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[RC] Leatherwood Ride - Part 1 - Jim Holland"LEATHERWOOD - A deciduous shrub (Dirca palustris) of eastern North America, having tough flexible branches, pliable bark, and small yellow flowers." Leatherwood - Even the name makes you think of Endurance....flexibility...toughness....and beauty. I had planned to go early and just hang out for a couple of days, but Joan couldn't get off work and there was NO way she was gonna miss this ride. I think it's the baby back ribs.....or maybe the breakfast Sunday morning....or the convenience or crewing there...probably all of those things and more. We really love this ride. Leatherwood has a history of hosting some inclement weather along with the ride. The first year I attended, it was cold, cloudy, and damp, with the fog in the valleys looking like lakes from the mountains above. Even then, it was beautiful. When the fog burned off, the valleys below were bright green with miniature cows sprinkled across them and the mountains "Blue Ridge Blue" in the distance. Last year, it sleeted Saturday nite, and snowed all the way home, the worst year ever, but it was still a GREAT ride, Magic's first ride and the only year I didn't complete it. We are 6 1/2 hours from Leatherwood, traveling thru the Beautiful Nantahala Gorge, picking up I40 at Asheville, then over the Southern Divide in Pisgah National Forest. Spring came early to the mountains this year, and the road sides and homes along I40 were spectacular. Bright sunshine and the temperature around 70. Bradford Pear, Forsythia, Redbuds, Pink Dogwoods, Jonquils, Daffodils and many other flowering trees all in full bloom. We stopped at Old Fort to give Magic a stretch and get an Apple Pie at McDonalds. I hate the food there, but just love their pies! <grin> Business was kinda slow and all the girls were hanging out the take-out window looking at Magic, so we took him over. He promptly stuck his head in the window, gave one of 'em a sloppy kiss and wanted to know if he could get a salad, no dressing, heavy on the carrots. :) We arrived at Leatherwood a little before noon, and were again astonished by the spring flower show.....the most beautiful we have ever seen it. Last year, Magic spent Saturday nite in his heavy blanket, standing in his corral, which had turned into a lake from the heavy rain storm. This year, I decided to try a stall. Was a little concerned that he would not eat and drink well there, but he had a nice 12 x12 stall under the eaves on the North side of the West Barn. He had a friendly guy on each side, could stick his head out, and there were horses all around. He happily moved right in like he had lived there all his life. Every couple of hours, we took him for a walk to graze around the barns and paddocks. We were relieved that he was so relaxed and mellow. Seems Leatherwood affects both horses AND people that way! In addition, this would be the first ride in his new saddle, an RP Avant Garde. Lots to worry about. We got Magic settled in and since we didn't need a corral, parked the trailer off in a corner of a pasture out of the way, unpacked, picked up our ride packet, broke out the refreshments and kicked back in the sun of a beautiful spring day, surrounded by green grass, mountains and lots of horses! Now if you were to make a list of amenties you would like to have at the "ideal" Endurance Ride, what would they be? How about: Ridecamp nestled in a beautiful valley in the mountains with a creek running thru it. Rustic restored buildings, sparkling clean barns and paddocks, with MANY large stalls. A butt-kicking trail....you gotta bring a HORSE and know what you're doing. No wimps or whining allowed! Spectacular views on the trail. A first class restaurant within 100 yards of your trailer. (With some GREAT folks serving you) Great ride meals, with seconds. (How about Country Fried Steak, chicken fingers, green beans, rice, salad, rolls, and banana pudding served hot from a gourmet restaurant next door and 5 kinds of drinks ?) Hot Showers. Water faucets scattered all over the place. Camping area with power and water. Primitive corral camping in grass pastures. Sheltered indoor arena with sound and a chalk board for the ride meeting. Some of the best Vets in the SE....the head Vet is an Endurance Rider, TRAINS here and knows the trails. (Don't know fer sure, but betcha the vets get treated like royalty here) The best timer in the SE...probably the world....Nancy Gooch. Rental cabins (actually private homes) with spectacular views, some with pastures, rock fireplaces, and hot tubs. Superbly marked trail with ribbons and pie plates with directions, notes, and humor. Water tanks at the top of every climb. Bottled water for riders at every check point. Horse Ambulance available for emergencies with radio communications. Spotters at checkpoints to keep you on trail, and riders scattered across the trail to monitor for emergencies. A community of horse people who just love Endurance riders and turn out in bunches to watch and help. No Forest Service or BLM rules to deal with....100 miles of trail...all private property. A limit on the number of riders to prevent over crowding. A GREAT "hands on" ride manager (Abbie Hanchey) and facility host (Phil Rash). Magic vetted in all A's, Joan prepped her crew area for Saturday, and we headed off to the dinner and ride meeting. After a great meal, Abbie, Phil, and Head Vet Duane Barnett discussed the trail and vet parameters. Two loops back to camp, repeating the first one to get 50 miles. Two vet checks with 50 minute holds, 64 pulse. Controlled start at 6:00 AM. Hooked up with Becky Siler and her Moyle horse "Miles" and planned our ride. Completion was our goal. Allowing two hours for recovery and holds, we had 10 hours for the trail. Three hours per loop would give us an hour leeway. However, I knew the trail well....the first loop (and the last loop) were easy compared to the second loop thru Bob's Branch...lots of elevation changes there. We needed to make a little time on the first loop, ease off on the 2nd one and save something for the last one. Next: The RIDE! Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic ============================================================ Common sense should also be a part of the decision making process. If you see someone who doesn't have any, hand them your tool box. ~ Lisa Salas - The Odd Farm ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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