Re: RC: Awards

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

In a message dated 01/02/2001 11:27:53 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
Marinera@aol.com writes:

<< I have a story to tell.  Many years ago, before the days when Rio and 
other 
 such giants roamed the earth, I came home from a California ride with three 
 trophies.  Now that is real bragging material.  I still have them on a shelf 
 because they help keep things in perspective.  You are probably 
 thinking--gosh, she was first place, BC and something else.  You have it all 
 wrong.  The trophies I collected that day were:
 
 1. turtle award for last place
 2. hard luck award because that was the way the day went
 3. oldest rider award >>

My favorite award is a tiny silver-looking plastic trophy cup, mounted on an 
imitation wood base.  A piece of paper is scotch-taped to the base and its 
message reads, "I rode the hell out of my horse and I still won BC at Simpson 
Springs XP."  My little horse Courage won it in 1983, after a racing finish 
with Tom Sherwood (we placed 2nd to Tom's 3rd; Andy Bender had already won).  
It was an exciting race and made sweeter by the win of BC. Courage is now 27 
and in failing health.  Bless him, he was great little horse...small but 
mighty.  I saw the Black Rock Desert, the Great Salt Lake Desert, the Pony 
Express Trail and Death Valley, all for the first time while mounted on this 
horse.  His epitaph will read, "From his back, I discovered the World".

Barbara