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[RC] My Grand Canyon experience - Marlene MossI made doing the Grand Canyon a goal early in the summer and planned everything toward that. My husband and I haven?t done that many 50?s, and when we have the opportunity to do a multiday, we?ve done LD to make sure we could ride all days, so we knew we?d have to work to get both us and the horses ready. We worked up to a couple multidays and a couple 50?s and were confident we?d be able to at least do one or two days of Grand Canyon, but really wanted to do 3. We also knew we?d have to be prepared for a single vet check, away from camp, which hadn?t been in our experiences either. I also didn?t know how to pack for 8 days and 3 horses (we picked up a horse at the ride to bring home). So lots of things to be unsure of, but also knew that we?d learn a lot from the Duck and all the other wonderful people at the ride. And prepared to make any decision for the best welfare of the horses. Previously primarily CTR riders, we have been trying to increase our speed a bit. I have been much happier seeing my horses alert and eager after a 7mph ride than being on the trail all day at 4mph and just bored or tired from going too slow for their capabilities. But I expected that we would want to go very slowly at the Grand Canyon and wasn?t sure how best to manage that. My horse just doesn?t have a walk (3mph and she doesn't want to do it), and if I forced it she wouldn?t be carrying herself as well as she should and would end up sore. Basically we decided to just listen to our horses. They?d been training at the same elevation and temps and just had a blast. We just kept at a steady trot (except for photo ops!) and found the entire format of the ride just really worked perfectly for both us and our horses. We slowed some for the last day and led a fair amount just to save them from concussion on some rockier roads. But even at the end of the last day, they were pulling and still taking care of themselves in the last 8 miles on a totally awesome boogie through the bottom of a little canyon. I think the low temperature was the biggest factor in our favor, but I am now really thrilled with single loop rides, single vet checks that are out of camp ? as well as the very laid back atmosphere of a Dave Nicholson ride. We didn?t bring enough grain, a little too much hay, not quite enough water, but otherwise I don?t think we made a single mistake with managing our horses. I think we might have been able to do 5 days, but it just made better sense to stick to our plan. They got stronger each day, didn?t lose a pound and had a grand time. Especially my horse. I have had her for sale (I have too many horses and have listed more than I want to sell just to make sure I sell some before I have no more money for hay), but she is most definitely off the sale list now. I call her the Energizer Bunny. She is very short strided, but is very nimble and can handle the worst of terrain leaving many horses in the dust. Ears forward, she?d surge forward every time she saw a ribbon or a fun twist in the trail ? it got harder and harder to hold her back each day. We have continued to bond and there?s just no way I could part with her. Especially after 150 miles of this amazing ride. My husband had been a little nervous about 50?s after a scary experience with one horse, but now he is quite confident in his own, and his horse?s abilities. I?m now trying to plan next season to include our first 100. There really aren?t enough words to describe this experience. As I rode each day I was composing a note to Ridecamp as I went and if I wrote all that, this would be about 15 pages long. I learned a lot about me and my horse (and extended camping) and am just so glad that we found a way to make this trip. Thanks to all involved who made this ride work, and those who shared grain and knowledge with us! We?ll be back for more! Marlene Marlene Moss www.KineticEquineAnalysis.com?(saddle fit for?the horse in motion) www.mossrockranch.com (sale horses and more) 719-351-5037 (cell) 719-748-9073 (home) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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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