Morning of the ride arrives. Weather has been great
and is looking to be just as great! Sixty some riders in the 55 have gone out.
Now about 100 30 milers are milling around Nancy Gooch giving her their ride
number. Ali and I are standing there and one of them "wild" Arabs starts its own
little rodeo and is going down the road bucking like crazy, she gets just out of
site behind a bush and we hear a loud "wham"(hits truck) and then we hear "she's
down". I run down there on my horse and she is unconscious in the middle
of the road. We call 911, get her neck and airway stabilized and wait. After
about 2 minutes she starts waking up and gradually becomes more lucid until the
EMS arrives 20 minutes later(what took so long, please, check my pulse). The 30
start had been delayed due to this and then was started in a hap hazard
fashion(not complaining, extenuating circumstances). Ali and I got a late start
but horses were feeling good and the start and helped spread things out. About 2
miles out a rider behind me yells "Someone lost a shoe!". I would discover later
it was Sawyer's. After 2 years, why did I have him shod? Ali works her way
through traffic and Sawyer is working to stay with his pasture buddy(this is
Ali's first ride not as a junior and she has no intention of waiting on fat ol'
Daddy). After awhile she is gone and Sawyer and I settle into our ride hoping
we'd get a glimpse of Ali and Sadie sometime today. The morning is beautiful,
the trail is great(not easy, mud, roots, rocks, climbs, descents) and everyone
seems to be enjoying themselves. Come across a ridge and there is beautiful view
of the back of the Biltmore. Descend the ridge, get to the bottom and one of the
riders who had been just ahead is coming the other way and is saying we missed
trail. Climb back up this big ridge, take another peak at the house and find the
right trail. Not a bad detour in regards to view but descending and climbing
that huge ridge cost a lot of time and energy. Oh well. Get to vet check and
Sawyer is down immediately. Walk him back to trailer and see Ali and Sadie
leaving(40 minute hold) and would find out later she was one of the front
runners at that point. Pull the left front shoe off(he lost the right) so now he
is at least matching. And had a discussion with myself most of the 17-18 mile
first loop whether to re-shoe, easy boot or pull the opposite side. Opted
for back to barefoot. We had an uneventful 2d loop and came in down and ended up
14th. Felt like we had done well with a late start, lost shoe and missed trail!
Ali was 4th and was getting ready to stand for BC. Sadie looked great but was a
little touchy on her back so BC was not in the offing. Learn that the lady who
had fell off her horse was back in camp with a black eye but was otherwise
well(alls well that ends well). Ali is pumped! Ready for another ride. It is
great to have her back on Team Roley! Of note, this was a benefit ride for a
local therapeutic riding stable(Mountin' Hopes). Ali's other horse(17 you 14.1H
gray Arab) is on loan to them and is loved by everyone out there as she is
such a sweet baby. Well, I'm sure that is all you can handle(wonder if you hit
the delete button already?)
If any of you Ford owners need a lift from the side
of the road give me a call ;-)
