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Linda: was that 'bute' for you? <VBG>...or are you referring to a butte
(sorry, that one was too good to pass up!) ;-)
We did have a really good ride...Linda completed despite overwhelming
pain....talk about stubborn!!! btw, I think I have found somebody that
worries about their horses (or in this case, my own horse!)....more than I
do!!
> What I want to know Karen, is, I think you were lying or don't know
>how far 5 miles is because for the last 25 miles, you kept telling me
>just 5 miles to go:)
Well, we just took it in 5 mile increments. Wasn't it easier to think of
at the time that you *just* had 5 more miles to go?
This was an exciting ride for me...the first time both of my horses have
done a 50 together. It wasn't my idea, but we went with full halloween
garb...the horses decked out in bright neon orange trail bridles, with
black and purple accents. The black and purple being Linda's ankle of
course <just kidding>. There was no mistaking us! I brought an orange
grease marker and we drew pumpkins and "Boo" on the horses behinds.
Rocky's first ride (50 anyway) with only a snaffle bit. Linda and I have
both been taking dressage lessons on my boys...I figured it was about time
we gave this a try. I knew I'd either be going down the trail smiling or
cursing, and wouldn't know until we got there and did it how the outcome
would be. Well...I was smiling!!!! We did have a bit more contact at the
start, but I was still able to maintain control, (and I'm not sore either).
He was also minus the running martingale and we had NO problems with head
tossing or any other shennanegins. Yahoo!!!
I was quite proud of Linda...who has been regaining her confidence and
balance on a horse, since her beloved Sareei has EPM. At the start of the
ride she seemed a little nervous, but once we got going she seemed to be
confident and ready to go! To see her trot on the downhill was
incredible...she just flew downhill like she had been doing it all her
life. We walked the horses into the first water and hay stop and stayed
longer than most, letting the horses eat. Everything was going well. She
was worried because after 6 miles or so, <G>, Weaver hadn't drank (never
fear, he went all day with A's on hydration!)...thought it was cute that
somebody could take over worrying for me. Course MY horse was
drinking...good boy Rocky (hehe, just kidding Linda!). I think we were
most of the way back to camp before Linda's ankle started to bother her.(25
miles)
The rest of the ride went a little slower. We had two holds...one that was
an hour and one that was a half an hour, all back in camp. The last loop
looked like it was 10 miles or less...but we were encountering riders who
were telling us that it was "way more" than that. <sigh> Of course I'm
trying to signal them to not say it loud enough for Linda to hear!! I knew
she was bound and determined to finish no matter what and didn't want her
depressed any more than she already was!! It turned out that the final
loop didn't seem to be that long afterall...Linda was able to trot some on
the uphill and flat, and we walked all the rest...and thru the rocks.
There were some very rocky sections. Both horses easy boots fared really
well...was sure glad to have them on. We watched some 25 milers trot right
thru the rocks.
The volunteer at the last water stop was really great...he gave us
drinks...oj...lemonade...and fed our horses carrots. He even offered us
schnapps...which sounded good but we both knew better <g>.
We were hurrying to make it in by the 12 hour cutoff time...and we did,
coming in around 6 p.m....we were figuring that the last loop was longer
than it was so we were quite happy about that. We hurried to get the
horses vetted and clean up in time to eat. The awards and dinner was
already done so we missed that but were able to grab a few bites of
leftovers...and collect our completion award. Bushel size buckets...I got
a purple one :-)), and Linda has a bright pink one that she really
earned!!!! Thanx to Linda for hanging in there and for taking such great
care of my horse..she brought him into the first vet check to P&R at 40 and
the second time at 44 :-).
Very nice ride...beautiful fall folliage...fantastic views...and there was
plenty of water on the trail and lots of grass to graze on. I believe 48
or 49 horses started the 50 and 41 completed. I have no idea who won but
do know that Judy Etheridge placed 3rd on Orion and Chris Martin came in
7th on Bard (both from ridecamp). Congratulations you two! btw, they both
had easy boots on too, as did Sharon's horse Wes who was quite handsome
with RED ones!! :)
Happy Trails,
Karen
in Gardnerville
& Dream Weaver...975 miles
& Rocky....275 miles in '97
....hey why does that horse have red boots and ours are black????
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