Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Ride day (or more specifically the day of ride night). 

The ride organizers of the Edaran Endurance Classic were trying something a 
little different this year. In the past, the longer rides started in the late 
afternoon - around 4 or 5pm - and then ran through the night, when the 
temperatures were at their coolest. This year, both the 80km and 120km rides 
would start at night. The 120km would start at 10pm, and the 80km at midnight. 
It's a little daunting to start a ride in the dark, with fresh horses, narrow 
trails, deep woods. But I felt comfortable with my mare, Famous, and had ridden 
the course before in the daylight (2005) so was actually looking forward to the 
experience. I had a new bright headlamp (on my new helmet which I had to buy 
because I left mine back in Idaho) and felt fairly prepared.

(contrary to the 'part 1' story that I just posted, we didn't go back to the 
hotel after the forum - this was the night of the ride. the challenges of 
travel, time change, day becoming night, - I didn't quite get the sequence of 
events right!~)

So - after the forum, we had dinner, a chance to rest a little (I snoozed in 
the front of Azri's car for an hour), get dressed and get ready for the ride. 
The 120km Flag Off was at 10pm, we were able to watch the starters, not quite 
enough light for my little camera, but it was fun to watch them trot down the 
flag lined starting zone, and disappear into the dark. At 11:30 pm we started 
preparing our horses - the stable grooms brought them down, we saddled, hooked 
up the lights, and got ready to go. 

The horses were quiet (a little sleepy maybe) and the two mares seemed content 
to be with each other (travellers from Sabah). There were about 25 starters on 
the 80km, a nice small group - not too much confusion. The start was 
reasonable, no reason to rush off with a long night ahead - the Malaysians have 
learned to pace - they really do understand the importance of a steady ride. 

It was sprinkling a little as we left - I was thinking 'how nice' , this will 
keep us cool. Then it started raining harder, then as we entered the palm 
forest, the lightning flashed, and it really started raining. I don't think 
I've ever experienced rain like this before, we were drenched immediately, warm 
rain - coming down in sheets. The sound of the rain was incredible. With 
limited visibility, the noise seemed even louder. I was grinning though, this 
was definitely a new experience! The horses didn't seem to mind, and it must 
have felt good to them to stay cool.

The trail wound through the forest roads, up and down and around, and it kept 
raining... for the first two hours it rained, rained hard, rained and rained! I 
remember wondering the day before if it ever flooded here - when the rain comes 
down so hard and so fast, where does all the water go? We were about 1 hour 
into the ride, dropping down on the other side of the palm plantation to cross 
the creek and head into the country side. Several of us were riding together, 
headlamps bouncing light off the trees, off the rain, casting a glow on the 
trail. With the heavy rain visibilty was poor - but the horses kept trotting, 
kept pulling.  

As we dropped into the creek crossing we could no longer see the road or the 
trail - it was a lake by now, warm water, fast moving - the sound was 
incredible. We could still see the trail signs to follow - but the horses were 
almost chest deep in water - splashing, at a walk. I remember seeing the horses 
in front of me stay to the right of the trail sign, and leading my mare to the 
left of the trail sign thinking - this looks like it might be higher ground - 
and then my mare disappeared out from under me. We must have stepped off the 
road into the creek - the water was up to my waist (still over the saddle) and 
Famous was thrashing, lunging forward, trying to find some footing. Somehow I 
managed to stay with her, grabbing some mane when she re-appeared, grabbing the 
pommel, searching for the saddle with my knees, no time to think, just try to 
stay with her, the headlamp lighting her mane and ears. She lunged back up to 
higher ground and somehow I stayed with her. When she finally go to solid 
ground I managed to settle back into the
sadde - eventually found the stirrups (one had twisted around, took some work 
to get it aligned again) - and away we go. Wow - these are the moments that 
keep us alive - adrenalin, time slows down - only the moment demanding all of 
our senses.  I suppose these are the moments that keep the 'extreme sports' 
junkies coming back for more. 

Well, I don't think I was any wetter than before- I had already become drenched 
- so a deep breath and on we go. 

Two more hours on the trail, still raining. We rode through small farms, 
smelling and hearing the animals - goats, water buffalos - dogs barking - but 
seeing very little except parts of the trail, and the rider in front 
illuminated by the headlamp. The sounds were vivid - we passed along a lake 
next to a quarry - deep voiced frogs - sounding like tubas - coming out of the 
dark. Onto pavement and a village street. There were several checkpoints - 
lights and humans taking numbers and giving great comfort! The trail was marked 
extremely well - colored arrows everywhere, and gas lamps attached to the trees 
- beautiful beacons of light - and the trail organizers had actually gone out 
and put little lids over the lamps, to keep the rain from dousing the lights. 

Some things are beyond the control of the ride organizer - and the weather - 
can make all the difference in the world. Under the direction of Encik Mohamed 
Din bin Mat and Insp. Mat Fuad bin Yusof, course designer and coordinator, the 
trail had been groomed, raked, level, prepared to perfection - the directional 
signs, the gas lamps, everything was perfect... and then it rained beyond 
anybody's imagination. The trail turned to river and mud, an already 
challenging course became terribly difficult - the hills turned to slippery 
mud, and the visibility was greatly reduced. I felt so bad for them - as a ride 
organizer I know how discouraging it can be when all of the work and care and 
preparation gets spoiled by circumstances out of our control!

I can only say that the ride organizers did a magnificent job - first class in 
every way. 

At one of the last checkpoints we stopped to let the horses drink, and take a 
breath. The rain was just a light drizzle now, after 2 1/2 hours of very tense 
riding, we needed a little break. Famous's interference boots were slipped and 
slopped down around her feet, soggy and muddy - but I sort of put them back 
where they belonged. The horses drank a little, and seemed to appreciate the 
break. They felt hot to the touch - the night air was fairly cool, but there 
was no air to offer evaporative cooling. just wet. We sloshed back into the 
saddles and headed to camp  - another 5 kilometers to go. 

Both Leo and I were thinking that we'd stop after this loop (35 kilometers). 
The horses were not that fit, and had worked hard on the trail - Famous felt a 
little off when we trotted on the pavement, she had probably had enough. We got 
back to the vet check - wet and soggy vets and officials - and vetted through. 
Both mares passed, but we decided to stop anyway. More tough trail, these 
horses had given us a great ride,  -  they'd done enough.  

It was a short, but unforgettable ride!

It was 3:30am by now, Leo and Carol went back to the hotel, but  I decided to 
stick around - take some pictures, watch the race progress, visit with some of 
the vets and officials. It was fun - I was wishing I was still on the trail 
(we're endurance rides, we hate to quit:) - but still enjoying the entire 
experience. I watched the 40km race start at 7am - quite the assortment of 
horses - thoroughbreds, polo horses, ponies - children, parents, beginners - a 
variety of riding styles and skills, a variety of saddles and tack - fun to see 
people trying the sport for the first time, wondering if they would have fun. 

I watched the finish of the 80km ride - 3 riders racing down the stretch - 
racing for first - whooping and hollering. The first finisher was eliminated at 
the trot-out - a slight bob of the head. The trotting lane was pavement, 
nothing went by undetected on this surface. One very sad rider, followed by a 
jubilant winner. Our sport. 



Finally I couldn't keep my eyes open, and fell asleep on the couch by the 
treatment barn. Only 2 horses required treatment - a tie-up early in the 120km 
ride, and one horse was simply tired and dehydrated - nothing serious, mostly 
precautionary treatment. The Malaysians ride with caution - their early 
attempts at the sport quickly taught them that you can not race the horses the 
way they do in temperate climates. Pacing, strategy, steady progress- careful 
monitoring of the horse. 

Ardi woke me up and offered to take me back to the hotel. As we were driving 
out we followed one of the 40km riders (the young woman I had seen at the tack 
store at the KL Equestrian Center) - a tiny muslim woman on a great big gray 
thoroughbred - both looking good. We also caught up with Shamsudin Ronin on the 
amazing mare Malin. He was on his last loop, Malin was trotting along spritely, 
she moves like a feather, barely seeming to touch the ground. They were the 
only riders left in the 120km event. Dr. Nik and Jogo had been eliminated at 
the last loop - Jogo was sound, but tired - and he opted not to go back out. 
There was another chance to qualify for the Asian Games next month - next time.

A hot shower at the hotel (felt a lot like being out on the trail!) and to bed, 
tired, time for an hour of sleep and then get dressed and back out to Ar-Raudah 
for the closing ceremony! (endurance..) 

- more later - closing ceremony, wrap-up,  - thoughts

Steph



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