Re: RC: Fireworks 50 changes

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/16/99 9:10:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
kim@plough-electric.com writes:

<< Hey, did anyone do the Fireworks 50 by Santa Cruz, CA on the 7th?  I
 understand they changed the staging area to a totally new park and did some
 other trail changes.  How did you'all like it?
  >>

Lud and I rode Fireworks.  The staging area was changed temporarily as the 
Cowell Foundation, who owns the property where the original horse show 
grounds are located, is doing some tree harvesting and plan to build a number 
of homes on part of the property.  The balance of the property is to be 
dedicated for the horse show grounds.  But at the moment, the gounds were not 
open.  As far as I could tell, we used all the usual trails, only in 
different configuration.  We even rode over near, by not quite to, the show 
grounds.  At least one new trail, the U-Con (for University Connector) Trail 
was used and was just beautiful.  The weather was fine and we had a good time 
(despite my strained ankle, which hurt like thunder all day).  Part of the 
vets were either uninformed or very strict, as they were DQing some faintly 
irregular-gaited horses after the finish.  Lud's horse was one of them.  He 
was stiff, slightly hitchy in one hind leg, but was perfectly sound upon 
arrival home (a 20 minute trip).  The calls were much too strict by the 
standards of most vets.  But, that's the way it goes sometimes.  We found the 
trails well marked, considering there was so much use of the same trails, 
crossovers, etc.  We never had any doubt as to where we were to go.  All in 
all, a very pleasant day.  (My ankle was not mortally wounded.  I was riding 
a saddle that fit the horse, but the stirrup wanted to turn inwards, thus 
putting a lot of strain on the tendon.  The ankle was sort of bent under all 
day.  Moral: never ride for 50 or more miles on something you haven't tried 
out before for long distances.  This is legendary, but I tried to defy it.  
It didn't work!)

Barbara


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