I only did the 25 miler because I was starting my young horse Rocky.
Everybody gave me a lot of advice about keeping calm at the ride. I was
worried before hand about getting him thru the vets checks. Well, I really
shouldn't have worried. He did great - his pulse rate at all the vet checks
was 48, even after completion. The ride was awfully big, 33 people started
the 25 miler, and 93 started the 50 miler. I don't know how many started
the hundred. 29 people completed the 25 and 81 finished the 50. We had to
wait in a very long line for the vet check-in, and during that time Rocky
did quite a few circles. I just passed his lead rope around and around, and
by the time we got to the front of the line he just stood nicely. I was
sure glad to get him thru that first vet check! He and my other horse,
Weaver - spent the night together in the electric corral and did very well.
Rocky seemed to copy whatever Weaver did, and they both ate and drank and
finally by early evening on Friday Rocky has relaxed and calmed down. Yay!
The next morning we got ready - I had a junior riding my horse Weaver. Even
though he is only 6 years old he is really calm and well behaved, and Laura
is 11 years old and it was her very first endurance ride. We started the
ride with a 2500 foot climb. Would you believe that we walked thru camp and
crossed the street to the start and began the ride without Rocky even
jumping, bucking, or acting stupid? I could not believe it and was very
happy with him! Weaver was his usual calm self and could not have been
better for Laura and her first ride. Also riding with us were Kimberly and
her horse Mystery. It was their first endurance ride as well.
We all three rode together the entire time and finished in probably three
and a half or four hours riding time. There were a lot of climbs, and rocks
in spots so we took it easy. I had put easy boots with the easy foam on
Weavers front feet and I was glad I did. Rocky wanted to go the entire way,
and was in front most of the time. Amazing since he hasn't ever been on
that trail before. No spooks either - I was so impressed. Even when
another, not so polite rider got behind him and had their horses nose in
Rocky's tail - he didn't kick. It was funny because we started up that hill
at a walk and slow trot, and slowly warmed our horses up. Other people just
blasted up that hill, cantering and running full speed. We passed them at
the top. Then they would pass us up again, blasting on by. Only to be
passed again.
Finally it was time for the final vet thru. I was happy that the horses all
had very good scores and good recoveries. Kimberly's horse Mystery also did
very well. Afterwards we took our horses home and went back that evening
for the BBQ.
Imagine how surprised we were to find out that Laura had won the Horse
Excellence Award for Best Condition on Weaver! She was so excited and I was
so happy for her. She worked really hard and took good care of Weaver and of
coures I was proud of him for taking good care of her too! Looks like we'll
have another endurance rider joining the ranks! :)
I wasn't able to stay and hear the results of the 50 and 100 miler A friend
of mine was thrown from her horse and stepped on (in the 100 miler). Her
husband took her to the hospital and I promised to check on their horse for
them and to let the vets know she pulled. Her horse made it 75 miles and
looked great. There were a couple of other people thrown and last I heard a
horse is still missing. We also saw the vets later treating at least three
horses with IV's and stomach tubes. I felt really bad for those people, it
must be really scary having something wrong with your horse at a ride.
I hope somebody else will be able to post the results of the ride.
Everybody had a great time. Now I need to find out how to get those easy
boots off!
Karen in Gardnerville
& Dream Weaver (sure, he gets best condition when somebody else is riding him!)
& Rocky (he did it and didn't hurt me!!!) :)