I went to Leatherwood for the first time this
weekend and loved it! The ride was tough, the most challenging I have been
too and I still loved it. The ride manager, Abbie Smith, is wonderful and
had lots of great help. Ken Marcella, Duane Barnett and Mike Bridges were
the vets and were awesome. The food was fantastic and the prizes were the
best I have seen on the east coast. Canvas portfolios for all completions
and a brass belt buckle for the 50's! Genie took the pictures even in the
morning fog and did a great job! We stayed in a beautiful cabin with a hot
tub that sure beat sleeping in our truck, and Dave even had a nice stall to
sleep in! I was a bit afraid and intimidated by the ride at first, and
started dead last with Mike who did finish last, but my horse was ready to go
and after good comments from the vets we increased our speed and wound up tying
for 12th place! My husband said this ride must be a secret because no one
ever had said how nice this ride really was. I enjoyed meeting
Howard and I am sure he will write a better story than I. If your horse
can climb repeatedly straight up and down and travel ridges you
should try Leatherwood next year!!
Alicia Mansuetti and Davanna Dave
PS If you are reading many thanks to Howard,
Abbie, Phil, Debbie, Claude and Marion for encouraging me to try
Leatherwood! Also, many of you kept asking about my horse and he
is by Patrolon sire of Patrolons Tango, Patrolons Star, Echo, Eclipsed and
Remensonce all rising endurance stars in the
southeast.
