Mustang 50 - Vet's story

Wendy Milner (wendy@wendy.cnd.hp.com)
Wed, 19 Nov 1997 13:09:15 MST

>From Dr. Sarah Ralston with her permission.
>
> I survived the Mustang 50-the first
> ENDURANCE ride in NJ in about ten years.
> Heather Hoyne was supposed to be head vet
> but didn't show up (snowed in in Vermont!)-
> so that left just me and Meg Sleeper to
> vet 37 horses-including the Kanavy crew,
> Patti Pizzo, the wonderful Van Meters and Bob Walsh!
>
> Since there was a lot of resistance from the NJTRA people
> who remembered a disaster ten years ago when horses were
> over ridden, we wanted to really
> slow them down, so set the pa (especially since thntially flat)
> so we set the parameters at 56. You should have heard
> the screams! So that night I called both Heather
> and Nancy Loving to confirm that we weren't being
> unreasonable. They agreed that even in very cold weather,
> if ridden sensibly, it should not be a problem-
> We did compromise by setting the completion pulse at 60.
> The following is what I wrote to Nancy Loving regarding the results:
>
> #7 18-NOV-1997 22:40:38.58 NEWMAIL
> From: IN%"nsloving@ix.netcom.com"
> To: IN%"ralston@AESOP.RUTGERS.EDU"
> CC:
> Subj: the ride
>
> Hi Sally, So how did it go with the 56 parameter? Was good to talk to you
> albeit briefly. Am glad you pulled loose some time to get back into the
> endurance world! Would love to know who it all worked out the other day when
> you get a chance.
>
> Nancy
> nsloving@ix.netcom.com
>
>
> Dear Nancy
> Thanks again for your help! I loved it-
> Despite being unseasonably cold and vandalism
> which resulted in many lost riders (one group actually
> got shot at by an irate landowner!-shades of Colorado!)
> NO ONE failed the PR. We pulled 5 horses (out of 37 starters)- one mild tie up
> t the first check, three lame horses (one at final P&R)
> and one horse "hit the wall" and was trailered in but
> recovered w/o treatment in a few hours. I couldn't
> believe that that horse's owner and his wife on one
> of the lame horses had pulled in the night before screaming
> for a farrier because their horses needed to be shod
> before they could do the ride! Some people... They took
> their failure in good grace but I really felt sorry for
> their horses (nice grey arabs). Valerie on her new horse, Jedi,
> came in first with Pam Weidel hot on her heels in about 6.5 hrs. Danielle
> was racing with Patti Pizzo and somehow managed to
> wrench her ankle-she was a hurting unit at the finish.
> A friend was riding Cash-also top tenned but Cash was slightly lame-
> The Van Meters were there with THREE generations riding:P Norm crewing, Judy,
> their daughter and granddaughter riding! Bob Walsh and his daughter
> also top tenned I think.
> about 8.5 hrs)! Bob Walsh a
> Lots of first time riders that had a blast despite the weather
> and trail marking problems. No major complaints (except regarding
> trail marking and weather). Thanks again for your help!
> Sarah
>
> Anyway, we did slow them down and got them all in safely!
> It was indeed a fitting Memorial
> to Ride Manager Lyn Kamer's Mustang, Twinkles. Lyn persevered against
> all odds to get this ride done and should be commended for
> doing the almost impossible.
> You can forward this to Ridecamp if you wish.
>
> Sarah
> 

--
Wendy


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  Wendy Milner                     HPDesk:   wendy_milner@hp4000
  Hewlett-Packard Company          e-mail:   wendy@fc.hp.com
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