The first vet check at 15 miles was also the first available
water. But it was manned with a lot of volunteers and there was great hay set
out in small piles, each with accompanying apples and carrots. There was also
plenty of cold water bottles and soft drinks and sandwiches for the riders. This
ride had four vets so there was never a wait for vetting or
p&r.
We lucked out with the weather and the rains of the previous
days having subsided and both days were
dry, although it began to rain as we pulled out and headed for home on Sunday
morning. Saturday morning was rather warm, and the sun promised to shine, which
it did off and on. By late morning, however the winds commenced and blew
unrelentingly the rest of the day. So the second vet check (which was in the
same location as the first) was quite cool and very windy and on the open
plains, this made keeping the blankets on the horses somewhat problematic for
some.
From the second vet check back to camp was a 15 mile romp.
There were sections of trail that begged cantering for long distances and as
there were no major climbs (although quite a few short, very steep ones), my
horse felt fresh and strong. I did not know that we were back until quite
suddenly, we rounded a bend and there, 50 yards ahead was the finish line.
Although this ride was quite fun and one that I hope to do
again next year, for me, personally, it was made difficult because for some
strange reason, my ankle began to hurt excruciatingly so after we left the last
vet check. I could only trot or canter for short times and then had to bring my
horse back to a walk so that I could regain my balance and shake my leg to get
feeling back into my ankle. I could not imagine what caused this. At one point
when I had jumped down from my horse, I had twisted my ankle but not so that it
did not recover a few seconds later. Then, my saddle for some reason, began to
list to one side (the side with the sore ankle) and try as I might, I could not
center it. I hopped off a couple of times to adjust it and in fact once had
cinched it so tight that when I checked it again, my poor horse had wrinkled
skin under the cinch which had luckily not begun to gall. It was a bummer not
being able to enjoy such wonderful trail with a strong horse but such is this
sport. It was a bummer to be walking my horse when riders breezed past me.
Oooooh the pain of it all.
The bottom line is that if you are anywhere near this ride or
can get to it next year, you had better register early and plan on arriving
early in the day to claim a spot for your rig because this is a ride that is
only going to grow in popularity.
My hat goes off to the ride managers and anyone having
anything to do with this ride. It was GREAT! And the vets were some of the
friendliest, helpful and efficient that I have seen.
Pat
PS
If anyone was at this ride and knows the name of a man
who became my new hero, please give him a well deserved pat on the back. About
five or so miles into the ride, we saw a woman who had obviously been separated
from her horse walking some of the trails trying to track her horse. We can all
imagine how she must have been feeling. Then about 15 minutes later, we saw a
rider who looked like a modern day cowboy riding a great looking horse and
leading another, fully tacked. This man had obviously given up his position with
what were probably the front runners to return a wayward horse to his worried
owner. I asked his name and above the wind could only hear his first...Richard,
I think. If you are reading, Richard, thanks a million for epitomizing the
spirit of good sportsmanship and just plain caring.
