Alright. We are driving home from one of the best rides out there. Do not miss Bare Bones next year. Its a little rocky in some spots and its very hilly, but its fun! And ride camp is an amazing atmosphere here. Trails were excellently marked, plenty of water and pony food! So - we started our race about 5 minutes late (which is good for us) and got moving. Eagle was not hot at all, and the Little Mare was surprisingly in control. It was a longer loop so I ran the last 2 miles in to vet check to give Eagle a break. When we got to VC 1, Eagle didnt eat much. He wanted carrots but hes not keen on his mash. So we took it slower on the second loop. At the top of the peak we found a grassy patch and stopped for 15 minutes of grazing. This is what saves ponies. Good grass in the stomach goes a long way! Eagle was happy and forward, easily extending up the hills and covering ground at 10mph. I got off and ran close to 4 miles down the really steep downhill coming off the peak. Eagle appreciated the break. My legs did, too. We got into VC 2 and Eagle was eating, but still not great. He was also tired. Sleeping at VC. Our trot out was pathetic - he dragged his legs behind me. He wanted to sleep and rest and wasnt aware we were still racing. Dr. Randy didnt seem concerned because his pulse was down, gut sounds were good, and he was hydrated. I told him I would take it very slow on our last 10 mile loop since we had plenty of time (4 hours). We left VC 2 and Eagle wasnt sure why but he came along and walked out. Then, it hit him. We are going home! My sleepy pony perked up and started racing home at a comfortable, easy 10mph trot. I was glad to have the bit in since we thought of just riding in the halter on the last loop! He was very forward and was so relieved to come into camp. We vetted in a little high but after a sponge he came down. He vetted great with almost all As at the finish and was alert, happy, and very hungry. And itchy - as many remember him assaulting me in camp. Im so happy we got our finish and on a really hard course! We sponged aggressively where we could and I packed water to dump on him in my bag. The grazing was crucial to our success, too. You have plenty of time, 15 minutes lost grazing beats an upset stomach every time. Our next step is to experiment with mash to see what hell eat, but for now I am so satisfied to have finished with a healthy, happy, and sound pony.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 17:44:54 +0000