Carbos @ Californio 100

["Marci Cunningham" <mcunningham@calcot.com>]

Hi Karen,

I used carbos for the first time on the Californio 100 this past weekend. 
I acquired a jar of the GN Weight Gainer (vanilla flavor) thanks to my
husband so I thought I would put it to use.  I measured (by weight) 2 oz
into individual baggies as a dosage at each vet check.  My crew mixed it
with water and applesauce and we started at the 18 mile vet check and at
each of the following checks (5).  The last was at 93 miles.  (Karen, how
do you pre-load your syringes and keep them from leaking while carrying
them on your saddle?)  I wanted to try this since my gelding is not the
most voracious eater during endurance rides.  We did the 20 Mule Team 100
in February and he never dug into his feed during the day or night.  

He usually gets through rides with "C" gut sounds but on Saturday he never
had lower than a "B".  In fact I don't think he received lower that a "B"
on any of the vet parameters all day long.  He didn't eat any better than
at other rides but he never acted tired at any time during the 100 miles. 
He is 7 years old and this is his second 100 miler and he has a career
total of 850 endurance miles.  (He did one limited distance ride as a four
year old).  This was his first endurance ride since the Geo Bun Buster in
March, although he has been in training since then.  My training consists
of a ride of 20 to 30 miles on weekends and maybe a short ride of 5 to 10
miles during the week (after work).  (I can never be accused of over-riding
my horses.)  My horses are kept in pasture which helps with conditioning
also.  I was thrilled with his attitude and forwardness all day long.  John
Parke, who rode drag the last 25 miles on his Icelandic endurance pony,
complimented my gelding on how great and fresh he looked the last 7 miles
into the finish.  Over the last 30 days I had really watched Koztarr's diet
and was supplementing with vitamins, etc.  However, I think the biggest
change was the addition of the carbos during the ride.  The first couple of
vet checks we administered the carbos as soon as we vetted through,  but at
later vet checks we let him eat hay, grain and bran until it was time to
leave and then gave the carbos.  I changed to this strategy since he didn't
seem to want to eat right after receiving the carbos.  Perhaps it was a
strange taste, who knows!  

I was also privileged to ride with Barbara Sanchez and Jon Priest who set a
great pace all day long as we all finished around midnight.  I think 25
horses started the ride and 14 finished.  Even though I was last I felt a
real since of victory since my horse looked so great at the finish.  I will
always be a firm believer in "To Finish is To Win".

Happy Trails,
Marci Cunningham
Bakersfield CA