Maumee Valley 2011

Maumee Valley Endurance Ride, 2011

Last year we had just awful weather for our first Maumee Valley PI ride, so we were certainly hoping for better this year. Because of the down turn in the economy we shorted it to a two day ride this year so as to cut some expenses. Still, we didn’t have as good of a turn out as we hoped, but we sure did have a good time by all that did make it to the ride. The Daniel Boone Distance Riders put on this ride, and it is a mandatory ride for members to work one day so as to qualify for our year end, 300 mile award. Therefore, we have lots of workers to make things go smoothly for the riders. No waiting for anything!

DBDR have team competition too, so we end up taking turns working as teams, and riding as teams, so as to gather as many points as possible. It is all in fun, but also competitive!

First days ride, weather was great. A little muggy, but the trails were shady and lots of running water in the creeks for the horses to drink and sponge from. The trails here are just beautiful. We had a controlled start up the worst section of the whole trail, then off we went. I was riding along with the front group, when Connie Caudill (one of the trail markers) started noticing that ribbons had been pulled down…a lot of ribbons! Yikes! It is really hard to understand why people take delight in sabotaging our trails… Connie is really good at marking trails well enough so that even if you are flying, you cannot miss a turn… But, alas, these saboteurs were a dedicated bunch and lots of turn markers and ribbon were either stomped in the ground, or gone completely. So, Connie and Bill Wilson, another trail marker started tearing off the ends of ribbon that was up, to remark as we went along. So it was trot, canter, stop, trot, canter, stop for several miles until the trail picked up again. I was sticking with the trail markers for sure… I HATE getting lost. And so were my granddaughter, Paige, and her sponsor Vickie Crance. They usually go a bit slower, since Paige’s horse has just started his endurance career and had only one 50 under his belt. But he looked good and they too didn’t want to get lost in the maze of trails. Actually, there was quite a group of us, nine if I remember right. But what about the other riders who had dropped back? There were fifteen I believe in the 50, and about 12 or so in the 25 miler. At least there was a very good map with numbered trail markers. So hopefully, everyone had one handy.

When we got back to camp, my GPS clicked over to 18 miles. Very accurate mile calculation on trail manager’s part! The Vet Check went smoothly, (lots of workers :-)) and there was a wonderful cool breeze right there. How nice of Mother Nature. Paige and Vickie had dropped back a bit when the trail looked like it hadn’t been touched by the bandits, but came in shortly after us. All looking good, Yeah!

My boy, Noways insists he HAS to roll after every loop, so he did as soon as he was back in his little corral. It means I have to spend some time brushing off the mud and dirt, but he enjoys it so much, I don’t grumble too much. He doesn’t like his feed junked up with elytes, so messed around with that until I added more grain. But, the alfalfa was OK indeed. I have to wait until I have his bridle on before I give him his syringe of Elytes or he won’t open his mouth for the bit…so spoiled, that boy. I ate another half a peanut butter sandwich and drank and drank, then we were off again for the second loop.

This time, Connie and Bill had a roll of ribbon with them and again, the trail had been messed with. It had even been sabotaged since we were out on the first loop…what the heck! So again, it was trot, canter, and stop through a great deal of the loop. So glad I was with the trail markers…or I would still be wandering around out there. Connie had told everyone at the Vet Check, which had gotten back in, how to navigate the next loop, so hopefully, they could get through. BTW, Connie is the fastest ribbon tier I have ever seen! She can do it at a trot…but, let me know that she couldn’t do it at a canter when I was letting Noways lead for a bit…LOL. I bet she can do it, boy is she quick!

I think it was this loop that Noways suddenly saw a log across the trail, (that I thought he was going to jump) and darted off into a bunch of grape vines nearly knocking me off…good grief. I ended up with only a few bruises and scrapes, but was careful from then on that we were of the same mind when approaching a low jump. McKaleigh, Connie’s niece, was having a fine time jumping all the logs she could. At this point we were a group of five. All Bush Whackers (team), but me…yikes! :-)

Again, back to the Vet Check…again everyone checked through fine, again, a nice breeze, again, a roll in the mud, no elytes in the feed this time. Food, water, brush, saddle, bridle, elytes squirt, then off again. Vickie and Paige had dropped back even more, so I didn’t see them until ready to leave. All looked good with Paige and Titan. I didn’t know that Vickie was having a bit of worry with Boo and had to have a recheck. Or, I would have waited to be sure Paige had a sponsor. But, all was well and we met them going out as we were about to finish the last short loop.

There were only four of us now, and we discussed a race off or tie, so we agreed to make it a four way tie for first. Thanks, Bush Whackers for letting a Duck finish with you… Another great ride with Noways!

Paige and Titan were soon in and happy to have another 50 miles under their belt. Vickie finished 8th, and Paige was 9th! We are really pleased with the way he is progressing. He is very good at taking care of himself, and thankfully, he also takes care of Paige. They really click together.

Before the awards, we had a wonderful dinner from the Café 58 restaurant. Oh man did that taste good! Three fresh green salads, a big slab of lasagna, and the choice of cakes to take care of any sweet tooth. I ate it all…

Amazingly, everyone figured out the trails and we had a 100% finish!! What a great group of riders! I think every one of our teams had enough for a team finish, so all got points. The Ducks had a 1st, me, a 8th, Vickie, a 9th, Paige, in the 50 and a 3rd, Brenda in the 25. Yeah!! Of course the Bush Whackers really racked up the points…sigh can’t beat that team… Haven’t heard from the Seven Slippers or the Wild Bunch yet, but they all had a good finishes.

For the next day, Connie explained the trail and recited the numbers of each trail so that they could be followed no matter how many ribbons were snatched.

Day two dawned with thunder storms…opps…so glad I had ridden the day before. But, undeterred our riders showed up with rain gear and off they went to face the challenge. It rained and rained.. And all riders were a bit wet when they came in to the VC, but all were smiling. Bless them! When all the 25 milers had finished, the rain quit and the sun came out to end in another beautiful day. Again, no one got lost, and again we had 100% finishes…wow how often does that happen?

On this day only one Duck rode, so no points, but he did get 1st in the 25 miler. Great job, Dr. Greg! Of course those Bush Whackers all finished together for 1st place, in the 50… sigh…:-)

A big thanks to our Ride Managers, Cindy Young and Sue Keith! (Wild Bunch) and to our trail markers, Bill Wilson and Connie Caudill (Bush Whackers), and to all the rest of us that do the timing, pulse taking, recording, etc. that make our rides go smoothly so we can enjoy our sport.

And we can’t forget the farrier that always puts wings on my horse’s feet! Tom Keith.

Also, thanks to our loyal Vets that take the time to see that our horses are sound and healthy. Mike Habel, and Maureen Fehrs.

So now the DBDR is planning our new fall ride in Kentucky at a new location. Here we can see a large herd of elk…! KENTUCKY STAMPEDE! Join us for some FUN!!