My horse, Highlight and I have been looking forward to it since our
last ride in September. I had been a little concerned during the last
week because some days it had been quite warm (for our area in Canada
anyway!). It has been 23C degrees (80F) and she still had a lot of
her winter coat.
Last week, we assisted in checking out the ride course (as this was
the first time a Competitive Trail had been held there). Not very
difficult, but a nice warm up ride for the season. The course took us
through a provincial park. Mostly sand trail with bodies of water on
both sides. Not bad I thought....
Well, it was not to be. I did not seep much the night before due to
the sounds of whipping wind and pelting rain hitting our house. But
at 4:30 am I got up anyway, put on my rain coat, loaded my horse and
headed off. About 1 hour into our drive, the rain did something very
ugly...it turned to snow. Not just ordinary snow but huge wet flakes
that remained stuck to my truck and trailer even while going down the
highway at 90 km hour (55 mph). (At this time of the year, we never
get snow, flowers are up and lawn mowers are in action.)
The thought of turning back had occurred to me but knowing how much
work the organisers had gone through, I had to go on.
We arrived there a little late (no wonder), I got my horse ready and
after the obligatory ride talk, we hit the trail.
Fifteen minutes later, the nice big wet snow flakes joined forces
with the wind to form the worst blizzard you could imagine.
Visibility was reduced to 30 feet. The sandy trails were now washed
out and those bodies of water formed one large lake that we almost had
to swim through. Those nice white confidence markers, mixed in with
the snow...gone. Within 1 hour there was an accumulation of three
inches of snow on the ground. All you could do was keep your head
down and try to follow the horse tracks.
Two hours into the ride we arrived at out first vet check, freezing
cold and soaking wet. Along with almost half the other riders we
called it quits... I wrapped Highlight in a bunch of wool blankets
and headed home.
I went to the barn this morning a little worried that my faithful
horse would turn her back on me. But no, she leaned her head over the
stall, placed her mouth in my hands and let out a little sigh. Great
to be home...lets go again next weekend!!!
Greg Roskies & Ladys Highlight
The ride was near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 12, 1996.