"The Agony of De Feet (or actually De Hock)"

Hopkins Creek Ride, June 2003

Hopkins Creek has never been a good ride for me. In 1998, Jonathan and I took a somersault tumble that left me digging sand out of my bellybutton, ears and other nether regions for days afterward. The next season I had a helmet!!! In 2000, Malik and I did another tumble in the sand (didn't realize his saddle had started to pinch him as he muscled up), two days in a row, the second day resulting in a tendon injury for him (which thankfully healed quickly and soundly after several weeks off). In 2001, we did finish our first 50 there though he wasn't eating well (which scared the crap out of me) and then later discovered he had been eating green apples which had fallen on the ground into his pasture at home! When that gas passed, WE almost passed out! Last year was better but enthusiasm early in the ride got the better of us and that last ten miles was torture in the sand and heat and bugs as we walked most of it!!! But we finished again! I swore I would only do 25 miles on this trail because THAT is fun. But noooooo....I had to give 50 a try again!! (Pam-consider me pre-entered next year for the 25 LD and DENY me vehemently entry into the 50!).

Anyway, we showed up early Friday (HC isn't too far for us), just Malik and I, no Max and no Jenny. He moped all day. I swear to God he would go over and hide his face behind a tree. It was quite odd with just the two of us though not the first time we have been to a ride without them. But I understood how he felt! Nelson had to work so even HE wasn't there. He perked up when Jinnifer Plummer's mom, Julie and friend, Kellie showed up and then Jinnifer and Robert themselves a short time later. But you know it's not the same!!! He couldn't decide WHAT would make him happy...plain grain and beet pulp DRY or WET, dry hay or wet hay....I put them all out for him and he picked at whatever when he felt like it. Frequently though, he would come to the fence nearest to me, hang his head over and ask for carrots and apples and treats. And I am a sucker...might as well write it on my forehead. I don't know why I worried about him...he DID get plenty to eat!

We managed to get ourselves all ready and tacked up on Saturday morning for the 6 a.m. start. It was COLD (37 degrees at 5 a.m.! And then 85 degrees by midafternoon! And you wonder why I want to move???) Anyway, Nelson was late, thinking we weren't starting until later. We met him on the road going out. As it turned out, I sort of caught up to Julie (Jinnifer's mom, can't remember her last name!) and our horses paced so well that we just kept going on together. The front runners were really hoofing it and neither of us felt the need for speed that day. :) It was a beautiful day for the ride in spite of the dust and it was not yet hot. The creeks were refreshing (sure wished I could jump right in!) with honeysuckle covering the edges. Wildflowers and butterflies were abundant! Simply a beautiful day to be alive and riding a horse!!!

We walked into the first check at 60. I was totally shocked. I had prepared myself with buckets and sponges and water up the ying yang because that first check, when Malik is still quite excited is usually our nemesis. Not today. In fact, he walked in DOWN at every check. BEST recoveries he has EVER had!!! Wow! A's on everything but gut sounds which were B's and in light of the previous day, that didn't concern me as he was still eating well though not pigging out as usual. He was having fun and so was I. Unfortunately, Julie had to pull at the halfway so we were on our own again. BUMMER!!! That is NO fun!! But within the first couple of miles, I caught up to Amy Yatsko and we rode together the rest of the ride and had a ball. She is a lot of fun and I enjoyed her stories and insight about the sport (she's been riding since she was NINE!) and some of the people we both knew (Jeanie taught her plenty of those naughty songs!). Her mare is extremely competitive and gave Malik those killer looks...he wasn't impressed and gave them right back. So much for the slutty mare syndrome! :) It was still fun and the horses were really pumped. On the last ten miles, we decided to keep up a steady, fast pace....every so often we would whoop and holler a little bit and the horses would get excited and canter away. They knew we were almost done. It was still early and we were looking at a ride time of just over 5 hours. That suited me fine! Definitely an improvement over past years! We passed up several people on this last loop. One of them was Robert Plummer and Shark....he was off walking his horse. I was concerned that one of them was hurt. Nope. He felt his horse had had enough and was going to WALK him into the finish. Which at that point was another 8 miles at least! THAT is the kind of rider we need more of in the sport!!! Kudos to you, Robert, for taking care of your horse! It was HOT and the bugs were nasty and I hate RIDING that last loop and I can't say I could have done the same...I would have had to pull myself because I certainly couldn't have physically done it!

Anyway, to make a long story short, just when you think it's over, the fat lady sings! We cantered in from the two mile mark, our horses (and ourselves) having the time of our lives....Malik and Amy's mare were having quite a contest of wills. They wanted to RACE. There was nothing to race for except the sheer joy of running and the competition. There was certainly no top ten position to vy for. They beat us by a hair and I had a helluva time pulling Malik up....I think he would have kept right on running down the road on the 15 mile loop!!!! I hopped off, exhilarated and a little nauseous (I didn't take good care of myself on this ride and I didn't realize it until it was too late!). We untacked, already pulsed down, walked over for a drink and a treat for Malik and when we walked over for the vet to see his trot, he was LAME. Lamest I have ever seen him!!! I knew immediately when and where it had happened....about a half mile from camp I had felt a little slip in the rear (not unusual in that sand) but in retrospect it wasn't IN the sand....it was in an area where there were a few roots and I guess one must have had his name on it! He never broke the canter or missed a beat. I was, of course, disappointed to not receive a completion...we iced his hock but it was not to be for us. Though I appreciated the advice of a few well meaning folks who seemed to feel this was a result of the miles we have done in the last two months rather than a "shit happens" accident, I do know my horse. I have very carefully brought him along for the last 4 years. I have pulled him when he needed pulling. I have continued on when I felt we could do it. I have even ridden when Nelson (Mr. Competitive-You-CAN-Go-Faster himself!) thought I shouldn't (and won BC). I am totally in tune with this horse. We have had accidents that made us stronger and taught us about relying on each other and "reading" each other. Malik always comes back better and stronger than before. In light of his awesome recoveries last weekend, I can't help but wonder how great he will be when he comes back from THIS! The vet feels he will be fine in a week or ten days. I will evaluate then and make a decision about our ride schedule for July. I do appreciate Melinda Koskovich's time and expertise in helping us evaluate Malik's injury and his ride schedule. As I write this, he is out in his pasture, cantering and kicking up his heels with his mares and his son!

Am I sorry I went to Hopkins Creek this year? Hell no. I had a BALL. I got to know Julie and Amy, met Deanna and her very lady like mare. (What slut????) I won't rub salt in the wounds about her misfortunes....she still thinks I'm a nice person as far as I know. :) Had a chance to see Jinn and Robert again and meet her friend, Kellie. Dear friend Shannon Weston showed up to do comp on her mare, Scarlett and we enjoyed what little time we had to visit with her as we really do NOT get to see her often enough!!! I also met Jerry Fruth and had some interesting conversation with him about the sport. It was a great ride even though we didn't get a completion. That happens sometimes. I don't regret it at all. If we don't take chances, how will we ever achieve anything??? I'm talking about calculated risks here, too, not reckless, bat out of hell and don't care if I hurt my horse kind of chances. Basically, we are taking a chance every time we simply LOAD our horses to attend a ride!!! Before we ever even get out on the trail.

I would like to say thank you to the Hopkins Creek team (management and volunteers and vets!). I think Pam did a great job managing for her first time. Like me at the Wolverine, she had some great help, support and encouragement from mentors and experienced ride managers. Yeah, there were some snafus but those bugs get worked out. There is absolutely NO reason for rudeness EVER...those who would like to complain and be jerks should just TRY to manage a ride sometime and see if THEY can do better. Usually those who want to make the loudest noises about what they consider incompetence are the ones who have never or very seldom bothered to volunteer at a ride and see what actually goes on behind the scenes to make it all run smoothly. A mistake in scoring or judging (the math not the vet's opinion that you might think is a mistake) is exactly WHY we give out the cards ahead of time so riders can help us catch potential mistakes. What purpose does rudeness serve in pointing out a mistake? It serves to make one unwelcome and unwanted at rides not only by ride managers, but by riders as well. We are human and usually sleep deprived X 10 by Saturday evening awards and even with help, innocent mistakes can be made. THE RIDE IS THE PRIZE! And if all you care about is 1st or 2nd or 3rd or whatever, then you are missing the big picture. Pam had some great fun awards and we had fun with the twins and Deanna. She and the HC team (Steve and Jeanie and Larry, et al.)worked their butts off to make sure everyone had fun and pulled through SAFELY. It WAS a great ride. I'm going again next year but I am VOLUNTEERING on Saturday and RIDING 25 on Sunday!!! :) Got that, Pam???