Re: OD

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

You are right Linda...it is VERY special to be a part...ANY PART ... of the Old
dominion.  They have a SUPER website:  http://www.olddominionrides.org.  This is
the 25th anniversary and they promise a more than classy weekend.  I would not
miss it for the world.  And, like you, it took me many tries to finish, but by
that time I knew the trail.  The first thing I said when I crossed the finish line
is: "Now I NEVER HAVE to do this again!!!"  I had a great ride in 1993, finishing
6th...only the last LONG five miles in the dark. The best memory in  my lifetime
(and one of the most painful).

Teddy


Linda S. Flemmer wrote:

> Lori & Roger Sumrall wrote:
> >
> > Lucky you, going to Old Dominion.  I'm in the SE but don't have the time to
> > get my horse that far into his endurance career right now. (I have big
> > plans once I do finish school)
>
> Where are you from?  We moved up from North central Florida
> (Gainesville) about 13 years ago.  BTW - they are holding a limited
> distance this year, too - 25 miles.  You would ride the last half of the
> 50!
>
> >         Is OD as hard as everyone says it is?  What's the big deal about it?
>
> I could write a book!  The course is tough - some may argue that it is
> tougher than the Tevis because of the high humidity and the <constant>
> climbing and rocks.  The 50 mile course (all we're ready to do with this
> new guy) takes you over 4 major mountains with 2 crossings of the
> Shenandoah River.  The river itself makes the ride all worthwhile.
> Imagine crossing a river almost as wide as a football field, water up to
> your stirrup (or higher) at the FORD (never mind to each side), mists
> over the water with purple mountains in the background.  Picture riding
> down a ridge line that's maybe 4 ft wide and rock strewn, a view of the
> valley in either direction.  Usually 30% or more of the 50's pull out
> and more than 60% of the 100 pulls out.
>
> Imagine attending a ride where the vets are the biggest names in
> endurance.  (Same folks as those who vet internationally and at ROC, Pan
> Am, etc.)  They evaluate there horse at vet in with an extremely
> critical eye.  Once the horse gets out on the trail, there are many
> inaccessible stretches if something goes wrong.  It's an honor even to
> just get to start.  I always feel that if I can make that beautiful
> river crossing, I got my money's worth.
>
> The second half of the ride climbs the rocky back half of infamous
> Sherman's gap.  The horse reach the top, only to have to be lead down
> "stairstep" ledges until the trail resumes looking like a trail.  The
> last year I went, I was shaking as I got off of the pass, only to see
> two elderly grandmothers jogging down the trail ahead of me, just
> chatting.  BTW - the 100 mile horses come down Sherman's gap in the
> dark!!!
>
> The last vet check is 5 miles out at a farm from the 1700's.  Five
> miles  doesn't sound far until you consider that it is 5 miles over the
> last pass.
>
> Base camp is the 4H Center in Front Royal, Virginia.  It is home of the
> old US Cavalry Remount Station.  They tested their horses over the same
> trails & old stage coach roads as we compete on today.
>
> The "Quadrangle" is the original barns that we still use.  We warm up in
> the heat & fog of predawn in the Quadrangle's yard.  It's eerie seeing
> horses appear & disappear under the lights.  The first 1/2 mile is along
> a paved country road and everyone always seems to be so workmanlike - no
> racing out & getting killed.
>
> Children line the streets in the small town we ride through, farms put
> out water hoses & water tanks for the horses.  One fellow stands there &
> "mists" the horses with a hose while they drink from his tank & eat the
> grass that he has specially NOT mowed - just for this weekend.
>
> The restaurants in Front Royal (3 miles away) look the other way at our
> grungy "best" after a long weekend.  The showers are cold by the time I
> ever get in, but we tell ourselves that it helps to restore the
> circulation.
>
> I always wonder why I do it - Only one finish out of 4 tries.  (One
> metabolic and two lameness from the rocks).  Somehow, I always have the
> bug to go back, though.
>
> If you are interested, the OD Assoc. that runs the ride puts out a
> newsletter, high tech endurance clinics & horse evaluations, and
> training rides.  It's hard to participate when you live a bit away, but
> we joined anyway.  At $25, it's hard to beat.
>
> I ramble.  Let me know if you have questions about the ride.  I hope I
> like the saddle cover since I'll really be using it for the first time
> at the OD.  I detest "debugging" new tack at a ride.  The ONLY reason
> that I'm considering it is the pad will bother me, not Rocket.
>
> Linda Flemmer
> Blue Wolf Ranch
> Bruceton Mills, WV