The Gumbo ride this year had it pitfalls but all
the woods here have the same ones. Until I made the decision to go thru a
normal looking puddle, we did 20 miles in 3.5 hrs, mostly trotting. I
started out late as my horse is an adrenaline junkie and gets really excited
around other horses. He is ok now but lost some wt and was very slightly
dehydrated. He did not waste his usual amount of hay on the way home
as he was hungry. mas
In a message dated 3/2/2005 3:26:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Tracey Smith <tracey.smith@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
writes:
>I rode a CTR last year on the exact same trails where the
Louisiana Gumbo endurance ride is held and could not believe anyone would want
to do the trails at a faster speed as you'd need to for endurance! It was my
younger mare's first CTR and several times we had "holes" as you mention open
up under us...suddenly I'd just feel her rear or front end sink...can't
imagine what kind of wreck I could have had if we'd been going
faster!!! > >The terrain was gorgeous (I love E. Texas and
Louisiana...anywhere with piney woods) but you really had to be on the
lookout. Riders would shout out "hole on the right" or "hole on the left" when
they could...but sometimes they opened up under you....with no
warning.
We did the Gumbo ride this year (just the 25, as hubby and I
were riding new horses). My horse hit one hole, but no major
incident. We were pretty much able to see them all in time to avoid
them. There were 4 of us riding together, and the lead person had the
responsibility of calling out where a hole was, and everyone would pass it
back along the line. We even cantered the last 5 or 6 miles of the ride
as we were running up against the clock after stopping to help a 55 miler
whose horse bolted with her - she came off and broke her wrist. :( The
trails definitely kept one on one's toes, but we had a blast, and will
definitely be back next year - hopefully doing the 55. :) The
forest was so pretty, having recently had a controlled burn done and the new
green grass just starting to sprout.
If you like the Piney Woods, but
don't like holes, come on over to Huntsville at the end of April and do our
ride (Coontrail Caper). Piney woods, sandy soil, nice trails, and no
holes! :)
