And, what do I do?
Throw that utterly and completely out of the window and do my own thing. Because I'm kinda stupid that way. Don't be like me kids.
Well, okay, so I'm not totally being fair.
And, let's back it up.
Wednesday night, I actually had the truck and trailer COMPLETELY packed and ready to roll in the morning except for my 2 coolers. By 9:15pm. This NEVER EVER HAPPENS. Usually I'm not done prepping until about 11pm.
I had also made arrangements with T.M. to caravan up on Thursday. We planned to meet in Jarrell at 8:30, grab breakfast, and then make the long drive up together.
So, I was up at 6am on Thursday, tossed food, etc, into the coolers, ran them out to the truck, took my last shower, and grabbed the ATV and drove out, grabbed Strider, put him into the trailer and was pulling out of my gate at 7:08, 8 minutes later than planned, but still with enough time to stop for diesel AND for ice.
Both tasks done, and I'm officially on the road....and get to Jarrell and our meeting point at 8:15.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM USUALLY A FEW MINUTES LATE!!!
It was crazy!! But nice.
So, wait for T.M., and we find that McDonald's inside is closed for remodeling. FINE!! We drive our rigs through the drive thru, and then we're on the road for the first leg, and 2ish hours of driving.
And driving.
And still more driving.
We finally stop, I top my tank off (because, why not?), give the horses a break and a snack, take a potty break, then wait a bit for this family who left the nozzle in their car while they all went inside, effectively blocking T.M. in. *sigh*
FINALLY we're back on the road again.
Driving. More and more driving. WHY AREN'T WE THERE YET?!!!!!
Nope, keep on driving.
So, we finally hit the turn off we need, and we follow the instructions for people who are coming to the Priefert Ranch from the south. We turn left...and we drive. And drive.
Now, I'd done this drive 2 years ago, and I did not remember going this far. HOWEVER, we'd seen a rig that, we both thought, was an endurance rig, so, we think we're going the right direction.
But the further we go, the more wrong things feel. And then I see a sign pointing to the left to go to Mt. Vernon. Except, as we'd come up the interstate, we'd passed through Mt. Vernon.
No. This was wrong. I had T.M. pull off, and I pulled up the Priefert Manufacturing on my phone...to realize it was almost 30 miles BEHIND us.
So, we flip it around after T.M. fills her truck up, and head back.
Nothing more frustrating than written directions that are completely wrong, right? *sigh*
So, eventually we pull in to camp, and pull in near my friend from Armadillo and her sweet Miss Betsy Boots. We quickly get things set up, I do a quick nip and rasp on Strider, then sit down and relax for a while.
I like to let my horse relax, eat, drink and take a break before we go and vet in. T.M. and I wandered over, picked up our packets, ironed out the few hiccups (the pitfalls of changing your plans a few days prior to the ride!), then went back and grabbed our ponies to vet them in.
Now, I had decided at the Michael Gascon clinic, I was going to go ahead and ride Strider in that rope halter. So, I had him in it, and as I handed off my vet card, I asked Strider to drop his head for me. Which, of course, he did. I gently rubbed him, spoke quietly to him, and the vet came up and said he was at 44.
My eyes got wide. He's usually never QUITE that low. Low 50's, sure. So, that was surprising.
But what was even MORE surprising, is that he wasn't fidgeting and the vet wasn't having to follow him as he moved around to check him over. He stood utterly and completely still for the entire process.
I looked over at T.M. who was vetting in Sunny and said "Look, he CAN stand still!"
Back to the trailers to stuff their faces (he had 3 B's on guts at the initial vetting in) and for us to finish the last of the setting up and to relax for a little while before the ride meeting.
I grabbed my saddle and my new stirrups and put them on my saddle. Briefly considered doing a leg stretcher ride, but I still had to get my trailer set up for the possibility of rain, and get my cot and bed set up. And, "I'm just doing the intro tomorrow, I can tough it out!! It's only 16 miles!"
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| As you can see, dirty pony, but my saddle out. |
Anyway, get settled in, chit chat with friends as they come and go, and just relax after our long drive up.
Morning dawns, and T.M. gets saddled up early for her out time for the LD. Strider is a little upset when she and Sunny leave, but I'm able to keep him company until they're gone, then it's time for me to start considering getting him ready.
I marvel at how much time I have to get ready. I'm able to sit down and actually eat something for breakfast. I sit and relax for a few minutes before I go and get Strider out of his pen.
I attach the bolt snap to his halter, then take him over to my trailer to get him ready for our 9am start time. Toss the saddle on, and start cinching him up. Realize as I start to look around that camp is feeling mighty empty. I mount up and go over to some of my friend's camps, and see they're already gone, so I go ahead and walk over to where the start is. I see the ride secretary, but notice there's no one there, and it's 15 to 9. I look at her puzzled, and ask if I'm late.
No, she says; people just asked if they could just go ahead and go out, so she let them go, so I was free to go as well. What loop?
"Blue. The 15.8 mile loop please."
"Okay Erin. Have a good ride!"
And out we went at a slow walk.
Strider is looking around, obviously confused. This isn't like any other ride we've done. The last ride we did, I was asking him to slow down. This ride, we're all alone.
Pony is confused, but tractable. So far, we're doing well in the rope halter, and I'm happy as we follow the ribbons. Not another horse on the trail in front of us for about 15 minutes until we crest a small hill, and I see my camping neighbors on the other side of a very large stock pond.
And, as we crest the hill, over the water, a bald eagle startles into flight. My jaw falls open as I ask Strider "Is that a bald eagle? Did we just see a bald eagle? What a beautiful morning!" (I did confirm with my neighbors, it really WAS a bald eagle!)
At that point, Strider notices the other horses, and he picks up the pace. I check him to make sure I have brakes and steering. I have both, so, I allow him to set the tempo.
Now, remember how I said you're not to change anything on ride day?
My stirrups were too damn long. I was REEEEEEEACHING for them. "It's only 16 miles. We're good."
Eventually we catch up to our neighbors, but Strider is in good form, and doesn't seem inclined to want to hook up with their 2 horses. I ask if they're okay if we pass, and we chug on by. Later, one of them said "We were just poking along, and here come you and Strider getting shit done!" It made me laugh.
This actually was an unplanned part of my riding goal for the day. The big objective was just to make sure he was really sound, and to test the rope halter in ride conditions. But, he always gets so listless when he's by himself, so I was glad he didn't want to stop and hang with a group, but keep on going. We need to learn to be by ourselves, so him going on was good.
We hit the large pasture where J.L. and I got bogged down 2 years ago, and, it was wet again, so we slowed down and walked much of it.
And we hit a gate. A closed gate.
The string of obscenities that came out of my mouth turned the air blue. I did NOT want to get off my horse. I kept HOPING that wasn't the blue ribbon I needed to see on the OTHER side of the closed gate...but...as I stood there and looked at it...I just accepted my fate and with another string of swear words, I dismounted, already looking for an object to stand on so I could mount my horse again.
I considered shortening my stirrups, but, didn't want to lose the pocket I'd built for us to be alone, and he was dancing around, so I said "Forget it. I'm just getting back on and going."
Took me about 3 minutes to get him to stand still long enough for me to get on. He'd seen another horse on an entirely different colored trail and he wanted to catch up to them.
*grits teeth*
No dude.
And off we go.
We handily cross the big steel bridge with no rails. My stomach ALWAYS balls up in anxiety as we cross it, but I try to breathe deep so my horse doesn't pick up on it. And we chug off again.
I'm following ribbons. And following ribbons. The turns weren't marked (traditional "turn" marking is three ribbons hung toward where you need to turn), but, I looked further down the road, and didn't see a blue ribbon, so I back tracked, to where the last ribbon was, and turned there (it was a road that either went straight or hooked a right through an open fence). So, I went through the open fence, and saw 2 other colors on a surveyor's stake, but not a blue ribbon. There we were, as I did circles in confusion and frustration. WHERE WAS THE FREAKING TRAIL?!!!
The RM's husband came by on the mule at that point and asked me what was wrong. I said I couldn't see where blue trail went. He told me it followed the fence line, but, he admitted it was hard to see until you crossed a hillock or two to see the fence line. And, sure enough, as I went off the actual road and crossed over the hillock, I saw a blue ribbon. He said he'd put a surveyor's stake out for others behind me.
So, away we went again.
We get to an open area of pasture, and he asks for the canter, and I allow it.
And almost wept with joy; NO BUNNY BUCK!!!
I was very conscious and deliberate to make sure I gave him lots of rein, that I was sitting back, and that, as much contact as I could make with the stirrups, my feet were forward.
We continue to follow ribbons with no problems or issues until we come to the blacktop road. I can't see a ribbon, there's no turn marked. I stand there for a minute, just baffled about what to do. I look across the road, because I remember from 2 years ago, we crossed over the road, but the other side of the road today, it is plain and obvious this is NOT where we need to cross. There's a crew of 2 men picking up trash on the road, and one of them compliments my horse, for which I'm grateful. I briefly consider asking him if he's seen other horses, but...to my left down the fenceline, I can see one of the spotters, so I just decide to ride her direction and see if she can tell me where blue is.
Get over to her, and she takes my number and says that this is where I need to cross.
AH-HAH!!! So, we quickly get across the road (traffic hauls ass in the country, and this road is no exception!), and find our ribbons again.
Eventually we thread into the woods on the ranch, and the bugs come out full force. Strider is constantly shaking his head, and I curse myself for not having sprayed him down before we left camp. I'm slapping off the mosquitoes from him and myself.
And, for some reason, at about mile 9, we make a left hand turn, and Strider stops.
Hungry? Need a break? Need to pee?
Unsure, so I let him pause, but he doesn't really do anything, so I ask him to go forward. He does, then he asks to turn around, so I allow it, thinking there was something behind us that he wanted.
He goes back and continues to backtrack our trail.
No. No way man. We're not doing this 9 miles backwards.
Turn him back around, and from this point on, I have to egg him on.
He'll ask to stop, and I'll generally allow it. I am just POSITIVE he needs to pee, which is why he keeps pulling off into the grass. He won't eat except for a bite or two of grass, but just keeps stopping and standing, or turning back towards the trail we'd already covered.
His breathing isn't labored, he isn't sweating and the bugs have left.
I'm once again just stuck thinking he needs to pee. NOTHING says he's really in distress.
Okay, I decide. If you won't stop, drop and pee, we're going to move it. You're being a child Strider who's sulking because this isn't the bathroom you want to use.
Let's move it.
It was as we're chugging down this trail, we run into our ride photographer, who seems surprised to see us doing the intro.
I quickly explain we're coming back from an injury and trying out new tack, but we'll be doing the LD tomorrow, as he snaps some photos of us.
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| He may have his "happy ears" on, but I can assure you, we'd already been 'quibbling' for the past mile or so about his need to stop for no valid reason. (Photo credit to John Nowell, purchased) |
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| See, fussy ears on. IGNORE MY LEG OMG!!! (Photo credit John Nowell; purchased) |
We once again cross the road and continue on down the trail at a pokey walk. Occasionally I can nudge him up into a gait, but he is sullen and bratty about it.
Yep, we've hit the wall where it's either my horse needs to pee, or he's pissed off we're all alone and we haven't seen another horse.
We do, however, catch a glimpse of another horse on a different color trail again, and once again, he picks up the pace and moves out well for a few minutes...then jams the brakes on again.
I stop at a cattle ring with lots of the hay on the ground as a pee stop for him, but he doesn't want to take advantage of it, so, we keep on moving.
Big, open pasture, and you need to keep a good eye open to find and follow the surveyor's stakes.
A deep ditch to cross. I skip that and use the road beside it to cross.
And we keep on going.
Eventually we come up out of another brief stretch of woods, and, the trail just seems to vanish. I cannot see or follow a blue ribbon. I know where I need to go. This is a closed pasture, and I can see where the gate keeper SHOULD be, and their chair is there, but there isn't a human in sight.
I say eff it, and just head that direction after backtracking to the last blue ribbon, and then following the tree line for a little way. After not finding one, I just head towards the gate with a shrug. According to my Garmin, I was right at about the number of miles I needed to go.
We're nearing camp, and once we get to the road to cross into camp, I dismount and hand walk in.
Again, as I'm doing the intro which isn't timed, I just walk over to my trailer to dump off his saddle, grab my vet card and walk over to the vetting area.
Remembering the evening before, I grab the noseband on Strider's halter, place my fingers at that spot on his poll, and gently ask him to drop his head. He stands utterly and completely still as Bo takes his pulse.
"13" I'm told. I make a face; that's a little high, in my opinion, for a horse not in tack, but, if he really has to pee, I'm not at all surprised it's high.
Walk over to the vets, and again have him drop his head...and once again, I am surprised as he remains still for Dr. Seymore to check him out.
Final vet card:
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| Strider's Ride Card from the Intro |
But, we completed our Intro intact, and I've now learned a few new tricks to help my horse out at vet check.
My friend G.G. and Miss Betsy Boots have already left by the time I'm back to camp, so I relax for a little while and start looking at my watch. I've been watching the riders come in, and so far, I haven't seen T.M. and Sunny come in to camp yet.
I send her a text to make sure she's okay, and she calls, very upset. They've had to backtrack several times, they can't find the ribbons, and she knows the clock is ticking and they're about a mile or so outside of camp, but they can't find the trail. I tell her I'll be waiting for her, we're going to make sure they get through.
I walk over to the dam and wait for them. Eventually I see them coming in, and as she hops off, I ask her how much she cares about her placing. If she doesn't care we have the time to go to her trailer, strip his tack and get a blanket over him as it started to rain as they were coming in. Horse is always first, so she said let's get to the trailer and get him a blanket.
We dropped her saddle at her trailer, grabbed him a blanket and went over to vet check.
Of course, Sunny was a rock star, pulsed in and vetted through just fine.
No dinner at ride meeting that night (junk food for dinner again *sigh*), but...I, of course, earned a shirt for the intro...but...going to grab the blanket and drop tack netted Sunny the Turtle award for the LD!! :)
Now...on to day two, and our LD....
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| My form is ALWAYS garbage. But, pony is cute! (Photo credit to John Nowell; purchased) |
| Time | Cumulative Time | Moving Time | Avg Speed | Avg Moving Speed | Max Speed | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10:57 | 10:57 | 10:48 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 10.4 | ||||
| 2 | 9:39.5 | 20:36 | 9:38 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 10.2 | ||||
| 3 | 11:08 | 31:45 | 10:54 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 11.2 | ||||
| 4 | 10:33 | 42:18 | 8:38 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 11.3 | ||||
| 5 | 8:53.5 | 51:11 | 8:40 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 12.5 | ||||
| 6 | 10:12 | 1:01:24 | 9:50 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 10.5 | ||||
| 7 | 11:39 | 1:13:02 | 11:26 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 11.5 | ||||
| 8 | 11:22 | 1:24:24 | 10:56 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 13.6 | ||||
| 9 | 18:26 | 1:42:49 | 17:28 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 9.3 | ||||
| 10 | 15:23 | 1:58:12 | 13:11 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 8.5 | ||||
| 11 | 14:49 | 2:13:01 | 14:32 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 9.2 | ||||
| 12 | 11:10 | 2:24:11 | 10:55 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 9.6 | ||||
| 13 | 11:25 | 2:35:36 | 11:21 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 10.5 | ||||
| 14 | 13:09 | 2:48:45 | 12:50 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 7.9 | ||||
| 15 | 12:16 | 3:01:00 | 12:03 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 10.4 | ||||
| 16 | 19:04 | 3:20:04 | 18:04 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 10.0 | ||||
| 17 | 5:37.8 | 3:25:42 | 2:45 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.8 | ||||
| Summary | 3:25:42 | 3:25:42 | 3:14:46 | 4.7 |
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