Re: Hallelujah Ride

[RISTREE@aol.com]

<<THANKS Lucie and all your hard-working crew. Mary C>>

I hate to pull a "me too" but those of us who traveled south for the 
Hallelujah Ride in Ridgeway, SC, were treated to a super ride, despite the 
best attempts of Mother Nature to douse it.  After a lengthy drought, it 
started raining on Friday evening and "copious rains" were predicted 
throughout the weekend.  The beautiful and nearly-dry trails we'd ridden 
since our arrival on Tuesday were suddenly boggy and a little sloppy, but 
they were marked wonderfully and the staff (with the vets led by Ken 
Marcellus, who we relatively-new Yankees hadn't met before) was cheerful and 
well, enduring.  Linda, Lucie, Trish et al. -- BRAVO!

We'd planned to elevate to the 50 from the LD (this is awfully early 
competition for those of us whose home trails are still covered with over a 
foot of snow) but decided that we were content with our completion in the 25, 
and packed it in to change out of our wet-to-the-skin (yes, even skivvies) 
clothing.

We met the famous timer, Nancy Gooch, who seems to be the southern belle 
version of our own Buck Shrader, and were impressed with the hospitality and 
patience provided by all.

Congratulations to Mary and Hawk on their first 100 of the season.  That is 
one tough lady and one cool horse.

I didn't catch the order of completions either, and was crewing for Mary 
during the 25/50 awards, but I believe there were approximately 60 who 
started the 25, 50 who started the 50, 4 in the 75 and 14 in the 100.  
Completion rate, I really couldn't say, but I think the trail conditions took 
their toll in horses a bit off and tight . . .   However, I don't recall a 
single horse being treated for metabolics, but please don't quote me on that. 
 

--Patti Stedman (WNY)  -- whose horses left 60 degrees and rain and arrived 
home 14 hours later to 25 degrees and 18" of snow and didn't miss a beat