Re: RC: Bryce XP

[Oldwaggy@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/19/01 8:30:57 AM, reallykk@infomagic.com writes:

<< I am making plans to attempt my 1st 50 (for both my and my horse) at the 
Bryce XP in 10 days.  Still trying to decide which day to enter.


For those of you who are familiar with this ride, do you have any 
recommendations for which day would be best for us?? >>

I have done this ride 3 or 4 times but will miss it this year.  Assuming Dave 
follows the general pattern he has in the past, you should skip the first 
day.  It seems a little longer and harder than the other days.  Give your 
horse a chance to get used to camp and the other horses a chance to get rid 
of their excess energy.  You will notice the start on day one will be fast 
like most one day rides, while most people will be starting at a walk on the 
other days.  Better for your horse to have a quiet start for its first fifty.

I am a big believer in using the middle days of a multi-day for a horse's 
first endurance ride.  Since it will be your first fifty too, you should try t
o hook up with a more experienced rider and be very careful.  Since there 
will be only one mid day vet check, you won't have 3 or 4 vet checks where 
some one will be looking at your horse.  Dave will usually be out on his 
motorcycle looking at horses here and there, but you need to rely on yourself 
primarily as you always should at any endurance ride.  Look for water from 
natural sources anywhere near the trail.  Don't think you can get all the 
water you need from water ride management sets out in troughs.  Just because 
there may not be as many formal vet checks does not mean you can't take a few 
rest breaks here and there to water and electrolyte your horse and let it 
graze a few minutes.

If you do OK with your first fifty, skip another day and try again on the 
fourth or fifth day.  Your horse will start it's endurance career with an 
idea of what it might do for the rest of it's life.  The scenery on the last 
stretch of the Under the Rim Trail on the last two days is so both strange 
and gorgeous it would not seem real if you only saw a picture of it.

Finally, although what Dave says at ride meetings might sound alternatively 
funny, sarcastic or even offensive to tender ears, pay attention to every 
single word he says about taking care of your horse on the trail.  This ride 
will allow you to go through spectacular country with a bunch of my wonderful 
multi-day buddies.  I wish I was going.  Good luck.

John Parke
Solvang CA