another Cosequin Challenge story - and song

["Steph Teeter" <step@fsr.com>]

Tommy and Melissa - hope you don't mind that I'm
forwarding this story to Ridecamp... and Jim's
song is great - wish we could hear him sing it!

Steph

--------------------------

        The Cosequin Challenge 1999
        Fort Valley, Virginia
        Tommy and Melissa Crain

Our trip started on Wednesday morning. We left at about 11 am and drove to
Wytheville,
Va. where we camped at a KOA for the night. I tried to ignore the fact that
we were
headed right into the path of Hurricane Floyd. Luckily we didn't get any
rain, just some
very gusty winds. we had Mel's horse, Charbiel, and a mare, Topaz, who we
have been
training for Pam Wiedel from New Jersey.Pam was coming to the ride to do the
60 on
Topaz.We got to the ride site at about 1 PM Thursday afternoon. The camp was
located
at Virginia Ingram's wonderful ranch in Fort Valley, Va. We had electric
hookups and
trees for sun protection.
  Thursday night there was supposed to be a banquet and introduction of the
riders but
there were so few people there that we just had dinner and called it a
night.
Friday was the
vet in and weigh in. Our friends , Judy and Doug Sandlin came up to do
the60
also and
Debi Sanger came from Denver to do the 100 miler. Pam brought a young girl
named Jen
to ride her other horse, Tee Whiz. Doug and Judy’s crew was not able to come
so I had 6
riders to crew for. Oh boy what fun this is gonna be.
  The 100 started at 4 am and the 60 at 6 am. The first loop for the 100’s
was on the road,
15.5 miles all in the dark. When the 100’s left the first VC the 60’s were
starting their first
loop . All were on the same trail at this point. Needless to say the 2nd VC
was a little
crowded but there were plenty of vets and PR people to go around so it went
smoothly.
Mel and Debi did fine at the 2nd VC. Doug, Judy and Jen also did fine at
their 1st VC.
Pam got pulled because Topaz was lame. One down out of my team.
  Mel and Debi did fine again at the 3rd VC as did Judy and Jen. Doug’s
horses started
cramping so he got pulled. Two down. I could see the buzzards circling Team
Franklin. I
looked up and said,”We ain’t dead yet y’all.”
  The 3rd loop was the toughest for the 100’s. It had a very steep climb and
descent. It
took them almost 4 hours to complete this loop. This was also the 2nd loop
for the 60’s.
Mel and Debi told me this was one of the hardest rides they had ever done.
  The forth loop was a repeat of the second loop. It was getting  late in
the
day . Jen
finished the 60 in about 4th place. This was her first ever ride and she did
a great job. Poor
Judy got pulled at the last VC for lameness only 5 miles out. Three down.
More buzzards.
  The last two loops for the 100’s was a repeat of the road loop with an
away VC 5 miles
from camp. Mel missed a turn at almost dark about 1/2 mile from the VC and
had to
backtrack about a mile. By then it was dark. Charbiel was tired but looked
fine to finish.
While he was eating during the hold the klieg lights went out so we were
really in the dark
then. Mel took off and I headed back to camp. Mel and Charbiel crossed the
finish line
about 9:11. We got the completion thank you and went to the trailer to take
care of the
horses and get some rest. I tried to stay up for Debi to finish but fell
asleep sitting up in
the trailer about 12:30. Debi , God bless her , finished in last place,
15th,
at 2:30 am.
  The awards banquet on Sunday morning was really good complete with a
delicious
brunch. All the finishers got loads of stuff. Feed supplements, Troxel
helmets, pro bi, a
certificate for about $180 worth of Cosequin, and hoof dressing. Ride
management also
had a drawing for lots of other stuff like heart monitors, saddles, and free
breeding
certificates. This was a great ride. Lots of people have knocked it but you
had to be there.
We had a wonderful time.

Melissa says:


  Charbiel and I finished the Cosequin in 10th place. We're comin' home in
great shape
thanks to Tommy and Lanie. Tommy is my ultimate crew who takes care of me
and
Charbiel! I couldn't do it without him. Lanie is this wonderful angel who
came down from
nowhere and often after every vet check and during the hold time baby-sat
Charbiel like
his mother, getting him to eat, drink and relax. Thank you Lanie!
  I RODE him this time, went conservative the first loop. It was dark on the
road but after
that we were able to move on.
  There were 6 significant climbs, roads, rocks and mountains that just
wouldn't quit.I rode
by myself most of the time except the first loop I was with Jan Worthington
and Achmed
from the U.A.E. , and the 4th loop with Darolyn Butler. I only missed one
turn on the 5th
loop. I went about 1 1/2 miles and then came back to the trail. It got dark
at the last Vet
Check so I had to ride the last 5 miles in the dark.
About 30 riders started the 100 miler and only 15 finished. there was quite
a difference in
the finishing times. Danielle Kanavy McGunnigal , the winner, finished about
6 PM. We
started at 4 am and I finished about 9 PM in 10th place overall and 9th
place
FEI. The last
horse and rider, Debi Sanger on Novah PR came in about 2:30 am.
  Virginia and Tracy Ingram and their friend Ski went out of the way to make
everyone
comfortable, happy and well fed. I can't wait to go back next year.

-----------

  Here’s a song by “The Singing Veterinarian”, Jim Baldwin, that he wrote
for the AERC
National Championship series. I changed the lyrics a bit to fit the Cosequin
Challenge.

   An endurance rides just another ride
   When you’ve ridden several years
   From the Old Dominion to the Tevis
   They don’t strike too much fear
   But let me tell about one
   That will chill your very soul
   It happens in the mountains
   Where it’s high and it’s cold
   In Virginia there’s a trail
   That’s really hard to beat
   It’s where the toughest riders
   Gather to compete
   The entry fee’s have all been paid
   And the horses have been brought
   We got a few more comin’
   But it starts at 4 o’clock

        Chorus
   It’s the Cosequin, the big one
   The tough one of the sport
   Hey Danielle can you hack it
   Has Jedi got the heart
   You think your a tough rider
   And we’ll find out in the end
   When that final miles is over
   And Jedi’s back in his pen

           2nd Verse
   The camp ground is quiet
   ‘Cept for sounds of people gettin’ ready
   And horses millin’ ‘round
   I asked the girl next to me
   “How fast you goin’ out?
   Will you hang back with me
   And we’ll leave together with a shout”
   Sittin’ on her horse she whispers
   “ You better look out cause
   I can’t wait till that trail is open
   I’m gonna run out through that gate “cause

   It’s the Cosequin, the big one
   The tough one of the sport
   Hey Hassein can you hack it
   Has Gym got the heart
   You think your a tough rider
   And we’ll find out in the end
   When that final miles is over
   And Gym’s back in his pen

      3rd Verse
   The trail goes by quietly
   So far it’s a breeze
   But when you hit that mountain
   The trail will start to tease
   We’ll start a climbin’ and a climbin’
   And climbin’ for the top
   But that damned old mountain
   Never seems to stop  cause

   It’s the Cosequin, the big one
   The tough one of the sport
   Hey Wendy  can you hack it
   Has Timmy got the heart
   You think your a tough rider
   And we’ll find out in the end
   When that final miles is over
   And Timmy’s back in his pen

         4th Verse
   We  had plenty of time a while ago
   But now the time is short
   An official came by a while ago
   And gave us a report
   It’s gettin’ hot up on the pass
   And the air is gettin’ thick
   You need to get down off that mountain
   And back down to the creek  Cause

   It’s the Cosequin, the big one
   The tough one of the sport
   Hey John can you hack it
   Has Billy got the heart
   You think your a tough rider
   And we’ll find out in the end
   When that final miles is over
   And Billy’s back in his pen

       5th Verse
   Shortly before dark
   The finish line comes into view
   There’s a vet no I think I see two
   I know it’s not over yet
   I still have to get by Bob Beecher
   And he’s a son of a gun of a vet cause

   It’s the Cosequin, the big one
   The tough one of the sport
   Congratulations Danielle
   You knew Jedi had the heart
   You knew you were a tough rider
   And you proved it in the end
   When the final mile was over
   And that big check’s in your den.

   Tommy and Melissa Crain
    SERA, UMECRA, AERC
   lyrics by Jim Baldwin, DVM Central Region AERC




�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp
�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-�-