OMG!! Just when I think nothing could get any
more beautiful than Redwood and all the others, here comes the Headwaters at the
Rogue Ride.
This is THE best ride yet. Up in the high
Cascade Mountains of Oregon near Crater Lake National Park, this is almost
dreamlike it was so gorgeous.
The terrain was so varried and that is what was
so heavenly. We crossed so many huge creeks and rivers that it was unbelievable.
Just one after another. Rode along side the rivers for so many miles it would
take your breath away.
Waterfalls, riding through the deep dark
forest in the morning sun with the rays shimmering through the giant Douglas Fir
Trees.
Then you would round a bend and there were
meadows to die for hugged by the tall commanding forest trees. Saw some deer
clammering through the hill sides too.
Then you would come along some marshes with
ponds in them. It was surreal. Dang, I didn't know we had anything that lovely
that close to my home.
This was the most technical ride I have done so
far in my short LD career. Lots of stump branches and some real rocky areas, but
the fun part was the really really steep climbs and descents.
They were not long climbs, but boy were they in
the Vertical! That D'Artagnon is like a freakin bulldozer going up those climbs.
I have never ridden a horse with such rear end power.
They were so steep that I was practically
laying flat on his back holding onto his mane and almost his forelock with my
legs straight back to his butt.
He does need to learn to come down them with a
bit more finesse, but he is learning so fast at only three rides and so new to
even being ridden, I cannot fault that horse one iota. He is born for this
sport.
And for Claudia and you other nay sayers, So
many people just gushed over his Bee U Ti Ful YELLOW Tack from "Action Tack by Windrider". No body
thinks he looks like a school bus, but Claudia. har har
har.
Friday night we had a brief Thunder Storm, a
few cracks of thunder and a few showers. Saturday, ride day, was like the
heavens opened their arms to all of us. Perfect weather!
Nice breeze, and Cotton Ball Cumulous clouds
dotted here and there to make the picture worth a million
words.
Next year me and the Dude Magnet, D'artagnon,
will definitely be doing a fifty, I have to have twice the time to
enjoy this ride, it is beyond any description I can muster up
here.
There were 48 starts in the Limited Distance
and we placed 23rd. Our completion time was 4:40. I would not have done a thing
differently on this ride with this horse. He was pulsed down below 60 at each
Vet Check. He was just awesome. I am so proud of this horse.(Meaning he was
already below criteria when we came into the VC.)
I am so glad I didn't take Strider on this
ride. For a four year old, it is too much to ask. Actually, I am thinking that
four year olds should not be allowed to compete at all. I think it is just too
young.
So while we didn't top ten, which we never
aimed for, I am proud to say that my handsome Gaited "rose" amongst the thorns,
kicked butt on over half the Ayrabs. We being the ONLY gaited horse there.
(c'mon, no flames from the peanut gallery, let me savor this
moment)
Dang, I love this sport and D'Artagnon is such
a natural, I just can't believe how level headed he is for just starting his
future career.
He did lose his head for a minute, when a lady
walked her arab mare over to admire D'artagnon.
As we were yakking, her mare tried to get cozy
with the Dude and he went back to his Stallion Brain and boy! What an awesome
Stallion he must have been.
He snorted, and arched his neck, his head was
up to the moon and he was lookin for love! I quickly asked the lady to
move her mare back, and she wasn't in the state of mind to be caught up in a
threesome with this powerful boy either!
After they left, D'artagnon looked just like a
man rejected, damn, I had to laugh at the look on his puss. I told him I
would give him a cold shower and he could settle down.
Great Ride Management, the best really. The
awards were so grand, I have never seen such awards. All the riders in
each division were happy, helpful and just a wonderful bunch of
people.
Nice big breakfast this morning, of which I did
not eat, but it sure looked and smelled good and there was plenty of grub, that
is for sure.
My Portland pardner's nephew came with her and
he caught two rainbow trout at the creek and he fried them up for Dinner Sat.
night. First time I have ever tasted Rainbow Trout, pretty good
actually.
And I am so happy to inform everyone that has
been holding their breath to see what kind of trouble I got into this
time.........Nothing, Nada, not even a bee sting. Just a great
time.
Kudos to Tom and Jackie Jones for putting on
such a beautiful and well marked ride. This is their final year at the helm and
I am so sorry I never did this ride before. They are just the most lovely folks
around. Great turn out of hard core endurance riders that gave up their ride to
volunteer and help out. Just amazing and really what this sport should be all
about. Giving, caring, happy humans and their beloved equine
partners.
That is the story, great ride, so much fun and
what a nice challenge.
amber
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