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Before the start, a 25 miler had a horse get over excited, rear, and go
over backwards. .Rider was not hurt whatsoever,, but the horse did have a
major concussion!! He was treated all day and most of the night, and
recovered nicely from what I understand.
At the last minute, the head vet,, Dr. Otis Schmidt, added an away vet
check for the 100 milers, and a 10 minute stop for the 50 milers. It's a
good thing too! Those who argue with vets over this sort of thing should
have been at THIS ride!! We had a 50 mile horse tie up before the 9 mile
stop for the 50s. The rider brought the horse in slowly, Doc Otis treated
him, and we got the horse back to camp with no complications. BUT, it
would have been a 25 mile loop without that hold. Could have been
serious.
Somewhere during the start, or the first few miles, two 25 milers took
headers off their horses, one had a broken arm and the other had a broken
collar bone. I believe both were the product of spooked horses, and
nothing else. I do know that neither were running up front as was
suggested to me by someone off line. They were out for a fun ride, and
something happened. Both were wearing helmets, and someone was there to
help them. Both were middle to end of the pack riders. and were local to
that area I believe. I know one girl is anyway!!
Val Kanavy was on a new horse, and on one of the road loops--I think it
was anyway--the horse misstepped and Val went over the horses head. Val
landed on her head--thankfully covered with a helmet--and she took a hard
lick. Her horse was off, so she could not continue--and she didn't need
to either, but we know she probably would have had it not been for the
horse being off!! I saw her on Sun morning after, and she looked ok. A
little stiff, and very sore, but otherwise, ok. her helmet is NOT ok and
will have to be replaced.
The 100 milers were the ABSOLUTE best group of people that I have ever
dealt with. Many know that Lucie Hancock,, the ride manager, lost her
oldest son, her grandson, and a friend in an automobile accident the first
of April, but wanted to go on with this ride. In honor of her son and to
help her work through her own grief. She did a fabulous job, and her
family pulled together to make it a great day to be alive!! But, as a
result,, some things got lost in the shuffle. With that vet check being
thrown in last minute, there was noone there to work it. It wound up me,
Doc Otis, and Kathy Bauer,, my best friend as the arrival, in, down, and
out timers, and P&R people!! Luckily there were only 15 100 milers and
everyone understood that we were doing the best we could and as quickly as
possible. It was really nice to have everyone so polite and wonderful!!
Made my job so much easier!!!:-)
The biggest problem we had at the away check was lack of communication.
Managers, if you have an away check, and no radios, there has to be some
way to communicate. We waited over 45 minutes on a rider who should have
been in and long gone. She was pulled at the base check, and no one told
us. So, there we all were, needed back at camp check, yet having to wait
on a rider that may have been on the trail and in trouble. Communication
would have been wonderful!!
The last 100 miler came in at 1:30 in the morning, so we did not even lose
a lot of sleep over the day.. There were no real big race off's that day,
and the finish line was kind of boring! sigh. I like to see the races
when I have to be at the line!!
Lucie did a great job of feeding and taking care of the help, and for that
I am grateful. We were so busy, that taking time to go to our camp and
trying to fix something even as simple as a sandwich would have been
impossible!!
Rob Bolton shoved a beer in my hand around 5 pm, and although it was the
only one I had that day, it sure did a lot to improve my moral and my
energy picked up considerably!!
This ride was a benefit for St Judes Childrens Hospital.. At the awards
ceremony on Sat,, for the 25/50's,, Phil Black of Lake Norman Trailer
Sales, offered a very generous thing. IF he sells his demo trailer--very
nice too--he will take 500.00 from his pocket and donate to St Judes. The
company will match that 500, so the SJCH will wind up with a 1000.00
donation!! If anyone here might be interested in that trailer--I thinjk 3
or 4 horse slant with dressing room--nice, spacious, to make living
quarters--let me know and I will get his number posted to you. He has a
800 number and he is in NC.
Overall, the ride was wonderful!! I'm glad to have been able to go and
help and to have been a part of the Hallelujah 25/50/100!!
APPY TRAILS
SAMM C. BARTEE
Auburn, Al. SE Region
with
SIR REVEL--1305 miles and........!!!
B JETS WAR EAGLE--endurance wannabe
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