Ridecamp: [RC] How do you know? (long)

  Just got back from our second 50 :) It was hot and humid
but we did manage to complete! Completion was our only goal
and several times I wondered if we would reach this goal.

  Our first 50 was a flat land type ride, rather easy and
the weather cool with a slight mist in the air the first 2
loops. We finished with all A's at each vet check and I had
a lot of horse left after the ride.

  This ride was a rude awakening and I would like some
input on how y'all would have managed this horse to get
better results as far as gut sounds.

  Since our first ride went so well I managed our second
ride exactly the same: 
   
   Started adding e-lytes to his beet pulp/grain mix that
he gets every day on wed. evening.
 
   Thursday I gave him several mini meals of very wet beet
pulp,handful of grain and elytes. Free choice grass hay and
some wet alfalfa.

   Friday before leaving he had bp/grain/elytes. Dosed him
with lytenow before loading him in trailer, dosed lytenow
again when we got there and then later that evening. Gave
mini meals of bp/grain/elytes. There was a lot of nice
green grass so hand grazed for an hour on Friday evening.
He also has free choice grass hay and wet alfalfa. He
vetted in with all A's.
 
   Saturday: fed very wet bp/grain/lytes which he cleaned
up. Then hand grazed again for half hour before starting
the ride.

   First loop I just let him run with mid pack. He will not
drink  on the first loop and in training rides won't drink
til 15-20 miles out. First vet check all A's except gut
which is a B. He eats his bp/grain/lyte soup, won't drink
any water yet (I'm a little worried now) and nibbles on
some alfalfa. I give him 25cc of lytenow just before
heading out on 2nd loop.

    Still won't drink on second loop (now very concerned).
Every time I stop to sponge him he fidgets around anxious
to get going. Rode with  two different groups at mid to
back of pack. He very happy and alert. 2nd vet check again
all A's but gut sounds now down to B- (aarrrrgh). I hold
him an extra 10 mins during which he eat his bp soup but
still won't touch any water. Dose him with another 25cc
lytenow before heading out. 

   Third loop he starts drinking at every water spot
(whew!)I try to get him to eat some grass along the trail
but just picks at it. Toward the end of the third loop he
hits his "wall" and pokes along 'til a groups comes by then
he perks up and is happily motoring along following them.
3rd vet check again all A's but gut sounds are a C (now a
bit worried). During the hold he is finally drinking and
finishes off another mini meal of beet pulp soup with
lytes. Time to get ready to head out but he is still eating
so I decide to wait another 15 mins to let him tank up.
Check his gut sounds they are faintly gurgling, he is happy
and very alert. Dose again with the lytenow, saddle up,
walk to the water tank and he sucks down water while I
drench his neck and shoulders.
 
    Final loop he sucks down water at every possible place
and eagerly eats grass. We do a very slow last 10 miles
with lots of stopping for water and grass. He acts very
tired but will trot if I insist. Very unusual as I have
never had to push him before. We finish toward the end and
he is still alert and happy but very tired and I don't feel
like I have much if any horse left. Gut sounds are stronger
sounding then when we left camp for that last loop.

   Back from ride and he is his usual self, ran and bucked
when I turned him out and I have noticed him at the water
tank several times in the last 2 hours.

  Okay now what can I do differently to keep those gut
sounds at an A or A-?  Also can I ever expect to top ten
with this horse? I realize that it takes 2 years to put a
base on a horse and I am very happy with just completing. 
I am concerned that his not drinking for the first loop and
a half may hinder him from ever being competitive. Will
time and rides change this or are there some things I can
do to get him to drink sooner?

  I have become addicted to this sport and even though now
I'm happy and thrilled to just finish, some day I want to
think we can be competitive and top ten. I also want to
move up to 100's one day and am wondering if Reno will ever
be able to do this? Reno is pretty young (8yrs)so if he has
the talent I have plenty of time to get him ready. I just
wonder how you can tell if a horse has what it takes to
eventually do 100's???

 Thanks again y'all!

Penny & Reno ( now with 125 AERC miles :) whoo hoo!!)
   
   

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