<% appTitle="Ridecamp Archives" %> Ridecamp: [RC] [Guest] Carolina ride (my first!)
Ridecamp@Endurance.Net

[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]
Current to Wed Jul 23 17:40:56 GMT 2003
  • Next by Date: [RC] Dynamite products
  • - Jennifer Judkins
  • Prev by Date: [RC] [RC] Convention Tack Swap
  • - Maureen A. Fager

    [RC] [Guest] Carolina ride (my first!) - Ridecamp Guest


    Deb Ambrose mkkgs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    
    As I can now walk almost normally, (not including going down stairs), here's
    my story about the Carolina ride.
    
    I've had my Arab Appaloosa, Kaylypso (Lippy) for about 2 years, after 25
    horseless years, always thinking I wanted to do endurance.  The past year,
    after some pretty steady, three-times a week training rides, I thought we
    could make 30 miles together.
    
    First surprise:  Even those at the back of the pack, where I started, rode A
    LOT faster than what my sedate training pace had been.  I expected the front
    runners to set the trail on fire (and they DID), but everyone's just goin'
    down the trail trot was much faster than the one Lippy and I did in
    training.  So we teamed up with a real nice guy Steve and his pretty bay for
    the first 16 miles, a little walk, a lotta trot, and some canter.  We walked
    into the check, my non-horsey husband provided water, beet pulp and moral
    support, and Lippy came down to 48 right away.  We got all A's, and I left
    the check late after letting him eat.  At least I tried to leave the check.
    Saddle back on?  Head out of camp?  Lippy was pretty surprised and
    disgruntled.  Horses were coming in the opposite direction, back into camp.
    For those who saw us struggling and offered cheerful encouragement, thank
    you very much.  A hundred miler came along (happily in the same direction we
    were trying to go), and said, come on with us.  Lois, I think.  Thank you
    Lois!  Off we went, around a lake, and skirting some cotton fields.  After a
    few miles, I got Lippy back to a walk for a breather, and watched Lois sail
    off into the woods.  I hoped we could do this on our own, and sure enough,
    he agreed to keep our medium trot for the next 7 or 8 miles.  Then out onto
    some paved road shoulder for several miles.  It was a windy day, sunny and
    bright. A few hundred milers passed us, very polite and friendly, and
    finally we re-entered the woods for the last 5 miles or so.  A couple of
    other people caught us up and we cantered a little bit more, crossed some
    more huge cotton fields in the wind, and came into the last wooded part for
    the finish.  Lippy was not even too bugged out when the front runners in the
    50 came by in the last mile or so.
    
    I wish I could have found everyone who encouraged and helped us along the
    way to thank.  My husband took pictures of us at the finish, and I have this
    idiot grin from ear to ear.  I was proud of my little guy, and happy he
    finished happy and hungry.  I think we were 40th out of 60 starters and 45
    or so finishers.
    
    I've been lurking on RideCamp since the beginning, and enjoyed all your
    expertise.  Thanks, hope to see some more folks at the Sandhills ride in
    March.
    
    Deb Ambrose & Lippy
    Aberdeen, NC
    
    
    
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
     Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
     Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
     Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
    
     Ride Long and Ride Safe!!
    
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=