ridecamp@endurance.net: Washoe Valley 50 (story)

Washoe Valley 50 (story)

Carol Randall (cerandall@ucdavis.edu)
Mon, 05 May 1997 16:55:27 -0700

I got to do the Washoe Valley 50 last weekend on Karen Chaton's wonderful
horse, Rocky! It was a great weekend and I'm paying dearly now - I can
hardly MOVE! (It's only been 10 months since I've done any real riding but
this pain at least reminds me of what fun I had!) :-)

Rocky is a prince! He was pretty nervous and excited at the beginning.
I'd forgotten what a green horse is like. After we got started he was
terrrific. He is a VERY smart horse and loaded with talent IMHO! Great
gaits! He's also a great leader and/or follower which I really liked. We
even found ourselves in the middle of a cattle roundup on the second loop!

He vetted in very well at the lunch check - A's and B's and came in below
criteria for heartrate. After the 19 mile loop he was starting to tire and
didn't come down immediately. I hosed and scooped his legs to help bring
him down which he didn't like so I suppose it might have had the opposite
of the desired effect. That is also when he got his C in gut but the vet
said he was fine and not to worry - that most of the horses were getting
C's (maybe it was him?). We walked most of the last loop and it was
totally relaxing and wonderful and he came in fine with A's and B's. I
couldn't believe he got a B in hydration after the second loop. I've never
seen a horse drink like that!

I got to use one of Karen's Sports Saddles - very nice! You can feel the
muscles in the horse's back almost as if you were bareback but more
comfortable. And Rocky was very comfortable in it too. And I loved the
stirrup placement. Were those standard or did you have them set back Karen?

I got to meet several other people from Ridecamp too and that was fun.
Nikki Reynolds camped across from us and did the 50 with her friend
Virginia, Linda Eisele was there crewing for her hubby, Pat Bush did VERY
well on the 50, and Deanne Del Vecchio did the 50 while her very nice and
cute hubby crewed for her. I don't know placements because I missed most
of the awards ceremony because we found the showers!! I saw Lari Shea
going out for her last 25 miles looking like this was the easiest and most
fun thing to do in the world - it probably is for her! ;-)

Thanks again Karen for letting me ride Rocky!

Carol and Fleetson (you did WHAT??!!!)

Home Events Groups Rider Directory Market RideCamp Stuff