Ride the Glide
Genesee 25 mile LD July 6, 2008
(Jen went alone, my back was thrown out and I had no crew so I stayed home in fear that I would not be able to care for Flame during the ride due to that stupid back)
Hi Dodie:
Paul, Bryna, Luke and I left for Genessee on-time (for once) and we got out
there at about 3 PM despite the Tannersville, PA traffic. Luke vetted in
with no problem and we spent the next hour setting up camp. We got a
beautiful site at the top of the Reis' hay field overlooking the valley.
Luke had the pleasure of grazing on their grass and clover and was extremely
happy.
Dinner was at 6PM and was fantastic. We all had fried chicken, green beans
and muchroom medley and macaroni salad. There was also fruit cup for dessert
and birthday cake for one of the riders on the 50 mile ride. I love the food
at endurance rides and I think it is probably because I have been dieting so
much. At the beginning of the year I almost weighed 180# and now I am down
to 150-155#.
The ride briefing was also very good. Cia Reis told us about the trails and
a turn in one field with a hill that some people missed. She said that the
trails were very well marked and technical and let me tell you-they were!
They were the best marked trails of all the rides that I have been on so
far!
The night was beautiful on the Reis farm. Bryn rode Luke around lightly to
loosen him up. Later we watched distant fireworks in the distance and Bryn
brought a portable DVD player so we watched a movie...then off to sleep at
10 PM.
I slept pretty well. I had to cover up more at 3 AM when it got breezy. The
lows were around 60 degrees that night. The wake-up call came at 4:13
AM...and I was up....feeding and and grooming Luke. I went down to get
coffee at 5A.M. YUMMMM and made myself some Cherrios back at the camper.
Luke ate and drank fantastically well and by now was getting antsy. He knows
his job really well and was ready to go. I tacked him up early (as usual
LOL) and went down to watch the 50's start. While down there I grabbed
another cup of coffee.
I went back to the camper after the 50's started and got Luke bridled and
hopped on. He was raring to go. I gave Paul and Bryn last minute
instructions about what I would need for the vet check as I left to go down
to the start line. All of us 25 mile riders milled around at the start. Then
they yelled "Trail is Open" and we were off....Luke half bucking and
cantering up their hill....woo hoo what fun. I didn't really have much of a
strategy since I didn't know anyone. Flame made a great pace car at the
other rides so I was hoping that I could hang with some people to keep Luke
company. Meanwhile it was hard to keep Luke in a trot- he seemed happier
cantering as we weaved throught the woods. Somewhere out there I lost a
water bottle when my velcro came off. We zigged and zagged and after the
field thinned out I was with about four to five other riders. Luke blasted
down the hills and was getting pissy about following so I stuck him out in
front. He was saying "look at me guys...look how fast I can trot down the
hills weeeeee" until he turned around and saw that all his buddies were
gone. He slowed up then to wait for the other horses. After about five
minutes of walking we were caught by the four riders on a stretch of road.
Luke was ready to canter more so off we went! It was really great fun. We
settled into the group of leaders and after a bit more road the only ones
that were left was a lady on a grey arab and myself. He was a very mannerly
gelding and she told me that she won the 25 mile ride on Saturday. Cool
beans! She knew the trail-awesome. I asked if I could ride with her and she
said yes. She told me her horse's name but I forget but her name was Cecile
and she was lovely and a really good horseman. She had a good light way of
riding that never interfered with her horse. Soon we were back in the fields
and could see the hold area. Wow that was fast-I frantically called Bryn and
Paul because I was sure that they didn't expect me this soon! Wow Luke was
hot. I didn't see Paul or Bryn then I looked up the hill and saw that Bryn
had lost control of the Radio Flyer wagon with all my water and crewing gear
in it on the down hill. She got it all dragged over to the crew area
though-what an 8-year-old!!!! We walked down into camp, sponged and Luke
pulsed down to the maximum allowable requirement of 64. Cecile pulsed in
about 5 minutes before me. The vet check didn't go as well as expected. Luke
looked intermittently lame in the right front to Dr. Nick and on the left to
Dr. Art. Shoot! I totally didn't feel any lameness. I am pretty paranoid and
neurotic about my horse! They said to watch him, continue to cool him and
that I could continue. Now, we have never had any concerns in the vetting
arena at any rides but wow what a blow to the confidence. I didn't know what
to do! I looked to Luke for answers. I let him eat and tacked him back up
and had Bryn trot him on the grass. Dr. Nick called me back down to the
vetting arena and thought that he may be cramping. The ride's horseshoer
said something about his breakover in his left hind. Now, I was really
worried. But I looked to Luke again and the only thing he was looking at was
the trail. He was completely unconcerned about all the fuss. So, I asked the
vets what to do and they said "go-but watch him". I had 2 minutes to mount
before my out-time and so, I left. As promised, Cecile was waiting for me on
the hill. We trotted out as I told her my concerns about my horse. She said
he looked a bit stiff behind but that she would watch him. As soon as we got
back in the woods Luke wanted to gallop and I knew that he would be OK. This
was the first ride that I had to slow him down. He snaked through the trails
like a pole bender and was awesome! Now it was starting to get hot. They
started the ride at 6:30 AM instead of the 8:00 AM that was originally
posted (THANKYOU!!!!!!!) and we stopped to sponge and drink wherever we
could. The trails were amazing-a beautiful mix of fields, paths and trails
that were carved out of the woods. All the land owners had put out water,
hoses, troughs, and a variety of apples, carrots and even e-lytes. I only
saw one car on the whole ride. It was like Horse Nirvana out there! Luke
finally drank at about mile 20. Cecile and I walked about the last 2-3
miles. Paul got some ice from Mr. Reis (THANK YOU for going to Sam's Club)
and Luke pulsed down to 48 for the in-pulse. We went over to the vet check
and he was 52 and 48 after the trot out. Dr. Nick and Dr. Art commented that
he looked alot better! We got a big congratulations and our completion. I
don't know what my finishing time was but we got pulsed down first. It was a
great day for Luke! I am so proud of him!
Instructor/Manager: Dodie Sable
Located in New Smithville PA at Fenstermacher Road, 3 miles north of Kutztown University
Call us at 610.756.3836 or email us at dodie@newpromisefarms.com