We had another great ride this year at the Bear River Ride in northern
Michigan. Gorgeous weather if a bit nippy in the mornings. Sunshine
galore and fall colors just starting made for some fantastic scenery as
well. This is also the trail used in August for the Wolverine Ride (which
we didn't make this year.). It's a challenging and FUN trail. Not
for the faint of heart or weak in the hindquarters, that's for sure. Lots
of sand, lots of hills and lots of sandy hills. Great gradual
grades...sure wish I had trails like that for conditioning! :) We
did a 25 comp on Saturday and 25 Limited Distance on Sunday. We were the
first two in and the last two in Sunday...ok, we were the only two. And we
had a ball anyways! :) Max and Malik seemed to think we were whacko
broads going out by ourselves on Sunday...in fact, they would trot slower and
slower and finally start to walk and look at each other as if to SAY "What is
the matter with these guys?". I don't think they believed it was a "real"
ride! It didn't take long for the Sunday comp riders to catch up with us
at that rate and then they decided maybe it WAS real and moved out at a good
trot...I think Malik was disappointed because it's his most favorite thing to be
able to PASS the competition, ya know!! :) They did well both
days...we did lose some points on Sunday for hydration...we discussed it with
the vet and we surmise that the cooler weather is slowing down the
drinking. Their bodies just don't figure they need MORE in cooler
weather. So, we will keep that in mind when we head to the Upper Peninsula
to do FIFTY at Pine Marten Run in two weeks. I can't wait... we probably
should have done 50 this weekend but I would rather err on the side of
caution. This is a tough trail and Malik is young. I have to say
again how much I love the opportunity to ride with my daughter like this...
I know she can't wait to NOT be a junior anymore and wants to ride on her own
but how I wish we would see some TEAM competition. She and I with Max and
Malik ARE a great team!! Valerie and Danielle might be on to something,
eh? What is the anagram? Together Everyone Achieves
More. I believe it, too.
Anyway, Malik was a hit with everyone again... he does have a lot of
personality for a horse, not just because he's a stallion either. He
was dreaming as he slept the other night and nickering to mares out loud... I
have never seen a horse do that and it was the funniest thing I have ever
seen! He finally has the ridecamp thing down (knock on wood!) and doesn't
get too excited about much...hardly ever talks to other horses, doesn't pace
anymore, relaxes the whole time. All stuff that can't be taught at home
but just comes with experience. Some people had to ask us who was the
stallion, Max or Malik because behavior wise, they couldn't tell!! :) I
want to thank Shannon Wood and Jayna Steffel who took over this ride a couple of
years ago so it didn't become extinct and are doing a great job...they work
hard. This year they had a conflict with a motorbike race going on the
same day and time...the club worked closely with the girls and the DNR to
resolve the issues and make sure BOTH events were able to go on as
planned. What a step forward for horse people and motorcycle people to be
able to work together like that...the motorcycle club could have just said TOUGH
LUCK, no dice, we got the date and you're screwed, but they didn't. We
only encountered one motorbike on the trail, it was that well planned so their
traffic would miss our traffic!! So chalk one up for improved relations
with motorbikes and horses!! :) Awards were great again this year...Malik did
win BC (for what's it's worth and was 3rd HW in the 25 comp on Saturday, too)
and Gene Dake's KTP Simply the Best, who also won BC on the 50 Saturday both got
a great first aid kit with all kinds of goodies. Our friend, Sara Matthews
(and Ruby) who has worked her butt off all year riding comp and never able to
beat Jeanie Miller (and Maggie), FINALLY did by one point and where was
she? She had to go home and asked us to pick up her awards for
her...Nelson did a nice imitation and Sara never looked better!! :)
Boy, was she surprised when we delivered her loot...she got a first aid kit as
well for being high point rider that day! Anyway, in spite of a few snafus
(what ride doesn't have some?), it's a well run, fun ride with lots of great
people and at every ride we seem to make more and more friends. That's
what it's all about for us!! OH, again this year, they did photos for
completion awards except the dad's camera malfunctioned...we got lucky and OURS
turned out so I'm including the photos for those who would like a peek at Max
and Malik. THANKS SHANNON AND JAYNA! Oh, and Jim Yell, too who so
graciously allows us a beautiful camping area on his property...definitely a
ride to attend should you decide to travel to Michigan!!!
Maggie Mieske and
the awesome Mashallah Almalik