When
a friend asked if I would drag ride for the Colorado Trail CTR I thought it
would be an easy conditioning ride for my mare. It would be a great
chance to see some beautiful trail and a rare opportunity to pleasure ride with
friends. When we left the barn on Friday afternoon it was cold and damp
with a light drizzle that had begun overnight. As we drove to the camp
site the rain continued but as we set up camp it began to break and we were
hopeful. 6:00am the next morning broke with steady rainfall and we all drug
our feet saddling our waterlogged mounts. We headed down to the start and
away we went. The group I was riding with was drag riding for the open class
so we were able to keep a good pace. My horse felt fresh and focused. Despite
the wet weather, she seemed eager to head down the trail. Later that afternoon
the steady rainfall turned into freezing hail. Mild discomfort was turning
to pure misery! My gloves began to freeze. My pants were soaked through
and I couldn’t feel my legs. My Ariats were holding water in better
than keeping it out. Through it all my mare trotted down the trail with ears
forward and head down. She had a job to do. By now she had figured out
the name of the game was to keep the last rider in sight but not pass them. With
no help from me she would pace herself, slowing on the downhill, shifting her weight
to her haunches and shuffling down each hill in the same pace she had powered
up the hill before. All I could do was hang on and avoid tree
branches. We came into the P&R and an eager volunteer pulsed her at
11! As we turned for home, we were both at the edge of our patience but
our job was not done. Two riders had opted to call it a day and take an
alternate trail for home. We followed. Cold, wet and tired I was
eager to put my mare in neutral and boogie to home. The riders we were
following however chose to walk the 3 miles into camp. As the drag rider,
walk we did. I could no longer feel my feet, legs, or hands. Olympia’s mane was freezing!
It was the longest three miles of my life!
For
as miserable as our “light conditioning ride” was I have never been
so proud of my little mare! This was the first time I have taken a back
seat and simply trusted her to do her job and she pulled us through with flying
colors. I have no doubt she was as cold and miserable as I but her focus
never waivered. She never took a bad step, never acted up about the slow
pace and trotted on through the hail without hesitation. I couldn’t
have asked for more. Just maybe less rain!
