I see I have 9 listed, and like many of you 'old'
riders, I have a few that weren't sanctioned, and a once did a two day 150, but
my last completion in a 100 was 1992. Cripes, that was awhile ago!!!
I started and did not finish two 100 milers in recent years, and learned from
them, as kat had from her non completions. Here goes:
1. Do not allow your horse to drink deeply
from the puddles in the cotton fields in SC- especially when no one else
is---they use chemicals there. It was the only time Desco Music was EVER
sick in the many years I had him, and his only non completion. He went 25
miles when we pulled him, and interestingly enough, I thought he was ok going
down the road and my husband who was crewing saw him from a distance and flew
over to tell me to pull him. I thought he was nuts, but he insisted he
wasn't right - Mark didn't like the look in his eye. 1/2 hour later he was
ill......
2. S--t happens. Last year I rode Lois
McAfee's Hoosier in a 100. The horse was great, feeling confident (they
told me he liked to buddy up, but I like to ride alone- and he was super
alone). We went 90 (NINETY!!) miles and all of a sudden he was off with a
slight swelling in a front tendon. I was so hyped I could have carried HIM
for the last 10, but of course no one believed me!! :-)
I LOVE a hundred miler more than about anything in
life, but haven't had the time to get ready for them lately, and the 100s are
getting more scarce. Every year for 17 years I have thought about doing
the OD 100 again and haven't had the right horse, then last year it was canceled
and this year, my mare is fit as a fiddle and we are leaving for the big XP that
day. Next year....
I really love the Big Horn and have seriously
thought about leaving the XP and going up to do it....I haven't said it out loud
to anyone yet, least they strike me in the forehead with the palm of their
hand.......!!!! ;-)
