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[RC] Yes I took a new horse to Tevis... Our Story - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Char Antuzzi char.antuzzi@xxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Yes you can take a horse that isn't really broke to ride, get that horse in April delivered to you and finish (Over time by 15 minuets) Tevis in July. I know because I did it. BUT BUT BUT, I would never say do it. So your all asking, well why did you do it? What makes you so special..... Nothing makes me special, nor my horse special. I won my entry to Tevis. I went into the ride with an attitude of two things. #1 and foremost, my horse would come first. If there was one hoof beat that didn't sound right. If one ear was turned the wrong way, he'd be taken out period. I would never ever get the attitude of lets just keep going, hence the reason why I finished 15 minuets past the cut off. I mean to cross that finish line 15 minuets past the cut off, so close. I get asked all the time, weren't you disappointed? What, you couldn't get him to speed up, just a bit? Heck yeah I was disappointed. I cried all the way from GreenGate to the finish. I was on a tired horse. Now, knowing what I know about my big mustang stud is, yes I could have pushed him a bit more. I didn't know Gali at this point in the game. I had only had him three months and was just learning about him and what makes him tick. Anyone that knows Gali, knows he's a bit "conservative" that's Gali. He will not allow himself to get over rode. I know he plays me, but that's Gali and you gotta love him for it. That night, on that ride, I told myself that Gali dug down and gave more to me then any horse I've ever ridden. He never complained the entire day, his ears were pricked forward the entire way. He was tired, yes he was. When it came to the clock, we were riding close each and every step of that Tevis. But, HE not the CLOCK was my priority. That's the reason why I didn't kick him to go faster by 15 minuets. That horse deserved to cross the finish line with his ears pricked forward. He deserved to cross that line knowing he made it 100 miles, we both made it. The 2nd thing was I had a "what do I have to lose" attitude. I wasn't taking anyone's entry spot away from them. I won my entry, the slot was there to fill, I took it. I rode mile to mile, never ever ever seeing the finish line in my mind. Because of that attitude I did get to see the finish. If I had looked at the whole picture I don't think I would have finished. I figured I'd use Tevis and my entry as a learning experience, a gift from Julie, she drew my name. Now here is where the most important things lie. I was SAFE! I was safe for me, I was safe for other riders and I was safe for the Tevis volunteers, vets and my crew. I got this horse broke, to what I thought was a safe horse to ride. He wouldn't wreck someone else's ride and I knew that others would be okay around us. He trailers, tied, camped and could be crowded. People could ride up his rear and cut him off. If there was even a remote idea of someone getting hurt, I'd not taken him. Even though I am relatively new to endurance I have trained horses for all my life. I ride clients horses everyday. So, I am a experienced rider, but as we know that not always helps, bad things can happen to good riders. I just don't want anyone to go out and pull my ride record and think I am a newbie to horses, we all know how people jump to conclusions <grin>. We live local to Tevis. This was a big factor for us. If something happened, I could haul him home that day. I have local people that all know me, I had a ton of help. It wasn't like I hauled cross country to ride Tevis. Because I was doing round pen work and arena work with Gali, just to get him going I didn't have a lot of time to "condition" him. So Yes to answer the question, I took a horse that was out on pasture, got him going and took him to Tevis. I wasn't out to prove anything. It was a personal goal of mine, no other reasons. Two months after Tevis we finished Virginia City and have since completed it twice and we got out Tevis buckle last year. I would never stand in anyone's way of going for their dream. Just really sit down and ask yourself why you want this particular goal? Then go ride, be safe to yourself, your horse and others. If all the "Pro's" of taking your horse to Tevis out weigh all the "Con's" then go do it, live your dream but please remember always always, YOUR HORSE MUST COME FIRST. They didn't ask to be loaded in that trailer, hauled to the Sierra Nevada's and rode 100 miles through snow, heat and eating dust. They do this for you, because you ask them to do it for you. Char and Gail.... (Still learning about endurance) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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