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[RC] Our first 100, part 2/LONG - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Skyla slstewart@xxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Part two: I had packed on my saddle: baling twine, vet wrap, easyboots, hoof pick, bandana, flashlight with extra batteries, bug rep that was compatible for human and horse, sunscreen, chap stick, tush wipes, snacks, water, sponge, spare rein clip, PowerAde powder, vet card, rump rug, tied a Gore-Tex rain coat on me, gloves, sun glasses and probably a thing or two I have now forgotten. For women I would suggest you NEVER forget a bit of bag balm or something similar, it is amazing the pain you can experience after a ?break? on the trail, after 50 miles of friction. I LOVED my riding partner very much after that bag balm kicked in! We rode a very conservative ride, a friend was doing her and her horse?s first 100 and so we decided to ride together. The two horses are pretty different in their paces, but we were able to work around that, and each horse did his part to not let the other one down. We have ridden together enough to know that the two boys are willing and able to work around each other?s strengths and weakness?. Same with the riders, we just used our individual strength?s and let that even out each other when we needed it to. Knowing that we were the only two riders out there that were first timers, with first time horses, it only made sense to pair up, after all 100 miles is a LONG ways to go. The aches, pains, tiredness, grumpies, hunger, thirst, frustrations, heat, cold, concerns, they all showed up during the course of the day, but not one of us (horses included) let them stay around long enough to start a party. I had already hardwired myself into KNOWING this was part of the experience and that I would NOT let it ?become? the experience. ?This too shall pass?, my motto for the ride, and it DID work!!! Only one tiny ?experience? that did show up, and stayed long enough to become a party was the vertigo I got about 3-4 miles from the finish. I have never experienced such a thing, and frankly really hope not to ever again. I had to decide how to handle it, I could get upset and let it get me down, after all we had some really GREAT trotting we ?could? have been doing, or I could just take it for what it was and deal with it. I took it, giggled, screamed, and did my best to feel the ?whole? effect of it (did I mention dementia), and we just kept going forward. I could only walk, and Tempo had complete control of where we were going, it was a tiny single track trail winding through the sagebrush, and the WHOLE thing just looked like a big black pit to me. He was my rock and source of strength, he walked right out with head up and a great attitude, although it was very apparent he wasn?t real happy that Mom was no longer able to trot, and here it was SUCH the perfect trail. :oP My riding partner PJ Blonshine and her wonderful horse Saudi, they babysat us the first 3 miles so Tempo could get past the ?tie-up? distance, and then they had to baby-sit a rather strange and out of it woman the last 3-4 miles at a walk to finish. I was very grateful for there kindness. We all finished sound, healthy (expect for the dementia/vertigo) and happy. This was the way to do a 100 miles! They say it is ?mental? (no pun intended), and so I prepared for that, and I WON! We stuck together, and with the attitudes kept UP, the horses were always happy on the trail, and we were too. It is amazing what you can do, just don?t fool yourself that things will be perfect, they WON?T. Realizing things would be miserable, and preparing before the ride on how I would deal with that agony was the key that made this a fantastic experience. I am an overweight (60lbs), 43 year old housewife, I don?t ?work out? but did start walking with my horse on rides as I know this is the only way I would get any exercise. I did the homework for my horse, I did the mental homework for me. I didn?t do anything away from our normal routine, other then getting off and walking. You know, a 100 mile ride really isn?t a ?monster? if your horse is strong, healthy, sound and has a good attitude, but most of all, YOU must be ready to deal with the down?s that WILL come during the ride. How you handle that will most likely determine how you and your horse feel about the experience. Will I do one again? I have no clue, but at least I KNOW we can! I have many; many people to thank, from the management, vets, ride help to crew, without them, this story would not have been told. Thank each and every one of you!! Too many names, but you all know who you are, and what you did! Just don't forget the bagbalm! Skyla and Tempo (big, strong and beautiful horse, inside and out??ahh shucks Mom, you're embarrassing me?) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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