Ridecamp: [RC] Oregon 100

Well, to be honest, that was probably the easiest ride I have ever done, in 
10,000 miles. I definitely need to get out more, cuz they sure ain't all 
that flat, and they sure don't all have footing that good either!  And they 
*definitely* don't all have that much water out on the trail!!!  Or weather 
so beautiful!!!  Plus, well, (not meaning to offend riders in other 
regions, but...) riders in the NW are really really nice and friendly!  I'm 
kissing up so I can go to Steph's 5-day ride next month and everybody will 
still be nice to me there <g>, tho I am serious, everybody there was really 
super nice.

The ride ain't short, the 100 has been measured at 102 miles.  It's the 
first time Rocky has done a 100 in 10 hours (Calina rode him, she's 13 now, 
and Joyce sponsored her). The horse Joyce rides is pretty amazing, he's 
been blasting thru all these 100's (Even Swanton), and has never been 
pulled.  Way to go!  Got BC on this one.

The photos never show how steep things really are.  This ride probably had 
less than a couple thousand feet elevation total, though they did change 
the trail this year so the 100's had a hill to climb on the last two loops 
on the 100.  Making it a little bit more difficult.  Plus, running hard 
thru all that sand isn't easy if you aren't prepared for it. The horses 
here are already growing winter coats! It was a nice change.  Pulse 
criteria was 60, even at the finish.  No fooling around.  7 vet checks 
too.  As far as I know, not a single horse was treated and they had a lot 
of entries.

I even used easyboots on the ride.  Okay, so people laughed at me <g>, but 
they do help with the deep sandy sections, and I didn't want to try 
something new on the horses by not using them.  I think it was a really 
great ride and I'd recommend it to anybody, especially somebody who wants 
to move up in distance, to a 75 or a 100 for the first time.  So long as 
you can actually control your horse.  I admittedly had a bit of trouble 
keeping Weaver slowed down as much as I would like and I think he needs 
more experience.  (this was only his 100th ride completion, we really need 
to work on this problem<g>)

I don't think there is any such thing as an easy 100, only some that are 
less difficult than others.  The 13 year old kept saying at the vet checks 
when she would dismount "I think I'm getting too old for 
this".  pfffffffffft  (no sympathy)

Karen
in NV
& Rocky
& Weaver....I did the 50, then was the alarm system to alert camp when 
Rocky was coming!







=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=