Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

The publisher of Horse Talk magazine has asked me to start submitting 
short stories on my LD adventures. Here's my first one, any 
suggestions/corrections would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Kari Hanes
Montalee Arabians


The weekend of May 6 and 7 was a cold start to my endurance season in 
Michigan. White River Spring, managed by Wayne Gastfield, hosted many 
riders. The competition was both in endurance and competitive trail on 
each day, including distances of 25, 30, 35 and 50 miles.

Riders and their horses started arriving on Wednesday and Thursday to 
set up camp. By Friday there were horses everywhere, it is such an 
awesome sight to see! There were Arabians, Paints, Thoroughbreds, 
Mustangs, Appaloosas, Mules, Ponies, Walkers, Saddlebreds and everything 
in between! Riders from seven to seventy years old and from several 
states were in attendance.

The morning of May 6 was going to be a cold one. With a forecast 
temperature in the low thirties everyone broke out their winter horse 
blankets before nightfall to keep muscles from being too cold for the 
early morning start. The ride meeting Friday night had many people in 
attendance, one of the largest crowds Ive seen at this ride. Wayne 
started the meeting with ride specifics including start and ride times 
for each division. Dr. Rae Mayer-Birr, head DVM then spoke and gave us 
the pulse/recovery criteria and suggestions for controlling our frisky 
mounts in the cold temperatures. Hold times for each division were gone 
over and the riders new to the area were given the chance to go over the 
ride maps and ask questions.

Morning came with the temperature as promised - cold! Mari Roses mule, 
Nellie, was heard through the camp in the early morning hours giving her 
wake-up bray loud enough for all to hear. Those who had rump rugs used 
them and everyone readied their mounts. The 50 milers started at 7:00 
a.m., 30 milers at 7:30 a.m. and competitive starts were staggered after 
8:00 a.m.

Wayne had been out at 4:00 a.m. to check the trails and everything was a 
go. I was ready to start with the 30 milers excited for my first ride of 
the season. The trails were in great shape, we hadnt had any rain in 
several days so there wasnt any mud to deal with. The only natural 
water available is from two creeks where the horses can drink and riders 
with trail sponges can cool their mounts.

The first fifteen mile loop went well, I headed out with Wayne as my 
mare (Leah) and his gelding (Luke) ride well together. We trading taking 
the lead off and on and the horses set an even pace. We came in to the 
vet check in first and second place, pulsed down within a few minutes of 
each other and settled in for our forty minute hold. On the second loop 
I headed out a few minutes ahead of Wayne and stayed at an even trot 
until he caught up with us a mile or so down the trail. We paired up 
from there making time where we could, walking where needed in the deep 
sand, large hills and stopping now and then for a short graze in some 
meadows. My husband had the ultimate pit crew help - two teenage girls! 
My daughter brought her friend to help and they all did a wonderful job. 
They met Wayne and I on the cross roads and always had water, 
electrolytes and slosh jugs on hand. Part way through the second loop 
they came across a rider on foot running towards camp - she and her 
horse had parted ways and the horse had headed back to camp without her. 
They gave her a ride to camp and came out to our next crew stop just in 
time. We finished up around 11:00 a.m. with first and second place in 
our division.

It was a great ride, cold weather and all. Everyone ended their day with 
healthy horses and looked forward to the potluck and awards ceremony. We 
decided not to stay for the Sunday ride and got camp ready to head home 
after dinner. The girls were happy to be going home where it was warm. 
Dinner was great, so much good food, so little time. As we all sat down 
to eat Don showed up riding the horse that was lost earlier in the day. 
He found it down the road grazing in a field, all the tack still on and 
in good health. He earned a big round of applause and the owner was so 
happy she cried! Now that Ive got that first ride under my belt Im 
setting my sites for the next one - Grand Isle, Memorial Day Weekend 
near Rapid River in the U.P.

Happy Trails!


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