Well, thank you, Frank!? I'll get around to posting more shots from the ride soon, with some landscape in 'em.? Due to the logistics (and running a water stop) I could not go get 'em at multiple places.
6 riders finished the course, Kim Fuess on Ben took first and BC.? She was in front of the rest of the riders by 3 hours.? Veteran rider, veteran horse.
The other 5 finishers?? In 3rd, Charisse Glenn, veteran rider, first time 100 for the horse.? The other 4 finishers were all *first time 100s horse and rider* teams.? One of them was Melissa and her Paso Fino gelding.? These first time 100 riders finished shortly before cutoff.? That says a lot about their careful riding, and the course's difficulty.? Total elevation uphill was around 17,000 ft.??
The veteran riders believed it was a tougher course than Tevis.? You're either going up or down, no long stretches like Tevis where you can make time.? Pads or sole protection are a must IMHO.
The riders who pulled did so in consultation with vet stafff and mgmt by truncating the course to get down to where it was easier to evacuate than on the Main Divide.? They all acted on their horse's best behalf.? For two, that was a 9 mile walk downhill.? Another rode back via the trail up to the Main Divide they'd taken in the morning (and where I got my flat tire...)
Kat did a great job IMO of managing a logistically challenging ride, and riders voted that she ought to continue to offer her butt kickin', authentic 100.? Susan Garlinghouse and Fred Beasom were wonderful vets of course, who found it rather refreshing to deal with only one distance and riders with a clue.? ;-)
Just when a person gets a bit frustrated by the nature of the "poisened pens" found on RC, your photos appear.? Wow.? How beautiful and inspiring to see the riders and horses on the trail.? Thank you, Lynne for sharing "your views" through your photography.? Sometimes a picture does say a whole lot more....
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SIDENOTE:? Garrett Ford is a superior horseman and EasyBoots have saved a lot of horses a lot of pain and enabled many riders to do this sport in a manner they choose and prefer.? Good on you, Garrett and Easycare.
If anyone wants to see the riders that took on this tough trail today, of course they're still out there!??We had very good weather, and they've got a wonderful moon.??Many first time 100s for either horse or rider.??A terrific Tevis prep.??BC judging tomorow morning at 7 a.m., the ride's cutoff is 5 a.m.
