Kasey miraculously came sound a couple days before the ride (from being
nailed last week) so I opted to take my "new, traded" horse with my brand
new "swapped" saddle (the Orthoflex Swain CT). I decided to go with a
thin dressage pad under the booties, with no shims, as per suggestions
from OF afficionados to get a good idea of what the saddle would do under
ride conditions.
Kevin took Mr T instead of Miss B just because he adores that horse and
would rather ride nothing if he can't ride him.
Trailer: maiden voyage. Very few glitches, although we found out that
we don't have interior lights unless the truck is running (a lovely,
noisy diesel). I think that should be addressed soon. Also don't have
half the hooks and trailer ties that we need. Fixing that
tomorrow--Collin-Arndt will do whatever we need to make the trialer perfect!
We bought one of those little propane heaters--couldn't get it to work.
So we were a might chilly overnight (nothing new--that's the way it's
always been). Did a cook-out with a wonderful fresh fruit salad and
grilled mesquite chicken tenders (thanks to Mr. Perdue).
Loading: the best suggestion turned out to be attaching a lounge rope to
the horse and threading it through one of the drop-down windows. Both
hopped on. Kasey went to the inner stall and settled in very well. We
then hooked on short trailer ties via the windows.
Unloading: more of a challenge. Mr T is too long to turn around even at
the wide end since we have a corner tack room in the back. So I hooked
up the lounge rope, clucked, Kevin pulled on his tail, and the poor old
boy backed right into the wall. Well, you should have seen the look on
his face--one of those "Are you nuts, there's a wall here!". We rocked
him back & forth to no avail. Finally I flipped the lead rope over the
right shoulder, that encouraged him to take a step left, then a free shot
out the back. Kasey just turned around and walked out politely.
The ride: 25 mile CTR through the pine barrens of South Jersey. Wide
open sand roads, some woodsy trails and water everywhere...cedar water.
Kasey galloped and cavorted at the pre-ride vet trot-out--talk about
energy!! Have added RICE BRAN to his diet and I'm seeing a real energy
boost!
Riders are sent out by two's, 1-2 minutes apart, with 5 min breaks
periodically to spread everyone out. We went out almost last (luck of
the draw). We hadn't gone 1/2 mile when Mr T switched into race gear
(he's an endurance horse) and went into a floating race trot that got him
to the mid-point (12.5 miles) in 1 hr 5 min. I DID NOT want to go that
fast--new saddle, first time without half-chaps (just the stretch
leggings & socks), little personal conditioning--so I said
"See you later, Kevin" and asked Kasey to hold back. This wasn't his
first choice, of course, but he listened. Kasey is much slower than Mr T
and he packs a heck of a lot more weight with me on him so I wasn't about
ready to blow our first competition trying to keep up.
We did some clipping but I still utilized every puddle, every lake to
dump water on his neck. At 60 deg it was downright HOT! And the sand
sucks the moisture right out of you.
Kevin was waiting for us at mid-point (Kevin spent a nice, relaxing hour
there) and we proceeded on together. There was considerable back-up at
the trot out and I could have gotten almost 20 min on my time but opted
not to. We came in at 4hr 15 min ride time. Kasey dropped to 40, Mr T
was there the minute we crossed the finish line - still raring to go.
Kevin beat Mom by .5 point to take 3rd in HW, me 4th. Considering how
much weight Kasey carried (and no, I'm not going to tell you), he came
through the ride absolutely first rate! Kevin & I are so happy that we
decided to switch horses. Kasey & I made an almost instant bond, whereas
he & Kevin just never quite hit it off.
Here's a puzzler: Kasey went along nicely with the other CTR horses
(these are the ones that almost exclusively do limited distance) without
any hint of "competitiveness". After we left the mid-point Stagg &
Cheryl Newman on Drubin & Strut and Ellen Tully on Bahrain, came up
behind us. Kasey immediately switched into high gear and was determined
to stay in front. And I do mean "determined"--almost to the point of
"showing off". We've noticed this behavior before. He acts one way with
limited distance horses, but when the "real endurance horses" come by he
is a totally different personality--not aggressive, but just "forward".
Anybody else experience this? And how do they know? Do these guys go
down the trail chanting "I'm an edurance horse" to some equine mental
tune?
Saddle: it's a hit!! No dry spots, no tenderness, no girthiness, no
bumps. Kasey moved very well with it, he seems to like it. For
me--comfortable, good kneerolls-used them. Can get away without the
half-chaps tho' I'll have to be careful & get my calves toughened up a
little. Used "Webbers" instead of leathers, cut down on bulk
tremendously and didn't rub.
The Jersey rides are wonderful--great management, wonderful water crews
seemingly right around the corner as you begin to think about a nice
drink, a delight!
And my income tax refund was in the mailbox when I got home....
Does it get any better than this? I think not!
Rejoice---Winter is OVER!!
Diane @ Safe Haven