*Note from Bev Scott (Alyx sent this to me to Post on Ridecamp so am
going to add that she was > AERC NC 100 -1st in Featherweight Division and is
hoping to win the National War Mare Award for Mommesin having 1648
Points prior to this ride.) And finally .... read on to find out the
answer to the question *** "How tall "is" Monsieur Joseph ? " ........
My Ride: As we assembled in the dark for the start of AERC NC
100 you could feel the excitement in the air. The "Start” being
relatively calm except for Mommesin who was excited to get under way.
Having "Broke in the Air" she settled and immediately took off down the
trail at a trot.
During the first few miles Mommesin and I passed and or
were passed by riders trying to position themselves for the ride. 3-5 miles
out I began riding alongside Michel Bloch / Monsieur Joseph (who is only 13'3
maybe 14 hands tall) and Nicole Wier / Rebel Fire Bask (I think that's who it
was).
Noticing that Michel had his reins crossed the other rider and I
waited while he hopped off and straightened them out (it's hard to tack-up
in the dark). Another rider came up and trying to pass us bumped
Mommesin hard enough to cause her to stumble to the ground.
I rode
with Michel and then Nicole until the first vet check. Having pulsed down in
front of the rest of the riders we left Vet Gate #1 in first place. I slowed
down hoping to wait for Nicole who had stopped earlier for me (a very kind
gesture not always given by competitive riders). As riders caught
me about three miles down the trail Mommesin pulled on the reins wanting to
go on with the others.
After this the loops become a blur of dry trails.
I rode with Beverly Gray and Michel Bloch mainly throughout the day.
The first one out of Vet Gate # 5, Mommesin wanted to trot and jog the
final loop but I was tiring and chose to saunter slowly down the trail
waiting for Michel. Who wants to ride by oneself in the dark? Not I. Besides,
Michel is a very funny guy. He is from France but has lived in the U.S. since
1973. He taught me enough French to impress my teachers and at the same time he
is a great horseman.
At one point in the last loop after riding up a long
slope Michel dismounted and filled a collapsible bucket with his own drinking
water and offered my mare and his gelding all the water he had. Wow ! I
was impressed. Mommesin stuck her nose up at it but Monsieur Joseph
was very pleased. We continued to walk but trotted on out whenever Steve
Hoeft came into sight .
Luckily, we had been warned that a
barbed wire gate that originally we had been told would be open had in fact
been shut. Michel graciously struggled and opened it for us while I
held his well mannered mount. Steve did not have the gate to deal with - ahh
the benefits of a home advantage ehh?
Unfortunately, Joyce Sousa was
not warned about this gate and her horse trotted directly into it. Ouch -
barbed wire - amazingly her horse stayed sound and finished strong thank
goodness. Once across the finish line I un-tacked, pulsed in, trotted out,
and completed my final Veterinarian exam.
Mommesin looked wonderful
particularly when you consider she has trailered roughly eight thousand
miles in a month and competed successfully in two 100 Mile Rides. Talk about
one tough mare .( Even if we don't end up placing nationally, to me she
is a true War Mare :) A blanketing and a good roll later, Mommesin
began to eat, and I was free to watch other finishers, completion exams and
play with my new dog Lucky.
Shortly after Joyce Sousa finished I
realized her horse was getting chilly. Knowing what they had just been
through I blanketed him and could tell that Joyce was grateful. She had
been most helpful to me at the Pan Am ride am pleased I could assist her
here.
The following morning I watched BC's. (Was sorry that Michel Bloch
didn't win BC as he was 1st Middle Weight riding Monsiuer
Joseph who finished just one second behind Mommesin on a horse
considerably shorter than Mommesin and carrying a guy who is close to being a
heavyweight.).
Talked with friends and was happy to see Roger Taylor, Barney Fleming
and Linda, Randy Eiland, Heather and Jeremy Reynolds plus Jeremy's twin (a
surprise to me). I said my Goodbyes to another incredible Veterinarian Team and
was soon off to the airport to catch a flight home.
