ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Los Vaqueros Ride
[endurance] Los Vaqueros Ride
WarholNW (WarholNW@ccmail.apldbio.com)
Mon, 09 Oct 95 14:12:00 PDT
Hats off to our internet buddy Dom Freeman, and her ride Co-Manager
Donna Snyder Smith for putting on a great ride this past weekend. It
was unfortunate the turnout was so low- there were about 30 fifty
milers and 15 or so twenty-five's. Perhaps it was the smoke in the
air from the Pt Reyes fire, or maybe the rescheduled Quicksilver ride.
Whatever it was, it made it better for us who were there. These guys
gave out almost eleven hundred dollars (that's $1,100) worth of
prizes. Every rider left the awards ceremony with an armload of
stuff.
The weather was nice, although it could have been cooler. The course
was marked so well it was almost funny. I challenge anyone to get lost
on this ride. Of the fifty miles, about 40 of it was either up or
down hill. The route made the riders think about what they were
doing, since blitzing the course would not work. Head vet Melissa
Ribly did a great job, and as a result there were about 8 horses
pulled, but there were no serious problems at all. There was an
abundance of water on the course, and there was a strategic trough
placed at an intersection point of all the loops. Every horse drank a
ton there while going in and out.
The ride covered three loops, two of which were repeated. Some horses
were really balking at going back out on the course, since all the vet
checks were in the same place at base camp. One horse almost bucked
his rider off! Dust was never an issue, nor were there any rocks to
speak of. The route was about 40% dirt roads, with a little single
track thrown in.
Our barn had four horses at the ride, all of whom finished. My Wife
Judy on Warpaint the Wonder Appaloosa started at the end of the ride,
and ended up in tenth place. Our friend Sheila Larson got 11th, and I
came in 12th on Shatta, after starting out after everyone else. (on
his second ride ever) That sounds better than it really was, since I
finished about 3 hours after the winner. My ride was another step in
his conditioning program, and it is working. My horse was superb all
day, with his heart rate at around 44 -48 after walking in to the
checks. (the criteria was 60) It's fun to watch him trot for the
vets- they all watch him and say- "he sure looks nice". I did take a
good fall, but not from my horse. I was running down a steep hill
along side him, and slipped like I was on ice. WHUMP! Right on my
tail bone. Ouch! Got to watch that silt.
I rode the entire last 30 miles by myself, and rarely even saw another
horse. It was neat, since I got to see how my horse would go without
any other horses along. There were some views from the tops of the
hills that were amazing!
Northern California hotshoe Jazon Wonders won the ride, and got best
condition. I will let Dom send out a list of the finishers and
times, since I did not keep track. (that's hard to do when you are
riding an event) I have been crewing so long, I forgot how much fun
it is to get back out there. (tell my legs that today)
Nick Warhol
PS: For all you folks with gaited horses-
We had a good laugh at the finish watching the last few horses go
through the post ride check. Three of them were gaited horses of some
sort, and it was funny to watch them trot for the vets. The vets
can't compare them to the traditional trot, so they sort of scratch
their heads. When one Paso looking horse trotted, the legs were just
flying! They were all quite sound, but it was interesting to figure
out what to compare them to!
PSS: Special thanks to my internet buddy Jennifer Layman, who came
out to the ride and helped crew for Judy and I. I met her through the
endurance mailing list. She has a young Arab mare, and is interested
in learning about and competing in endurance riding. She was a great
help, and as everyone knows, it is wonderful to have a crew. This is
one example of how neat this internet stuff is.