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Re: [RC] Omni's LD Adventures - Howard BramhallAh, but it's the horse, American Spirit, who is truly nuts. And, btw, my shrink says I'm progressing along just fine, thank-you very much. I had a blast riding with Roger that third loop. I don't remember cantering that much, but Spirit does not like being passed, and Roger doesn't ride slow. haha. Riding with someone you enjoy talking with can make a loop much more enjoyable. Not that I don't enjoy talking with the ladies, but, sometimes, with the ladies, you don't really get to talk. Listening skills are required here. haha. Just got back from a family reunion in Delaware. Oh, my, guess who the life of the party was? Attending my family reunion was just as great as a really terrific endurance run where you get a sense of this is where you belong. I have a very cool family. cya, Howard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Rittenhouse" <roger@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 11:06 PM Subject: [RC] Omni's LD Adventures After all the past LD bashing, I was not going to post any reports on the rides we have completed this year. However, after this past weekend I figured why not. Those who have 'problems' with LD riders and racers just delete. Based on facts proven by the statistics, all the so called problems are imagined. There is no real problem with LDs. So much for my politically incorrect statement. A short background. As many may recall, Omni and I had a major fall at a ride in Jan 02. It has taken us over a year to get back in the game. We are greatly improved but still have issues. This is a report on 4 LD rides for 2003. We did one in Sept 02 but it was a major bust for both of us . We finished but just by luck. MILLION PINES. My plan here was to complete, slow and steady. I dont have the finish time but it was over 4 hrs for sure. He went well and we both had no problems during or after. I think we were almost at the end like 48th or?? Card is not readable. As usual Westly put on a great ride well marked and super vets. So after this success I sent in the entry for the next rides Liberty Run 25/25 (yes a 2 day LD) and the KHP Pyramid. LIBERTY RUN. We arrived on Fri. since we were doing the LD, I felt he did not need the extra day to recover from the road trip. Day one was the difficult loop. We took our time on the 15 mile loop. On loop 2, the 10 mile FLAT lake loop, we picked up the pace. A funny thing happened on that loop. I ran into Howard and Spirit about 1/2 mile out. He was on his first 10 mile loop of the 50 miler. We had a blast, cantered most of the way. There is a picture on the webshots of both of us, taken by Becky Silver. Howard wanted to hold hands. I told him he was NUTS - but we all know that. I figured that picture would end up on the cover of EN. Had a good run, took 41 minutes to ride with completion in in 18 minutes. We ended in great shape in 44th place. A good ride. Ready for day 2. I iced his legs and kept walking him about during the night. LR day 2. I planned to pickup the pace on this ride. The first loop is easy and fast.We made great time. He was really stronger. So he may make a good multiday horse? We cantered the 10 mile loop. IF I did the math correctly he did it in 3:51 ride time for 11th place. I missed TT because I was fooling around at the crew area. I walked up and all the riders who I came in with were in line. Rats. But we had a great ride Both days he had As and equal CRI except on day2 at the finish with a 52/56. Nothing wrong with either of us. We did a short work last Sat and a stronger longer fast work on Sunday. I wanted to add some stress. I normally ride on Wed after the weekend ride. This time I waited until the weekend and wanted to work 2 days. We did a slow easy 5 miles on Wed this past week. KHP Pyramid. My plan here was to TT. I felt he was ready to run a bit more. We did a major warmup before the start. Trot and canter sets on the track. The trail was muddy and sloppy. Overcast and cool but humid. A good course for him. First loop was 15 miles. We took off in the lead, but let a few crazy's go ahead until it was safe to move up. I decided since he was stronger this time, to ride with the snaffle bit. I switched to the bitless bridle for the second loop. We found it was better to slow canter in the soft dirt and slop mud (sort of like going in sand) and gallop on the roads. When the mud was too much we walked. Dont think we trotted more then 5 miles. He went I-hr 45 min on this loop. Pulsed through in 11 minutes and all A. I asked Mat Frazier, what he thought if I wanted to move him out, no problem looked great. We left in 8th place. Canter and trot most of the 10 mile loop in 56 minutes. Took 13 minutes to pulse down and vet through. We were posted in 8th place. Time was 3:05 This was not his fastest LD (25) but it was great for the trail conditions. The 50 milers did it faster.(5hr?) Due to some - lets see how to say this PC, a few problems with loops and trail (other riders) we ended in 6th - I think?? The problems were 'resolved' but there was some in-equity. Of course we stood for BC. Heck I rarely ever make TT and with a super completion with all A and a 52/52 CRI. I had to try and 'show' him. Appears all the training with in hand presentation really paid off. He looked great. Many riders have no showmanship skills. I watched the trot out. Good horses looked bad because of a poor presentation. However that was good for us hehehe. We were 7 minutes off 1st and 220 pnd 5 under max weight. Vet score was very good at 452.5 He did have a B for back - all the running and the sloppy-muddy trail took a toll. He took BC. A real great job. The ride presented this great cooler and a metal medallion from The Pyramid Society. This was a great ride. I never get to go here because it normally is on the same weekend as the OD. I go to the OD to ride or work. This year they are a week apart. Next year they will be at the same time. Think we have to go back for the 50 at KHP. With-standing the 'problems' that occurred, I accomplished my goal to make TT, the BC was just an extra reward for riding him to his ability for that day on that trail. So he did well. I was used a bit and I think he did better. Now its on to 50 milers?? Maybe JDs SC MIDNIGHT 50? Here is a kicker. The Pyramid Society gives a award to an Egyptian blood line. While Omni is 1/2 Shagya and half Arab, his dam is Magic Shadow AHRA 213832 - full Egyptian. I dont know IF he would have qualified or not being only half, but if I would have indicated that on the entry he may have won the Arabian Show saddle. My luck? So that is our ride 'story' to date. I posted pictures to the below webshot link - look in album' Omni's Ld Adventures See not too long -easy report- we went to a few rides - we rode some we raced some we finished and we did well and --- we had fun.. got completion awards...what else is there? Roger R ps Maggie and Malik did great. V-MAX Equine HRM Equine Performance Technology 800 655 8629 423 253 3882 Phone or Fax www.vmaxept.com pictures http://community.webshots.com/user/psdendurance =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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