threw her head up and would have no part of him placing a stethoscope on her. This is a horse who six years ago lay in my barn in deep straw while I imprinted her. This is the little mare who was so easy to work with and who has always been a pleasure to be around and ride. Of my four horses, she is the one to follow anyone for a pet or stroke on the nose. She had epileptic episodes during the first three months of her life but luckily outgrew them (after about 15 episodes) just as the vet had predicted. I half expected the vet to throw up his hands and refuse to attempt to vet her in but instead he was patient and kind and continued to work with her to allay her fear of him. After what seemed like a very long time, Scrimshaw allowed the vet to examine her and she trotted out like a champ and we were on for Saturday's ride.
At the ride meeting, we were warned again of expected rain and cold weather and advised to care for our horses accordingly. The final count at that point was 22 starters on the 50 miler and 10 on the 25 miler. Just as the ride meeting concluded, it began to sprinkle. In ten minutes it was a downpour and it rained most of the night. I was thankful that I had found a Rambo waterproof blanket with zip on neck cover at a spring sale just a few weeks ago. I downed a Excedrin PM and settled in for a comfy night. It was raining as we tacked up and headed out on the trail but we were dressed for wet weather and looked forward to a fun, if wet ride.
The start of the ride was a sane one and both "babies" took it all in stride and when we turned onto the single track trail from the dirt road, we were happy to find that the footing was wonderful with no slippery mud. Decomposed granite in this area makes for great trail. It was raining lightly by now and the foliage on the hillsides and along the ravines made for a beautiful ride. This is such a pretty area. About a half hour into the ride, we saw riders returning along the trail. They were certain that they had missed a turn somewhere and were retracing their steps. We had questioned the lack of flagging earlier so were not surprised at this turn of events. At one point there were at least ten riders (half of the ride participants) milling around riding back to check turn-offs and possible routes. A few riders had ridden these trails often and opted to go on saying that at some point, the trails would converge and we would be able to pick up the actual flagged trail. Wanting to ride the trail as it had been routed for us, others decided to turn around and go back to the last known flag and search for the correct trail. This area is criss crossed with trails that are used by mountain bikers and horsemen and the choice of turnoffs is abundant. After some searching, we saw a glimmer of a flag about 50 yards down another trail but no flag to indicate a turn. But it was the correct color so we headed down that trail.
By now it was raining for real again but the horses were doing great and it was turning into a real adventure. A little muttering about how hard is it to hang a "reassurance flag" every now and then, but all in all, just something else to deal with that makes endurance the challenge it is. At another point, we arrived at a very large parking lot that we knew in advance we would come to but there was a choice of trails taking off from various parts of the area. Luckily, there was a group of riders ahead of us who called to us not to take the trail we had selected. That saved us from who knows how many miles of back tracking. The winds had come up and it made me wish I had worn that extra poly pro sweater I had left in the trailer. I usually overdress at the start of a ride and I usually find myself stopping to readjust for being overheated. No chance of that happening today, however.
There were parts of the trail that would serve the 25 milers as well as portions that would be ridden again on the second 50 mile loop. Where it was apparently questionable, management had written on signs with arrows pointing the correct direction depending on which loop and mileage one was doing. Problem was that the winds had blown down the signs and the rains had so disintegrated them that it was necessary to dismount, unfold the cardboard and try to imagine which directions were which. There would be one out vet check and because of the weather, the vet had said that he would make it a stop and go so that the horses would not get chilled. How happy we were to arrive at this point. We knew we were there because there was a lone white truck out of which the vet and his assistant climbed as we approached. Thinking that we had to be the last riders of the 50's we apologized for having made him wait out there for so long but he assured us that there were some riders behind us and he was so encouraging and upbeat that it was heartening. In fact, he told us how proud he was of us for hanging in there and riding under these adverse conditions. It was a quick check and we mounted for our trot out and we were on our way again.
The flags were sparse but we managed to follow the trail. After riding for some time at a pretty steady trot, Leighsa said "hmmmm, does this look familiar to you? We were trotting down a road that looked like any other road to me and I had not noticed that it was familiar so we continued. A few miles later, we encountered large remains of ashes where workers had apparently burned piles of debris. They spotted the road every twenty or so yards. I remembered encountering such spots earlier but thought that perhaps they had burned on many of the roads in this area. Then we saw a can on the side of the road that Leighsa remembered having seen before. Oh no! Don't tell me. I pulled out the map but it was one soggy mess and disintegrated as I tried to unfold it. By now, however, it was apparent that we were at the turn-off that leads to the out vet check and if we continued, we would be there in less than a mile or so. Ayeeee! This was turning into a frustrating adventure. We had done the first loop twice. As we rode back up the road, we encountered several groups of riders who were looking for the out vet check area. Some of them had managed to take the second loop trail which climbed Kanaka Peak, the highest point of the entire ride and had to back track. They were not happy. We also met some 25 milers who had gotten lost and ridden much of the 50 mile first loop. They were not happy. We met a couple of riders, one of whom was off and walking. Her four year old horse was on his first long distance ride and with the weather and the mileage, he was pretty tuckered out. He definitely was not happy.
Poor ride management. This ride was turning out to be a disaster. And they had obviously worked so hard to make everything right. The printed maps and instructions, the wonderful awards, the planned dinner that evening with Tri-tips cooked on the open spit. But according to someone's law, "If there is something that can go wrong, it will" was definitely applying to this ride. At one point, when I hopped from my horse to adjust my saddle, I realized that my boots had filled with water and each step was super squishy. We both found that our waterproof riding pants and jackets weren't really waterproof. But at least my neoprene gloves, though soaked were keeping my hands from freezing. The horses weren't drinking, even at the stream crossings when we had them stand in the middle of the streams. Even after electrolyting, they weren't drinking. But they were ravenous and we stopped often for them to munch on the abundant clumps of grass on the sides of the trails and roads. We realized that at the rate we were advancing, with the many twists and turns, we would likely finish with just barley time to spare. As miserable as we were, comfort wise, we could not help at commenting on the beauty of the area and it was a pleasure to ride the single track trails, which by now had turned to little streams. We were still having fun. If one had a horse who had issues with water, after this ride, the horse would be a guppy puppy.
Arriving back at camp, we were greeted with cheerful encouragement by a drenched group of smiling volunteers who were braving the elements and keeping a happy presence. Aren't endurance people great? Oh darned! Scrimshaw was not so tired that she would let the P & R person take her pulse without a fight. But, again, patience and kindness won out and after a few minutes of chasing her in a circle and stroking her and cooing to her, the kind man in the scary wet black slicker and the fisherman's rain hat was able to get her pulse which, thankfully was not elevated and we were vetted through and cleared for our hour hold.
Once I had gotten Scrimshaw's blanket on and she was scarfing down the beet pulp mash with a vengeance, I went into the trailer and turned on the heat and sat right in front of it. It felt sooooo good. Leighsa would not come in and opted to eat in the horse section of the trailer because she feared that if she once got warm, she would not want to go back out for the second loop. And she would have gone out, too, but I was having second thoughts. Our babies had already gone what we figured to be about 40 (or more) miles. If we went out for the second half, assuming that we did not get lost, they would end up doing at least 65 miles. Was it fair to ask this of them? The longest training ride we had gone on was 20 miles, some of it hard climbing, albeit. They both were eating well and looked bright and spunky. They had trotted out well and could probably have finished the ride easily. But how would we feel if somewhere out there, one or both of them should run out of gas or get overly tired. We opted to pull and have them remember a good experience. Even with the weather, it was hard to pull when you know that you have a sound, healthy horse, definitely fit to continue. I really appreciated the vet wanting to see the horses before we left. He offered to come to our trailer to check the horses or for us to bring them to the vetting area. He just wanted to know that they were ok. And of course, they looked great. In fact, both vets, after the trot out told me that they thought I had a fine little horse and it was well worth the time and effort to get her desensitized to the vetting procedure. (I was still embarrassed by her performance). We gave the horses time to rest and eat, and eat, and eat and then headed for home. We also learned at that point that at least the first part of the ride had been "sabotaged" and ribbons had been taken down by persons unknown.
As a footnote, it was a good thing that we left when we did. Heading toward Mt. Shasta, the rain turned to snow and it was accumulating fast and we still had a high pass to go over. I was happy that I had put those new tires on last week. Had we continued the ride, it is doubtful that we would have been able to make it home without some white knuckle driving and luck. My niece lives in Mt. Shasta and she said that she awoke Sunday morning to two feet of snow in her yard.
Bottom line is that Whiskeytown is a beautiful ride and ride management is terrific and the vets are awesome and I will definitely be there next year. Hopefully the sun will be in attendance also. The one suggestion that I would make is that when there are portions of trail that will serve more than one loop that each loop be ribboned with a different color tape. I would also like to see more flags more often if only to reassure me that I am on the correct trail. Y'all missed an awesome ride. Miserable as it was, it was FUN!!!!!
Pat
At 11 am on Friday the sun was shinning brightly and the skies were blue. I had ridden this ride for the first time last year and enjoyed it so much that a return engagement was definitely on the calendar. In fact, I anticipated a big attendance and so made special effort to get there early to secure a good parking spot. Imagine my surprise when we approached the campground and saw only a very few trailers where we anticipated bunches. After securing a great spot and getting the horses settled, we wandered over to the ride manager's area. On the tables were an array of truly nice awards including some exceptional ceramic horse sculptures donated by a local rider. Obviously much effort had been put into securing top notch participation awards. We were informed that there had been at least 15 cancellations just that day because of the dire weather forecast and anticipated bad driving conditions. But everyone was upbeat and slowly, trailers began arriving and things began to look up. When we rode out to stretch out the horses and check out the first few miles of trail, the weather was delightful, perfect riding weather and we commented that it was hard to believe that heavy rains would dampen the ride.
My riding buddy, Leighsa and I would both be riding "babies" for whom this would be their first endurance ride. Our plan was to ride at a slow but steady pace and concentrate on having a calm start. The goal of rides with them this year will be to develop an expectation of quiet and disciplined rides. Imagine my surprise and utter embarrassment when I presented Scrimshaw to vet in and she would not let the vet approach her. She whirled and danced and threw her head up and would have no part of him placing a stethoscope on her. This is a horse who six years ago lay in my barn in deep straw while I imprinted her. This is the little mare who was so easy to work with and who has always been a pleasure to be around and ride. Of my four horses, she is the one to follow anyone for a pet or stroke on the nose. She had epileptic episodes during the first three months of her life but luckily outgrew them (after about 15 episodes) just as the vet had predicted. I half expected the vet to throw up his hands and refuse to attempt to vet her in but instead he was patient and kind and continued to work with her to allay her fear of him. After what seemed like a very long time, Scrimshaw allowed the vet to examine her and she trotted out like a champ and we were on for Saturday's ride.
At the ride meeting, we were warned again of expected rain and cold weather and advised to care for our horses accordingly. The final count at that point was 22 starters on the 50 miler and 10 on the 25 miler. Just as the ride meeting concluded, it began to sprinkle. In ten minutes it was a downpour and it rained most of the night. I was thankful that I had found a Rambo waterproof blanket with zip on neck cover at a spring sale just a few weeks ago. I downed a Excedrin PM and settled in for a comfy night. It was raining as we tacked up and headed out on the trail but we were dressed for wet weather and looked forward to a fun, if wet ride.
The start of the ride was a sane one and both "babies" took it all in stride and when we turned onto the single track trail from the dirt road, we were happy to find that the footing was wonderful with no slippery mud. Decomposed granite in this area makes for great trail. It was raining lightly by now and the foliage on the hillsides and along the ravines made for a beautiful ride. This is such a pretty area. About a half hour into the ride, we saw riders returning along the trail. They were certain that they had missed a turn somewhere and were retracing their steps. We had questioned the lack of flagging earlier so were not surprised at this turn of events. At one point there were at least ten riders (half of the ride participants) milling around riding back to check turn-offs and possible routes. A few riders had ridden these trails often and opted to go on saying that at some point, the trails would converge and we would be able to pick up the actual flagged trail. Wanting to ride the trail as it had been routed for us, others decided to turn around and go back to the last known flag and search for the correct trail. This area is criss crossed with trails that are used by mountain bikers and horsemen and the choice of turnoffs is abundant. After some searching, we saw a glimmer of a flag about 50 yards down another trail but no flag to indicate a turn. But it was the correct color so we headed down that trail.
By now it was raining for real again but the horses were doing great and it was turning into a real adventure. A little muttering about how hard is it to hang a "reassurance flag" every now and then, but all in all, just something else to deal with that makes endurance the challenge it is. At another point, we arrived at a very large parking lot that we knew in advance we would come to but there was a choice of trails taking off from various parts of the area. Luckily, there was a group of riders ahead of us who called to us not to take the trail we had selected. That saved us from who knows how many miles of back tracking. The winds had come up and it made me wish I had worn that extra poly pro sweater I had left in the trailer. I usually overdress at the start of a ride and I usually find myself stopping to readjust for being overheated. No chance of that happening today, however.
There were parts of the trail that would serve the 25 milers as well as portions that would be ridden again on the second 50 mile loop. Where it was apparently questionable, management had written on signs with arrows pointing the correct direction depending on which loop and mileage one was doing. Problem was that the winds had blown down the signs and the rains had so disintegrated them that it was necessary to dismount, unfold the cardboard and try to imagine which directions were which. There would be one out vet check and because of the weather, the vet had said that he would make it a stop and go so that the horses would not get chilled. How happy we were to arrive at this point. We knew we were there because there was a lone white truck out of which the vet and his assistant climbed as we approached. Thinking that we had to be the last riders of the 50's we apologized for having made him wait out there for so long but he assured us that there were some riders behind us and he was so encouraging and upbeat that it was heartening. In fact, he told us how proud he was of us for hanging in there and riding under these adverse conditions. It was a quick check and we mounted for our trot out and we were on our way again.
The flags were sparse but we managed to follow the trail. After riding for some time at a pretty steady trot, Leighsa said "hmmmm, does this look familiar to you? We were trotting down a road that looked like any other road to me and I had not noticed that it was familiar so we continued. A few miles later, we encountered large remains of ashes where workers had apparently burned piles of debris. They spotted the road every twenty or so yards. I remembered encountering such spots earlier but thought that perhaps they had burned on many of the roads in this area. Then we saw a can on the side of the road that Leighsa remembered having seen before. Oh no! Don't tell me. I pulled out the map but it was one soggy mess and disintegrated as I tried to unfold it. By now, however, it was apparent that we were at the turn-off that leads to the out vet check and if we continued, we would be there in less than a mile or so. Ayeeee! This was turning into a frustrating adventure. We had done the first loop twice. As we rode back up the road, we encountered several groups of riders who were looking for the out vet check area. Some of them had managed to take the second loop trail which climbed Kanaka Peak, the highest point of the entire ride and had to back track. They were not happy. We also met some 25 milers who had gotten lost and ridden much of the 50 mile first loop. They were not happy. We met a couple of riders, one of whom was off and walking. Her four year old horse was on his first long distance ride and with the weather and the mileage, he was pretty tuckered out. He definitely was not happy.
Poor ride management. This ride was turning out to be a disaster. And they had obviously worked so hard to make everything right. The printed maps and instructions, the wonderful awards, the planned dinner that evening with Tri-tips cooked on the open spit. But according to someone's law, "If there is something that can go wrong, it will" was definitely applying to this ride. At one point, when I hopped from my horse to adjust my saddle, I realized that my boots had filled with water and each step was super squishy. We both found that our waterproof riding pants and jackets weren't really waterproof. But at least my neoprene gloves, though soaked were keeping my hands from freezing. The horses weren't drinking, even at the stream crossings when we had them stand in the middle of the streams. Even after electrolyting, they weren't drinking. But they were ravenous and we stopped often for them to munch on the abundant clumps of grass on the sides of the trails and roads. We realized that at the rate we were advancing, with the many twists and turns, we would likely finish with just barley time to spare. As miserable as we were, comfort wise, we could not help at commenting on the beauty of the area and it was a pleasure to ride the single track trails, which by now had turned to little streams. We were still having fun. If one had a horse who had issues with water, after this ride, the horse would be a guppy puppy.
Arriving back at camp, we were greeted with cheerful encouragement by a drenched group of smiling volunteers who were braving the elements and keeping a happy presence. Aren't endurance people great? Oh darned! Scrimshaw was not so tired that she would let the P & R person take her pulse without a fight. But, again, patience and kindness won out and after a few minutes of chasing her in a circle and stroking her and cooing to her, the kind man in the scary wet black slicker and the fisherman's rain hat was able to get her pulse which, thankfully was not elevated and we were vetted through and cleared for our hour hold.
Once I had gotten Scrimshaw's blanket on and she was scarfing down the beet pulp mash with a vengeance, I went into the trailer and turned on the heat and sat right in front of it. It felt sooooo good. Leighsa would not come in and opted to eat in the horse section of the trailer because she feared that if she once got warm, she would not want to go back out for the second loop. And she would have gone out, too, but I was having second thoughts. Our babies had already gone what we figured to be about 40 (or more) miles. If we went out for the second half, assuming that we did not get lost, they would end up doing at least 65 miles. Was it fair to ask this of them? The longest training ride we had gone on was 20 miles, some of it hard climbing, albeit. They both were eating well and looked bright and spunky. They had trotted out well and could probably have finished the ride easily. But how would we feel if somewhere out there, one or both of them should run out of gas or get overly tired. We opted to pull and have them remember a good experience. Even with the weather, it was hard to pull when you know that you have a sound, healthy horse, definitely fit to continue. I really appreciated the vet wanting to see the horses before we left. He offered to come to our trailer to check the horses or for us to bring them to the vetting area. He just wanted to know that they were ok. And of course, they looked great. In fact, both vets, after the trot out told me that they thought I had a fine little horse and it was well worth the time and effort to get her desensitized to the vetting procedure. (I was still embarrassed by her performance). We gave the horses time to rest and eat, and eat, and eat and then headed for home. We also learned at that point that at least the first part of the ride had been "sabotaged" and ribbons had been taken down by persons unknown.
As a footnote, it was a good thing that we left when we did. Heading toward Mt. Shasta, the rain turned to snow and it was accumulating fast and we still had a high pass to go over. I was happy that I had put those new tires on last week. Had we continued the ride, it is doubtful that we would have been able to make it home without some white knuckle driving and luck. My niece lives in Mt. Shasta and she said that she awoke Sunday morning to two feet of snow in her yard.
Bottom line is that Whiskeytown is a beautiful ride and ride management is terrific and the vets are awesome and I will definitely be there next year. Hopefully the sun will be in attendance also. The one suggestion that I would make is that when there are portions of trail that will serve more than one loop that each loop be ribboned with a different color tape. I would also like to see more flags more often if only to reassure me that I am on the correct trail. Y'all missed an awesome ride. Miserable as it was, it was FUN!!!!!
Pat
Chicken Chase - April Johnson
WEDNESDAY:
After getting off work on Wednesday, my husband and I dropped Serts off at the horse-sitters. We used to board Serts and Tanna with Judy, so were completely relaxed about leaving the gelding in one of her pastures.
Then we went home and began packing the right side of the trailer. Four bales of hay, a plastic rubbermaid-type container holding 50 lbs of grain and 40 pounds of beet pulp pellets went in first. I believe in being overprepared! :-) Then 3 rubbermaid containers with dog and horse supplies, several buckets, and the dog's large pet kennel.
Daniel mounted a closed circuit camera on the trailer door looking into Tanna's trailer stall. He also took 5 corral panels from our round pen and loaded them onto the rack he'd made on top of the trailer.
We spent the remainder of the evening packing people stuff and food into our small slide-in camper. This would be our first trip with our new-to-us camper.
THURSDAY
Thursday dawn cold and rainy. Ick! What happened to the promised sun and high 60 degree weather?
I got dressed and went out to find Tanna. I scanned the front pasture and didn't see him, so started up our big hill to look for him, figuring he was at the very top talking to the mare in a neighbor's pasture. I got worried when I reached the top and didn't find him. So I went down the fence line calling and looking. I called to Daniel, asking if he saw Tanna. Yep, down in the front pasture. Oh, well, it was good exercise.
Tanna was shivering, so I tied him to the trailer and gave him some beet pulp. I also threw his winter blanket on him. It took a while, but he finally stopped shivering. Poor guy. I should have had his blanket on him all night.
Daniel and I finished eating our own breakfast and finished last minute preparations to leave. We were in no hurry. Our ride wasn't until Sunday, so Tanna would have plenty of time to rest up for it.
We loaded Tanna into the trailer about noon. He went in quickly after a couple of false starts. He's not used to seeing all that other stuff in the stall next to him! Then I realized I hadn't put a hay bag in for him. So after trying to shove the hay bag in through the front window, I unloaded Tanna and put the hay bag in. Tanna jumped back into the trailer with no problems. He immediately started munching hay, quite content.
We pulled out of our driveway and stopped at a gas station down the road. Not to get gas, nope. To get a 1-liter bottle of Mountain Dew for Daniel. His normal traveling fare. :)
Our next stop was only 20 miles down the road at our local Wal-mart. We needed a few things, fresh fruit and 10 pounds of carrots.
Ok, finally! On our way! The camera looking in on Tanna blanked out. Oh, well. We switched to the other camera that was mounted on the back of the camper that Daniel uses to hook up the trailer. I could at least see Tanna's nose every now and again. Not very good though.
We traveled quite happily for quite aways, then stopped at an exit 30 miles south of the exit to get off for the ride. We went into a Taco Bell and ordered some take-out, and scooted across the road to a gas station. We took about 10 or 15 minutes at the gas station, loading up the truck with gas, buying bread and Pizza Combos (yummy!), and taking care of the animals. I got the dog out of the trailer and ran her back and forth a little. Then I offered her water and Tanna water. Tanna didn't drink, but obediently dropped his nose into it 2 or 3 times.
We got back on the road and followed the GPS directions after getting off the interstate. We were soon pulling into camp. We rolled slowly through camp and picked out a spot backed up to a treeline.
It took a very little time to pull the corral panels off the trailer and the divider out of the trailer and set them up into a hexagonal-shaped pen for Tanna. We gave him a bucket of water and his hay bag. Then we headed back toward the front to look for check-in.
I introduced myself to Amy Whelan, the ride manager, then waited as a couple of people riding on Friday got checked in. Then I got checked in for Sunday, paying my $$ for the entry fee and the mandatory Indiana state park bridle tag. Since I was the first rider to check in for Sunday's LD ride, I got the A number. Cool. A for April. On my first LD at Longstreet's Charge years and years (4) ago, I got AA when I was riding Apache (April and Apache, AA).
Amy told me that they would buy back the bridle tag since I was only riding one day. I'd get $10 of the $15 back. Works for me! As we wandered back to our trailer, we looked at all the trucks and horses that were already there. There were 30-some-odd horses that started the 55 miler on Friday. The weather was chilly, but at least we'd driven out of the drizzly yuckiness we'd seen in Nasvhille.
We attended the ride meeting later that evening. Even though I wasn't going to be riding, I was planning to volunteer out at the away vet check. Pulse would be 60 for all horses, all distances, all weekend. Holds on Friday and Saturday were 45 minutes. Holds on Sunday were 50 minutes due to easier calculations. The Sunday holds were decided Saturday night. The 55 would have 2 vet checks, both away from camp at Wilson Lake. All other vet checks for the weekend would be in camp.
After feeding Tanna a bucket of beet pulp and grain mix and filling 2 hay bags for him, Daniel and I disappeared into our little camper for munchies and then bed. It was so nice to crawl up into the bed over the cab instead of sleeping on the ground!
Tanna was making noise everytime he grabbed a bite of hay, banging the panels a bit. So Daniel went out and put bungee cords at the top of each panel intersection, stablizing them a bit so there was a lot less noise.
FRIDAY
I didn't wake up Friday morning until the riders were warming up for the ride. It was quite chilly, but I got up and took Tanna with me toward the start, wanting to see his reaction to all the horses and the excitement. He seemed interested, but not concerned. Although, we didn't see the main start. We were a little late for that.
The weather was nice, though. Sunny, although cold and windy. I wandered back to our campsite and fed Tanna again. After breakfast, Daniel and I hopped into the truck and headed off to the vet check site. The plan was for Daniel to drop me off, then go looking for a store to get people water, which we'd forgotten.
We got there and Amy introduced me to Susan Kasemeyer and Susan Vuturo various other people that I don't recall at the moment. I was given the job of vet secretary for Rae, a vet that had flown in from Michigan to vet on Friday and Saturday. It was interesting to see the riders come in. Seeing all the different tack variations. I saw at least 3 treeless saddles and a couple of Abetta saddles. A Synergist saddle. A lady wearing horse shipping boots instead of half-chaps. I can't say I learned tons while being vet secretary. I did learn some and watched and listened a lot. Maybe I just didn't do it long enough.
There was one accident. A lady came driving into the vet check and then it was apparent that she was hurt. She had taken somebody else's truck and left the truck's owner with her horse. She was immediately surrounded by helpful people. Somebody was dispatched with the trailer to pick up her horse and her family took her to the hospital. Her horse had tripped while trotting downhill and had rolled over her. Later in the weekend, Amy announced that the hurt lady might have fractured a bone, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.
I stayed at the vet check for 5 or 6 hours before taking off to go to the store. Daniel had stayed around the whole time. Part of the time was spent sleeping in our camper. Very nice to have that camper! :)
When we got back to camp, I figured that it was time for Tanna to take a look at the trails. So I saddled him. I was planning to use my high profile pad that had been delivered on Tuesday or Wednesday, but was disappointed to find out that the pad was not the same as the one I had, it was longer in the panels. I decided not to use it and put the smaller woolback pad on him.
I had Daniel hold Tanna while I mounted. I was hoping not to have a problem. While Tanna did do a couple of crow hops, it was mild and he quit quickly. He wouldn't stand still, though, so I waved to Daniel and headed for the trails.
I thought I would be out of the way, but it turned out I chose a trail that riders were coming and going on. Oh, well. More chance to see how Tanna would react. The trail started with gravel. Tanna was barefoot, so we walked and trotted along the edge of the trail. I picked the edge, thinking to save his feet.
We scooted off the gravel onto a trail as soon as possible. The new trail was very narrow and had tons of switchbacks. It was rather overgrown, too. But at least it wasn't gravel. After a few minutes, the trail dumped back onto the pink loop marked for the endurance rides.
Tanna was strong and pulling to blast up the hills. I allowed him sometimes, depending on the footing. We trotted a lot and cantered some. He was doing quite well. We came out onto a road bordered by a saddle club. We trotted along until the ribbons veered off the road to the left. The trail at this point was a gravel road in the middle of a field. I made Tanna trot off the gravel. He wanted to canter, but I refused because off the gravel, the ground was so uneven and I wasn't going to risk a misstep. The rest of the trail that I took had small scattered gravel and we mostly walked and trotted that section.
When I came out on the road, I checked my GPS. It said I'd gone 6 miles and that camp was just .25 miles along the road. So instead of following the ribbons across the street, I decided that 6 miles was a good enough leg stretching and headed directly toward camp.
When I got to the camp turn-in, Tanna started freaking and going sideways. At first, I thought it was the long blowing pink ribbon that marked the entrance to camp, but he wasn't paying any attention to that. It was the large rock with a horse sketched into it that he objected to. So I spent the next 10 or 15 minutes asking Tanna to walk back and forth in front of the rock, moving closer and closer to it. For several minutes, he did some very nice sidepassing to keep facing that scary rock. Then I finally got him to walk up and sniff the back of the rock. As we stepped around to the front, he about jumped out of his skin again. Guess he didn't like the sketching! Finally, though, he did sniff the front of the rock, so I turned him back to the camp.
When Daniel and I looked at the GPS track on the computer, the computer calculated that we'd gone 8 miles instead of 6.5 that the GPS had calculated. The computer is more accurate. I was irritated that the Geko was calculating low. Very low. Not that I cared that we did 8 miles instead of 6.5, but one of the reasons I use a GPS is to help gauge distance and average speed during a ride. While the Geko has lots of space for holding track points, the actual in-ride calculations seem to be poor quality.
SABBATH
I woke up Sabbath morning around dawn and slipped out to give Tanna some food. I'd begun lacing his food with electrolytes on Friday night. After feeding the dog, I went back in the camper and went to sleep for a couple more hours.
We lazed around for a couple hours before deciding to go find some local geocaches. Geocaches are small boxes that are hidden pretty much anywhere, but parks are a popular place to place them. The boxes usually have a log book to sign in and say a little something and small trinkets to trade. The hider then goes on www.geocaching.com and posts the coordinates and a little about the box and the area the box is hidden in. Then a Geocacher (like me and my husband) gets the coordinates, puts them in our GPS unit and then follow the arrow until we find the box. It's a fun sport and gets me out walking around when I'd usually be sitting around.
There were 3 geocaches that we were going after. They were all along the same trail. The furthest one out was about 1.3 miles. We decided to go get the furthest one first and then get the other 2 on our way back. Otherwise, we'd probably stop after the 2nd one and not go to get the last one!
Daniel took the dog and I snapped a lead rope to Tanna's halter and off we went, our interesting little caravan. For awhile we were on the common trail with competitors coming and going. Tanna did really well about getting off the trail for them to pass and never got hyper or upset. I love this horse!!!
After about half a mile, we got off the common trail and headed out on a single track trail. The hills were challenging for me. I had Tanna's lead rope draped casually over my shoulder with him following behind me. He stepped on me once and I swung the end of the rope back towards him and after that, he didn't step on me. We discovered on our walk that Tanna likes Skittles. Taste the Rainbow! Daniel had brought some and when we stopped periodically for me to rest (I'm such a wimp!) we'd eat a few Skittles. Tanna was interested, so I gave him a couple. Yummy, he liked those! And why not, they're just sugar. :-) When we reached near the spot where the geocache was, I tied Tanna off the trail and went in search of the cache. We found it in good shape, signed the log and climbed back up to Tanna. He'd stood staring at us, wondering what in the world we were doing, I'm sure.
We headed back towards camp and went in search of the second cache only .2 miles from the one we'd just found. This second cache required a steep, steep climb. I stopped to rest at least twice on the way up and collapsed on the ground as soon as we got to semi-level ground. Whew!!! What a workout I was getting. Tanna just looked at me like I was silly. The second cache took a little looking, even though it really was easy to find.
On our way to the next cache, we ran into some backpackers. We stopped and talked with them a little bit and one of them asked to pet Tanna. They asked if I ever rode him (since I was leading him, I guess it was a valid question!), so I told them a little about endurance riding and why we were there in the area. Never did get around to telling them about geocaching. The third cache was found easily. There was no good place to get Tanna off the trail, so I stayed with him while Daniel signed the log book of the cache. Then we headed back to the common trail towards camp. I was tired! I'm used to riding miles, but not walking them!
When we got back to camp, I dropped Tanna, the dog, and Daniel off at camp and decided to go see when I could vet Tanna in for the ride on Sunday. It was about 3:30 eastern time. I found Amy and she said come up and vet in when the vets aren't busy. So I went back and got Tanna. He'd rolled, so I ran a brush quickly over his coat to remove the dirt.
We went up and Rae wasn't busy, so she vetted me in with all As except a B+ on guts. I didn't get that because except for his brief 8 mile ride and 2.5 mile walk, all he'd done was eat and drink. But since he'd been showing no real problems, I didn't worry too much about the B. I did ask Rae about it and she just said "That's what it sounds like now. Just let him eat whatever he wants."
I went back to the camper and gave Tanna some beet pulp and went to take a nap until dinner. Dinner was provided by Ride Management for all riders. It was chicken (of course), green beans, potato salad, lemonade, iced tea, salad, and cake. I served myself all but chicken and tea. It was yummy stuff! After dinner, Daniel and I sat out in our chairs outside Tanna's pen. I had him on a lead rope letting him eat grass since his pen floor had been reduced to dirt and trampled hay after 2 days. We sat talking and watching the camp activity. Camp was extremely full, so plenty of activity to watch.
Tina Hicks came by and chatted with us for awhile. I had met her Friday finally. We'd spent some emails trying to get together for training rides and it had never materialized.
Tina rode the 25 on Saturday on her gaited horse, Hank. She'd lost 2 swiss boots along the trail in the first few miles, so had in reality, done the ride barefoot. I, of course, was interested in how she did since Tanna is also barefoot, although we weren't planning to ride barefoot. Hank had done well. Completed the trail in 3:20-something minutes with half an hour spent helping a rider that had been kicked in the shin. That's the 3rd time I've heard of that happening in the last few months. Ouch.
Tina left to go to the meeting place for a meeting. We thought it was the ride meeting, but it turned out to be the awards for Saturday's rides. It wouldn't have been a bad thing, except that since we thought it was the ride meeting (and the previous ride meetings were fairly short) we didn't take our chairs and the awards lasted longer than the meeting. I forget the exact numbers, but 90% of the riders completed the 25 miler and better than 90% completed the 50 miler. The only placing I remember is Lois McAfee won the 50 miler. Oh, and Tina got both her Swiss boots back from lost and found!
After the awards, Amy said that the ride meeting would be in a half an hour. She also said she wanted the bridle tags to buy back if we wanted. So Daniel and I went back to our camp to get our chairs and the bridle tag.
We sat around waiting for the ride meeting to start. It was a quite short meeting. Everything for the 50s was the same as Saturday's ride, so no surprises there. The 25 milers would ride the pink loop (10 miles) and come in for a vet check. Then ride the blue loop (17 miles) instead of the yellow loop (15 miles for the 25 milers) like on Saturday. The holds were changed from 45 minutes to 50 minutes to aid the volunteers in doing out time calculations. The second loop for the 25 milers was changed to the blue loop because it had less gravel.
Back at our camper, I spent some time laying everything out for the ride in the morning. Brushes, easy boots, vet wrap, duct tape, bridle, reins, saddle, GPS, saddle pad, heart rate monitor, ride pants, layers of shirts, gatorade, water, dried fruit, everything that I could think of.
Then I set several alarms on my PDA and my husband's PDA and my wristwatch. I'd forgotten to bring a real alarm clock and I was worried about getting up in time. I set all the alarms for 5 AM. Start time was 7:40. 2 hours and 40 minutes should be plenty of time to get ready. I wanted to be mounted by 7:10 to be warming up and evaluating Tanna's mind.
I gave Tanna another helping of beet pulp and grain laced with electrolytes. Then I crawled into bed to await the alarms.
SUNDAY
I was actually semi-awake by 4:30 AM. When my alarms started going off, I turned them off and moved to start getting ready for my day. I fed Tanna, but he knew something was up and largely ignored the food for awhile. He grabbed a bite of hay now and again while watching me. I took the dog off her lead and took her for a quick run.
Then I went back inside and got dressed. Then I put Tanna's easyboots on and then wrapped them in duct tape. I set the plunger on the Lyte Now electrolyte tube and squirted 25 ccs into his mouth. After breakfast, I sat and read my book for 15 minutes. I had plenty of time and I was trying to keep myself calm. The calmer I'd be, the calmer Tanna'd be.
Finally, I went out and saddled Tanna. I kept a blanket covering his butt because it was cold out and I wanted to keep him warm and fluid. I adjusted his breast collar to engage sooner. Usually, my breast collar is a precaution to keep his saddle from sliding completely to the side if he dumps me and runs off, but for this ride, the breast collar was quite necessary. I haven't trained Tanna for a crupper, even though I have one, so I didn't even think of bringing out the crupper. Besides, Tanna's high withers come in handy to keep the saddle back. :)
I tightened the girth and checked his heart rate. 36. Pretty good. I put my water and gatorade bottles in the cantle bag. I slid the bit into his mouth (I had slid the bit under his blanket on his butt to warm it up a little), clipping it to the other side. I usually ride in a Little S Hackamore, but I was unsure of how Tanna would act, so wanted the bit. As I went to put my foot in the stirrup, I noticed I was wearing my tennis shoes, still. Can't do that. My tennis shoes can get through the holes in my easy ride stirrup cages. So I tied Tanna up again and changed my shoes.
When I went back to get on, Tanna would not stand still. My husband was watching from the camper, so I asked if he would come hold him. As soon as I said that, Tanna stood still long enough for me to pop into the saddle. As he danced around, I called into Daniel and told him I was on and going.
We walked back and forth and up and down and I trotted him some to check his brakes. Everything seemed a go. When I went up to the start area, the 50 milers had already gone. Just a few more minutes. I found Tina and parked Tanna next to Hank. Daniel showed up on my left, then it was time to go.
It was a controlled start and there were several horses in front. We were spread out on the pavement. A lot of horses calmly walking. A lot of owners crooning to their horses to keep them walking calmly. The photographer was off to the right. Tanna started just a tad, but no real spooking.
When we reached the gravel, I let Tanna move into a trot. Boing, boing, boing. He started to get stiff-necked and strong. Boing, boing, boing. Canter, canter, canter. Please go slower, Tanna, Boing, boing, boing. Ok, fine, here we go. Canter. We passed a horse that was jumping around quite a bit and I made sure the guy was ok as we trotted past. He said so far he was ok!
We ended up trotting along by ourselves, but could see other horses ahead. Tanna was pulling, but controllable. We turned off the gravel onto trail. I let Tanna canter where safe and pulled him back to a barely controlled trot when not safe to canter. After awhile we caught up with a leopard appaloosa and a chestnut. When they stopped to drink, we passed them up, since I knew it was useless to ask Tanna to drink only 2 miles in.
We were on the same trail that I had ridden on Friday. When we hit the pavement, the chestnut was behind us, but stopped or slowed down. All the sudden, Tanna realized he was by himself. He couldn't see any horses ahead and the ones behind him had stopped or slowed down. He seemed alarmed by that fact. I talked to him telling him that we'd see other horses and even if we didn't, this is what we did, ride out together with no other horses.
After a couple of minutes, we were out ion the gravel road through the field and 2 riders on mares asked to pass on the left. Then the chestnut and appaloosa passed. Tanna went into barely controllable mode again, so I fell in line. Five horses in a row, trotting and cantering along together. After awhile, I ended up in the middle and when the appy and chestnut paused for water again, we split a little.
As the mares trotted along, Tanna cantered to keep up. He trotted some and cantered mostly. He was controllable as long as I didn't try to keep him too far behind the mares. I found out that the mare in front of me was being ridden by Dede, the vet secretary for the other vet on Friday.
As we neared the end of the trail, we came up on the photographer. Flash, rear, fall. The lady on the lead mare fell off, but was unhurt and jumped right back on. When we saw pavement, I dismounted and began removing my gloves and looking for my vet card. I dropped a glove and had to go back and retrieve it.
It took 6 minutes for Tanna to pulse down. He was hanging at 64, but it dropped quickly after he peed. He got As, except for a B on guts again. After the vet check, I took Tanna back to our trailer and threw a blanket over his butt to keep his muscles warm. He immediately started eating the beet pulp that he'd largely ignored that morning. He alternated between hay and beet pulp.
Tanna still had both easy boots, but we thought it best to redo the duct tape. So Daniel removed the tape and retaped one foot. I retaped the other. I sat around and ate and drank while Tanna ate. He didn't drink much, but ate heartily and since the beet pulp was very wet, I wasn't too worried about the drinking.
When it was about time to go out, I saw Tina and asked her how they were doing. She'd come into the vet check sooner than me, but had decided to leave out later than her out time to give Hank a bit more of a breather since they did the first loop fairly fast.
I mounted up with the blanket still on Tanna's butt, intending to walk him back up to the trail with it and have Daniel bring it back to camp. But Tanna didn't like it, so rather than upset him, I had Daniel remove it right away. We were cleared to go and out we went on the blue loop.
We were alone and Tanna moved out just fine. He trotted and cantered. He seemed to think we were alone on the trail, but after awhile pricked his ears up and kept looking for horses ahead of him. The trail was hilly and when up on the ridge, there was a wonderful view.
Part of the blue loop involved traveling down a trail to a gate, reading a password off a pie plate, and returning along the same trail for aways. When we hit that part, it was awhile before we started seeing riders coming our way. I had expected to see people sooner. With each rider that passed us, Tanna seemed more lively and more animated. He's so cute!
Finally, at 10:13, we saw the chestnut and appaloosa from the first loop. They were heading back from getting the password. I figured I couldn't be too far behind them so when we hit the gate and I got the password, I turned Tanna and let him go.
And I mean let him go. I never let him go full out. I'm too much of a fraidy cat. But it just felt right, so away we flew. And it felt like flying. It was exhilerating. Here I was on my favorite horse flying! I can't put it into words, but it felt wonderful. We were totally in sync. He was flying, but listening. We blew past Tina and 3 other horses while they were headed toward the gate. I'm pretty sure we slowed down. Might have even gotten into a trot, but the second we were past them, we were gone again. While we flew, I thought, now I'll never get his mind back. I've just blown his mind. Then I thought, even if I don't blow his mind, I'm probably killing his body. But we kept going and going. In reality, it was only about 10 minutes and 2 miles, but it was SO much fun! :) Amazingly, the easy boots stayed on through that foray.
We reached the end of the out and back trail and turned left to hit the pavement. Turned right and trotted along for a mile and a third before turning back onto the trail. There was a good bit of water right there and I asked Tanna to drink. No go. So we headed out and caught up with the chestnut and appaloosa shortly after. I followed them for a bit until they stopped for water and Tanna refused again. Then we trotted off.
We rode the rest of the ride by ourselves. Tanna did fine. He even drank some from a creek further on the way. Good boy! The next part of the ride was a climb out of the gully to the ridge. He did well on that, trotting and cantering up it. We hit the common gravel trail with 1.5 miles to go. I couldn't believe we were almost done. We cantered along at a nice 150 heart rate. I glanced down to be sure his easy boots were still on. Looked ok to me, so we cantered to the road.
With about two tenths of a mile to go, I slowed Tanna to a walk. His heart rate was about 90 when I dismounted at the grass. I landed wrong when I dismounted and I limped toward the timers' table. Daniel saw me and came towards me. I gave him Tanna and started to walk by the timers when they asked for my card. Oh, yeah, duh.
It took me three minutes to hobble to the pulse area. He was down before we got there. So we got our time. 11:41. Ride time of 3:11. Good enough for 7th place. That was a pleasant surprise. Not that it mattered, but I was thinking I was about 17th or so.
He vetted in with all As except a B on guts again and a B on capillary refill. I had lost one of my easy boots and Chris, riding the Appaloosa told me where it was, so I had to head back out and get it. When I thought I had it, all I was seeing was the duct tape, but of course, I didn't realize that. I've got to start using the red boots!
I asked each rider I passed if they had my easy boot and about half a mile out I saw Charles and a couple of other riders. Charles said he had the boot in his pack. Cool! I turned and followed them back in and Charles gave me the boot when we got back. Thank you to him!
Amy knew this was only my 3rd LD and my first ride in 4 years, so she had saved out a shirt for me! Thanks, Amy. The 3rd day finishers were mostly getting lead ropes, but I prefered a t-shirt. Very sweet of her!
I also bought a couple of pictures from the photographer. I had Tanna on a lead rope while looking at the books of pictures to find me and Tanna was standing nicely behind me. Several people got a kick out of the horse "looking" at the pictures, too.
We loaded up and headed home after about 3 hours. Daniel had fixed the camera so I could see Tanna quite well on the way home. When I turned Tanna out in the pasture, he went running around with the dog.
We had a great weekend and will definitely be back next year! Great ride! And thanks to Bill Wilson for the camping area and all the other things he did! The trails were marked well, even though there was some talk of vandalism. I didn't get lost once. The trails had great footing.
It's a great ride. If you missed this one, consider coming next year!
April
Nashville, TN
After getting off work on Wednesday, my husband and I dropped Serts off at the horse-sitters. We used to board Serts and Tanna with Judy, so were completely relaxed about leaving the gelding in one of her pastures.
Then we went home and began packing the right side of the trailer. Four bales of hay, a plastic rubbermaid-type container holding 50 lbs of grain and 40 pounds of beet pulp pellets went in first. I believe in being overprepared! :-) Then 3 rubbermaid containers with dog and horse supplies, several buckets, and the dog's large pet kennel.
Daniel mounted a closed circuit camera on the trailer door looking into Tanna's trailer stall. He also took 5 corral panels from our round pen and loaded them onto the rack he'd made on top of the trailer.
We spent the remainder of the evening packing people stuff and food into our small slide-in camper. This would be our first trip with our new-to-us camper.
THURSDAY
Thursday dawn cold and rainy. Ick! What happened to the promised sun and high 60 degree weather?
I got dressed and went out to find Tanna. I scanned the front pasture and didn't see him, so started up our big hill to look for him, figuring he was at the very top talking to the mare in a neighbor's pasture. I got worried when I reached the top and didn't find him. So I went down the fence line calling and looking. I called to Daniel, asking if he saw Tanna. Yep, down in the front pasture. Oh, well, it was good exercise.
Tanna was shivering, so I tied him to the trailer and gave him some beet pulp. I also threw his winter blanket on him. It took a while, but he finally stopped shivering. Poor guy. I should have had his blanket on him all night.
Daniel and I finished eating our own breakfast and finished last minute preparations to leave. We were in no hurry. Our ride wasn't until Sunday, so Tanna would have plenty of time to rest up for it.
We loaded Tanna into the trailer about noon. He went in quickly after a couple of false starts. He's not used to seeing all that other stuff in the stall next to him! Then I realized I hadn't put a hay bag in for him. So after trying to shove the hay bag in through the front window, I unloaded Tanna and put the hay bag in. Tanna jumped back into the trailer with no problems. He immediately started munching hay, quite content.
We pulled out of our driveway and stopped at a gas station down the road. Not to get gas, nope. To get a 1-liter bottle of Mountain Dew for Daniel. His normal traveling fare. :)
Our next stop was only 20 miles down the road at our local Wal-mart. We needed a few things, fresh fruit and 10 pounds of carrots.
Ok, finally! On our way! The camera looking in on Tanna blanked out. Oh, well. We switched to the other camera that was mounted on the back of the camper that Daniel uses to hook up the trailer. I could at least see Tanna's nose every now and again. Not very good though.
We traveled quite happily for quite aways, then stopped at an exit 30 miles south of the exit to get off for the ride. We went into a Taco Bell and ordered some take-out, and scooted across the road to a gas station. We took about 10 or 15 minutes at the gas station, loading up the truck with gas, buying bread and Pizza Combos (yummy!), and taking care of the animals. I got the dog out of the trailer and ran her back and forth a little. Then I offered her water and Tanna water. Tanna didn't drink, but obediently dropped his nose into it 2 or 3 times.
We got back on the road and followed the GPS directions after getting off the interstate. We were soon pulling into camp. We rolled slowly through camp and picked out a spot backed up to a treeline.
It took a very little time to pull the corral panels off the trailer and the divider out of the trailer and set them up into a hexagonal-shaped pen for Tanna. We gave him a bucket of water and his hay bag. Then we headed back toward the front to look for check-in.
I introduced myself to Amy Whelan, the ride manager, then waited as a couple of people riding on Friday got checked in. Then I got checked in for Sunday, paying my $$ for the entry fee and the mandatory Indiana state park bridle tag. Since I was the first rider to check in for Sunday's LD ride, I got the A number. Cool. A for April. On my first LD at Longstreet's Charge years and years (4) ago, I got AA when I was riding Apache (April and Apache, AA).
Amy told me that they would buy back the bridle tag since I was only riding one day. I'd get $10 of the $15 back. Works for me! As we wandered back to our trailer, we looked at all the trucks and horses that were already there. There were 30-some-odd horses that started the 55 miler on Friday. The weather was chilly, but at least we'd driven out of the drizzly yuckiness we'd seen in Nasvhille.
We attended the ride meeting later that evening. Even though I wasn't going to be riding, I was planning to volunteer out at the away vet check. Pulse would be 60 for all horses, all distances, all weekend. Holds on Friday and Saturday were 45 minutes. Holds on Sunday were 50 minutes due to easier calculations. The Sunday holds were decided Saturday night. The 55 would have 2 vet checks, both away from camp at Wilson Lake. All other vet checks for the weekend would be in camp.
After feeding Tanna a bucket of beet pulp and grain mix and filling 2 hay bags for him, Daniel and I disappeared into our little camper for munchies and then bed. It was so nice to crawl up into the bed over the cab instead of sleeping on the ground!
Tanna was making noise everytime he grabbed a bite of hay, banging the panels a bit. So Daniel went out and put bungee cords at the top of each panel intersection, stablizing them a bit so there was a lot less noise.
FRIDAY
I didn't wake up Friday morning until the riders were warming up for the ride. It was quite chilly, but I got up and took Tanna with me toward the start, wanting to see his reaction to all the horses and the excitement. He seemed interested, but not concerned. Although, we didn't see the main start. We were a little late for that.
The weather was nice, though. Sunny, although cold and windy. I wandered back to our campsite and fed Tanna again. After breakfast, Daniel and I hopped into the truck and headed off to the vet check site. The plan was for Daniel to drop me off, then go looking for a store to get people water, which we'd forgotten.
We got there and Amy introduced me to Susan Kasemeyer and Susan Vuturo various other people that I don't recall at the moment. I was given the job of vet secretary for Rae, a vet that had flown in from Michigan to vet on Friday and Saturday. It was interesting to see the riders come in. Seeing all the different tack variations. I saw at least 3 treeless saddles and a couple of Abetta saddles. A Synergist saddle. A lady wearing horse shipping boots instead of half-chaps. I can't say I learned tons while being vet secretary. I did learn some and watched and listened a lot. Maybe I just didn't do it long enough.
There was one accident. A lady came driving into the vet check and then it was apparent that she was hurt. She had taken somebody else's truck and left the truck's owner with her horse. She was immediately surrounded by helpful people. Somebody was dispatched with the trailer to pick up her horse and her family took her to the hospital. Her horse had tripped while trotting downhill and had rolled over her. Later in the weekend, Amy announced that the hurt lady might have fractured a bone, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.
I stayed at the vet check for 5 or 6 hours before taking off to go to the store. Daniel had stayed around the whole time. Part of the time was spent sleeping in our camper. Very nice to have that camper! :)
When we got back to camp, I figured that it was time for Tanna to take a look at the trails. So I saddled him. I was planning to use my high profile pad that had been delivered on Tuesday or Wednesday, but was disappointed to find out that the pad was not the same as the one I had, it was longer in the panels. I decided not to use it and put the smaller woolback pad on him.
I had Daniel hold Tanna while I mounted. I was hoping not to have a problem. While Tanna did do a couple of crow hops, it was mild and he quit quickly. He wouldn't stand still, though, so I waved to Daniel and headed for the trails.
I thought I would be out of the way, but it turned out I chose a trail that riders were coming and going on. Oh, well. More chance to see how Tanna would react. The trail started with gravel. Tanna was barefoot, so we walked and trotted along the edge of the trail. I picked the edge, thinking to save his feet.
We scooted off the gravel onto a trail as soon as possible. The new trail was very narrow and had tons of switchbacks. It was rather overgrown, too. But at least it wasn't gravel. After a few minutes, the trail dumped back onto the pink loop marked for the endurance rides.
Tanna was strong and pulling to blast up the hills. I allowed him sometimes, depending on the footing. We trotted a lot and cantered some. He was doing quite well. We came out onto a road bordered by a saddle club. We trotted along until the ribbons veered off the road to the left. The trail at this point was a gravel road in the middle of a field. I made Tanna trot off the gravel. He wanted to canter, but I refused because off the gravel, the ground was so uneven and I wasn't going to risk a misstep. The rest of the trail that I took had small scattered gravel and we mostly walked and trotted that section.
When I came out on the road, I checked my GPS. It said I'd gone 6 miles and that camp was just .25 miles along the road. So instead of following the ribbons across the street, I decided that 6 miles was a good enough leg stretching and headed directly toward camp.
When I got to the camp turn-in, Tanna started freaking and going sideways. At first, I thought it was the long blowing pink ribbon that marked the entrance to camp, but he wasn't paying any attention to that. It was the large rock with a horse sketched into it that he objected to. So I spent the next 10 or 15 minutes asking Tanna to walk back and forth in front of the rock, moving closer and closer to it. For several minutes, he did some very nice sidepassing to keep facing that scary rock. Then I finally got him to walk up and sniff the back of the rock. As we stepped around to the front, he about jumped out of his skin again. Guess he didn't like the sketching! Finally, though, he did sniff the front of the rock, so I turned him back to the camp.
When Daniel and I looked at the GPS track on the computer, the computer calculated that we'd gone 8 miles instead of 6.5 that the GPS had calculated. The computer is more accurate. I was irritated that the Geko was calculating low. Very low. Not that I cared that we did 8 miles instead of 6.5, but one of the reasons I use a GPS is to help gauge distance and average speed during a ride. While the Geko has lots of space for holding track points, the actual in-ride calculations seem to be poor quality.
SABBATH
I woke up Sabbath morning around dawn and slipped out to give Tanna some food. I'd begun lacing his food with electrolytes on Friday night. After feeding the dog, I went back in the camper and went to sleep for a couple more hours.
We lazed around for a couple hours before deciding to go find some local geocaches. Geocaches are small boxes that are hidden pretty much anywhere, but parks are a popular place to place them. The boxes usually have a log book to sign in and say a little something and small trinkets to trade. The hider then goes on www.geocaching.com and posts the coordinates and a little about the box and the area the box is hidden in. Then a Geocacher (like me and my husband) gets the coordinates, puts them in our GPS unit and then follow the arrow until we find the box. It's a fun sport and gets me out walking around when I'd usually be sitting around.
There were 3 geocaches that we were going after. They were all along the same trail. The furthest one out was about 1.3 miles. We decided to go get the furthest one first and then get the other 2 on our way back. Otherwise, we'd probably stop after the 2nd one and not go to get the last one!
Daniel took the dog and I snapped a lead rope to Tanna's halter and off we went, our interesting little caravan. For awhile we were on the common trail with competitors coming and going. Tanna did really well about getting off the trail for them to pass and never got hyper or upset. I love this horse!!!
After about half a mile, we got off the common trail and headed out on a single track trail. The hills were challenging for me. I had Tanna's lead rope draped casually over my shoulder with him following behind me. He stepped on me once and I swung the end of the rope back towards him and after that, he didn't step on me. We discovered on our walk that Tanna likes Skittles. Taste the Rainbow! Daniel had brought some and when we stopped periodically for me to rest (I'm such a wimp!) we'd eat a few Skittles. Tanna was interested, so I gave him a couple. Yummy, he liked those! And why not, they're just sugar. :-) When we reached near the spot where the geocache was, I tied Tanna off the trail and went in search of the cache. We found it in good shape, signed the log and climbed back up to Tanna. He'd stood staring at us, wondering what in the world we were doing, I'm sure.
We headed back towards camp and went in search of the second cache only .2 miles from the one we'd just found. This second cache required a steep, steep climb. I stopped to rest at least twice on the way up and collapsed on the ground as soon as we got to semi-level ground. Whew!!! What a workout I was getting. Tanna just looked at me like I was silly. The second cache took a little looking, even though it really was easy to find.
On our way to the next cache, we ran into some backpackers. We stopped and talked with them a little bit and one of them asked to pet Tanna. They asked if I ever rode him (since I was leading him, I guess it was a valid question!), so I told them a little about endurance riding and why we were there in the area. Never did get around to telling them about geocaching. The third cache was found easily. There was no good place to get Tanna off the trail, so I stayed with him while Daniel signed the log book of the cache. Then we headed back to the common trail towards camp. I was tired! I'm used to riding miles, but not walking them!
When we got back to camp, I dropped Tanna, the dog, and Daniel off at camp and decided to go see when I could vet Tanna in for the ride on Sunday. It was about 3:30 eastern time. I found Amy and she said come up and vet in when the vets aren't busy. So I went back and got Tanna. He'd rolled, so I ran a brush quickly over his coat to remove the dirt.
We went up and Rae wasn't busy, so she vetted me in with all As except a B+ on guts. I didn't get that because except for his brief 8 mile ride and 2.5 mile walk, all he'd done was eat and drink. But since he'd been showing no real problems, I didn't worry too much about the B. I did ask Rae about it and she just said "That's what it sounds like now. Just let him eat whatever he wants."
I went back to the camper and gave Tanna some beet pulp and went to take a nap until dinner. Dinner was provided by Ride Management for all riders. It was chicken (of course), green beans, potato salad, lemonade, iced tea, salad, and cake. I served myself all but chicken and tea. It was yummy stuff! After dinner, Daniel and I sat out in our chairs outside Tanna's pen. I had him on a lead rope letting him eat grass since his pen floor had been reduced to dirt and trampled hay after 2 days. We sat talking and watching the camp activity. Camp was extremely full, so plenty of activity to watch.
Tina Hicks came by and chatted with us for awhile. I had met her Friday finally. We'd spent some emails trying to get together for training rides and it had never materialized.
Tina rode the 25 on Saturday on her gaited horse, Hank. She'd lost 2 swiss boots along the trail in the first few miles, so had in reality, done the ride barefoot. I, of course, was interested in how she did since Tanna is also barefoot, although we weren't planning to ride barefoot. Hank had done well. Completed the trail in 3:20-something minutes with half an hour spent helping a rider that had been kicked in the shin. That's the 3rd time I've heard of that happening in the last few months. Ouch.
Tina left to go to the meeting place for a meeting. We thought it was the ride meeting, but it turned out to be the awards for Saturday's rides. It wouldn't have been a bad thing, except that since we thought it was the ride meeting (and the previous ride meetings were fairly short) we didn't take our chairs and the awards lasted longer than the meeting. I forget the exact numbers, but 90% of the riders completed the 25 miler and better than 90% completed the 50 miler. The only placing I remember is Lois McAfee won the 50 miler. Oh, and Tina got both her Swiss boots back from lost and found!
After the awards, Amy said that the ride meeting would be in a half an hour. She also said she wanted the bridle tags to buy back if we wanted. So Daniel and I went back to our camp to get our chairs and the bridle tag.
We sat around waiting for the ride meeting to start. It was a quite short meeting. Everything for the 50s was the same as Saturday's ride, so no surprises there. The 25 milers would ride the pink loop (10 miles) and come in for a vet check. Then ride the blue loop (17 miles) instead of the yellow loop (15 miles for the 25 milers) like on Saturday. The holds were changed from 45 minutes to 50 minutes to aid the volunteers in doing out time calculations. The second loop for the 25 milers was changed to the blue loop because it had less gravel.
Back at our camper, I spent some time laying everything out for the ride in the morning. Brushes, easy boots, vet wrap, duct tape, bridle, reins, saddle, GPS, saddle pad, heart rate monitor, ride pants, layers of shirts, gatorade, water, dried fruit, everything that I could think of.
Then I set several alarms on my PDA and my husband's PDA and my wristwatch. I'd forgotten to bring a real alarm clock and I was worried about getting up in time. I set all the alarms for 5 AM. Start time was 7:40. 2 hours and 40 minutes should be plenty of time to get ready. I wanted to be mounted by 7:10 to be warming up and evaluating Tanna's mind.
I gave Tanna another helping of beet pulp and grain laced with electrolytes. Then I crawled into bed to await the alarms.
SUNDAY
I was actually semi-awake by 4:30 AM. When my alarms started going off, I turned them off and moved to start getting ready for my day. I fed Tanna, but he knew something was up and largely ignored the food for awhile. He grabbed a bite of hay now and again while watching me. I took the dog off her lead and took her for a quick run.
Then I went back inside and got dressed. Then I put Tanna's easyboots on and then wrapped them in duct tape. I set the plunger on the Lyte Now electrolyte tube and squirted 25 ccs into his mouth. After breakfast, I sat and read my book for 15 minutes. I had plenty of time and I was trying to keep myself calm. The calmer I'd be, the calmer Tanna'd be.
Finally, I went out and saddled Tanna. I kept a blanket covering his butt because it was cold out and I wanted to keep him warm and fluid. I adjusted his breast collar to engage sooner. Usually, my breast collar is a precaution to keep his saddle from sliding completely to the side if he dumps me and runs off, but for this ride, the breast collar was quite necessary. I haven't trained Tanna for a crupper, even though I have one, so I didn't even think of bringing out the crupper. Besides, Tanna's high withers come in handy to keep the saddle back. :)
I tightened the girth and checked his heart rate. 36. Pretty good. I put my water and gatorade bottles in the cantle bag. I slid the bit into his mouth (I had slid the bit under his blanket on his butt to warm it up a little), clipping it to the other side. I usually ride in a Little S Hackamore, but I was unsure of how Tanna would act, so wanted the bit. As I went to put my foot in the stirrup, I noticed I was wearing my tennis shoes, still. Can't do that. My tennis shoes can get through the holes in my easy ride stirrup cages. So I tied Tanna up again and changed my shoes.
When I went back to get on, Tanna would not stand still. My husband was watching from the camper, so I asked if he would come hold him. As soon as I said that, Tanna stood still long enough for me to pop into the saddle. As he danced around, I called into Daniel and told him I was on and going.
We walked back and forth and up and down and I trotted him some to check his brakes. Everything seemed a go. When I went up to the start area, the 50 milers had already gone. Just a few more minutes. I found Tina and parked Tanna next to Hank. Daniel showed up on my left, then it was time to go.
It was a controlled start and there were several horses in front. We were spread out on the pavement. A lot of horses calmly walking. A lot of owners crooning to their horses to keep them walking calmly. The photographer was off to the right. Tanna started just a tad, but no real spooking.
When we reached the gravel, I let Tanna move into a trot. Boing, boing, boing. He started to get stiff-necked and strong. Boing, boing, boing. Canter, canter, canter. Please go slower, Tanna, Boing, boing, boing. Ok, fine, here we go. Canter. We passed a horse that was jumping around quite a bit and I made sure the guy was ok as we trotted past. He said so far he was ok!
We ended up trotting along by ourselves, but could see other horses ahead. Tanna was pulling, but controllable. We turned off the gravel onto trail. I let Tanna canter where safe and pulled him back to a barely controlled trot when not safe to canter. After awhile we caught up with a leopard appaloosa and a chestnut. When they stopped to drink, we passed them up, since I knew it was useless to ask Tanna to drink only 2 miles in.
We were on the same trail that I had ridden on Friday. When we hit the pavement, the chestnut was behind us, but stopped or slowed down. All the sudden, Tanna realized he was by himself. He couldn't see any horses ahead and the ones behind him had stopped or slowed down. He seemed alarmed by that fact. I talked to him telling him that we'd see other horses and even if we didn't, this is what we did, ride out together with no other horses.
After a couple of minutes, we were out ion the gravel road through the field and 2 riders on mares asked to pass on the left. Then the chestnut and appaloosa passed. Tanna went into barely controllable mode again, so I fell in line. Five horses in a row, trotting and cantering along together. After awhile, I ended up in the middle and when the appy and chestnut paused for water again, we split a little.
As the mares trotted along, Tanna cantered to keep up. He trotted some and cantered mostly. He was controllable as long as I didn't try to keep him too far behind the mares. I found out that the mare in front of me was being ridden by Dede, the vet secretary for the other vet on Friday.
As we neared the end of the trail, we came up on the photographer. Flash, rear, fall. The lady on the lead mare fell off, but was unhurt and jumped right back on. When we saw pavement, I dismounted and began removing my gloves and looking for my vet card. I dropped a glove and had to go back and retrieve it.
It took 6 minutes for Tanna to pulse down. He was hanging at 64, but it dropped quickly after he peed. He got As, except for a B on guts again. After the vet check, I took Tanna back to our trailer and threw a blanket over his butt to keep his muscles warm. He immediately started eating the beet pulp that he'd largely ignored that morning. He alternated between hay and beet pulp.
Tanna still had both easy boots, but we thought it best to redo the duct tape. So Daniel removed the tape and retaped one foot. I retaped the other. I sat around and ate and drank while Tanna ate. He didn't drink much, but ate heartily and since the beet pulp was very wet, I wasn't too worried about the drinking.
When it was about time to go out, I saw Tina and asked her how they were doing. She'd come into the vet check sooner than me, but had decided to leave out later than her out time to give Hank a bit more of a breather since they did the first loop fairly fast.
I mounted up with the blanket still on Tanna's butt, intending to walk him back up to the trail with it and have Daniel bring it back to camp. But Tanna didn't like it, so rather than upset him, I had Daniel remove it right away. We were cleared to go and out we went on the blue loop.
We were alone and Tanna moved out just fine. He trotted and cantered. He seemed to think we were alone on the trail, but after awhile pricked his ears up and kept looking for horses ahead of him. The trail was hilly and when up on the ridge, there was a wonderful view.
Part of the blue loop involved traveling down a trail to a gate, reading a password off a pie plate, and returning along the same trail for aways. When we hit that part, it was awhile before we started seeing riders coming our way. I had expected to see people sooner. With each rider that passed us, Tanna seemed more lively and more animated. He's so cute!
Finally, at 10:13, we saw the chestnut and appaloosa from the first loop. They were heading back from getting the password. I figured I couldn't be too far behind them so when we hit the gate and I got the password, I turned Tanna and let him go.
And I mean let him go. I never let him go full out. I'm too much of a fraidy cat. But it just felt right, so away we flew. And it felt like flying. It was exhilerating. Here I was on my favorite horse flying! I can't put it into words, but it felt wonderful. We were totally in sync. He was flying, but listening. We blew past Tina and 3 other horses while they were headed toward the gate. I'm pretty sure we slowed down. Might have even gotten into a trot, but the second we were past them, we were gone again. While we flew, I thought, now I'll never get his mind back. I've just blown his mind. Then I thought, even if I don't blow his mind, I'm probably killing his body. But we kept going and going. In reality, it was only about 10 minutes and 2 miles, but it was SO much fun! :) Amazingly, the easy boots stayed on through that foray.
We reached the end of the out and back trail and turned left to hit the pavement. Turned right and trotted along for a mile and a third before turning back onto the trail. There was a good bit of water right there and I asked Tanna to drink. No go. So we headed out and caught up with the chestnut and appaloosa shortly after. I followed them for a bit until they stopped for water and Tanna refused again. Then we trotted off.
We rode the rest of the ride by ourselves. Tanna did fine. He even drank some from a creek further on the way. Good boy! The next part of the ride was a climb out of the gully to the ridge. He did well on that, trotting and cantering up it. We hit the common gravel trail with 1.5 miles to go. I couldn't believe we were almost done. We cantered along at a nice 150 heart rate. I glanced down to be sure his easy boots were still on. Looked ok to me, so we cantered to the road.
With about two tenths of a mile to go, I slowed Tanna to a walk. His heart rate was about 90 when I dismounted at the grass. I landed wrong when I dismounted and I limped toward the timers' table. Daniel saw me and came towards me. I gave him Tanna and started to walk by the timers when they asked for my card. Oh, yeah, duh.
It took me three minutes to hobble to the pulse area. He was down before we got there. So we got our time. 11:41. Ride time of 3:11. Good enough for 7th place. That was a pleasant surprise. Not that it mattered, but I was thinking I was about 17th or so.
He vetted in with all As except a B on guts again and a B on capillary refill. I had lost one of my easy boots and Chris, riding the Appaloosa told me where it was, so I had to head back out and get it. When I thought I had it, all I was seeing was the duct tape, but of course, I didn't realize that. I've got to start using the red boots!
I asked each rider I passed if they had my easy boot and about half a mile out I saw Charles and a couple of other riders. Charles said he had the boot in his pack. Cool! I turned and followed them back in and Charles gave me the boot when we got back. Thank you to him!
Amy knew this was only my 3rd LD and my first ride in 4 years, so she had saved out a shirt for me! Thanks, Amy. The 3rd day finishers were mostly getting lead ropes, but I prefered a t-shirt. Very sweet of her!
I also bought a couple of pictures from the photographer. I had Tanna on a lead rope while looking at the books of pictures to find me and Tanna was standing nicely behind me. Several people got a kick out of the horse "looking" at the pictures, too.
We loaded up and headed home after about 3 hours. Daniel had fixed the camera so I could see Tanna quite well on the way home. When I turned Tanna out in the pasture, he went running around with the dog.
We had a great weekend and will definitely be back next year! Great ride! And thanks to Bill Wilson for the camping area and all the other things he did! The trails were marked well, even though there was some talk of vandalism. I didn't get lost once. The trails had great footing.
It's a great ride. If you missed this one, consider coming next year!
April
Nashville, TN
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