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Sorry you had some trouble so far into the ride. I agree, it was a
wonderful day despite our troubles.
We had to pull after the lunch check, due to the jumping cholla. Ember
had brushed some that was trailside (what me trailblaze? Not!), and
after removing all the visible spikes, I remounted, then she leapt
forward into a *bigger* stand of cholla. Got three out of 4 feet, the
forelegs up to the knees. I think my screech of dispair could be heard
across the Anza Borrego desert, visible far away. That was around mile
16. BTW, we only got off trail once, right after passing vet 1, we
didn't see that turnoff set back from the trail. :-)
As you saw us disappear into the distance towards camp, she was sound at
that point. During the lunch stop, we continued to find and remove
cholla; they're almost invisible on a grey horse. After 45 minutes, we
retacked and headed for the vet. She had no impulsion and was
head-bobbing lame at the trot. Lame in a circle to both directions,
left forefoot was the main culprit. The vet palpated her tendons and
suspensory, and ruled out any damage, told me to ice it. She had taken
a few spikes on that foot right at the coronet band, that may have done
it.
Sherry Fabrizio (sp?) came by our campsite with a jug of apple cider
vinegar. Said she'd been taught by another rider that washing the legs
with this enabled the buried spikes to dissolve, for easy removal, and
pop out and be visible. So Ember smelled like salad dressing for a
while, no new spikes, but she was completely sound by evening. Trotted
out nicely today.
So much for her first 50. Yvette, the newbie I'd brought, finished
around 25th, with both of them feeling good. She's hooked now. <g>
You missed a great ride dinner, and fun raffle conducted in the Let's
Make a Deal style by Britt (sp?). It was a real hoot when the 12 year
old kid picked the box rather than the money, and got a beautiful
camisole and tap pant set. Everybody LOVED Pat's pictures, she really
did a great job, and the presentation in the acrylic frames was a
wonderful touch as well. Terry presented John Parke with a ride T shirt
that had been specially modified with a saying on the back, and then
friends of John and his partner Remington (the Icelandic) presented him
with a beautiful embroidered teal blanket commemorating his 1,000 mile
award.
I took a funny picture of them at Tule Blues last year, crossing the
finish line on their first 50, with John "pretending" to look
exhausted. Sent a copy to Laura Alexander, John, if you're reading
this, write me and I'll send you one.
Ember spent the rest of the evening making new (human) friends and being
a bit of a Remington Steele ambassador for the SouthlandSorry to not
have had to pick up your completion award for you, we had a little
streak going. Congrats to Bonnie and Summy!
Lynne
and Rem-member Me
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