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[RC] GERA 50 - success in the heat and humidity of the SE - Timothy Worden

The GERA Classic, held in Dawson Forst near
Dawsonville, GA.  Coming into this ride all I heard
about was the heat, humidity, and the rocks.  Not the
natural trail type rocks, the somewhat crushed rock
that is spread over roads.  Did I mention the heat and
humidity also?  For some reason I was not concerned
about the heat and humidity.  I was more concerned
about the rocks.  Now if there had been sand involved
as well I probably would have stayed home.  My
Carolina conditioned mountain horses do not do sand
all that well.  Though ever since Sandhills 55 in
March I've been hooked on attempting 50s.  LDs just
did not seem like a long enough ride anymore.

I've written about my problem child and his leg/feet
problems this year.  Well, turns out that 3 of my 4
horse got White Line...aka seperation of the hoof. 
For the last few months it's been almost non-stop rain
and the moisture was just too much for a few of my
horses.  They are recovering nicely, just takes time.

I was chomping at the bit to ride and my friend, Doty,
offered her son's horse to me for conditioning. Rocco
(Knight of Morocco) is a 7y/o desertbred grey about
15.2hh.  I got Rocco whooped into shape at South
Mountain State Park and Leatherwood
Mountains...training in high heat and humidity....no
e-lytes.  He was ready and Doty let me take him to
GERA to do 50 miles.  She gave me the rundown on his
ride behavior which I guess he tended to be high
strung and slow at heartrate recovery.

We pulled into Dawson Forest on Friday after about a 5
hour drive.  Rocco and my wife's mare, Jazz, vetted in
fine and ready to go.

Ride morning was here and the weather was to be clear
with high heat and humidity.  Our plan was to run mid
pack and keep a good pace for the first two loops
before the weather got rough.  This ride consisted of
2 loops of 14 and 11 miles each done twice.  The trail
was a blast.  The second loop had mostly tight rolling
dirt trail which felt like you were flying.  Luckily
Rocco was sleak enough that I didn't knock my knees. 
About 2 miles from the finish of the 11 mile loop is a
deep river crossing.  It felt refreshing to get my
feet wet.

All day I was wondering when this whacko horse would
show up that Doty warned me about.  Coming in after
every loop I would jump off and walk him in a hundred
yards or so from the in timer.  By the time I got the
tack off his heartrate was down.....I thought Doty
said he didn't recover fast?;)  After the second loop
my wife ended up pulling with her mare being off from
a stone bruise on her left front heel.  The vet
thought she saw something on Rocco's trot out.  She
noted it but said I could continue.

The third loop was horribly hot.  I was off Rocco
quite a bit through the gravel roads and sunny
sections.  We made it though and the same vet did not
see a thing off with him.  On to the last loop of 11
miles.  I trotted him out, but soon got off and walked
a while once we hit the gravel road.  After a couple
miles a nice lady named Lynn met up with me.  I got
back on and paced with her all the way to the end. 
Rocco and I made it through and again he pulsed down
really fast.  Boy was that vet looking hard at his
right front but saw
nothing.....COMPLETION!!!...15th...8h10m ride time. 
The best part was the finish CRI which Rocco scored a
52/44...I was floored...as was his owner Doty.

I will definitely brave the heat and humidity again
for this ride next year.  Along with the ride, it was
great to visit with Joe Schoech(one of my favorite
people to ride with during an event) and Roger
Rittenhouse(who now has me drinking South Paw).  See
you all at Biltmore for sure and possibly Colonial if
I can find a horse.

Tim - the guy with the funky cowboy hat

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