Becky, Cookie and I all went with our horses to the Tin Cup Fall AERC ride near Luther Michigan on Friday September 17, 2010.
We loaded the horses and traveled down there on Friday afternoon. I was really hoping for some decent sunny weather-so far it was fine.
We brought lots of good food with us---thanks Becky and Cookie!!--so we were going to ride some great trails, eat some good food and meet people at the ride.
We set up camp, got all three horses checked in and we prepared everything we could for the morning. The trail was out and back for the 25 milers. That meant we needed to take everything we needed with us on the saddle or else put some items at the vet check halfway through at the 13 mile mark.
Saturday morning, I left camp on Eli at 7:30 AM for the 50 mile ride. We were riding two 25 mile loops with three 40 minute holds. Two holds were away from camp and one was in camp.
Cookie and Becky left shortly after on the same 25 mile loop at 8 AM. A little ways into the loop the rain started. I had a raincoat with me but we all got soaked. Got through the vet check and headed back to camp for the second 40 minute hold. The rain at that point was on and off. Fortunately I was back in camp and was able to change in to dry clothes. Then Eli and I headed out to do the second 25 mile loop. We rode half of that loop by ourselves then caught up with two other riders. No rain on this loop!
The trails were well marked. There was lots of variety from two tracks, single tracks, open areas, a bit of sandy roads, a few hills-all really beautiful.
Back to camp-ride finished. Yay! Eli did really well. For this ride, he wore Easyboot Gloves on his front hooves and he was shod on the rear hooves. I know that is kind of a weird configuration. A few weeks ago he was shod all the way around. Then he bent one of his front shoes so I had the shoer pull off both his front shoes. I had a pair of Easyboot Gloves so I planned to ride him with those on in front. Eli has done all of his rides with shoes on so this was a different ride plan for Eli wearing the Easyboots.
After I took off the Gloves though, Eli did have two sores on his pasterns where the gators must have rubbed some hair off. I did not like seeing that. I don't know how to prevent the gators from rubbing. Other than the rubbing, he seemed to do OK in the boots. We went through a lot of sand but not much rock on the trail.
Riders and horses coming in to the vet check on Sunday morning:
I finished the ride feeling fine. I did not feel exhausted at the end of the ride, thank goodness. I think the cooler weather helps me feel more comfortable riding. The hot weather rides are harder for me.
The furnace worked on the trailer and the propane stove was working too. It got cold on Saturday night and in the middle of the night the furnace kicked on. We heated up water and had coffee in the mornings. We had Sees Candy too. We love See's Chocolates. I sure like having a few luxuries like heat and a roof over my head.
Thanks Becke Grams, the vets and all helpers for a great ride!
I will post more pictures later.
