Beth (riding Boomer) and Barbara (riding Snow) on the first loop.

Celebrating the Completion of Our First Fifty

at

Washoe Valley 25/50 & 50 Ride

May 7 & 8^th 2005

What a great ride! I am actually saying that after riding my first fifty. This was the most fun I have ever had on a ride. A big thanks you to Connie and Gina for putting on this ride every year. I feel spoiled to have such a great ride in my backyard. The wildflowers and vistas, made this ride seem like it flew by. In all the years I have ridden in this area, I have never seen so many flowers in bloom; lupine, vinca, Indian Paint Brush, along with masses of other flowers I don’t know the names, of covered the hills. Clouds and mist diffused the sky in to varying shades of grey, blue, white, and hazy purple. We even rode on some trails I had never ridden on but wanted to try.

My husband rode on Saturday, and got to traverse the SOBs. They lived up to their name, and now he knows what he will face if he decides to ride the Virginia City 100. It was my husband’s and his horse Maverick’s first 50 also. They had a good first fifty, riding with Mike Tristram, Sally Hugdal, and Maureen Fager. These gals took good care of my husband. Maverick was happy to follow Sally and Maureen’s mares, since none of his herd mates were on the ride.

I rode the Sunday ride, with my good friend Beth Kaufman. She offered to ride her 19-year-old 6,000-mile plus horse, Boomer, with my new to the sport 19-year-old horse, Snow. Snow spent more than half of the last part of his life standing in someone’s backyard. Last year he started endurance, and won Horse of Excellence on the Washoe 25. This year with Beth’s support we decided to try a 50. Under Beth and Boomer’s guidance we completed the ride. We walked up the hills, trotted the flats, and got off and ran our horses down the hills. I was embarrassed because as Beth ran down the last hill from an elevation of 6,700 feet like it was nothing; I had to get on several times when we hit the flats and ride. I promise to get in better shape this summer. Our husbands did a great job crewing for us. My husband got us on our way in the morning, and was joined by Dyke at the end of the first loop. Dyke kept us on schedule, calling out the time remaining to get us out on the subsequent loops.

Prior to the ride, I worried that mentally I wouldn’t be able to go back out on the second loop, but I was having such a great time that there was never a question. Not only that, but Beth and I have plans to take our 19 year olds to another 50 in June. They became great buddies; ending the day by doing watch out for each other while drinking from the water trough, with Boomer giving Snow a big lick on the face after their final drink.

This continues to be my favorite ride. My husband and I did our first endurance ride on this ride. We did the 25-mile ride 2 years ago on our quarter and paint horses. I like the scenery on the 20 mile loop so much, (you can feel the history and see the pink mountains of Virginia city, and the snow capped mountains of Tahoe), that I periodically ride it as a training loop. This year we have been blessed with lots of water and natural grass that make it safe for a training ride.

As I said, last year we took our “new” Arabs, Maverick, then 5, and Snow, then 18, on the 25. This ride is a great ride for newbies to the sport, both people and horses. Connie and Gina do a great job of making it safe for everyone involved. There is lots of water and hay along the way. On the 25, at 10 miles there is water and food for people and horses. Most areas are accessible by trailer if someone gets in trouble. Washoe Lake Park is large enough to accommodate 150 riders, with great facilities, and separate camping areas. Volunteers are abundant, and Connie and Gina personally help people in need. The first year I rode my quarter horse, it was hot and I didn’t know to take my saddle off to pulse down faster. My husband’s paint horse pulsed down immediately and he walked off. Leaving me standing with my little black quarter horse standing in the heat. Connie quickly suggested that we pull his saddle and get some water on his neck, the next thing I knew he was down and ready to find his buddy. We have since learned not to separate horses at P&R and vet checks.

The food is super; this year we ate barbeque chicken and steak at the Saturday banquet. A raffle, team prizes, rider completions, and category prizes abound, no one goes home empty handed. One rider of my husband’s team was pulled, but still received a team prize since you only need to complete 3 out of the 4 team members. I don’t know how they do it, but they seem to run a great ride every year.

So a big thanks to everyone, ride managers, volunteers, and friends at the ride, who made our first 50 great! See you next year.