 |
[RC] DVE Day 2 - bechackDay 2 dawned with us all tacked up and it was COLD. As of the ride meeting last night, we were supposed to go all the way up this mountain. This Mountain goes up to 9000 feet. It was less than 30 degrees down where we were and the snow clouds were looming. As we started, Jackie said we only had to go up to the water trough and the glacier, write our name on the paper, and come home. Yeah! So we set off. Sue and I started off at a great little walk. OOps, there is Heather and Marc. Ed decides that is who he wants to be with. Berzerk. I still had him in the S hack and he knew it. Miranda was at the Balarat vet/ trot by. Asked her to find my bit. Now if I can survive until I get back down off the mountain. So off we go up the hill. Ed was a little more cooperative going UP. It was nice. It really surprised me that the front runners didn't come back at us until we were up near the water. Ed was so thirsty he pushed his was in to the trough. He and Rocky really tanked up. That was really nice to see. Half way! So down the mountain we go. Now Ed decided he wanted to hurry. Ed has such a walk. It is actually a running walk / gait. I don't know what we look like, I just know it is smooth and he just FLIES down the trail this way. The biggest problem is I didn't want to fly DOWN the mountain. Well, we made it down off the mountain in one piece. Not really sure how. Miranda was there and had found Ed's bit and had brought it back to the vet check with her. What a great crew! Thank goodness my new headstall just has clips at the bit ends, so that change only took about 30 seconds. From Ballarat, Sue and I actually got to see some new trail, since to go straight back to camp would short the mileage since we didn't go all the way up the mountain. So we did the LD loop backwards. Flat with good footing. The scenery didn't change much, but it was nice after all of the walking we did up and down the mountain. The bit gave me so much more control and a whole lot less head shaking, wanting to go faster. He knew we weren't going to. End of argument. In the S-hack, it became just a long constant argument. Day one had been just fine. No problem or argument, just ok, Mom, what ever you want. They do get more fit as you go on a multi-day. By day four I had a "super-horse". At least he thought so. Along the whole stretch down along the road, we would look up the mountain and see the whole area engulfed in snow clouds. It had been so cold only as far as we went, I was so glad we hadn't gone further! It clouded up and looked like rain all afternoon. The light on the clouds really made for something pretty to look at. We actually passed a couple of riders in the last 5 miles. The desert is so funny. You can see camp. Looks close. Then you ride for a while, look up and it isn't any closer. It can be very discouraging unless you are used to it. We finished with lots of boing in the step of both horses, both eager to get back to the trailers to drink and eat. There was plenty of time to take care of the ponies, eat, shower AND get to the ride meeting. My only question was, SAME AS LAST YEAR?. YUP. Good, that makes it so easy. Don't need no stinkin ribbons that way. Some years there has actually been sabotage out here. You wouldn't think there would be another sole out here, but there are. It is easy when you have done it before. There just aren't that many options out here. So off to bed early. Boy does that feel good. I can ride without any discomfort but still can't trot out my own horse. Oh, well, there is always someone there to trot out the horse. I just have to ride, right? Next, day 3....or how I got matching bruises.... Becky and the gang =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|