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[RC] Difficult Ride... Rides of March - Ridecamp Guest

Please Reply to: Char Antuzzi char.antuzzi@xxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Fist off, my hats off to the vets, the managers and all the 
wonderful volunteers that put on the Rides Of March. What a
great group of people.

I think what made this ride so hard were a few things. One, the
weather. It was HOT! There were many horses that came to this
ride that had two inches of winter hair built up. Those horses
just couldn't cool off quick enough. So the hot weather and long
haired horses sure didn't make for a good ride completion. I 
chose to body clip my horse and am sure glad that I did!

Second: After the 15 mile / 15 min vet check we had a 20 mile
loop to do. Out in this loop we had a hill that was just a 
killer. A lot of horses I think got into trouble on this hill. I
got off and walked up the hill and I sure saw a lot of riders
taking this same approach. I heard this was a 7,000 foot climb
but could have mistaken that information? The entire ride was 
sand. For those of us that condition on somewhat hard surfaces,
this sand really took a toll on our leg weary horses.

It was just a very long (a true 50 mile ride!)sandy, hot ride
at the start of the ride season. Ride managers went out of 
the way to provide water in the criticle areas. My horse ate 
snow and laid down and rolled in the snow on that hill side. 
Smart mustang I think! He ate the snow and I feel that really
helped him get up that darn hill. I ate the snow too, it sure
tasted good in that heat.

We finished, wayyyyyy in the end but we made it, my horse is 
happy, healthy and I, though a bit sore feel like I crossed a
finish line to a tuff first ride. Good Tevis training to all
of us.

Happy trails.... see you all at the convention
Char and Sir Galahad, the snow eating mustang 




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