Re: RC: Newbie observation (long)

[Maureen Mathisen <blueoak@snowcrest.net>]

Heidi,

I think you are absolutely correct.  It happens in many "flat" or "easy"
50's too.  Mileage is mileage, and has many factors to be figured
individually into each ride.  I feet that people DO treat "flat easy
rides" too casually and (especially if inexperienced, or sometimes even
IF  experienced) feel they can race or "go faster" on these.  Sometimes
they are deceptively HARD for one reason or another which may not be
altogether obvious until AFTER the ride when sometimes it is too late. 
I have seen more horses"treated" or in trouble after these kind of rides
than after the ones that have a reputation for being "tough".

Congratulations to you and Mighte El Donte who acted like each of us
want our horse to act after a ride!

Maureen

Heidi Sowards wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> Went to Renegade Rendevous this past Sat. Opted for a 25.
> The weather was HOT (93 in the shade) we did a 50 at
> Klickitat 2 weeks prior, and all my riding buddies were
> doing a 25, so went along with the gang. A great decision
> in the end. Trail water was very sparse, and after a 50, I
> am really glad we did a 25. It was still a tough 25, and
> afterwards, EVERYONE was complaining about the lack of
> trail water. It was a legitimate complaint, but my
> observation is this:
> 
> Klickitat was a fairly flat ride, ALOT of water, and yet
> that ride had many pulls as well as horses that got into
> alot of trouble metabolically. (We were one of them with
> Rick's horse Classy.) It is one of those rides where people
> go, "It's a flat easy ride, we'll do great!"
> 
> Renegade: hot, steep ups and downs, not alot of water.
> Although people complained and had to go miles without
> water for their trusty steeds, there were not as many
> problems. (Getting lost was the biggest as the elk and jeep
> people pulled down the flags in places.) Horses seemed to
> do okay really, mine did better here than at Klickitat,
> better vet scores, etc. (I know it was only a 25, but it
> really is a tough 25.)
> 
> Anyway my point is this, people raced more at Klickitat,
> got more competitive, felt it was an "easy" ride for their
> horses, and consequently had scores and sick horses to
> prove it. (This is a general statement folks, no flaming
> please.) At Renegade, everyone knew it was going to be
> tougher, took it more easy, had to baby their horses more,
> and the lack of distressed horses showed it. Why can't we
> all ride like it's a tough, rugged ride? Even the "easy"
> ones should be treated like they could kill your horse,
> because they can.
> 
> Being in a 25, and being at the front of the pack, I really
> did not see any racing except for one individual, whom I
> must say really dissappointed me. (No names here folks.)
> This person showed little respect for his horse or the
> other riders on the trail. At one point, going down a
> fairly steep, hill with little switchbacks and loose
> dirt/rocks, he approached me from the rear. I felt crowded,
> but as there really was no safe place to pass yet, was
> going to offer to move over at the bottom and let this guy
> go past. There were 5 or 6 of us riding together at this
> point, 2 being Juniors. We were walking fast down the hill,
> but being careful. This guy didn't ask to pass, just said
> "Passing" and went by me on the high side of the trail,
> crowding me and all the other riders he went by, it could
> have really been dangerous had any horses got mad or felt
> threatened. At the vet check, he argued with the "pulse"
> person, that his monitor said his horse was down, although
> she said it was still too high. This guy came in after me,
> we pulsed down immediately (a 48 BTW) untacked and went
> thru the vets line, waiting for 3 horses ahead of me. His
> was still not down, that's when I had to take my horse over
> near his, to help it drop its pulse. Finally it was down.
> First words out of his mouth when they said his number was
> down was, "Are we top ten?" (I feel sorry for HIS horse!)
> 
> Okay, now my brag, we were 9th, 2nd for BC and tied with
> the highest vet score. (Now 9th was good, but it was just
> the icing on the cake after the other awards. Shows me that
> my horse and I took good care of each other and still did
> well.) Now onto more 50's!!!
> 
> Heidi and Mighte El Donte (Who pranced around the next day
> like he just arrived in camp!)
> ===
> Heidi              /\_/\~
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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=