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[RC] First 25 Miler (long) - Peter HarperHello All, I posted a few weeks ago for advice on my first 25 miler and wanted thank everyone for their help and encouragement and to let everyone know how it went. TWH Ladyhawk and I had a terrific time this weekend at the Texas Grasslands ride. Sue Phillips and the ride management went out of their way to make us feel welcome and walk us through the sometimes confusing process. Since this was both Ladyhawk's and my first ride we started with the goal just to finish within the max time allowed. We let all the faster riders go out first at the start. As much as possible we tried to go at our own pace, but Ladyhawk cantored for the first couple miles as she tried to keep up with the Arabs. After that she settled into her usual fast 4-beat running walk. A couple times we had other riders press us from behind and we'd cantor for a while then as we reached a wide place in the trail we'd let them by. Coming into the first vet check was a little confusing but we managed. I soaked her neck and chest down real well as we came in to cool down. By the time we got to the vet she was down to 48. The vet gave her mostly A's and a couple B's and the vet comments "you've got a good TWH, she can do this if you want to". We went in for a 1hr hold before the next loop. After hay, electrolytes and plenty of water Ladyhawk was refreshed and ready to go. She started off fast again trying to keep up with the bay Arab just ahead of us. We passed the Arab in the winding trail in trees. Her running walk is fast and very sure footed. We did most of the 2nd loop by our selves at a steady running walk. It wasn't until the last two miles to the finish the bay Arab we had passed earlier caught us on the flat. By now the Arab was Landhawk's new found "buddy" and we cantored into the finish. Again we cooled down first at the water and walked up to be vetted out. The volunteer had her heart rate at 80 which didn't seem right, she was relaxed and not breathng hard. We went back to the water and got another drink and stood in the shade for a while. Another crew member has a stethoscope and I asked for a 2nd opinion. He said she was down to 52 so we went back to be vetted in. The same volunteer had her at 80 again. She walked us down to the vet who checked her and had her at 48. We finished out the vet check again with all A's and B's. Is it proper etiquette to ask for a 2nd opinion if you know your horse is down to pulse? We wasted about 20 mins in the vet check with first the false reading. This was a great experience and I plan on doing more rides soon. Speaking as a newbie to the sport, you need to keep the 25LD as a means to recruiter and train new people to the sport. I would try a 25 miler but a 50 or 100? no way. See you on the trails, Pete and Ladyhawk __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway http://promotions.yahoo.com/design_giveaway/ ============================================================ It is how we "feel" deep inside that matters, cause each of us knows the truth, regardless of how we try make it complicated. It just isn't. ~ Frank Solano ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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