Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Sawyer and I have had a tough season. We haven't made it to as many rides as
we had hoped and training has sketchy. We went to Biltmore (50) and got
pulled at 35 with a tight right "hamstring". Decided to try to do 3 - 25
milers at the Liberty Ride(Ft Gordon, Augusta, Ga) this last weekend.

Got there on Thursday and got set up. No problems. Heat was stifling. My
living quarters is in the 16ft open stock trailer. Trying to sleep while
sweating due to heat just isn't easy. Covered in OFF with a citronella
candle burning to keep the buzzzzzing of mosquito wings to a low roar.
Friday morning is warm and muggy. My new riding attire is hiking boots, half
chaps, athletic shorts, a Hawaiian style button up cotton shirt(for air
flow) and my bandana under my helmet. Junior rider camped next to me is
laughing at me and calling me crazy(and I don't even know her)!  Took off on
ride and found that my new outfit had merit and was as comfortable as could
possibly be despite the heat and humidity. Day went well although had a few
deer fly bites on my face and Sawyer got us up to 8th place in 2:29 only
about 30 minutes behind the hot shoes in first. Rinsed my shorts and shirt
out in a bucket and hung them to dry as I knew I had found my new riding
gear. Day 2 was slightly cooler as it had rained pretty hard during the
night. The rain also raised the humidity considerably. Sawyer seemed fine
and we were able to finish only 9 minutes slower than the day before(2:38)
but in 6th place this time. I was unsure of the time of the first place
folks as I missed the ride meeting because I had gone to get my
grandchildren that live in Augusta. Both days we ended up 3rd in the BC
judging. Day 3 came and it was even cooler and less humid than day 2. Off we
went. Sawyer seemed a little pokey. When I would ask him to canter he
wouldn't do it long before he was returning to the trot. Figured we'd just
take it easy and work to finish. Got about 6-7 miles out and there were
water troughs. He stuck his head in one and I thought he wasn't going to
come up for air. I have never seen him drink so much at one time! When he
finished I started walking away from the troughs and he just started
cantering without asking. He wouldn't slow down! I felt like we didn't have
any breaks. We passed rider after rider. He had a mission and he wasn't to
be stopped. We came into the vet check and he pulsed down 2 minutes behind
the leader. He was looking good, hot and panting but CRI was good and trot
out was fine. We left the vet check and I asked for a trot and he took to
the canter. We caught the leader in a relatively short time. We rode along
with her for awhile when another rider caught up with us. We all stayed
together the remainder of the loop. The leader had ridden the day prior and
had come in the top 3(she may have been 2d, not sure) and the other rider
was on her first day. Both were on grays which appeared to be Arabs(didn't
ask). We all came in at the same time. The fresh rider pulsed down first,
the other rider immediately after and Sawyer was about 1 minute later. I was
elated. 3 days and 3 top tens with improving placing each day. This days
ride time was 2:24, 5 minutes faster than the first day. Sawyer looked good.
Hot and panting but they all were. Then we trotted out. He was off on the
right hind. Not bad but consistent. Hadn't felt it on trail. His CRI was
fine. Metabolically he was fine. Eating, drinking, good gut sounds,
everything but this hitch in his giddyup! How disappointing.

I believe his problem is my bum knee causing me to ride slightly unbalanced.
I need to work on strengthening my knee so this doesn't happen again. It was
fun but sorely disappointing to not be top ten the 3rd day but even more so
to not complete the 3rd day. I'm whining now. Sawyer is fine, trots easily
without a hint of a bob. I do feel good about his conditioning as he seemed
to strengthen over the days and looks as good as he has ever looked!

Ed Roley & Sawyer(the turbo-charged Morgan/Arab cross with the heavy duty
towing package)


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...but then, I do ride my horses a lot more than most people 
~  Karen Chaton

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