Liberty Run story- part 2

[EquesB@aol.com]

Part 2: 

JoAnn didn't like the way Nepenthe was going so she decided to pull as 
opposed to risk anything.  She had a muscle cramp earlier in the week so it 
seems it wasn't all worked out. That left me and Montana and this guy gets 
"3rd loop mental fatigue".  I've heard others mention the same type of thing 
with their horses.  When we are walking he goes kind of slow, unmotivated, 
until he sees a horse up front or something.  So we came up on nice chestnut, 
I could tell the rider was from Georgia,  " I'MMM Just tryyyyying to git him 
through the riiiide."  Read Southern accent. We trotted with her a little bit 
and she sort of dropped back, then we came on two girls, I just sat back and 
trotted behind them for a bit. They must have not liked that because they 
stopped real quick to water there horses in a mud puddle, so we passed them. 
BTW, one of them was the same girl who had asked to pass earlier on the first 
loop, but apparently I didn't hear her quiet voice , so the second time she 
asked she said " Would somebody please give me the trail. " Montana wanted to 
give her some trail but I told him kicking wasn't allowed! I myself am a 
little hard of hearing, so I usually like to ask loud and early, I hope I 
don't offend anyone thinking I'm being pushy.  I always say "Please" and 
"Thank-you" I rode a long way by myself, just me and my horse, Life is good.  
As we came to the top of a hill, a farmer in the next field was doing 
something with his tractor and scared a fox right across the trail in front 
of me. Endurance riding and wildlife; it doesn't get any better than this!   
Finally after about 10-12 miles we were at a water station when Lawton 
Johnson, his riding buddy, and another rider came up to the water, I started 
off slow and they passed me, so I dropped in behind them, this felt good and 
my horse was happy.  He is really good following or in front, so long as he 
is on the trail, none of that ringwork. <VBG>
  
When we came off the 3rd loop, I trotted him out for the vet, I noticed out 
of the corner of my eye I didn't think he looked right.  Vet said he was G1 
on RF.  "Keep going just watch him."  I took him back to the trailer , picked 
up his foot, his shoe had slipped slightly to the side, it was still tight, 
but it was definitely to the side,. Same thing had happened earlier in the 
week and the farrier cam out to fix it, I'm thinking that the shoes were 
almost worn out may have had something to do with it.  Stephen took him over 
to the ride farrier , he  fixed the shoe and Montana walked off fine. He 
trotted out good, so I left camp and took it easy.  I stopped halfway out and 
checked the shoe, again it was fine, so we kept going.  I saw Lawton leave 
camp and just didn't think anything about it figuring that we were probably 
pretty far down the ladder anyway, and I was still riding my plan.  I 
probably rode a little more paranoid the last loop, but we finished it in 56 
minutes.  10 minutes faster than before, that was not part of my plan.  

I rode for a few minutes with someone from Brazil, she was doing the hundred 
and her horse was getting tired, I think he was suffering "Mental Fatigue 
also" he was finishing 50 miles and had 50 more to go!  She was having a good 
time though and said she was going to do the 25, then got a 50 mile horse, 
and then a 100 mile horse.  I missed the 100 mile awards so I don't know if 
she finished or not, I hope so. 

When I came to the finish line, I gave Nancy my card for my time and she said 
I was 10th place!  I asked her if she was sure, I couldn't believe it.  I 
thought for sure I was somewhere in the 25 to 35 range.  Really cool! And my 
horse was still good.  I figured the time between me and the 1st place 
finisher was a big difference so I didn't bother to stand BC.  I was really 
just proud of my horse and myself for riding my plan, and planning it for the 
horse. He vetted fine, I had the same vet who saw the G1 earlier and told him 
what happened with the shoe, he said he looked good and he couldn't see a 
thing. 

Fortunately, in the ride packet was an entry form for next May 2000- Memorial 
Day ride.  Do you think I would be a little over-enthusiastic if I sent it in 
now? ;-) 

All in all it was a great ride, great RM, great food, trails, vets.  Life is 
really good. 

Respectfully, 

Jackie Baker


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