RE: [RC] Santa Fe Adventure part 4 - Suzanne Avery
Laura,
This was great. Thanks for writing it.
Would you mind if I forwarded this on to another list?
Suzanne Avery
From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Laura Hayes Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007
1:09 PM To: ridecamp Subject: [RC] Santa Fe Adventure
part 4
The stories of my fellow riders were spectacular.
Scott Griffin started endurance simply to compete in this ride. He was
mentored by long time rider, Suzy Kelly, and won the overall ride. He
treated his horses with respect and care, rode smart, and is hooked for
life. Jim Hole came from CA with his little bay Tevis horse, Little Big
Man, and quietly and humbly rode every step of every day. Karen
Frederickson rode every day with her wonderful partner, Murphy, who received
his 6000 mile patch while on this ride. Two quiet and sweet cowboys from
NM, Shawn Davis and Dawson Higgins and their QHs jogged and loped through
several days of top fives. The McSwains substituted Diane for Mac when he
broke his shoulder, and she piloted three different Spanish Mustangs through
their first endurance rides. Bonnie Yoho from AR rode EIGHT days on one
Tennessee Walker. Seventeen year old Ginger Moon Anderson of CA rode
her horse eight days also, always with a big smile. Susan Thompson from
TN rode every day on two different horses, the first place woman to accomplish
that feat. The five member Yost family from Utah rode together day after day and
were a pleasure to be around.
There were some logistic problems with this ride, but I have
never been to a ride that did not have something out of order. I have
committed to next year's Santa Fe
ride, and promised to come up with some team rules and structure - the team
aspect was unique and very exciting. My husband and every other vet there
have committed, time willing, which is a glowing endorsement for any event.
This ride was a unique opportunity to ride a historic trail,
meet many new and forever friends, share the trail with our equine partners
experiencing the adventure missing in so many lives. Several times while
out there, surveying the grasslands and majesty of the trail, I wondered,
"what do the rest of the people do who don't see this country from
the back of a horse." I feel sorry for them- they will never know
what they are missing.
Thank you to all who made that possible for this rider.
