The Little Manistee Memorial Ride in Luther is a special ride for me...it is
also the trail for Tin Cups Springs and I have done this trail at every ride
that Jay and Becke Grams have had here since I started distance riding (about
350 miles total!). I love this trail and my horses love this trail and I have
made some very special friends at this ride. And I make new ones every year!
There are just no people in the world like distance people!!! Whether they ride
endurance or comp, they know about "going the distance" and continue to make me
feel welcome and support my efforts at passing it on!
In keeping with a typical Michigan spring weather pattern, we experienced one
of those rides that went from a typical July day for heat and humidity (esp.
humidity) on Saturday to typical April thunderstorms and pouring rain that night
to typical October winds and blustery showers throughout the day on Sunday!
Since we had a good ride at White River, I decided to let Malik decide how
the ride would go. We started out with the front runners and fell back to being
a few minutes behind with a few others halfway through the first loop. It was
cool and foggy but comfortable when we started at 7:00 a.m. but the humidity got
uncomfortable as the sun came out and it got pretty muggy. Nelson soon took over
custody of my sweatshirt! I opted to sweat it out in my sleeveless T-shirt
(which my arms suffered for through the day from whipping branches, a few thorn
trees, sunburn and such). We did the first loop (about 12 1/2 miles) in just
under an hour and actually ended up coming in to the first check with the front
runners. Malik was eager and excited and it took us 8 minutes to come down. That
hurt. But he peed and had ALL A's and the vet was pleased so I was pleased. He
ate like a pig but refused to drink...not unusual. He often doesn't drink until
the halfway point. We were out with Gene and Shelley Dake from this check and I
had the opportunity to ride behind them into the halfway check in camp. Gene and
Shelley often ride together and they have a system that works...let's just say,
when you have the chance at a ride to see them work and ride together, take
notice and pay attention. You'll learn something!
Malik was still doing well at the halfway check, all A's again though not
drinking. We had a 50 minute hold and took advantage of it. We were both feeling
really good. The Dakes left out 3 minutes ahead of us. We left camp at an easy
canter and alternated that with a strong working trot. He was feeling good but
maybe not as motivated as before and he drank very little during the check. We
passed some comp riders a couple of miles out. We were going a little slower
than the first time on this loop. What concerned me was that he had started
panting so hard....he often breathes hard and sometimes it's a mixture of
scenting the air (maybe he knows exactly who is ahead of him and how far?) and
working hard but this time, it was PANTING which he has never done. We took
extra time to cool him with slosh bottles when Nelson and Mary (my MUCH older
sister) met us at pit stops. He sipped a bit of water. After the first pit stop,
I sensed he was needing to pee again (same dilemma last weekend!) and he
continued to pant hard. He was moving fine at a trot and a canter so except for
allowing the occasional "slow down and move a bit off the trail in case he has
to pee" strategy, we continued to move along at a decent clip. He finally drank
fairly well at a pit stop and I let Nelson electrolyte him there, too. About two
miles from the vet check, he stopped on his own (not at my suggestion) and peed
and peed and peed. He walked off a few steps, put his ears forward and to the
tune of "Grandma's Feather Bed", we took off at a canter. I had a new horse! And
yes, I SANG to my horse in an effort to motivate him...I figured if nothing
else, he might just want to go faster to get away from it or get back to camp
faster! Nelson met us once more at the road before the vet check and as he drove
off after pitting us, Malik took off after the van at a full gallop. He was
feeling good again. No more panting either. But we had lost too much time and
were WAY behind the front runners. The Dakes had even made up the time and were
within a couple of minutes of the front runners by this point. I talked to Dr.
Steve Halstead at the vet check about the panting and not drinking as he usually
does but he did an extra thorough check on him and Malik still had all As with
the exception of a B+ for impulsion. His skin tenting was great and he recovered
quickly at this check. MAJOR POINT OF INTEREST: I shudder to think what our ride
might have been like if I hadn't used Susan's advice about tanking up on wet
beet pulp and hay on the Thursday before the ride. Current research indicates
that many horses start rides already dehydrated. I will NEVER, EVER sacrifice
the extra time and effort it takes to feed him continuously all day long on
Thursday with lots of beet pulp and wet hay as well along with his apples and
carrots...I think this also starts getting him psyched up and prepared
mentally...he is so used to the routine since this is our 4th season doing it
this way! Read Susan's articles and take heed. Malik could have been in major
trouble if he had been dehydrated. He never got below an A- on hydration during
the ride. THANKS SUSAN!!
