Grand Island Ride, Rapid River, Michigan (Upper Peninsula) May 25, 2002
Before I even begin my ride story, I want to take a moment to tell a brief
story. In August of 1998, Nelson took me to the Midland County Fair. He
introduced me to some old friends of his, Barb and Larry Ward of Mashallah
Arabians. I had just started distance riding and every horse I looked at, I
looked at with a critical eye in view of their potential as a distance horse.
Barb made sure we took a look at all the horses they had at the fair and then
she brought out their 3 year old rose grey stallion. In the middle of the open
aisle, amid fair goers, big and small (lots of small) and the noise and hubbub
of a fair, he stood and surveyed the world as if it were his own personal
kingdom. He was the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen in my life. A small
child ran up and hugged his leg and a lady with an even smaller child in a
stroller shoved stroller and child under his nose and asked if the child could
pet the horsey. I almost had a stroke. This young Arab stallion leaned down ever
so gently and let the children pat his nose. I was terribly impressed with his
temperament, not at all like the wild, Arab stallions one envisions or "hears"
about. Even at 3, he had that "greyhound" look, long and lean and athletic. And
that look in his eye....I didn't know then what "the look of eagles" was but I
know now. I knew then he could make a great distance horse. But his price tag
was not in our league and never would be. So a few weeks later, we visited
Mashallah Arabians to look at a younger colt, a half brother of this magnificent
creature, figuring we could handle his price tag a lot better. To make a long
story short, we ended up with not one but THREE beautiful Mashallah horses that
fall of 1998...the young stallion we saw at the fair was my beloved Mashallah Al
Malik. We also brought home his younger 1/2 sister, Mashallah Impulse and his
younger 1/2 brother, Mashallah Mykal. When Larry Ward looks at you and says
"Have I got a deal for you"....you better believe it or you better run! MANY
thanks to the Ward's not only for breeding these beautiful horses but also for
making it possible for us to own them. However, if I can find a way to connect
the pain I am feeling in my body right now to them, I may have some other
comments for them. .) And the rest is history up to
now and must be saved for the important article someday to be written about the
marvelous Malik...you know the kind...."before they were famous" kind of
stuff!
My story unfolds in the Upper Peninsula of our lovely state. We had a
beautiful drive up, sunny though cool. We laid over at the home of friends and
clients in Harbor Springs, Paul and Sara Matthews (many thanks to them for the
hospitality) on Thursday night and as Paul planned to make the leap into
crewdom, we strategized with them about the ride ahead of time. They met us at
the ride site on Friday afternoon and though very cool, the (almost) full moon
was spectacular that night and we looked forward to the fifty the following day.
We ended up deciding to do the fifty miler because there were only two people in
the 65 and we really wanted some competition more than the extra mileage. I
believe we ended up starting with 26 50 milers of which 25 completed. Which is
remarkable when you find out how the trail deteriorated later in the ride! Malik
and Jenny's horse, Max, relaxed, eating, drinking and napping throughout the day
and the night. Good signs...they're getting used to this now!
The ride started out FAST though we started in
the middle of the pack. In retrospect and doing some figuring, I
discovered that we actually covered the first 12.5 miles in 1:07. Paul and
Nelson were waiting and we pulsed down within 5 minutes and the boys ate
voraciously though Sara's Ruby is a little fussier and not as interested in
eating hay and grain. She did surprise Sara and graciously accepted an apple
core from our daughter, Jenny. At this point, the day was cool and overcast,
requiring a turtleneck, warm tights and a vest but I was comfortable.
The next 14.5 miles took us to the check at Middle Camp and we rode that in
1:13. Again, amazingly fast for someone as short and lumpy and out of shape as I
am. God bless Malik for carrying me with such care and dexterity. He is really
coming into his own now, picking a sane pace (most of the time) and taking sure,
strong steps and never faltering. After our crashes two years ago, I would never
have believed I could ride with the guts and determination and TRUST I have
now...on the uphills, I do my best to center myself, grab some mane, and hang
on. I can even trot downhill! We are finally finding our "resonance" as Lew
Hollander calls it...so tuned into each other's bodies that I don't have to
think about what diagonal or lead I am on or even consciously telling my body
how to ride. I have had to do a lot of that though to get where I am at now with
Malik so the concentration has paid off...I still have to remind myself about
keeping my chin down or I end up with a terrible neckache. My neck doesn't ache
at all this time so THAT is working, too!! Thank God for centered riding
lessons!
Part two coming through momentarily... stay
tuned.
