ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Cavalry award and OD 50 (Long)

Re: Cavalry award and OD 50 (Long)

Nina Gibson (nlg@esper.com)
Wed, 18 Jun 1997 12:50:59 -0400

The ROC and Tevis have had this award in the past. ROC still has a
"solo" category. You compete in every way the same as everyone else.
If you lose a shoe and can't replace it or don't have an easy boot, you
can still continue on in the ride but drop out of the cavalry or solo
division.
I always carried powdered gatorade, or those little cartons of
koolaid. They are easily stored. Also dried foods, power bars, or beef
jerky works. I usually don't eat that much during a 100 anyway so I
mostly carry food and "stuff" for my horse. The last one I did, ROC in
South Dakota, I ended up carrying a full horse sheet. It got so cold I
pulled it around the horse and over my legs and buckled it in front of
my saddle. It ended up sleeting on us, on the 4th of July!
You really need a horse that recovers well without a lot of work. It
is a challenge, but a worth while one. As John Crandell stated after
winning you really are more aware of what is going on with you horse.
Also you really bond with them when you are the only one giving care.
The first time I did it was in my second 100, the OD had a cavalry
division and since no pit crew came me and my mother both decided to try
it. Terri Cochran gave us invaluable input on what to carry. I had a
little english saddle that had bags hanging everywhere. We looked like
the Beverely Hillbillies! Coming into one of the checks I was riding
with my mother and our good friend Gene Fisher. For some unknown reason
I decided to swing my leg over the front of the saddle to dismount.
Forgetting that my sponge was tied their. I hung off the side with
sponge trapped between my legs for a brief period of time. Until sponge
rope broke. My riding companions weren't the least bit concerned that I
fell to the pavement. When they finally quit laughing they asked me to
do it again.
By the way TINA: mom (Susan Kasemeyer) finished the 50 in 7th place!
Her and Amir did great. They had a higher completion rate in both rides
than usual, around 61%.

Nina Gibson/Coujur

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