Leatherwood Challenge

["Howard Bramhall" <hwb67@msn.com>]

----- Original Message -----

From: Jim Holland

Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 10:54 AM

To: Ridecamp; Sarah Engsberg; Cindy Young

Cc: Abbie Smith at Leatherwood Stables & Tack; Phil Rash

Subject: [RC] Leatherwood Challenge

 

At the Hallelujah ride this past weekend, I spent a few minutes talking with Abbie Sanders, the ride manager for Leatherwood.  Suprisingly, she still has entries available for this year. Southeast riders, you need to jump in here!

This is a great mountain ride.  It's in one of the prettiest little "nooks" in the mountains you will ever see. Huge barn (complete with rafter cat), a tack shop, and an excellent restaurant. In fact, I probably won't take food this year.  Great breakfast!  Stalls are
available or you can camp alongside a sparkling little creek in the grassy pasture next door. All the amenities in a mountain setting. Not exactly roughing it! (I camp...Sunny hates stalls...likes to be "part of the event" and socialize!) You might even be able to rent a cabin for the event.

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I think it's been three years or longer since I've been to Leatherwood.  I was at their first ride and have always wanted to go back.  Since I truly hate camping (bugs, cold, generators, loose horses) I went and rented us a cabin.  Took me two VISAs and one MC to pull the whole thing off, but what the heck.  You only live once, and the way I'm going I ain't got that much longer.  My goal in life is to die owing VISA 80 grand.  lol.

Anyway, this place is heaven on earth, a true paradise.  The trip to Leatherwood is one of the most awe inspiring drives I've made in my short 3 year endurance career.  Be careful getting there cause if you're like me you'll find yourself looking up at the mountains and end up going off the road and end up in a raging creek bed.  I am so looking forward to this vacation.

We're staying a week.  I plan on learning those trails as best I can.  And traversing a part of the majestic South on the back of a horse, with postcard views along a mountain ridgeline will convince you God ain't no Yankee. 

I even went and ordered three of those French crupper things; can't wait to put them on my horses for the first time.  I know at least one of my non endurance Florida riding pals will say, "What the heck is that?"  when they see it on my horse.  I'll tell them that my horse has been having trouble pooping and the vet gave it to me to lift his tail up and get it out of the way.

Want a real challenge?  Do this ride.  A 25 here is equal to a Florida 50.  The 50 miler will be the toughest 50 you've ever done.  Not that I'd know, I don't have a horse quite ready for a Leatherwood 50, but I know a lot of ya'll do.  So bring them here cause this ride is awesome.

 

cya,

Howard  (I'm gonna reread my copy of "Cold Mountain" while staying at Leatherwood, after ya'll leave. I just love the way Charles Frazier describes those mountains in NC)