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RE: [RC] City Slickers - Jerry & Susan MilamThis
may be an easy ride for us in the MW who have some elevation and you SE riders
with your flat/sandy terrain, My friend and I doing the 50 had some problems
we've not had EVER during our endurance years. It has been very icy and hard to
condition this winter up here near St Louis, but we figured our guys to be in
good enough shape for this EASY ride in Memphis. We were there to complete with
happy sound horses and use it as a training ride.
We
started out near last and I finished near last. My friend, who's horse was
attempting his first 50 pulled with RO metabolic at the half way point VC. Her
horse ended up in the hospital on IVs from tying up. I found out today that he
is now at the U of Ill vet hospital also still on IVs from difficulty with his
kidney values.
My
horse although he completed had a mild colic episode 4 hours after the
completion of this ride. I was very pleased with how my horse is learning to
slow down and eat and drink along the trail, but the metabolic problems we
experienced coming from a colder climate to a ride in the near 80 degree mark is
disconcerting to say the least. My goal with Fly was to improve his gut sounds
at the VCs and he did just that. The last away VC gave him all A's so when we
came in for our final VC, the head vet didn't even evaluate much besides the way
we came into the check, pulse and his trot out. I think he was pretty tired
too.
I
imagine time will tell what went wrong with our two, but it's sure hard to learn
what works in this sport and what is a certain danger.
I
didn't even pick up my completion award. Didn't know when it was handed
out.
In His Hands,
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