HI. Thanks for asking. I'm tired. yes I met Vicki and her beautiful daughter and handsome husband! and Zabbie is one tired poneeeee...
It was cccccooollddd..to start out, but warmed up during the day.
I took Zab instead of the Starman. I've been evaluating Star day by day. His back has been a bit "flinchy". I think it's a scurfy, itchy spot on his back. I don't think it's pain as much as sensitive itching. but I knew the head vet at this ride is very tough on sore backs. He's known for making riders strip tack at every vet check so he can do a thorough back exam. he's good!
So I took Zabbie, who needed only 5 more miles for his first MOTDRA mileage patch (150 miles). This put him over the top for that first patch and on the way to his second.
You should have heard Star hollering at me when I took Zab instead of him. Ray said Star made a lot of noise while I was gone, LOL.. I think he was not happy to be left at home. He probably would have been all right, but I just didn't want to take a chance on getting pulled for back issues although now I know after talking to the vet they can tell the difference between itchy reflexes and pain.
Anyway, it was very cold last night at the rider's meeting. People were huddled in blankets listening to the ride directions.
I used my new Coleman black cat heater in my trailer last night. It made things nice and toasty! Got Zabbie fed and tied to the trailer, put a blankie on him and went to bed. Woke up at 2:30 a.m. with my "neighbor" pounding on my door, Zabbie was loose! He had untied my slip knot and let himself go! I retied him with two leads, LOL...
In the a.m., I woke up at 0 dark thirty. It was cold. I relit my heater and warmed up, fed zabbie and waited for daylight. We were doing 25 miles, we started at 8 a.m.
Dressed Zabbie up in his Halloween finery and got out on trail at 8:06, behind the hotshoes. But Zab must have gotten a brain transplant from Star, or else Star ESP'd him some instructions! Zab was a maniac! He wasn't spooking and shying, but he was really wanting to race down the trail almost recklessley. It was a very very muddy trail, mud bogs up to the horse's knees and hocks. I didn't want him to strain that suspensory again, so we had a few "discussions" about slowing down and listening to mom.
The trail was lovely. The first loop was 17 miles. Mostly meadows, with trees along the edge. Oranges and reds and browns of fall with a lovely blue sky backdrop. It was cold. I had on several layers and left most of them on for most of the ride.
Finally, at about the 12 mile mark, Zabbie came back to earth and started listening to me about what pace to go. I think he didn't realize how far we were riding today, LOL...
He did fine at the vet check. a little dehydrated, but I expected that because he didnt' want to slow down to eat or drink on loop 1.
We had a 45 minute hold. Several riders were through at this point. I know a half dozen riders who were pulled today. I think that mud took its toll on a lot of horses.
We had about 2 hours 15 minutes left to finish the last 8 miles. That was a tougher trail with more rocks, hills and woods, but a little less mud. At first Zab really poked along. but when he realized where we were and when we were heading back to camp, he picked up his pace. We finished with about 20 minutes to spare.
I think we were the turtles today, but I'm not sure. The RM didn't do turtle awards...
I'll have pix when I get film developed. Zab was mud head to toe... what a hoot! I cleaned him up the best I could before I brought him home.
We had great food at this ride. Some RMs leave you on your own for vittles, but this RM went all out. It was fabulous. the completion awards were better than the last ride. We got new water bottles and everyone got a custom made hoofpick made from horse shoes,kinda cool!
That was my day. I'm tired. Zabbie is tired. When I called the crew in for dinner tonight, he sauntered in, he didn't gallop as usual, LOL...
chris
