I can't believe how much our pit crew did for us.
Carrie's boyfriend, Joe, was a trooper and proved himself invaluable to us. We
couldn't have done it without Joe and Nelson, I am afraid. They were waiting for
us with a smile and a pat on the back even though we didn't need a slosh bottle
or anything to drink during the deluge! When I knew a pit stop was coming up, I
would start calling "Yoo-hoo, where are you?" through the trees. (Watch the
Bonanza episode called "Hoss and the Leprechauns" and you'll understand). When
they could hear us, they would start calling the horses' names. Max and Malik
LOVE to see their pit crew on the trail even if they don't get anything though
they often do. We discovered during the course of our ride that saying "yoo-hoo"
again would spark immediate renewed energy and vigor in both horses even if
Nelson and Joe did not soon appear. We decided to not abuse our newfound,
performance-enhancing chant lest our steeds catch on to our game! But it
certainly was effective!
We finished in 5 hours and 48 minutes. What a great ride!
Before we finished, the flowers had decided it was safe to come out and it
actually became warm and somewhat muggy and buggy! Only in
Michigan!!!
Max and Malik had top-notch vet scores (480 and 490
respectively) scoring 9 or 10 on everything. They were in excellent condition at
the end. But Earl Baxter is not only heavier than we are, he is faster and he
drove away with the Best Condition Award. Congrats to him. He has some fabulous
horseflesh underneath him!
I must mention our new addition to our crew and ride camp
family this year, Nellie. Nellie is the Great Dane that Jenny rescued and
brought home at Christmas to live with us. She has become quite a fixture in our
home and in our lives. Our dear Cardigan Corgi, Fancy still lurks under the
trailer to guard us from strangers and overly inquisitive dogs that wander in
but Nellie doesn't fit. She was a big hit though. We painted a number on her
butt (#1, of course) and she went visiting with us. Everyone wanted to know if
she was doing 25 or 50, competitive or endurance. Everyone wanted to pet her, of
course and when she leaned her head into them, they were captivated if they were
lucky enough not to be capsized! She waits with Nelson at the pit stop and runs
up the trail to watch for us coming and then runs joyfully back to tell him that
we are coming. She can't ride with us on the roads at home but I hope to take
her to some trails with us this weekend and let her roam trails while we ride
nearby. If she weren’t a dog, she'd be a perfect endurance mount! She loves to
go and helped us clear the trail for LMMR a couple of weeks ago, leaping over
the downed trees and finding water in the depressions of the forest. Fancy, of
course, stays a little closer to supervise.
For our first ride this season, I am VERY pleased. Our
horses were in great shape, did everything we asked of them, we didn't push them
or get caught up in the excitement of the ride...rain dampens more than the
forest! But it could not dampen our spirits or enthusiasm. The trail was as well
marked, as always, the people were the best as always. A typical endurance ride
in spite of the weather and a few "aguasfiestas". Thanks, Jay and Becke, for a
wonderful ride AGAIN. As long as you are willing to put on this ride, I will be
there to ride it and if you need help clearing trail, I'll do my best to make
room in my schedule to do so.
