It was with great trepidation that I took the turn into the gate leading
to a wide open field (y'all remember my last mishap at the OD No
Frills). I "inched" my way through (there was a good foot on either
side) and parked on a knoll on a slight downhill, knowing that my lack of
4WD could be a problem in the rain-on-wet-grass-mud. Very
fortuitous...more on that later.
We set up out tack shop, vetted in, me doing my usual ungainly trot-out &
Kasey being Mr. Piggy (way too jolly) with a slight grade 1 left hind.
Kasey has a displaced hip--at least 1.5 cm forward of the other hip--so
he has a "rolling" look to his gait on a circle with the left hind not
tracking up as far as it should on the outside of the circle--"way of
going". Pointed this out to the vet (new to the sport, Dr. Olcott, real
nice) and Ellen Brehm, the lay judge. Lots of "ahas", you can go, we'll
watch 'em.
Miss B looked beautiful and flowing...not nearly so nervous this time
out. Kevin always does a brilliant job of in-hand work.
Sunny, lovely day, sat around kibitzing. Met Emily Richardson (Hi
Emily!) finally, had nice long chat. Peggy Thompson stopped by to show
me the SR Enduro she has for sale (seat's too small for me doggone it)
and to ride her youngster for a little "camp experience".
A horse got loose and took a couple more for an
unauthorized toodle in the fields. Patty Lambert's nifty little App,
Frosty, managed to unhook his safety release latch and went roaming
about. After that we all got to sleep. No rain. Chilly but not like
the earlier rides where we darn near froze to death.
Ride briefing in the morning...and all I'm hearing is how tough the trial
is (extended time from 5:20-5:50), bad winter, trees down, wash-outs,
rocks, rocks, more rocks...). My butterflies were hatching en masse.
Mounted up (Kevin always has an adventure with Miss B but she actually
was pretty good this time around) and left at 9:13.
Beautiful sunny day...looks to get hot. We dismounted at a short section
of Rte 109 to walk downhill on the slick surface. Remounted (thank you
Kevin for always being there to help your bumbling old mother get her
ungainly bulk back in the saddle!!) and proceeded through incredibly
lovely country, past old estates and along country lanes. I cantered
this entire section to make time, Miss B just floated along in her racing
trot, lips flapping 'cause she'd really like to boogie and this 10-12 mph
was just too pokey thank-you-very-much.
It got hot fast, Kasey started drinking immediately, Miss B just couldn't
possibly, had a date, late....
We headed into the woods at the base of Sugarloaf Mt. The Catoctin Mts.
are deceptive--look like sissy hills, HA! Good climbs, not steep, just
up 'n up, get on a bench, look to go down, and up we go again. And yes,
there were enough rocks for me and all my friends. Felt really smug that
I had padded Kasey all around. Miss B was wearing her dressy Slypners
and Kevin & I were both worried about the effect of the terrain,
particularly the deep sucky mud here and there on the trail.
And you couldn't make any time at all. Trot, trot, walk, weaving around
the rocks. Averaged maybe 2-3 mph on that mountain. Well-marked,
unbelieveable job clearing the trails. You could see where the crew had
gone in (had to be on foot, no vehicle was going to get in there!) and
moved vast amounts of debris. Tip of the old helmut to all you trail
crew folks!
Came into mid-point (16.5 miles), hotter 'n you-know-what and humid, but
Kasey dropped to 52, Miss B at parameters, both breathing pretty heavy
but not panting. Trotted Sir Kasey up a hill (why do they do that to the
riders?, whine, whine) and back down. Vet says he's the same as the
morning trot-out, looking good. Miss B looks fabulous. Quick drink,
electrolytes all around and go. Thank goodness we had the foresight to
send additional water and Sunny D in a really weird Kiwi flavor out to
the mid-point. Both Kevin & I were slogging down fluids like you
wouldn't believe.
Headed out through a nice stream/river--doused me and Kasey on the way
through. Quick check of Miss B's feet for inserts and up the hill
again. We pretty much retraced our path back through the mud & rocks.
Slow go again and starting to fret about making time. Some of the
mileage markers were "kinder" than others, particularly the last
"shorter-than-a-mile-to-go". It was a TOUGH trail, I was tired, Kasey
was bored with the slow pace and Miss B (our mountain horse) just
couldn't get enough!
You just have to see this mare go up a mountain. She squares up her body
and drives perfectly evenly with her hind end, one leg after the other,
at a terrific pace, walking, trotting, doesn't matter. And she loves it!
Kasey is a little sloppy about bad footing, kind of expects Mom to hold
him up if he fumbles. Nagged him a little, then realized a good sip of
Kiwi juice would be better for both our states of mind, then let him go
as he wanted. Cantered everywhere we could--it's his better gait, though
I'm not used to so much cantering and I certainly am paying for the new
muscle groups I discovered!
Coming into the finish we looked back....at a mass of pure black, boiling
clouds, moving fast. In 10 minutes the storm struck in all its awesome
fury. There was a blessed indoor available and everyone dove for cover.
Luck of the draw had Miss B getting her pulse taken just as the hail hit
the metal roof of the indoor--oops, 60! Kasey was 48--and that's "upset"
for him. We did our trot-outs in the indoor sand. Few of the horses
were sound. Kevin did Kasey for me as my knee decided to pop when I
dismounted--limping being MY preferred post-ride gait! Miss B looked
gorgeous--folks oohed 'n aaahed as they watched her.
Then some particularly selfish, ungenerous boarders at the equestrian
facility decided they had to use the indoor right that minute to ride
around in circles and kicked 50+ people & horses out into the driving
rain & wind. So we all hunkered down awaiting the hands-on. The
treatment vet left, then a horse colicked, so poor Dr. Olcott was pulled
away to deal with a horse in trouble. We must have waited 3 hours in the
downpour for our hands-on.
Kevin & I took turns running up to the trailer, packing stuff, checking
on Odie (who was nice & dry inside the camper), and me starting to get
green around the gills as I watched the standing water build up around
all the exit points from the field...no 4WD. Finally we vetted out. Coy
& Ann Kuest kept encouraging me that it would be OK, I was level, just
aim downhill, don't stop. Pat Brescia (thank you Pat!) actually rode in
the truck with me to talk me through the "squirrely" parts. And believe
me--I did not stop!!! Once on gravel, I stopped, we loaded the guys
(Kasey literally flung himself on board), and left.
It took us better than 4 hours to get home, some rain but mostly drizzle,
getting really chilly. Miss B decided to not get off the trailer so we
had to rig a body rope & guide her out. I think she'd had quite enough
for the day. We dressed them in their nighties, loaded the stalls with
good hay & extra water and drove home. Didn't get to bed 'til after 1:30AM.
Next day--both looked great. Kasey was being a little snotty-puss
because he'd been left in while all his buddies went out to play--dug a
hole to China in his stall. Miss B was tired but not as much as from the
Betty Glass 25. Both trotted out sound.
Hats off to Cathy Lochary, ride manager, Brenda Senseney, trail master
and all the great folks who made a very difficult ride do-able and enjoyable.
Oh yes, the Slypners were wonderful. The inserts stayed in, they did not
fall apart, Miss B had NO wind-puffs. I'm impressed, I mean REALLY
impressed. The right shoes for her (& Mr T).
Next up--NJ 3-day 100 over Memorial Day--Kevin does this one.
Diane @ Safe Haven
Allentown, PA