[RC] Peace Point Ride in Bethany WV - Linda S. Flemmer
To echo what many others have said - what a
wonderful ride & great weekend despite warm temps in OCTOBER! Samantha
did a great job planning the ride on short notice and even looked like she
was enjoying herself! This is the closest ride I've ever
attended - less than 1 hr 45 minutes from home! We're used to driving 5-9
hours!
Mike & I have sat out from competing for
several years now between work demands, new horses and several surgeries for
both of us people. Mike almost didn't go to this ride either since
:
It was the last ride
of the season near us (except for the Ft Valley rides) when he'd done zero
rides all year
The horse had a sour attitude on our home
trails
He had a last minute business trip where he would
have to leave on Sunday
My new job had me double back from evenings on Thursday to days on
Friday two weeks in a row in order to have the weekend off.
I am SO GLAD we went anyway.
According to Mike, the trail was technical but very do-able.
Wonderful scenery, lots of water, lots of volunteers to counteract trail
vandalism, fantastic vets and a nice base camp. Mike rode Buck, his
Standardbred on the 25 on Saturday and they had a blast. Buck surprised us
all by coming in around the middle of the pack (Mike was shooting for just a
completion) and he was at criteria as he came in everytime. Other than
putting out his "mush" and holding him occasionally, I had very little crewing
to do. What a welcome break from Mike's old QH that WORKED to cool out at
every vet check!
A small concession wagon set up at basecamp to provide hot food for 3 meals
a day. While the ride provided coffee & donuts, I sure appreciated a
hot breakfast wrap and cocoa on Saturday. A number of vendors were present
- boy did we both shop & support those folks who sponsored the ride!
We met an elderly gentleman who was hosting a large part of one loop on his
property. He was so surprised that folks came from so far to ride there in
Bethany, WV. He was impressed with the horses, riders, and the
organization. Mike said he was on the side of the road waving as the 25
milers came thru Saturday morning. Not every neighbor was angry at us
being there!
I sure hope that Peace Point is willing to hold it again next year.
We'll both come back!
