Before offering the biggest tip to aspiring 100 milers, maybe
i should rehash those times i tried and failed and learned something from all
but one, and the AERC database has so graciously left off my record, and you can
take it with a grain of salt and pepper. Somewhere in Ohio with
BayMar and we were trotting into the finish with a small group and it was
like he blew a tire and went lame. I learned nothing from that experience
other than s+++ sometimes happens. Somewhere in Michigan riding Ballistic
we finished second and he started thumping and after an hour still
thumped. More electrolytes, and it would have helped to have had a crew to
hash over what to do during the hour, as my brain was fried more than
normal. The Vermont 100, with BayMar and we were riding the rolling hills
and it was hot and we went too fast and being the driver, it was my
fault. The OD with Ballistic and it was in my back yard and going up the
Duncan Hollow he started to weave and wobble and i thought he was going to fall
down and thought.."You ain't gonna die in my backyard" so we head back walking
and he comes around and starts acting like his usual self...running circles
around me etc... So i hop back on and head down the trail and after a couple of
minutes it happens again and this time i head back for good and he comes back to
his usual demeanor and we head into the Vet Check coming from the wrong way into
Camp Roosevelt. There is Matthew and he asks whats wrong??? "the horse
looks fine." I tell him about these 2 Atypical Metabolic Episodes
and at about that time he implodes again and was treated. Was it
electrolytes hitting raw ulcerated stomach tissue?? I never found
out. BayMar at the Carolina 100 and its 80 miles and its dark and
there is a long loop and he passes the Vets, but he just didn't seem right and i
didn't want to be out in the boonies in the dark and have a problem and he
never knew we didn't finish , so i didn't tell him. Oh, the worst
was in Arizona at the PAC. A complete Metabolic Breakdown with
Ballistic and fluids... he was a raging lunatic and even broke his martingale,
and i got tired of fighting him and rode him for a loop and he came into
the Vet Check frothy fine. But at about 50 miles he had diminished
gut sounds and we stayed and let him eat and recover? At 80 miles he
broke. This horse i found out was not meant for Endurance, and it took a
long time to find that one out. But he was the only horse i've ever owned
that never tumbled with me some time. So if you're still
here and want to hear my viewpoint for doing a 100. NEVER go out on
trail with a hungry horse. If he's still eating, stay. Forget the
timed holds.... Let the horse eat...tom sites
