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[RC] Limestone Challenge - appleg8
I finally got my wish and Saturday the Limestone Challenge was revived! I had my trusted trail partner...D'Artagnon, as ready as he would ever be for the Challenge. This ride is nothing short of a BLAST!!! I loved every cotton pickin grueling minute of it! The ride was a controlled start with Carol Crawford at the helm of all of us. The trails were superbly marked, the footing was great, trails were excellent with lots of technical twists and turns and climbs and the views just took your breath away. At the top of the many mountains we climbed you could just see forever and below beautiful sprawling farmland and ranches dotted in the valleys below. Views of Lake Selmac, oh it was so interesting and grand! Some trails coming off the logging roads would take you into the darkest woods, almost black and I fully expected to see Ichobod Crane come flying out at us with the headless horseman on his black stallion sword in hand chasing poor Ichobod all the while. Oh it was exciting to say the least. It was the never ending variety of this trail system that kept and held my interest the entire ride. Everything was just so captivating on it. I missed turns several times not because they weren't well marked, when I went back and saw my mistake I had to knock myself for daydreaming elsewhere that I could have possibly missed them but it was just so cool to see so many "things" everywhere. This is not a ride for a novice horse or rider. This is true endurance riding folks. This will test you and your horse, but oh the rewards to finish such a ride is what endurance riding is all about...or should be in my perspective. This is what I train for, this is what I train in and it was definitely the challenge I have sought since I started in this sport. The weather was absolutely perfection. Cool sunny and just right for such a rigorous ride. This is not a ride you will finish in five or six hours. The first place rider took a little over eight hours, that will give you an idea of what The Limestone Challenge terrain is about. My horse did his best ride yet at Limestone. I was so proud of him, he just clicked at this ride. The Vets were wonderful and concerned for all horses competing in this ride and they made sure that riders were mindful at all times for their trusted partners. The entire Ride Management did such a terrific job. Everything went without a hitch. They served up the best dinner catered by a local Meat company which served us Tri Tip Steak, big HOT baked potatoes, salad, baked beans, oh it was welcomed after that long day on the trail. Awards were fantastic and the Ride Managers..all of them after their own long days of planning and trail marking and getting every thing just perfect were still chipper and smiles for all of the riders. Thank you to Every single one of the Ride Managers, you were just fantastic! The Volunteers as well were so helpful, smiling willing to do anything for the riders coming into the Vet Checks. Drs. Ann Swartz, Gene Nance and Dr. Beth, I didn't get her last name but all three were exceptional vetting the riders and the horses. Thank you to the VETS for taking care of our horses so well and reminding some of "US" (me) to shut up and get my horse to eat at the Vet Check! Yes, Ma'am Dr. Ann!! thank you! I cannot tell you how much I loved doing this ride. It was so much fun, so interesting all the different quirks to the trail, all the fabulous views, so well organized by the ride management, just everything about The Limestone Challenge will stay with me forever. I have to say though, it was not as "bad" as I envisioned. This is the kind of ride I enjoy, one that offers variety, challenges, views, forest, and when you finish and know you lived to tell about it, well....it just don't get much better than that! I would encourage everyone that is within driving distance to mark this on your calendar for next year. If you are a true endurance rider with a good horse this is a ride you don't want to miss. Test your mettle, Ride the Limestone Challenge...I dare ya! amber g8nfool www.applegaitnendurancehorses.com __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (2) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar Have you renewed, or better yet, joined PNER yet? Go to www.endurance.net/organizations/pner and look what PNER has to offer! Membership applications are available on the site. 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