ridecamp@endurance.net: Multi day rides

Multi day rides

Barbara Madill (madill@teleplex.net)
Wed, 19 Mar 1997 16:01:39 -0500 (EST)

I offer the opinion that you will never really know if you are ready for
multi day until you do one, if only because after the first day you are sure
you won't be able to face a horse the next morning.

Because you're committed (to the ride -- not an asylum), you manage to get
on the next morning, having messaged and warmed up your horse because he's
been stuck in a stall all night. Somehow about fifteen miles out,
everything loosens up -- it's only five miles 'till lunch. Then your horses
numbers are great, he's chowing down even palmettos, drained half a bucket
of water and jogged sound for the judges. By the time you celebrate with a
bit of a canter, he's cheered up, your back is a bit looser and, my
goodness, you "only" have fifteen miles to go and more than three hours left
to do it! Your horse knows quite well he's headed "home" -- even if it's
his first 100 -- he picks up vibes from the other horses, I think -- and,
suddenly you're a bit worried whether you'll get in TOO EARLY!!!

Your horse vets through sound and eager to get back to his stall to eat.
He looks like a "no headed" horse as he chows and chows and chows. By the
time you've done tack and eaten a meal yourself, you're thinking "ONLY 20
miles to go!"

If you stick only to one day formats, you'll never believe me. I've been
riding three day 100's since 1965 and never cease to be amazed at how sure I
am that I'm crazy as I do the first ten miles and at how sorrry I am that
I'm nearly finished during the last ten miles.

My husband's test of whether he was fit enough is whether he has to pick up
his leg as he crosses the other to sit in his customary position to sip his
breakfast tea. If he can cross without assistance, he was fit enough!!

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