VERMONT, JANUARY 25-MILE CTR

["John B.Ayers" <ayers@plainfield.bypass.com>]

Despite threats from the Weatherman of sleet and freezing rain
we headed to S. Woodstock, VT on Friday, January 22nd for
VERDA's 20th Annual 25-mile CTR Ride and Drive on Saturday
the 23rd.

The sleet and freezing rain came as snow, so we headed out on
Saturday in two inches of SLUSH (warm-climate members read
SAND!).  Except for a couple of Endurance mounts that took first
and second place,  the rest of the horses looked pretty tired at the
end.  The entire ride was in fine rain with temperatures of 28 to 38 F.
The GOOD part was that there were no BUGS and no one got
sunburned!

Newbies might want to read Sandra Cooke's article on CTR in the
February issue of "Practical Horseman".  But why do all the articles
and books on CTR show all the photos SUNSHINE?  Five of the
last six competitions we have done have been in the RAIN!

One thought I had to better prepare for these rides, would be to smear
grease on your glasses about two weeks prior so you are accustomed
to being "visually challenged"!  An excellent motivational ploy I learned
backpacking is to arrange to have the two best things in life ready at
the end....a cold beer and a hot shower!!!

It was perfect weather to try out the new Rump Rug we had just
gotten from Paddi ( seamstob@telusplanet.net ).  It looked and
worked GREAT!

I also tried the new polarfleece lined tights from Evelyn
jfhr@inetworld.net ). They were very comfortable and 
never felt wet!

I could only find the left polar fleece riding glove (it was home on the
barn floor) and had to wear a regular SSG glove on my right hand.  
The left hand stayed warm, the right was cold and wet.  Now I know why 
my riding coach keeps yelling "keep your hands DOWN"!  If you put 
them on the horse they stay warm!!

We had spent the prior six weeks trying out various cold weather
outfits so were prepared for almost anything.  The CTR is not
supposed to start until the thermometer reads 10 degrees F
but we had heard stories from years past of members blowing on
the thermometer to make it read higher!

Thanks to a half-dozen Ridecampers who unanimously urged us
to participate even though Meshack had not been ridden in four
weeks.  We are pleased to bring home a third place ribbon!  .He
was fairly well-behaved,  and set a good pace right to the end....
made me PROUD of him!!! Our total time was three hours fifty-
five minutes (three hours and fifty minutes was minimum allowed).

We can now continue to follow Angie McGhee's advice and
"put a far-away look in our eyes, a half-smile on our face and say:
"challenges met and overcome...camerarderie........there is no way
to describe this wonderful experience"".

John and Meshack
http://www.bypass.com/~ayers (Vermont Equestrian Appctivities)