Norco Riverdance Ride (long)

["Becky" <bechack@sierratel.com>]

> I was up at 5:30 to pack clothes and food to leave for Norco...we had
> actually managed to pack all of the horsey stuff the night before.  I was
so
> proud of us  (Heather and I )  I usually give up and finish in the morning
> and end up leaving a lot later than I had planned.    This time we were
only
> 45 minutes later than planned.....the massive thundershower that began at
> 5:31 might have something to do with it...:-)  The drive down through LA
was
> uneventful.   Now that is something to cheer about all by itself. One bad
> thing was that Heather was going to ride Marc and I was going to ride the
> new horse.....Marc got off the trailer grade3!   Marc has never been lame.
> Maybe just a titch after a cactus bites his knee or such.....and we
couldn't
> find a reason for it!   No heat no swelling,  no bleeding wounds that I
> missed in the cold wet rain (and dark ) at home.  Had lots of people over
to
> look at him and no one could even agree WHERE it was, but boy oh boy was
it
> there.   Huge head bobbing at the trot.   RATS.
>
> Heather....bless her heart....after she stopped crying little tears went
> over to the check in booth to ask if they could use her help....I  DID NOT
> PROMPT HER, EITHER.     What a kid....
>
> Well, back to Robbi....the new horse....I decided not to have Heather ride
> him since this was his first 50 and he is really green.  I just couldn't
> have something happen to her on a new horse.   So We decided I would ride
> Robbi.   Next morning...I have him all saddled up, just about to get on,
and
> pull up Rt front to stretch.....he decided that was a good idea, puts BOTH
> front feet out and just about puts his chest on the ground.  THEN he put
his
> rt hind waaaay out behind like a cat and stretched that one....He for got
> the lt hind, so I went around (while laughing at him and everyone around
us
> laughing too )  I picked up the other hind and like he forgot something,
> stuck that one out too!   He was a riot.   Oh, and the fact that he ate
> like, well, a horse.   He went thru 4 hay bags full in less than 15 hours.
> This is an over sized bag, too !   And he learned that beet pulp is NOT
> poisonous!   He now loves it.   Big surprise.   Allison said he has a body
> score of 5.   I don't think he is quite a Weaver, but not from lack of
> trying!
>
> He didn't drink until just before lunch (25 miles)  but then couldn't get
> enough.  He ate everything offered everywhere.   He also knows how to do
> water now!   What a good boy.   He finished in great shape.   Almost all
A's
> all day.   I really think he did well.  He came back to the trailer and
ate
> and ate and ate.    I kept laughing at him.   Then I looked over at him
> 'cause he wasn't moving.   HE WAS ASLEEP IN HIS HAY BAG.  !   Nose in
there,
> resting......He is so funny.    Ate all night.  Drank too.   Trailered
home
> without incident ( prayer does work, you should see my right front tire )
>
> Lynne put on a great ride (again) and it was well worth the drive down
> there.   We were also blessed with great weather while there.   It stopped
> raining at home just as soon as we left on Friday...guess the storm was in
a
> hurry to get to the XP to spoil that ride.!
>
> Becky and Marc ( 1250 miles...and galloped over to the rolling spot as
soon
> as we got home
>   and Al Zarka Raabi ( Robbi) 50 miles  gee, that was fun Mom...pass me
the
> hay bag...
>