Angela & Unos Esperanza enjoy their first Competitive
Trail Ride Adventure Together
Angela & Unos Esperanza enjoy their first Competitive
Trail Ride Adventure Together
A few months ago I met Angela thru her inquiries about the Paso Fino horse. She soon expressed interest in trying competitive trail riding. She eagerly volunteered to ride Esperanza on a 2 day 50 mile CTR for my sister Amy who was not able to attend. The ride was based in Fryeburg Maine. So vacation plans were made to allow time for us to travel to and from the ride in late July.
We left Pennsylvania late Thursday evening and arrived in Fryeburg Maine early Friday morning. We were so tired we set up camp, fed the horses and went to bed for a few hours.
Friday afternoon and evening the "vetting in" process began. Angela had to present Esperanza to the judges for a hands on inspection where every detail of the Esperanza's condition, hydration, old scars or marks of any kind, including any leg swelling is marked on the judges score sheets. Then Angela had to take Esperanza thru a "trot out" which shows the vet judge and lay judge how the horse looks while traveling straight away from then, circling to the left and then to the right, and traveling straight back toward the judges. This is used to judge soundness. Because Esperanza and Medallion were the only Paso Fino horses attending this ride the trot out raised some interesting questions and comments from the judges as well as other riders who noticed these horses different way of going.
Getting ready for the ride to start
Saturday morning 5am, up and at em! Feed the horses and get to a 5:30 breakfast followed by a riders meeting to warn of sections of the trail that may be more challenging then others, describe trail markings, and tell us about the holds and the vets requirements for the pulse and respiration at the mid point hold as well as at the finish. There were actually two separate rides Saturday following the same course. Over 30 horses would be riding only one day over the 25 mile course while an additional 30 plus riders would start this morning hoping to come back on Sunday and do it all again for the 2-Day 50.
The riders started the ride at staggered times a few minutes apart beginning at 7 am. Angela and I started about 7:20 Saturday morning.
Morning On the beach
Many of the CTR rides have water crossings but this one has an honest to goodness river crossing. And you cross it four times on the 50 mile ride. If your horse has issues with water and you make it thru this ride I promise there will not be a water problem any longer!
Angela had been warned to bring extra shoes since her feet would certainly get wet.
Since neither Angela or Esperanza had ever done anything quiet like this river crossing I am sure Angela had a few butterflies in the pit of her stomach as she headed down the beach that first day.
Both Angela and Esperanza look like they cross this river every day don't they?
It was deep enough to swim in places
And they made it!
This ride has some beautiful trail thru the woods and along the river and some breathtaking views of the mountains. The base camp is at the Fryeburg State Fair Grounds and sports stalls, RV hook ups, and room for small paddocks to be set up. Oh ya and best of all hot showers!
Once into the hold Angela had only 10 minutes to cool Esperanza down to the vets pulse requirement of 64 beats per minute.
Coming into the hold
Angela sponged water over Esperanza's neck while the mare helped herself to a cool drink of water. Angela had to watch her stopwatch and Heart Monitor display to know when Esperanza was ready for her pulse to be checked.
Cooling down at the Hold
Esperanza is very fit and her heart rate actually dropped into the 40's inside of 10 minutes so the P&R checks were no problem for them this weekend.
"Trot out" for soundness check at the hold
Immediately after the P&R check was met Angela had to proceed to the vets for a mid point trot out for soundness and clearance from the judges that Esperanza was ok to finish the ride. And of course she was! The mid point hold time can vary from ride to ride but this particular "hold" was 20 minutes. This meant Angela had to hustle to get P&R clearance, trot out for the judges, and eat and drink something herself while Esperanza had her choice of carrots, her favorite grain, and hay from home. Twenty minutes goes fast! Finish up with some electrolytes for Esperanza and back on the trail!
At the end of the day Angela had twenty minutes to cool off Esperanza and hopefully meet a target recovery Heart Rate of 44. She did. And then present again to the judges for hands on to note any change of condition over that of the horse at the start of the ride. Once all riders had gone thru the hands on inspection they all had to come back and go thru a final trot out for the judges.
And best of all Angela and Esperanza get to get up again tomorrow morning at 5:30 and do it all again!
I have to tell you Angela is one tuff cookie! Not only did she tackle 50 miles as her first competitive ride but she completed with a 5th place finish!
All Photo Credits This page Gordon Hall