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Please Reply to: Alicia Mansuetti mmansuetti@xxxxxxxxxxx or 
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Hot, can't sleep, surrounded by pine trees, no breeze, bugs and humidity were 
what one of my fellow riders told my husband before we loaded my horse to head 
for Georiga Friday morning.  When the truck doors were shut he politely asked 
me what kind of ride was I taking him to crew at?!  I told him that I remebered 
it being a hot ride but I remebered it also being a nice smaller ride with 
really wonderful ride mangement.  We arrived early afternoon Friday and set up 
camp.  There were no long lines to register or vet in.  Otis Schmidt and Ken 
Marcella were there to vet and were awesome as usual!  I knew from previous 
years experience there that pads were necessary, and had padded my girl 
"Sweetie".  The ride meeting was quick that eveining due to a severe 
thunderstorm lurking.  Rain it did Friday night with lots of wind, lightening 
and thunder.  I started the 50 mile holiding my girl back.  I was there to just 
complete.  I love to ride fast but I had to curtail her speed just in case she 
would go again in 2 weeks to Leatherwood.  About 3 miles out I met up with the 
two nicest ladies from Florida, Brenda and Inte who let me ride with them all 
day.  They were great company on the trail.  They were people who sure do give 
our sport a good name.  They waited for me at water spots when my horse wanted 
to drink muddy water and helped rescue my only water bottle that fell out.  
another wonderful moment in endurance that day was when I came upon Jim Holland 
also doing the 50,helping a 25 mile sponsor with her two juniors get to the 
finish line before time ran out for them.  the lady had started with 4 juniors, 
two of which had problems on the trail that had slowed them down.  Jim came 
upon them and helped them pick up the pace to complete their ride.  The first 
loop proved to be like a Fox hunting trail.  The storm the night before had 
made it seem like 1/2 of the forest fell down.  We all had to go over several 
big trees and blaze a new path around the trail in the woods.  Sandy Thompsons 
husband came to our resuce and cut the whole trail clean before we did our next 
loop.  My ride was almost unevenful except wounds to my knees where some trees 
just jumped into them and my mares gut getting slow after the second loop.  I 
finished with the Florida ladies somewhere around 20th with a moderate ride 
time and all A's for my mare.  My mare had thrown a shoe near the end and I was 
glad it did not cause any problems at the last trot out.  It was a really nice 
ride and the weather was overcast and not to hot.  Raylin and her helpers put 
on a great ride!  My friend was quite amazed when we returned home with 
pleasant stories of the ride.  Maybe she will go again next year!  My thanks go 
out to Brenda, Inte, Jim, Raylin, Sandy, Buddy, Adele and everyone on else who 
helped make this weekend really nice!
Alicia Mansuetti and Patrolons Star




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