Los Vaqueros 50, 1995

 

Hats off to our internet buddy Dom Freeman, and her ride Co-Manager

Donna Snyder Smith for putting on a great ride this past weekend. It

was unfortunate the turnout was so low- there were about 30 fifty

milers and 15 or so twenty-five's. Perhaps it was the smoke in the

air from the Pt Reyes fire, or maybe the rescheduled Quicksilver ride.

Whatever it was, it made it better for us who were there. These guys

gave out almost eleven hundred dollars (that's $1,100) worth of

prizes. Every rider left the awards ceremony with an armload of

stuff.

 

The weather was nice, although it could have been cooler. The course

was marked so well it was almost funny. I challenge anyone to get lost

on this ride. Of the fifty miles, about 40 of it was either up or

down hill. The route made the riders think about what they were

doing, since blitzing the course would not work. Head vet Melissa

Ribly did a great job, and as a result there were about 8 horses

pulled, but there were no serious problems at all. There was an

abundance of water on the course, and there was a strategic trough

placed at an intersection point of all the loops. Every horse drank a

ton there while going in and out.

 

The ride covered three loops, two of which were repeated. Some horses

were really balking at going back out on the course, since all the vet

checks were in the same place at base camp. One horse almost bucked

his rider off! Dust was never an issue, nor were there any rocks to

speak of. The route was about 40% dirt roads, with a little single

track thrown in.

 

Our barn had four horses at the ride, all of whom finished. My Wife

Judy on Warpaint the Wonder Appaloosa started at the end of the ride,

and ended up in tenth place. Our friend Sheila Larson got 11th, and I

came in 12th on Shatta, after starting out after everyone else. (on

his second ride ever) That sounds better than it really was, since I

finished about 3 hours after the winner. My ride was another step in

his conditioning program, and it is working. My horse was superb all

day, with his heart rate at around 44 -48 after walking in to the

checks. (the criteria was 60) It's fun to watch him trot for the

vets- they all watch him and say- "he sure looks nice". I did take a

good fall, but not from my horse. I was running down a steep hill

along side him, and slipped like I was on ice. WHUMP! Right on my

tail bone. Ouch! Got to watch that silt.

 

I rode the entire last 30 miles by myself, and rarely even saw another

horse. It was neat, since I got to see how my horse would go without

any other horses along. There were some views from the tops of the

hills that were amazing!

 

Northern California hotshoe Jazon Wonders won the ride, and got best

condition. I will let Dom send out a list of the finishers and

times, since I did not keep track. (that's hard to do when you are

riding an event) I have been crewing so long, I forgot how much fun

it is to get back out there. (tell my legs that today)

 

Nick Warhol

 

PS: For all you folks with gaited horses-

 

We had a good laugh at the finish watching the last few horses go

through the post ride check. Three of them were gaited horses of some

sort, and it was funny to watch them trot for the vets. The vets

can't compare them to the traditional trot, so they sort of scratch

their heads. When one Paso looking horse trotted, the legs were just

flying! They were all quite sound, but it was interesting to figure

out what to compare them to!

 

 

PSS: Special thanks to my internet buddy Jennifer Layman, who came

out to the ride and helped crew for Judy and I. I met her through the

endurance mailing list. She has a young Arab mare, and is interested

in learning about and competing in endurance riding. She was a great

help, and as everyone knows, it is wonderful to have a crew. This is

one example of how neat this internet stuff is.