I'd also like to mention that 5 riders braved this quirky Michigan weather
and rode out in grey skies and gusty winds for the 25 mile Limited Distance ride
on Sunday. Tom Peterson was first to pulse down and won Best Condition. A brand
new rider (this is his first endurance format ride and second distance ride)
named Scott something or other was 2nd. I made sure he got a GLDRA newsletter
and schedule and some other distance riding information. Apparently SOMEBODY had
been talking about me at Brighton because he already knew who I was (hmmm, who
might that be, JEANIE MILLER????). But it's always fun meeting new riders and
helping get them all fired up! I apologize that I can't for the life of me
remember the other riders though I remember that Lauri Williams was 5th...the
other two riders were juniors.
I LEARNED a lot at this ride...the panting scared me and I knew Malik had to
pee. But he was not tired or overstressed and there is a difference. Had it been
a vet I didn't know, I might have questioned my vet scores. But Steve has vetted
Malik at rides every year since we started and even when we voiced concern and
he double checked, Malik was fine and looked great. Steve doesn't tell you your
horse is doing great if he isn't. I learned to also trust my own instinct and to
let my horse guide me. I read a lot of ride stories and I know there are a lot
of riders and horses out there with major issues to overcome both for themselves
and their horses and I feel lucky to have Malik. We have a long journey ahead of
us and boy, do I look forward to enjoying every minute!!
Speaking of journeys and life and all...Jenny did not ride this weekend. It
was prom night. She could have gone out with friends and done typical teen
activities for prom weekend but she actually SAID she would rather be there
helping out. She volunteered as time keeper at the outcheck. She got dressed and
ate a little bit at our potluck and we took pictures and oohed and aahed over
her dress and her corsage...she cleans up pretty good!! :) The neat thing about
it all was that she wasn't all caught up in looking perfect ("if they don't like
how I look, they can kiss my ***" is what she said) and so though she was
beautiful in her prom dress, her confidence and self assurance was what shone
through and added the most to her beauty. I attribute a lot of that to this
sport, her horse and the people she has come to know through it. And she was
home by midnight, too.
Many thanks to the folks who came out and helped including Jenny, my sister,
Mary and Nelson and Ridecamper KAREN Casemier who has never even done a ride yet
but took a whole weekend and came out and put up with all of us...I, of course,
in fine form, nodded when she introduced herself (thinking all along this is the
new vet that one of our clients had told us about and realized I recognized the
name from somewhere but not which person it should belong to!!) and basically,
was I embarrassed later when I got it all figured out. And I kept trying to call
her Susan. Duh! DIMR, right??? I hate to claim Distance Induced Mental
Retardation, especially BEFORE the ride, but it's the only excuse I have!!! In
any case, Becke Grams was very pleased with the volunteer help this year. She
almost cancelled the ride but the volunteers saved the day!
We also welcomed out of state riders Wendy Mancini and Pat Oliva. I think
they are BOTH ridecampers. It was a pleasure to meet both of them!
It was also great to see Shannon Weston at the ride...she is the one of the
former managers of the Bear River Ride and helped me immensely last year when I
took over the Wolverine. Her help was invaluable. I know she has had some major
life changes this year but I am so relieved and happy that distance riding did
not get left out of the equation. I'm trying to convince her to ride a couple of
fifties with me on Max, Jenny's horse. Even though Malik and I had a good ride,
it just isn't the same riding alone (whine, whine). And Max and Malik are a
special team. We brought Mykal, Malik's half brother this weekend so Nelson
could show off his driving horse...Malik was NOT impressed at this unwelcome
interloper. He tolerated his presence (with about 6 feet of space between their
pens) and mostly just turned his back to him after giving him the "look" that
said "I'll come over there and kick your butt if you don't behave!". Malik and
Max usually spend time scratching each other's withers and nipping at each
other's faces...their favorite activities when they're not on the trail! I think
Malik really missed that. I know a horse should be able to "go it alone" but I
don't feel there is any shame in riding as a team...if it's more fun for the
people, it has to be more fun for the horses!
And so ride season seems to have begun in earnest for us here in Michigan and
God willing and the creek don't rise, we are hoping to make it to Grand Island
with definite plans to do 50 miles (and an occasional fleeting notion that I
really could and should do the 100). Actually, it's not the creek I have to
worry about but the TRUCK and transportation issues that plague us every year.
:) We are still waiting for the diagnosis from our mechanic and this weekend
borrowed a friend's truck to haul to LMMR as it's only 30 or 40 minutes away. It
all worked out and we are especially determined this year. I really feel this is
Malik's year to shine, actually the first of many years, I hope. Yee ha!!!
Here's to miles of smiles for everyone!!
