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[RC] Allegany Shut Up and Ride (NE) Mea Culpa - Patti Stedman
Hey folks.
I screwed up.
I manage the "Shut Up and Ride" and I did my entire awards ceremony last night following a muggy, then stormy ride and didn't adequately gush about the staff and volunteers that made the ride possible. After several cocktails and some sleep, I woke up at 5 a.m. and thought "Oh #(*&@!" and slept not another wink.
So.
For the Shraders, who finished up their vacation out west with a trip east to our ride so Buck could time, announce and keep general order, and Donna could spend a 90 degree Friday welcoming rigs and parking them (and working on her tan), then spend the entire ride day as pulse-taker and Official Second Opinion To The Ride Manager. Thank you.
To the pulse taker who took the ride day yesterday to take heart rates when she's co-managing a dressage show today, and did not club a competitor over the head for questioning whether or not she knew how to take a pulse because his horse was still not down. Thank you.
To the HAM Radio Operators who knew where every rider was for the entire duration of the ride and let us know when water troughs were getting low on a muggy, sticky day. Thank you.
To my brother, Tom, and Gary Lynn, who schlepped over 1800 gallons of water to the away hold and water stops so that no horse had to go without. Thank you.
To Ainsley, who talked her husband into putting up a second tent where we could stash food and supplies--boy, we needed it with the torrential rain. Thank you.
To my sister-in-law, Jackie, who ran Registration, made the pizza/ice/gas run, and made sandwiches for everyone, and learned to be a Pulse Recorder on Saturday, and cleaned up just about everything so I didn't have to. Thank you.
To our neighbors, who not only took care of our four horses in our absence but helped us mark and clear trail, and sat with us tying surveyor ribbon to clothespins one long evening. Thank you.
To my sister-in-law Kathy, and brother-in-law Fred, who grilled in the pouring rain and made sure every rider, from winner to turtle, got dinner. Thank you.
To all the wonderful friends who donated awards -- Mary Coleman at Country Aire Farm, Amy Cieri at The Dala Horse, Teddy at Running Bear, Angie McGhee for giving us a bulk discount on her book, my wonderfully artistic friend Carla Pleszewski who painted the fabric on the director's chair for BC. Thank you.
For my farrier, who shows up every year without fail, refuses to charge me, and tells some of THE BEST post-ride dirty jokes (some of which Donna Shrader actually gets without explanation) around the campfire. Thank you.
To my Dad and my Uncle Pat, aka "the old farts", who spent the entire day doing in-timing, and this year remembered that yeah, you do have to get the Top Ten horses IN ORDER and not give four horses (9th thru 12th) the same time. Thank you.
To Ellen, who stayed back in camp with a promise to fight off bears should they try to eat the leftover muffins while the rest of us went to the away check. Thank you.
To Pete Navoy and Scott Walker, who acted as Impromptu In Timers at the stop-and-go check when we miscalculated how long it would take the front runners to get there. And Barb and Rachel and Jeanette who all stepped in to work between or instead of crewing. Thank you.
To Carla (and Ainsley and Kathy, I'm betting) who cleaned up after some of the riders who didn't clean up after themselves. Thank you.
To Stan and Nick and Lynne, who are some of the best vets in our sport, but with the sickest senses of humor -- such that I spent much of the day shaking my head and laughing. You're at the right ride--we welcome the slightly twisted. Thank you.
For everyone who picked up some trash, sponged someone else's horse, made a margarita post-ride, answered a newbie rider's question, said "thank you" or worked hard to not let your horse scratch on my father at the in-timer station. Thank you.
To my husband, the most amazing trail clearer and marker on the planet, and all-around good guy. Thank you.
You all make it look so easy.
So in the event anyone thinks it's just about the horse, the rider, the trail and a couple of vet checks here and there -- it is about a whole lot more.
The weather was sticky then muggy then rainy but the footing was grand since this was our first ride without a pre-ride hurricane, and the horses and riders finished in fine shape -- just a couple of minor lameness pulls. The riders should be credited for taking VERY good care of their horses as it was a potentially dangerous day out there.
Many thanks to them as well! :-)
--Patti Stedman, Ride Manager
Allegany Shut Up and Ride
Patti Ann Stedman, CHMM
Proactive Compliance Services Inc.
"A Common Sense Approach to Health, Safety and Environmental Training and Compliance"
716 560 8297
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