My First Top Ten

["Dorothy Beebe" <dbeebe@plumas.ca.us>]

>>Wow, what a thrill!  Top Ten for the first time ever!
>>
>>Land of the Neversweats ride was this past Saturday outside Susanville in
>the Honeylake area.  It was the anniversary of my first ever endurance ride
>I'd done on my mare as I'd ridden their 25 last year.  What a great setting
>for a ride and ride management really had their act together.
>>
>>My husband came with me this time, and as you might expect, Murphy's Law
>was immediately implemented.  I was gone all week long on business in
>Sacramento, came home Thursday, packed the trailer and we left on Friday
>morning.  When we arrived, Karen Chaton had saved a place for us so we
>parked alongside her with my mare, Elly, semi-blocked from seeing her
>gelding, Weaver.  They're in love and impossible to live with when
separated!!
>>
>>Of course, the best laid plans...Elly immediately knew it was Weaver and
>they started nickering at each other.  It really is hilarious.  They only
>see each other about once a month, but I think Weaver recognizes her
>trailer now.  He starts in before she's even unloaded!!
>>
>>So we set up my electric corral and Elly immediately rolled (after it was
>turned on, of course) and caught her leg in the one strand that I put up.
>She panicked and ran away to the cries of "loose horse in camp!"  I knew
>she wouldn't go far and she didn't.  I walked up to her about a minute
>after she ran away and she was fine--just scared.  My husband walked around
>muttering under his breath, "I hate electric fences--you've got to sell
>this damn thing."
>>
>>Then I turned on the water pump in my trailer and forgot to shut it off.
>So about 15 minutes later, when I went back inside, water had shot out
>everywhere and the carpet was completely soaked!  Murphy was really working
>overtime!
>>
>>Saturday morning we were up early to make sure I had everything ready to
>go.  I was determined not to ride with Karen and Weaver because I knew Elly
>wouldn't be able to keep up with him.  He's in terrific shape and we're
>just not there yet.  However, the two horses had other ideas.  Weaver went
>slow enough for Elly to keep up and whenever I'd hold her back (or try to),
>Weaver would slow down.  He wasn't leaving his girlfriend.  However, being
>the fickle female that she is, Elly had no problem being in front of Weaver
>and never once turned to be sure that he was following! :)
>>
>>When we caught up to Dave Rabe and commented on the fact that the
>frontrunners must really be up there and found out that WE were the front
>runners, you could have knocked me over with a feather!  I couldn't believe
>it!!  Elly and me--in the front.  I had to contain myself and act like an
>adult!  What I really wanted to do was scream and hollar and then ask Dave
>if I could ride in first for just a minute! ;0)  I never expected to be in
>the front and couldn't believe the rush it gave me to know that I was there
>and was not pushing my horse.  It was too cool!
>>
>>I found myself feeling very competitive when they let other riders go out
>in front of Karen and myself, even though they had P&R'd after us.  But
>then, I thought, who cares.  Even if I don't finish in the top ten, I was
>there for awhile!  At the first vet check, we came in 3d and 4th.  If you
>read Karen's story, this is where we had our first experience with riders
>not letting their horses drink when there was water.  A rider blasted right
>past us as we turned to let our horses drink--and then we caught him before
>we made it to camp.  I don't think you gain much ground that way--the
>horses need water!
>>
>>When we left the vet check, I was a few minutes behind Karen and fine with
>that--although Weaver screamed at her to hurry as he was leaving and I was
>checking with the out-timer.  Elly and I were both tired after those 38
>miles, so I figured we'd take it easy.  We were passed by one rider about 5
>miles out, but that gave Elly some incentive, so we actually played leap
>frog for a few miles until Elly wanted to walk.  I was keeping a close eye
>on her heart rate monitor, as I didn't want to push her at that point.  
>>
>>Then, about 5 miles away from camp, I thought I heard coyotes yipping.
>The wind was really howling so I just thought the sound was carrying.  What
>an unpleasant surprise though when I looked out and saw a band of about 20
>wild dogs heading in my direction.  It scared the heck out of me because I
>didn't know what to expect and I don't pack on endurance rides!  The dogs
>kept coming as Elly and I were walking along.  About 4 or 5 of them came to
>within about 5 feet--I just kept looking them in the eye and trying to say
>"no" and "get back," as firmly as I could muster.  All but one eventually
>backed off.  He followed us for about 1/2 mile and then he went back to the
>pack.  That was an experience I hope not to repeat.
>>
>>In a couple of more miles, I was passed by Dale Pederson.  He had the
>biggest smile on his face!  It was great to see his excitement and his
>horse really looked good. He won Best Condition, too, and really deserved it.
>>
>>We finished in 7th place and I was so proud of Elly.  She really gave it
>her best shot and managed to canter a portion of a long roadway before camp.
>>
>>The awards were really cool--they outdid themselves again this year!  I
>won a more tame award than Karen--no dead animal heads for me! Mine was a
>magazine rack made from horseshoes; it looks great in my cabin.  Oh, we
>also got a 1 oz. sample of Emu Analgesic cream--smells like Ben Gay--and
>boy did I use it up on Sunday!
>>
>>dorothy & elly (can I rest now, mom?)
>>taylorsville, ca
>>
>