ridecamp@endurance.net: Twin Oaks Charity Challenge (LONG)

Twin Oaks Charity Challenge (LONG)

Becky Hackworth (bechack@flash.net)
Tue, 26 Aug 1997 22:03:34 -0700

Thursday 8/21: Spent the entire day getting all the stuff ready to go. The
biggest thing I have to do is get the camper on to the truck. My old camper
had the two side crank-style jacks. This new one has the 4 corner jacks. I
think I have them figured out finally. Do them with a friend or at least an
older daughter. Got the camper on this time on the first try. No sweat.
Go food shopping for the family staying home. Food shopping for all of the
critters. Launder and pack all of the clothes. Pack all of the horse gear.
Boy I wish the trailer had a tack room. Got settled in and into bed by 11.

Friday 8/22 Loaded all of the last minute things, put the trailer on. With
the camper on I am blind back there, and the girls can't project where the
hitch is going very well at all. That took more attempts than the camper.

Water in the horse tank. Two bales of hay, buckets, bran, grain, hay bags.
Boy, you would think we were moving or something! Horses in, kids in, and
off we go. Nice and uneventful trip to Twin Oaks. Got to camp, horses off
and setteled. Checked in without any problems. Went to vet in, and both of
the girls horses are barefoot behind (don't ask...very long story) and get
an OK for them to start the ride that way. Everything else is all A's.

Decide to go on a stretch their legs little ride. Everything is just fine
until we discover that Heather has forgotten her cinch! How many times does
a Mother have to ask if they have everything?! Well, ride manager Cherrie
Briscoe had her emergency tack bag with her and had one that fit just fine.
THANK YOU CHERRIE!

Well, at least we found out before Sat am!

Sat 8/23 4:45 am. Slept..sort of...out to feed and fill the water feed
the kids....tack up...leave instructions with Colleen...

6:00 Off we go down trail...at a walk...boy I sure do like this bunch of
horses. Many compliments on the horses good behavior <VBG> ]

Well, minimal bickering amongst the kids. I think I only lost my temper and
yelled at them a couple of times on the ride.:-(

The trail is just as Jim described. It sure didn't seem to be as long as
last year. 15 degrees cooler than last year might have had a lot to do with
it.

Katie had to pull for sore feet behind on those bare feet. She now knows
why I have been after them to work with their horses feet...

Heather and I went on without incident. We finished slow, but we finished
with sound horses. If I would have remembered the easyboots, (I only have
one pair) I would have put them on Heather's horse as her feet were shorter
than Sticky's, I would have never guessed that Sticky would be the one to go
sore behind.
His feet are not cracked or chipped up at all, and we should be able to get
shoes on with more "homework" from the kids. Annie's feet that were too
short for shoes on Tue, are just fine. I will be using the easyboots until
her feet grow out enough for shoes.

Jam and I did great. Jam has had splints, small bow, pulled shoulder muscle
and a suspensory problem. I have opted to not use any boots in favor of
letting him build up strength and staying cooler. All of that neoprene
can't be cool. Well, he has done 1 30 and 2-50's this year, no problems
during and after. Slow. Fast is more fun and easier on MY body, but that
is not what I am after here. I want my bud for a long time. He is only 8.
He will be fast when I let him in a year or two. more LSD for now.

Heather now has her 500 miles. But for now she has to stay with a sponsor,
she is only 10. We are both looking at Tevis '99. She will be old enough
then.

Sticky and Katie will try a 50 again. Well, if bad luck comes in three's,
She should be done. 1st 50...pull metabolic...2nd 50...fell off cliff...3rd
try sore feet. At least we have the metabolic problem under control, and
we can fix the sore feet easy enough. NEXT TIME

The award were a blast as usual. We have enjoyed Cherrie's Bit's and Buns
awards, and the fun time had by all.

Stayed the second night. Slept much better. Uneventful trip home. Seemed
to take longer. Guess I was more tired than I thought. I have never
stopped to water the horses on the way home, but we seemed to be taking a
long time to get home, so I stopped at one of the usual spots, and they did
have a spigot, and all 3 of the horses had a big bucket full of water. I
sure felt good for taking the time for that. Jam especially seemed to have
a "sucked up" belly. Cap refil and tenting were fine, urine "good amount,
good color" but he was tired.
He seemes fine today.

We all had a great time, we will be back next year. ! Thank you Cherrie
and Carol.

Becky Hackworth (655 miles) Jam 205 miles (3 in a row )
Katie still trying for 1st 50
Heather 500 miles Annie 305 miles

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