Re: RC: LD'S

[Rae Callaway <tallcarabs@juno.com>]

Ok.  Here goes.... :o)

 Last Saturday saw me and my friend, Kristine, on our first 25 mile 
LD ride.  It was such a blast.  Friday night was so nice, we left the
cover 
off the tent (leaving a mesh liner) and really slept under the stars.  At
4 
am, all we had to do was lift our heads to watch the 100 milers leave, as
the 
trail was 20 feet from our camp.  I got up at 6 and brought Scarlet and
Kit out of their pen 
and tied them to the trailer to eat breakfast.  I should have moved the
tent. 
 Kit decided that seeing us lying there was good entertainment.  He would

take a bite of his soup, then come and peer down at me in the tent -- of 
course, and wiping his goopy mouth on the sides.  What a pest!
  Our group left at a little after 8.  There were 66 riders (I think, at
least that's what we counted)  and when the 
start was sounded they ALL charged for the woods!  Kristine quickly got
off 
Kit and we waited until they were out of site before we started.  I fully

expected another ride without Scarlet's brain, but she settled down after
10 
minutes!  I think it was better this time because it was wooded and
that's 
familiar territory for her.  We set a nice pace and didn't see another
horse
until about 10 miles down the trail when we came upon the first pond.  A 
group of horses were gathered around one end, so Kristine & I decided to
find 
another spot to get to the water.  Well, we found out why they were all 
grouped at one spot!  Scarlet found a bog and sank all the way to her
belly!  
She started scrambling to get out and I started trying to get off -- my
foot 
was stuck in the stirrup, of course, but as soon as I got off, Scarlet
had no
trouble climbing out.  She didn't seem very shook up, even though she was

covered in mud.  I was shaking, tho.  As soon as I got back on, Scarlet
was 
eagerly looking to head down the trail, so off we went!   We passed up a
few 
riders and finished our first loop (14.3 miles) in 2 hours.  At the P&R,
we 
had to hit 15 to pass on to the vet check and Scarlet was called at 16. 
I 
knew why and started hollering at Kristine to bring Kit back -- she was
walking
away with the snot!  The second Kit got close, the guy checked her heart
rate 
again.  This time she was at 14, so off to the line for the vet check we 
went.  
   Now, this is the point where I rave about PERFECT TIMING!  The cold
front 
moved in right then!  Stiff wind and lots of rain and a drop of about 20
degrees, and here we were in camp 
where we could get our raincoats and warmer clothes!  Stupidly, tho, I
was 
totally unprepared for the weather and didn't have a blanket for the
horses, 
so Scarlet got my raincoat for her rump until after our hold.  The vet
check 
was pretty funny.   Kit went first to the first vet in the line and I
got called down to the other end.  Well, my vet was just starting to
check 
Scarlet when here comes Kit, Kristine and their vet to park themselves
under 
Scarlet's nose!  Guess Scarlet wasn't the only weenie horse who didn't
want 
to be alone! <g>
   We had a 45 minute hold, and the worst part about heading back out
when 
the time came was putting my dry rump on that soggy,wet, cold saddle!  I
had 
to take my hearing aids off because of the rain, so Kristine lead the
way.  
It was really interesting riding in total silence -- except for that
really 
annoying dial tone that is in my right ear that never quits!  The last
10.7 
miles really went fast.  I just kinda zoned on Kit's butt.  I was really
interested in the way, when he would trot slow, his legs were close
together, 
but as he sped up, they would get farther apart.  
Close....wide....close...wi..close....wide, whoops, Hey! watch where you
kick that 
mud!..... <g>  Scarlet and Kit both sailed through the final vet check. 
Our 
final time was right at 5 hours.   We decided to leave before the awards 
ceremony since, thanks to my stupidity, Scarlet & Kit were both shivering
now 
that they weren't moving anymore.
   It was so much fun.  I can't wait for the next ride, which I believe
will 
be in January.  It's got a *great* name, too -- the Frigid Digit ! 
Yikes!  
Anyway, on Sunday, I could barely move.  My left calf and right hip were 
extremely sore.  I think I overstressed those two muscles because my left

knee is weak and I was subconciously trying to protect it.  My posting is

obviously getting better tho.  When I post from my feet (bad), my knee
gets 
sore after only 15 minutes.  I posted the entire first loop from my upper
thigh 
muscles, so my knee didn't even give me a twinge until near the end.
  

Rae
Tall C Arabians
A day without sunshine would be like, you know, night



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