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[RC] Talladega--- Wet, but wonderful !!! - Jody Rogers-Buttram

Hello All,
 
  Yep, back from the Talladega three day.   It was suppose to be wonderful weather, a cold front coming through on Weds. to give us highs in the low 70's and low's in the 50's.  Well, part of that is true.  It wasn't hot.  But instead of a cold front, we received a tropical storm.  So, the weather was great on Tuesday when I arrived, and Weds. as well.  All thru the rider's meeting was nice and a wind had started to come in.   Later that night, the winds kept blowing and then as if by plan, just before time to tack up on the first day....it started to rain.  So, tacking up in the rain is always fun, but I decided to put up one of my new Ez-Ups to tack under.  Tied Joni's new little Cash pony to the back of the truck under the Ez-Up.  About the time I went to get his saddle, the whole thing fell on him.  Seems the legs didn't all lock in properly.  What a way to start a ride, have a canopy fall on the younger, green horse.  I have to give him credit, he stood very calmly until we popped it back up again.
   To make a long weekend short and not to bore everyone, it rained off and on for the first two days of the ride, and both of those nights.   Those two new Ez-Ups did come in handy for giving the horses a dry place to rest and sleep at night.  Good ole Dr. Otis has said that in order for the multi-day horses to do well, they need to rest.   So, I followed the Doctor's orders and gave Aries a whole bale of my good hay (half one night, half the next) under her canopy and made her a nest fit for a queen.  I think she liked it.  I did see her lay down and take some well deserved naps in it those nights.  So, thanks to Otis, see, we do listen to you.  :))
   I would like to say Thanks to all the vets, Otis, Ken and Dee Dee who were as always wonder and helpful.  They really do care about the horses and do all that they can to work with you and help you have a great, but safe ride.   Thanks to Tamra and Joe and Sarah....Trails were wonderfully marked, even if very wet and slippery.  Not much they can do about that.  I believe if Joe could get out there with a hair dryer....he would.   The management was all but over the top helpful.   If not for Tamra and Joe loaning me two fleece girths, I may not have finished.  I just am sorry I returned them dirty.  I didn't even asked them for one, and here came Tamra toward me carrying two !!!!  Thanks to all the great workers in the vet area and the best timers in the US....if you ask me.  Nancy, Jackie and Sam....you just don't get any better than that.  And if that is not enough....top it off with wonderful awards, a fantastic meal and the greatest after ride party on the planet !!!!  I think we all got up and danced at some point...some much more than others.  :))  
  I had said after last year's ride, that those trails couldn't be any tougher....wrong, just add water.  But even with all of that, nobody should miss this ride.   I know that everyone can't get off work or whatever to go to such long rides, but maybe you can come for the last part.  It would be worth it.  At 3.49/gallon on diesel, these are the kinds of rides one likes to go to, more bang for the bucks...and Joe and Tamra really do it up right.
 
Thanks again for a great ride....I plan to be there next year.
 
Jody, Joni and the Talladega ponies....Cash Pony and Petit Jets Aries.
 
 
PS.  I learned something new about myself this weekend from Joe.   If I am not happy, apparently, no one else around me is either  !!!!!
 
 
 
 


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