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I was able to get my new camper finished, wiring done, and all hooked up to
trailer. No problems. That was Thursday.
Friday: Since this ride is 15 minutes from home, we were not in any rush at
all. Pulled into camp at 2:00 (having left home at 1:40) I REALLY LIKE
THIS RIDE!
Reason # 1 to like a "Terry" ride. When you arrive/check in, you get a
vet-in #. Then you are called up to vet in, in groups of 5 or so. NEVER A
LONG LINE!
Well, then the rain starts. Wait a minute, this is Southern California in
June for heaven's sake! We don't get rain here! Well, we did. It rained
enough that I really began to wonder about the riding conditions for the
next morning. I borrowed a cell phone from Cindy Crook (thanks Cindy) and
called home. Had Michael gather up all of the rain gear in the garage and
my polar-fleece pull over for me. In all the excitement of the new camper,
I neglected to move all of these things from the pile in the garage where I
had off-loaded the old camper. Besides, who thought we would be getting RAIN!
It stopped raining long enough for the riders meeting. WOW. Right after it
was over, walking back to the camper, it started to pour. Then the
lightning and thunder started. Our horsed did just fine. There was a horse
down a couple of trailers that blasted through his portable, hurt his front
legs, but I think he was able to do the 25 the next morning. For as much
rain as we got, the trails stayed in great shape.
Well, the next morning dawned beautiful. A smattering of clouds. Lots of
blue sky, and that fresh just rained on smell. Glorious. Then reality set
in. Heather and I are all set to do the 50. We are going to buddy up with
Marcus for his first 50. Yea, right like we are so experienced with 2 50's
! This is going to be our 3rd. Katie, my 12 year old is here to do the 25
with Sticky. She is going to be sponsored by Don and Marcia , Marcus'
parents. Seems like and even swap to me, and they are game. As Katie is
tacking up, she realizes that the off billet and cinch are missing. Now
this has happened before, this missing of essential parts to the saddle,
like the stirrups, so the "did you check you saddle for all of it's parts?"
now only gets me a "YES MOM!" and eyes rolling.
So after much arguing/acusing/screaming, with me staying the ever cool adult
of the group<not> I put the problem in her court, and tell her if she wants
to ride, then she need to walk around camp to try to borrow the missing
parts. She ends up borrowing a whole saddle from Debbie Stanfield, thanks
Debbie. Since all seemed to be OK, and I was already 5 minutes late, I left
her to settle down and finish getting ready. Yes I know the cardinal rule
about nothing new at a ride. Have you ever tried to convince a know- it-all
teenager of anything? Enough said. So off we went, Heather, Marcus and I
for the start of our 50. The horses feel good, but are behaving well.
Starting just a couple of minutes late is just right for us. We are no way
trying to be at the front for this ride. COMPLETION ONLY.
All goes well, we cruise into the first vet check amongst a pack of fast
25's that have caught up with us. I had warned Marcus not to get caught up
in the excitement of the faster horses that would catch up with us, that we
had a lot more miles to go and we need only be consistent. So when they
caught up, no one got the anxiety flash! Calm and cool. No problems.
We get into Vet check #1, and I did expect to see Katie, Don and Marcus ride
in before we left. So I am standing there resting, horses all vetted thru,
no problems, when a rider comes up to Terry very excitedly and says "Katie
Hackworth and her horse went off a cliff!" My heart started to pound, I
started to tremble, but I didn't start to cry. My first instinct was to go
back at a dead run on foot to be with her. Wait a minute. The area of the
accident, as pointed to by the rider(sorry I forgot your name)on her map,
was 5 or 6 miles back, mostly on single track trail. All of the 25's were
not through yet, so I would be running headlong into 20-30 horses. Not a
good idea. Before I could think anything else, the rider says Katie was
sitting on a rock and was OK, but that Sticky did not look good. Oh boy.
This could be worse. Katie is an emotional wreck when it comes to her
animal. If this horse needed to be put down, Katie was going to be a wreck.
In just a flash, Terry had a hold of my shoulders, reassurring me. Her
husband Dave (an MD) and Gary Amaral DVM, were already in a truck to get
back to them. The REACT people were mobilizing forces as well. Everything
was being handled. I told Terry to do what they needed to in regards to
Sticky. That I couldn't afford $5000 to mend broken legs etc, but if it was
not that bad we could deal with it, do what needed to be done with my
blessing.
In the meantime, I made a very hard decision to go on with loop # 2. We
would do 9 miles and loop back to this same spot...OK...So I go off worried
about the horse! I wanted to RUN that loop, but restrained myself.
Back to Vet check #1/2, and new news is....Horse is OK....Kid broken!!!!
Sticky has ben ponied up out of the ravine, to the vet check and trailered
to base camp already. Katie walked back down trail (away from Vet check)
with her own MD Don Adema, trucked back to base camp, then ambulanced to the
hospital. Another friend of the family Mike O'Grady was at the truck to be
with Katie, and her Dad met them at the hospital within 5 minutes of arrival.
Back on the trail... I made the hardest decision of my life. Heather,
Marcus and I would go on. Because this ride is so close to home and not 6-8
hours away, and I knew who Katie was with, and that her Dad would be with
her before I could get there, I felt this was reasonable ( with a little
DIMR going on mind you )
We went on and were able to finish in fine time and shape. Marcus his 1st
50, we all had a great time. We were joined on the last loop by friend
Denise, and the horses were doing so well, we crossed the finish
line"BONANZA" style, 4 abreast, laughing.
After crossing the finish line, Mike O'Grady and Best Friend Charla Cranor
are there waiting for us. First question is "how is Katie?" Well, she is
already at home with Dad.! Sticky is tied to our trailer with bandages on
both left legs, but is walking sound, eating and drinking normally!!!
Fade to awards ceremony.....Terry first announces that due to the delay on
trail today, some of the 25'ers were overtime, but because there was no way
to get buy on the single track trail, everyone that finished sound would get
credit for a completion. ( BIG CHEER FROM CROWD ! )
Don and Marcia Adema were presented with a horse blanket for their
selflessness in helping get Katie down off the mountain, and as per Terry's
rules, $10 off certificates for either of her upcoming rides, for all
non-completion riders! BIG CHEER FROM CROWD
She told about Katie's fall, and the help from the REACT people. BIG CHEER
FROM CROWD. I announced that she was already home with her dad, and fine.
BIG CHEER FROM CROWD.
As you can tell, the crowd was really warming up for a good time. Terry
recognized all of her volunteers, (cheer) Vets (cheer) Husband Dave
(cheer) REACT teams (cheer)
We then gave a big cheer for Terry!!!!!
I would like to publicly thank Terry again for all of her support and help,
and for all of her rides, may they last a long time.
Becky Hackworth
Heather Hackworth
Dad...Mike Hackworth
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