Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

WONDERFUL time at Million Pines *as usual*. Made much better by the fact that 
my new horse Gunner came through with flying colors and is now an ENDURANCE 
horse! :-D 

First quick statement of fact. Million Pines is my FAVORITE place to go. 
Period. I love going to that town where the whole population mobilizes to make 
our weekend great. The Crowes are the BEST!!!  

Quick version for people easily bored. It was a scorcher Friday. Looking like 
it would be a hot, tough day. It's been unusually dry. Chance of 
thundershowers. The SE had had *violent* thundershowers Thursday and we'd all 
gotten word that Cindy Young (the one who owns Konician) had her 6 year old 
"Jester" killed by lightning Thursday. Still thinking of Cindy when I left 
Chattanooga with pitchfork type bolts coming down. It cleared as I headed south 
and no rain on Friday...but hot & muggy.

The day turned out pretty good. Started out overcast and the temp was good. 
While I was in the first vet check a pretty good thundershower came up and 
since it hit while I was in my truck I just opted to sit in the truck and film 
my horse standing in the rain and catch big claps of thunder for my students to 
watch today and proclaim that we are all insane.  It was over in about 30 
minutes and actually helped cool things off a bit. The sun came out for awhile 
and I got worried but more clouds moved in, with a breeze and it turned out to 
be a very good day to ride. The last horses in caught one more heavy shower 
around 4:30 but nobody melted. The last horse in was a junior who elevated from 
the 30, went through 3 sponsors and finished in the rain. Wish I knew her name 
and I'd brag on her. 15 years old or so, tough kid. :-)

The winners had a 3 way tie, (which Wesley Crowe hates). It was Steve Rojek, 
Ruth Ann Everette, and a lady I didn't know. Steve got BC.  Don't know about 
the 30. There were something like 86 entries and 59 finishers in the 50. For an 
apparently mild ride the pull rate is always amazingly high. If you slowed down 
though, you'd see that on those smooth stretches of sand between the pine trees 
there are low roots that do NOT give when they hit them. Vet told me there were 
lots of fetlock strains.

Longer version for shut ins and people who couldn't care less about drug 
testing:

Decided to enter my new horse, Gunner in the 50 anyway. Figured that if he 
needed to quit after 30 I could always quit. The 30's who elevated would be 
starting an hour later and that would put you behind another 100 horses in the 
sand. There were 86 in the 50 and something like 90 in the 30. I cannot get 
over how lucky I have gotten with this horse. He adapted to the picket line in 
about 3 minutes. I walked him up to the SERA scales and he hopped on like it 
was a game (later remembered his previous owner said she showed him some in 
local trail classes...this probably looked like their fake bridges). He ate 
non-stop. He went out on the trail quietly. He started the ride excited but 
very controllable. Probably went a little too fast the first 15 miles but I'd 
rather do that than fight. At least he was calm and relaxed as he motored 
along. He pulsed down very quickly. He continued to eat, drink, not shy (except 
the 6' ant hill "What was THAT?") He walked over the freeway overpass 4 times. 
He had no problem with other horses. I just could not fault the boy. I am one 
HAPPY camper. :-))))))) j

I LOVE MY HORSE!

Angie McGhee & Gunner McGhee (50 career miles, one for one)


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