[RC] Ponde de Leon- - Live and Learn Part 4 - Jen Bramhall
Well after many conversations with Lucy, and passing people who passed us,
we finally reached the "pit stop" as I learned to call it. With beet pulp, hay,
candy, and drinks who could complain? After we both finished sponging (I
*stupidly* forgot my sponge, and not only did they have sponges, they had over
100 jugs filled with water that I used, we left.
We started talking (after eating all of our candy)
and I learned that Lucy had done a lot of competitive and endurance
riding. Her horse seemed to remind me so much of Rebel. I missed him,
and hoped he was coping with the mountains of South Carolina.
We came in (20 minutes behind Michele according to
dad) with our horses hydrated and looking fantastic. I went through the vet
check and War Cry didn't look tired at all! I was so proud, and weighed him and
he had actually gained about 5 pounds from last vet check. As I was giving War
Cry electrolytes, my mom came in, with Princess looking a little hot It was
heating up and I was thankful I only had 11 miles to go. My mom was sponging
down Princess and I was tacking up War Cry. By the time Princess was down all I
had to do was put on War Cry's bit. My mom had waited long enough for me, and my
dad asked our nice neighbor (Gary) to hold War Cry for me (while I got the bit),
when my parents left. He was more than helpful while War Cry went crazy as his
beloved mare walked past him, into the vet check (which was blocked so he went
even more crazy). I thanked Gary as I slipped the bit into his mouth and
adjusted his girth. I grabbed my helmet and crop, thanked Gary, and walked to
Nancy. I had about 5 minutes to wait so I stayed dismounted while War Cry would
neigh here and there (thank God Princess couldn't hear).
Well I was off with Lucy to do the road loop with
44 miles under my belt and I was so happy! Lucy and I went a little slower
because War Cry had stepped on a rock and "limped" for about a minute. Being
barefoot does have it's downfalls, but his feet have gotten tough enough for the
sport. We walked and he got over it easily, and went on, on the softer ground.
After about an hour, we expected to run into the pit stop so didn't stop for
muddy water (we wanted our chocolate!) but forgot that this loop didn?t run into
it and later regretted not stopping. We finally found water and stopped here and
there for our horses to eat.
Afterwards, we picked the race back up to an
extended trot, with no one in sight. Then we went through some knee knockers
which was a lot of fun. We had about a mile to camp and my stomach was jerking
wanting to see my dad at the finish, but since it was a long ways from the camp
I didn't expect him to be there because his leg.
We turned the corner and heard cheering, I was so
happy yet sad, I saw both my parents. Oh no! My mom had been pulled! But she
seemed so happy for me, I didn't want to bring it up. I went across the finish
line about 50 yards ahead of Lucy, dismounted and hugged my parents. They told
me I got third place, 40 minutes behind Michele and only 10 minutes behind
Laura. In came Lucy and I cheered for her, and told her how much I liked riding
with her. I had just ridden with such a nice woman who had completed 100's in a
blink of an eye and her horse looked like he wanted more! My dad took War Cry
and said we had to hurry for my 15 minute CRI. I agreed as we went to the
camp.
My mom told me on the way that Princess had been
looking fine on the trail, but had defiantly looked off at the vet check. She
must have pulled something in the vet line, and I was disappointed. But my mom
said it would have just made it worse if the vet had allowed her to go back out
in this heat. I cheered up a little when War Cry went through the vet check, a
little tired but I was expecting that. I weighed him and he had lost all
together about 20 pounds and then gained about 8. I was so relieved that he
went straight for water.