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| Summer's End Ride and Tie photo: B. Pecile |
Our big goal of going faster has been accomplished. This set the stage for faster AND farther at the Stormont 75. Since we were already qualified to enter the 100 miler at the North American Endurance Team Challenge in Florida in December, our goal for Stormont was to experiment with speed, even at the expense of a completion.
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| North American Endurance Team Challenge |
The theme for the Stormont 75 can be summed up with the expression:
Go big or go home.
A thousand little things have to go your way to successfully complete an endurance ride. When you hit a bump in the road, you have to make a decision - go big or go home? Know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.
The first bump happened within 1/2 mile of the start of Satruday's 75 mile ride. Luba bucked as we entered a hay field and kicked off both her hind boots. With some sage advice from my friend, Wendy B - "She trains barefoot at home, right?" - I decided to stay with the pack for the first 19 mile loop, which included most of the main bush trail. If we got pulled for lameness at VC1, so be it. We were here to go fast.
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| The start of Saturday's 75. photo: M. Green |
We completed the Orange loop with the front runners, pulsed in within 6 minutes with a CRI of 60/52. Luba ate well, I put strap-on boots on the back and we set out on the Yellow loop, cantering most of the way with the "peloton", bravely led by Wendy B and Firefly, aka Speedy Gonzales.
We hit our second bump at VC2. All was going well. CRI 64/60. Then at the end of the control check, Dr. Lynne motioned for me to come and see her. She was standing behind Luba. Uh-oh.
Luba's right glute was tightening up before our very eyes. She asked me keep an eye on it, and pronounced us fit to continue with a B for muscle tone.
I headed back to the crew area thinking to myself that Luba was coming into heat and Teresa had noticed that her ovaries on the right were tender the night before. We had just run a fast 35 miles with some trappy footing. I was electrolyting pretty hard, but the day was becoming warm and humid. Were we tying up again?
Gratefully, my friend dear Denise was able to massage Luba through the hold, while my stalwart crew, Kara and Wayne, looked after the rest of our needs. Luba peed lemonade and by the end of the hold, Denise pronounced her bum muscles about 50% improved. Should I stay or should I go now?
Last year, I would have pulled. That was then. This is now.
I decided to go. I know the trail, so if we got into trouble, I would know where we were and how to get back safely. However, I did not go out feeling 100% confident. As I rode past the crew tents, I jokingly said, "This is the point in the race where I ask myself why I ride more than 50 miles". Ha Ha.
Ha Ha indeed. Well the joke was on me. Luba sensed my hesitation and balked leaving ride camp. I called her a lazy old mule and got off and jogged with her in hand until we were out of the field, mounted up at the road and away we went. We were keeping a steady pace with Holly and Dave until we came to a snowmobile bridge on trail and Dave's horse went through 2 boards. We stopped to make sure they were okay before continuing on. Holly's horse led while I worried about Luba's bum and kept reaching back to feel how tight it was. Luba's rider also had not eaten well at the ride and hit the proverbial Wall with full force. This was the Pink/Blue loop otherwise known as the 20 mile road trip to Moose Creek Cement Factory and back. Luba and I tried to take the lead a couple of times, but to no avail. I am ever grateful to Holly and Faveur for the big favour they did pulling us through the doldrums.
Miraculously (?), Luba (and I?) perked up as we approached base camp. We pulsed in in 7 minutes, with CRI of 60/64 and Bs for impulsion and muscle tone, overall impression A-. Only two short 12 mile loops to go. Kara managed to get some food into me, Denise massaged Luba again, Wayne kept Luba eating and moving and backing up. Positive Team Luba energy on the upswing. Time to get 'er done!
We cantered out of camp, me singing Deanna's sea shanty "Riding on a Donkey" at the top of my lungs. Barbara, Holly and Sally caught up with us a few miles out, when Luba stopped to tank up at a puddle. Holly and Barbara trotted on by the crazy singing Canuck, but Sally and her mare, Gracie, stopped to check out the puddle too. Our mares continued on happily together for the rest of the Blue/White loop at about 7 mph. Well except for when Luba spooked at the cows in Oscar's field, hit the ditch and bolted. My Garmin 310 says we hit 20 mph on that part LOL.
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| Lovely Sally and Gracie photo: http://www.horseacademy.ae |
We pulsed in in 6 minutes, CRI 64/68, all As from Dr. Lynne! (Denise's massage had super magical effects. I owe her a Shwarma). One more repeat loop to go. We can do this! Sally and I had a great time on trail and I am ever grateful to her for showing me the "virtual FEI crop". This consists of waving your hand behind your butt as if you had just farted. Apparently, horses think you are waving a crop!
The third bump in the road happened towards the end of the loop, when Luba lost a rear strap-on. We stopped at the water at Oscar's, I took off the other boot and we finished the ride the way we started, naked behind!
Dr. Lynne vetted us through to complete with a ride time of 9 hours 56 minutes, CRI 60/68, B for impulsion and A- for muscle tone, overall impression A-. It is always nice to see the same vet after hitting a bump at an earlier vet check, as they know first-hand whether things are getting better of worse. We were happy to complete and did not stand for BC, as I knew that Luba still had a sore bum.
I am ever grateful to Wendy M who came by after the ride to congratulate us and remind me to go big or go home.
"Don't go out on trail half way. Go out to rock it!" Sage advice from a fierce competitor.
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| Wendy and Tu Gold on their way to winning Sunday's 75 in a race off! photo: http://www.horseacademy.ae |
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