My other observation is about Tammy and Carol. I never saw either one
ride their horses at anything other than full throttle. Judy, Karen,
and I were off our horses jogging down that long downhill trail that
Nick
-- Hi Nick,I wanted to reply to this because your impressions of Tammy and Carol's riding (based on the small bit of the weekend you saw them on their horses) is not necessarly indicative of the entire picture.
Tammy was on only one of us that came with a really fit horse. Her mare had been consistently ridden all summer, and Tammy was concerned not because her mare was out of shape, but that she could have been potentially tired from a 2,000 mile trip earlier in the summer. She intended to take it easy this trip, and concentrate on feediqg up her mare.
We rode together on Thursday and did a really short ride with alot of walking, and another really short ride Sunday. I understand (though I was not riding with them Friday and Sat) that they also went at a slower pace than usual, and did a lot of walking.
Tammy also never rides very fast, her style is to go at a very consistent pace, i.e., she covers ground, yes, but never is running fast. She also rides with an HRM, and keeps careful monitoring of her horse. I felt after talking to her and riding with her, that it had been a pretty easy weekend on her horse.
Although I had tried to get my mare out consistently since the last Pt.Reyes trip, I felt she was not in the shape she was July 1. In retrospect, my canter up Randall was probably not wise-I should have walked her up the last part. But, then she really enjoyed it and I was watching the HRM. Still, at the top, I wish we had had more water. I put about everything I had on her. But in that one climb, I am probably more at fault at over-riding my horse than anything Tammy did that weekend.
I am not just "defending a friend", but also just relating my opinions as I see them. I also know Tammy's mare well and how she rides, and the condition the mare was in. I was just a little concerned because your post made it sound like they were running full speed the whole time, which isn't the case.
Oh, the name of my mare is Chance.
Anyway, I really enjoyed riding with you and Judy and picking your brains.
Tammy, Carol, Leslie and I ride much of the time as a group. We are always actively gathering information by reading EN and Trail Blazer, and pestering endurance riders with questions. So I do appreciate all opinons.
I did feel I needed to tell another perspective.
Karen
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