Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Sheltowee Run CTR

Mike Chadwell and his wife Helen have hosted the Sheltowee Run at Cave Run 
Lake in KY, for many, many years now and it is always a must do on my calendar. 
Some rides have been very full and others a bit thin. The weather is always a 
concern at this time of year and seems to conspire to make things difficult 
for all. But, for those that don't bend for any reason, and forge ahead no 
matter what the conditions, it is a wonderful weekend of competitive trail. 
This 
area has a ‘family' of competitors, managers, and dedicated workers, that 
makes 
any hardship just another lark to mark up as a tale to spin at the next 
campfire.

The ride Vet., Phil Prater, is a kind and patient man, always willing to 
answer any question about one's horse, and generous with his advice as to how 
to 
manage any problem with a beginner or oldie alike. Teamed with Sue Keith as lay 
judge, the riders and their horses couldn't have been in better hands.

This is the perfect ride to start a new horse or a new rider, as Mike always 
has a 15 mile Novice ride along with the 30/60 elevator ride. The trails are 
not difficult at all unless it rains which it ‘always' does. This year Mother 
Nature threw in some tornados playing around with some heavy rains on Thursday 
before the ride, and on Sunday during and after the ride.  But, Friday and 
Saturday were glorious!

I had planed to take my ‘greenie' to his first competition here, and do the 
baby 15 miler. Thursday's lightening and wind show made me really nervous about 
it though, and although disappointed I wasn't looking forward to traversing 
mud and rain in a very energetic and playful newbie. So had decided to just 
drive up and help Mike any way I could. Well, when I arrived on Friday everyone 
was giving me a hard time about being a wimp, which I readily admit that I 
am...<g> Hey, at 55 I can be whatever I please!! And, Barb Jefferson had planed 
to 
ride her greenie also, and we had planned to take them out at the end and 
make our way through the 15 miles together. No only was I a wimp, but also 
letting down a friend... But, on the way home, the sky was so clear, the air so 
fine 
that I was smiling and planning to hook up the trailer and head back with my 
greenie the next day so I could ride him Sunday. It wasn't ‘that' muddy. 
Mother Nature seemed finally appeased. and I was feeling juiced again.

Gave Slick (the greenie) a quick bath after a short workout in the arena 
(hadn't ridden him in over a week), loaded up everything I think I must have to 
survive one overnight,  and off we went.
Mike helped me park in the first level spot, which also corresponded with the 
spot that my left front tire and my right rear tire sunk into the mud. Not to 
worry, it was drying fast, and I could think of it Sunday evening. Got Slick 
settled in his elec. corral. I was very pleased with his attitude about it 
all. He is familiar with electric fence but this was his first experience with 
a 
corral. Worked great even though I had a hard time getting either of my old 
chargers working. Slick is the type of horse that thinks every moment of his 
life is a game, so he was taking everything in between bites of hay and loud 
deep 
whinnies. Not sure who he was calling for, but he called often... He got to 
watch horses and riders coming and going, got to see his first tent being put 
up, sun shelters, pop ups, other electric corrals, trailers, campfires, riders 
in bright clothing, colorful buckets, wagons with splashing buckets. He and 
we, even got to hear blues being sung and played until midnight, as they were 
giving it their all just over the hill at the lake. Got to listen to boats 
grinding and splashing and bumping on the lake all night long too. As I lay in 
my 
trailer quite sleepless, I could just imagine the fish all huddled close to the 
mud at the bottom of the lake, thinking, ‘golly gee, can't wait until 
Tuesday'.

Finally went to sleep in the wee hours of the morning, then awoke at the 
appointed time (never need an alarm) to feed my guy. Was that the pitter patter 
of 
rain drops on the roof?  No, can't be. Please don't let it be. Went out to 
feed, yes, a fine mist was getting me quite wet. Slick thought this feeding 
thing while it was still dark a fine thing and dug into his beetpulp with 
electrolytes. Well, I've ridden in the rain before, and unless it is cold or 
storming, 
I will do it, although I don't like it. As the morning progressed, so did the 
rain as in coming down heavier, then letting up just enough for us to get our 
hopes up, then coming down harder, then when we got saddled up, Mother Nature 
began to toss in some lightening and thunder. Mike delayed the ride start a 
few minutes hoping Mother Nature would calm down a bit, but no she was feeling 
b!!@xxxxx So out went the Open riders who were doing their second day of the 
elevator ride. Off they went, heads down, stoic in their determination to get 
the job done. Barb and I looked at each other, looked at our two greenies 
standing tied at the trailer with covers over their saddles, gazed at the never 
relenting rain, and decided to wimp out together... Still we had hopes that the 
rain would eventually let up and kept our boys saddled so that we could at 
least take a ride later in the day. In the mean time we stood under the 
managers 
tent and watched the rain and waited for the riders to come back into camp for 
the vet checks. Rain did not let up, so we decided that if it did, we could go 
out on the first small loop and take down ribbons after the 30 milers went 
through the final time. In the mean time, Slick tried to teach Jaence how to 
untie his lead, how to paw until Mom gives you more hay, how to paw for the 
hell 
of it so Mom comes and fusses at you. How to make mud pies with your feet. 
That sort of thing.
At just the right time, Mother Nature smiled and Barb and I quickly put the 
bridles on and took off with the mission of taking down ribbons in the very 
wet, but not raining woods. It was so warm at that point that neither of us 
wore 
a rain coat, and neither of us trusted our greenies to tie one on. So, off we 
went, happy at last to be in the saddle. As I glanced back at the managers 
tent, I saw Tom Keith (farrier extrodinare) giving us the two thumbs up, along 
with a wide, wide smile.

Slick is an Arabian and Quarter Horse cross and seems to be either one or the 
other at any given time, so we went merrily along ears up, then head 
slinging, then bucking, then trotting, then walking at whatever order that 
suited him. 
Barb was just trying to keep her pretty boy steady. I only saw him get a 
little goosey once, but Barb said he was very ‘tense'...<g>And that she 
didn't 
dare to bend over to straighten her crooked stirrup. Slick and I did some 
serious 
circling for a time, but finally did settle in on the mission of taking down 
ribbons. Since they both needed it, we just walked and walked in the mud, in 
the running streams, in the deep, dark, wet woods. We were enjoying ourselves 
and feeling like at least we were doing something constructive and getting our 
boys further education at the same time. A slight shower came up and we 
shrugged it off, as it was just barely getting to us under the canopy of 
foliage. I 
had to open my mouth and comment on how, ‘you know this isn't so bad,' Mother 
Nature chuckled as only she can do with that flashing smile and deep rumble... 
So, we got thoroughly wet, and thoroughly cold, until Barb committed that, 
‘you know we may as well have done the 15 miles' How right she was, as my 
Slick, 
could definitely use more miles to get his little fun and games head 
straight... Thirty to fifty might do it.

Slick was not happy at all when Barb took her boy to her trailer, so made 
more mud pie. He finally settled down in dejection and stood on the ramp so as 
to 
not stand in the mud...He occasionally gave me a pitiful glance.
At last the final brave riders came in and finished their respective rides, 
and I decided to hand over the reins of my truck and trailer to Mike Chadwell, 
who can get anything unstuck. And, so he did to my ever grateful cheers. We 
loaded up Slick once the trailer was on gravel again, and got ourselves on home 
before the next wave of tornadoes and heavy thunder storms hit.
At that point when I was unloading at the barn and my husband came to help me 
and told me we'd better hurry as more tornadoes were on their way, I just 
shrugged and tossed my cold, wet hair. So, here we go again, and I bow to 
you...Mistress Mother Nature...<g>

Congratulations to those riders who stuck it out for 60 miles, and 30 miles 
and 15 miles. Several newbies got their first taste of distance riding, some 
tough oldies got their respective miles and placings. Our own junior, Josie 
Whelan, out rode her mother and got her 60 miles in. And, our little greenies 
got 
their first taste of camping and riding in the rain. So, all and all it was a 
successful weekend at Sheltowee Run 2004.

Next year will only be better. Those that missed this year's ride, missed a 
wonderful adventurous ride, good camaraderie and fun.

See you on the trail!

Janice Taylor & Slick a.k.a.  Joker
===========================================================REAL endurance is 
eating egg salad sandwiches for 3 days straight! Heidi
Sowards... but then again... REAL endurance is riding behind someone who
ate egg salad sandwiches for 3 days straight!
~ author unkown

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