NASTR Ride

[DreamWeaver <karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us>]

Congratulations to Linda and Allen and Iceman for getting BC on the 25!!!
It's nice to see somebody get rewarded for taking such great care of their
horses...which Linda and Allen always do...they just don't ride up in the
front so usually aren't considered for BC! Way to go Allen, I know you
could've done it even without your coach! <vbg>

The ride this year was really nice...it was almost the same as last
year...rained (poured) all night the afternoon and night before...so the
footing on the trail was excellent, with plenty of puddles for drinking
along the way.  It didn't rain on us during the ride, which was great!!
Things dry out fast in Nevada..by the time I finished the trail was
completely dry! 

I survived the 75 miler on my horse Rocky...his first 75 miler :-).  We got
off to a bit of a....rocky start (haha) though.  We came to our first gate,
which had to be opened and closed...by ourselves...only a few miles into
the start of the ride...I got off and opened it, then when I prepared to
mount, Rocky was in a highly agitated state....wanting to go-go-go, cuz
there were horses ahead getting farther ahead....up until that point he was
listening and being very good, not even fighting me with just a
snaffle...well...he started slipping in the mud on the hill and ended up
flipping completely over backwards...THUD...right on the top of his right
rump and on the saddle!!!  I just stood there, held my breath and hoped
beyond hope that he would be allright.  Well, he was better than
allright..he promptly got up---scared half to death (he sure wasn't
expecting to fall like that!), and then TOOK OFF!!!!
Yep...riderless...zoooom....down the trail he went!!!!  In hot pursuit...I
was not about to do the remaining 70 miles
alone...Rockeeeeeeeeee...whoooooooa.....but I didn't get far slipping in
the mud and going up and down the hills...luckily, Rocky stopped when he
got to the next riders on the trail...thanks to Zip and Nancy who ponied
him back to me :-)))).  Boy was I happy to see him...allbeit...just a wee
bit mad at him!!!  I learned one thing for sure, I ain't never givin that
horse any carbo-powder ahead of time!!!  He doesn't need it until the first
50 miles are overwith! <vbg>

So we managed so complete the ride....he was a little sore but managed to
stay sound and strong and took good care of himself.  I can't fault him
there...and after the first loop I started to forgive him and we were
friends again.  For the rest of the ride, he sure never lost sight of me,
and boy oh boy did he ever stand still when I mounted.  I did have to go
thru several more gaits where I got off and on...and boy he was behaved
then :-).  He must understand what "Alpo" means.  ;^)

The Vita-Flex Carbo Charge does mix better than the GNC Weight Gainer.  It
isn't nearly as sticky, and doesn't set up (thicken) nearly as much either.
 The horse likes it better too.  Also, thanks to Cindy Bell who told me
about Purina Complete Advantage...I was able to add the carbo powder to the
feed, and Rocky ate it all up...he really likes that stuff :-))).  

I think that Rocky is the proverbial "accident waiting to happen".  Prior
to vetting in on Friday afternoon, he had at least 5 boo-boos on him...a
cut/scrape above one eye, a scrape on his knee, one on the inside of his
front leg, one on the front left of his leg, one on the back hind...and
after that I lost count!! He seemed to get thru the ride without any other
boo-boos, not counting his turtle on the back imitation....though this
morning I gave him a bath, and within four hours he had cut the back of one
of his other feet.  <sigh>

This was a nice ride...well managed, with a well marked trail, excellent
footing...and nice wooden plaques for completion awards.  The food was good
too.  I think 28 horses started the 75 miler, and approximately 25 (?)
started the 50.  I have no idea how many did the 25 miler.  

Took Rock for a walk this afternoon...boy...all this rain has made the
grass on the trail grow as tall as I am!! I can hardly get the horse to
move once we hit the lush spots <g>.  He's gonna be on vacation now...till
Tahoe Rim (unless I decide to stay home, since that's our
anniversary...hmmmmm).  

Happy Trails,

Karen
in Gardnerville
& Dream Weaver, 1655 miles and HATES being left home!    
& Rocky, 575 miles, 8th place NASTR 75 :-)))