An update
I just realized that I didn't post the story of the 100 mile race that I did in with Hailey at Long Island! To make a long story short it was my first race by myself (no support from Christy because she was working at a kids' horse camp that weekend), so 2 days before I started to get nervous and scared. Lisa and my friend Darin came and crewed for me, so I was able to survive and make it through in one piece.
All of the people riding the 100 rode together all day. We decided that at the end of the day we would all cross the finish line together and then draw for placings. All of the other riders who were finished the shorter distances and all the spectators were expecting us to race in, but we came around the corner on the road cantering in a line and all crossed together. It was a great finish to a really great day. At the awards the next morning Hailey and I were drawn for first place! It's my first first!
Hailey and I at our crewing area during our lunch break
Hailey being checked by the vet. Christy's 14 year old daughter Jaylene also crewed for me in the afternoon (she's on the left)
Hailey wrapped and munching, ready to go homeThe week before Hailey competed in a 3 day 150 mile race in Rocky Mountain House, and won the Grand Champion, Best Conditioned Horse, and Veterinary Choice awards. Then she did a 100 mile race in 12.5 hours with me. She really is a star.
Two weeks after that I competed in a 50 mile race in Drayton Valley on Sakic (rode him this weekend). I rode with two other people that I know from previous rides. We finished middle of the pack and Sakic did really well. He had really good pulse recoveries all day, and looked really good on the final vet check. He's only 6 and he had a bad injury to his right hind leg as a 2 year old, so we're just going slow with him and building his strength this year. Next year he should be able to go a little bit faster. There is a possibility that he will do the 100 mile ride in Oyen very slowly next month!
Sakic, Jules (crewed for us that day), Christy, and Christy's husband Ron
Sakic and I at our lunch break
4 comments:
Oh Brenda,
I wish I could be riding with you, you lucky gal!
Thanks for the update and great photos.
Love,
Mum
Congratulations, Bren, on your first first place award! I LOVE how you achieved it, as well. I've never heard of a race like that but it seems to me if we humans held more cooperative races like yours (or at least made a collective decision to stay together and help each other, then draw for placement) we would have fewer wars.
I agree with Roma -- those are great photos. And, like some of Grandma's recent blog posts, it's cool to see the "story" of your race in photos and captions. Sounds like tons of fun --in spite of your nervousness you did really well. Congrats again.
Maureen,
Usually during races everyone rides at their own pace, not together in a large group. It just so happened that we were all riding the same pace that day. Also, the leaders almost always race in to the finish line at the end of the day.
The reason why we didn't race in at the end was because we had all had a great time riding together all day and wanted to finish on a good note. Also, a couple weeks before that one of the people we were riding with completed a Competitive Trail Ride (different than an endurance in that it's not a race against the clock) where everyone crossed the finish line together and he thought it would be neat to duplicate that ending.
I thought it was fantastic. If everyone had decided to race in I would not have joined them because that was not part of my plan for the day. So I'm glad that my plan jived with the group plan.
Brenda
"So I'm glad that my plan jived with the group plan.
" ....
i'm glad too. that's so cool!
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