Foxcatcher 4/18 - who's going?

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

This is my first LD! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time... I've been training for it all on my own, and I'm going by myself (might have a horsey friend come, but not one who knows anything about endurance).

I'd love to meet up with any COTHers who are going... and if anyone is willing to let me camp next to them and be my unofficial mentor, I would be eternally grateful :)

Note: I'm not looking for anyone to ride with - my horse had hock surgery last July, and while he's completely sound and has been given the veterinary sign-off to do this, we're still going to be taking it easy on the ride. However, if anyone else is doing the LD, taking it easy, and wants company, you're welcome to join me.

[chicamuxen1]

Nope, doing the 55 at No Frills in Virginia the week before with Might Mouse. I prefer the mountain rides. But I am going to Fair Hill this weekend with my young horse to drag ride at the Chesapeake CTR. I would love to have some company riding drag as long as it was a quieter horse than the one I'll be riding! Silly Ayrab, spooks is for kids!

Bonnie S.

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

good to know about the footing - I've been going back and forth about deciding whether to put front shoes on or not.

He's currently barefoot and has amazing feet - I've never had to use boots on him. My farrier thinks he would be able to do it barefoot if the terrain isn't too rocky, so if it's mostly turf, we might be ok.

[chicamuxen1]

Actually, Fair Hill has added a lot of large gravel to many trails and areas that used to be bare dirt. Last fall I entered Mouse in the three day 100 CTR and had to pull him at 60 miles because he was tender from all the gravel. He was shod all around.

If you have a bare foot horse and are doing the LD you'll most likely be fine. But watch that gravel!!!! the big stuff can really wear away at their soles. and watch those darn trail ruts. Many of the fields that you ride around are beautiful turf but they have dirt trails that you are following. Your horse tends to want to trot in the rutted trails. But this causes them to travel closer with their feet and it can cause a lot of interference nics. it just tore up the legs of a friend's mare. the 2nd and 3rd day she stayed clear of the ruts and gravel and was able to finish the 100.

GTD, see you at No Frills!

Bonnie S.

[marta]

i did that ride 3 times. last year was the last time. we've done it in boots 2 times (fronts only). never had a problem with slipping or rocks on the 25 mile ride. however, the ground was well saturated the first 2 times we rode there (so well saturated that they had to pull my old 2 wheel drive truck out of the field w/ a tractor!). last year i shod her in the front (w/ pads) for the ride. took her for a hack the day before and really regretted not having shoes on hind feet. during the ride the ground was hard and those trails through the woods were v. uncomfortable for her - hard packed dirt and rocks. you know your horse and his level of comfort on rocks so just keep in mind that it's not all grassy rolling hills down there. if you don't shoe then at least bring a set of boots to throw on him in case he needs it.

and foremost, enjoy the ride. it's beautiful down there. awesome river crossings. they do such a good job putting on that ride. there is always a lot of newbies in the LD, you might want to stay back at the start line so your horse doesn't get sucked into the racing mode.

[Bank of Dad]

Bonnie, with today's weather, do you still think they will have the Fair Hill CTR tomarrow? Linda's up there now with her horse.

[matryoshka]

I'll be driving the horse amulance at the FoxCatcher. Say hello if you see me, but I sure hope to not be hauling any of your horses that day!!

I'll also be scribing for a lay judge at the CTR this weekend.

I've got a lot of gray hair, blab incessantly, and generally say inappropriate things at the wrong moment (despite my best efforts). So, if you see somebody matching this description, say hello! It's always fun to meet other COTHers!

[phantomhorse]

i will be at foxcatcher, doing the 50. :)

glad to hear no frills got enough entries to be a go!

[grouseviz]

matroyka said.....I've got a lot of gray hair, blab incessantly, and generally say inappropriate things at the wrong moment (despite my best efforts). So, if you see somebody matching this description, say hello! It's always fun to meet other COTHers!
...

Well I'm glad I know what you look like because I sure as heck wouldn't recognise you from that description:-)))) well at least the gray hair part! :D

[matryoshka]

I've also got a dark-gray truck and a Brenderup for ambulance duty. They're dead give-aways as to my identity.

I've had people tell me they'd love to have a horse the color of my hair. So maybe I should call myself a dapple gray? :lol:

Scribing at the CTR today was fun. Verrrrry windy, though.

[chicamuxen1]

Sort of off topic but what the heck. The trails at Fair Hill were fairly good yesterday but many wet soggy areas on fields we had to cross. Watch those wet areas! I went ahead and took my youngster up and rode drag behind the 25 mile riders. I wasn't sure if I'd do the entire 25 miles as he hasn't been training for very long and I know how tiring muddy trails can be. However he did just fine. We had several nice long gallops and many grazing breaks. I was riding alone and tried to keep just far enough back to keep out of sight of the last riders. With a couple of miles to go I came on those rear riders and had a jiggy hot head under me until I found a field to hold him in grazing until they left again. Anyway, he ate and drank really, really well. Eating along the trail means all is well with his stomach and it stimulates drinking. He even accepting electrolyting well. I was a happy camper, next time he'll have to ride amongst other horses.

I was nice to spend some time with KC Foxy who's horse did EXTREMELY well at his first competition (1st place in the LtWt category and tied for 2nd highest score overall) and Matryoshka who got a few spare minutes to gab. Thank you for the horse compliments!

Next weekend it's back on Mouse for the No Frills 55.

Bonnie S.

[matryoshka]

I can always spare a few moments to gab. ;) I enjoyed meeting your horse. I can't wait to see how he does when you compete him.

[marta]

heard they gave them an extra 1/2 hour of ride time b/c of the mud.

i know our trailers in central jersey are soaked. and today they just got worse. looks like we'll have to head down to sandy pine barrens to get some trail riding done...

[chicamuxen1]

Yes the ride manager used her option to add some extra time. I'm glad they did. It gave people some breathing room so they could slow up on the soggy field areas. The trails themselves weren't too bad.

We haven't had much rain here in Charles county MD, a drought is predicted for the mid-atlantic area this summer. I hope not, my poor little fields are always hard hit in dry periods. I got a last training ride in on my Mouse on Sun, prior to the 55 at the No Frills in Va next Sat. Of course rain is predicted the day of the ride. I must say, the No Frills ride is one trail that hold up to rain! but the VC area may get pretty mucky. there is one really steep down hill that will be a slide if it rains much. Crupper alert for anyone doing this ride!

Bonnie S.

[matryoshka]

The weather at the FoxCatcher was beautiful. I hope those of you who attended enjoyed yourselves!! I occupied myself driving the horse ambulance (only had one pick-up that day), writing down times and numbers at the 25 mile finish line, and scribing for Art. I think that was the nicest day we've had so far this spring.

Unfortunately, it's going to be soggy riding to take down the trail markers.

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

It WAS beautiful! Everything ran smoothly, and the footing was as good as could be expected - some deep spots, but for the most part very good. Kudos to all the organizers and volunteers for such a well-run ride!

I did decide to put front shoes on my guy, and I'm glad I did - there were some long stretches on gravel roads, and even a few spots with old pavement. He definitely would have been footsore if I hadn't put the shoes on, but with the front shoes on, we had no problems.

We ended up placing right in the middle of the pack, with a ride time of 4 hours. I'm so proud of him - considering the fact that he had hock surgery less than 9 months ago, I was just hoping to finish, but to do so well was just the icing on the cake! He was a little off at the final jog, but the vet let us pass. Luckily, it turned out to just be fatigue - he was sound by the evening, and the hock looked great the next day.

[matryoshka]

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, and congratulations for earning a completion!