Re: [RC] Fort Valley ride is improved! - steelsidedown
I have to second that! The OD crew really, really,
improved the Fort Valley ride (food, trail, volunteers, organization, and
ATTITUDE!), and kudos to Claire Goodwin for pulling it all together!
I arrived around 4pm Saturday. The welcome
commitee met me at the front gate (that'd be MUD for those unfamiliar with
NE rides this year), tee hee got to try out the 4WD! Worked great, got
compliments from the neighbors on my reverse and slide into the parking spot
routine. (thanks guys!)
We rode the 30 (on Sunday) on two basically unfit
horses. One, a 4YO, with one 25 in the sand to his credit, had never
seen a rock. The other a 9YO, broke in July, attended one weekend
organized trail ride, again never seen a rock. Both had been ridden 15-20
miles a week at home (flat dirt trails), not the fitness level I feel is
appropriate for OD trails. The plan was to go slow and easy and do as much as we
could, no real expectation of finishing, this is just a training
exercise.
We rode according to plan, walking the rocks, trotting the
dirt/roads, maybe a dozen cantering strides, spent extra time in the water,
and in the grass on the sides of the road. We came into the vet check at
halfway, feeling that the horses were doing great, but ready to stop if anything
was amiss. Both boys pulsed in the 50s, CRI the same, mostly A's, sound,
and without a scratch. They ate and drank well (vet check had great
grass). We went out on Loop 2, twice as much water as Loop 1, and half the
climb (good plan OD crew!). Beautiful views! We stopped for about 20
mins to help another rider with an easyboot problem, also stopped at the vet
check for water/food (we were to pass the vetcheck and go to the finish a
mile away).
We still FINISHED in SIX HOURS! (an hour to
spare) And with horses in great shape - pulsed down as soon as they
walked up, sound, mostly A's, and still "scratchless"!
The trail master did an awesome job setting the trail up
for novice horse/riders. The further into the mileage you got, the easier
the trail became (more water, more grass, less climb, less rock). At
no time were we rushed, even keeping a slow/moderate pace necessary to
traverse the rock and climbs safely.
Subject: [RC] Fort Valley two day ride
the trail is improved, some rocks removed.
Hi , the Fort Valley ride was great!!! The Sat.
50 started at 6:30, it was dark and wet, we had a lot of rain
Thursday night and Friday, Pete and I started out alone , late, due to
tack adjustments (mine) . The start down a paved road away from camp,
then there is a right turn on another road to the check in, we had not
done this ride before and did not know about the right turn to check in,
so we trotted past the turn for a bit , there was not any one at the turn to
direct, then Pete had us turn around, we went back saw a truck driving out of
the turn, and off we went, we were 20 min. behind the
start. As the day progressed we could see who we were
passing , and we got into the climbs, it is a very technical ride, tons
and tons of rocks , some trail with boulders, up , down , flat , rocks, it
only rained a little, the horses were comfortable, the trail has been changed
and groomed on a long top piece so you can gallop , We ta iled up a
really steep hill I think it is a mile and a half, we led them down all the
steep rocky stuff, saw shoes sitting in the rocks like bones in a
desert, the trail is marked very well, thanks Bob (wrong way Walsh) , we
over took Pittsburgh Don , the only heavy weight ahead of us ( Pete is
one) so we head out of the last vet in 2 min. ahead of Pits burg, high
tail it to the finish ( 1 1/2 miles ) and finish 4&5 in the Sat.
50. Pete did not get B.C. because Moe got a butt cramp while
waiting to present , Don did not stand because Petes horse was still
very springy, but..... another squall came down the mountain and had
very cold wind and rain, he must have gotten cold, he was under the
awning in a blanket , oh well , . Don won the Raffle horse
at the awards, :) , we visited with Skee and
Nancy S. and Hubby, and several others . I took a friend out
Sunday for the 30 , no rain no clouds, the sun came ou t, I rode
Max Q again , Amy rode Chief, we had a beautiful day, it was Amys first
LD. we came in 3&4. Max did the 80 miles in good shape.
the trail is different now so those who have done it before will be
pleased to know it is a better faster go now , than before. happy
trails Judie and Pete
