Friday morning after leaving work early, I arrived at the stable to find Mirage
with a cut on his leg above the knee that was hot and oozing. (I KNOW I didn't
plan THIS). He wasn't lame so I loaded him up on the off chance that he would
be fine on Sat to start the Pendleton Challenge. If not, what better place to
take an endurance horse in need of attention then to an endurance event with
lots of vets. I was taking along the "project/abused horse" Sky, so he could
get a "flavor" for the sport.
We arrived early and set up camp. When it was our turn, I took Mirage over to
the vet to get an opinion of his leg and maybe vet in. He wasn't lame, but the
vet suggested he stay home for this one. Oh well.
At that point I decided to give Sky a bigger "flavor" for the sport then I had
originally intended by getting a new vet card and getting a vet number to see if
he would pass inspection. No guts no glory I've heard some people say. lol
I talked a child of a friend of mine into waiting in line for us since Sky
wasn't "emotionally" up to the challenge of waiting in line with the rest of the
crowd.
When it was our turn I suggested that the vet might want to check him in the pen
and then watch the trot out. Of course she wouldn't take my suggestion. So out
he came.
Everyone in line started crossing themselves as he flew around the camp. He's
got tramping in place, and kicking out at nothing, down to a fine art. I
believe they call it impatience or total fear in his case. :-).
To her credit, the vet did get his temperature and a good overall check except
to getting a pulse. He just couldn't take that stethescope.
She decided he needed shoes....at least on the front if possible. So back to
the pen we went and had a set of shoes put on the front. As long as he was in
the pen he was really quite reasonable.
A friend braided a substantial amount of ribbon in his tail and he was set for
the morning.
Sky was saddled by the 7 am start, but I let most everyone leave ahead of us.
At that point I wasn't sure we were going to get out the gate. I had ridden him
out on the trail exactly one time. He had been lunged a lot, but that was it.
The vets and some of my friends were on the fence to watch the rodeo. After
several attempts and some shying/leaping we managed to make it out the gate.
To his credit, he got the hang of "though shalt trot" pretty quickly.
Unfortunately not in a straight line.....too many scary rocks and bushes. At
this point my goal changed from making it to the first vet check (mile 19) to
making it one mile at a time through each gate in one piece.
After about 5 miles he started behaving much better and trotting like a machine.
He's much smoother at a trot then Mirage if he resists the temptation to leap
from side to side.
At every number check point the number takers would say "so you're the grey
horse everyone is checking on."
"Do you think you will make the vet check?"
About 9 miles out he spooked and either trampled himself or twisted his ankle.
He started limping badly. I jumped off to check things out. No marks, or rocks
in his feet. I started to lead him a little and he started dragging me down the
road....no limping. I jumped back on and off we went again. We were just in
front of the "drag" jeep with a radio so I felt secure that we could get a
trailer quickly if needed.
We caught up to the trailing horses, some Walkers and a couple of arabs, thank
goodness, because then we had to ride along about a mile of road. Busy road.
(I was thinking that this wasn't in last year's ride).
I tried to keep him close to the other horses so he wouldn't mind the traffic so
much. At this point he was doing the splits every few feet passing between road
signs and the railroad tracks. Scary stuff. My legs were beginning to ache
from hanging on. ( Please, please, please...no cramps now. It just isn't a good
time)
We came around the corner and what do we find but a bridge with very low rails.
By now....I was beginning to examine the wisdom of this endeavor. (It takes me
a while)
I asked my fellow riders to "fan out" to take up the entire bridge and stop
traffic as we crossed it together. Sky being in the middle...naturally. We got
across with no problems. On to the underpasses and the beach.
We headed out at a fast trot along a road overlooking the beach leaving the
trailing pack of horses behind. (at least Sky's not heard bound)
We stopped at the water above the beach to let the others catch up and give
moral support before heading towards those scary waves.
We headed down to the beach with very little fussing. (SURPRISE) As long as he
wasn't asked to walk up to the hard sand and waves he was ok walking along
"eyeing and earing" the water. He trotted out for a nice picture, then headed
down the beach at a walk. Unfortunately in the heavy sand, he started limping
again. I decided that he deserved a ride back to camp.....he had already
received more "flavor" then originally planned. We signalled the jeep and
radioed for the trailer to meet us.
While waiting for the trailer his pulse dropped to 40 even while being next to
the scary beach. (gotta love those heart monitors).
The trailer came in 1/2 an hour and took us back to camp.
Ahhhh....home at last.
Some very relieved friends and vets greeted us as Sky stepped off the trailer.
I didn't realize how many wonderful friends I have met since taking up this
sport. All of them concerned that horse and rider would come back in tact. And
we did.
Sky was full of energy with a grade one lameness. If he's going to spook, he
will have to learn to trample someone else instead of himself. Preferably not
me either...lol
All in all he did wonderful for his first time. Next time he will finish, I'm
sure.
Meanwhile Mirage was wrapped up like a football player with a groin injury. He
was looking through the fence to get people to feel sorry for him. What a ham.
His leg is still sore but getting better thank goodness.
It will be interesting to see who's ready for Caspers Park in Dec.
Thanks to all my friends who worried about me. I don't often do rides like
this....I promise......NOT!!
Alexandra
Palm Springs, CA