July Meeting

Tuesday 20th, 7 pm (6 pm if you want to eat ahead of the meeting) 
at Baker's Square, Auburn

Tevis Ride - Volunteers Needed for the Quarry

Since 1986, Gold Country Endurance Riders have had the privilege of organizing and running the Quarry Vet Check for the Western States Trail Foundation 100 Miles in One Day Tevis Cup Ride.

The vet check is an important one because it is only 7 miles from the finish line in Auburn.  We staff a large group of volunteers who assist the veterinarians, help the riders, and most importantly, help take care of the horses. The planning starts weeks before the event.  Water, hay, bran mash,  apples and carrots, people food and drinks, lighting, communications, emergency transportation of animals and/or people are all planned well in advance. Although we try to schedule shifts, the day of the ride some volunteers will be working close to 24 hours straight. They don't call this "Endurance" for nothing.  

Since many of our members are either riding their horses, crewing for their friends, or riding SOS, we are always in need of people. Contact Greg & Sue Pellerin (530) 889-9700,  if you can help.  We would love to have you!

Club Dues:

• Dues are now past due for 2004!  Single = $15   Family = $25
• I will collect at the meeting, or they can be mailed to the club PO box: 
  P.O. Box 3412
  Auburn, CA 95604.  
• The email and s-mail lists were purged of "non-paying members" at the beginning of April, so if people want to receive anything, they must pay the dues. We don't charge for back dues - so there is no penalty for missing past years.

Gold Country Endurance Ride 2004

Cherryl's Wind Up

Darling Ridge (The Best Vet Check in the Universe)
Karin Ochialini

So, about 3 days before the ride, while Alison Spackman, Diane Dixon-Johnson and Cherryl and I are out riding the 30 mile loop, Cherryl informs us we should expect 130-140 riders. Good Grief! Last year we were in the 80’s with our ride numbers and I had planned on the same people to help. I say the same, because year after year, this group of volunteers forego riding this event to work at the vet check. The same group has been with me for over 8 years and though the past 2 years have been much kinder to us in the time spent volunteering at this, it is still a commitment they do not have to make. 

In past years, we were the “Rock Creek” vet check. The 30’s and 50’s came through in the morning and then the 50-milers traveled through on their way from lunch back to camp. We were there from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm, sometimes in freezing rain with a camp fire going, some years in the heat, but always with a goal to help every rider through and oh, yes, by the way…we spent a lot of time laughing. 

Chuck and Nanci, Mike and Kristy, Bill and Diana, Joe and Cindy, Jim, Pete and I were among the original volunteers. Of course the best vets in the world and their assistants were always at our check. Headed by Bob Morgan with Alison as his secretary, it was always a smooth, efficient check. 

Report from the Third Vet Check
(aka "Carol's Airport Story")
Carol Saunders

As one of the many, many volunteers working the third vet check on this years Gold Country Endurance Ride, all I can say is that Donna Williams & crew really have it together!!! 

Donna & her husband, Ken spent the night at the vet check in order to have everything ready for the rest of us to set up on time. Donna had quite an experience Friday night. Ken had gone ahead in their motorhome. Donna was to follow later in her truck. Well, she misplaced her truck keys. By the time she found the keys & got back to the airport, the gates were locked. Ken was inside, but there wasn’t any way to alert him that Donna was so near, but so far from him. By this time it was pitch dark & Donna was a little leery about walking the road to Ken. So, while Ken worried about Donna’s whereabouts, Donna & her dog, Lady cuddled up in the front seat of the pickup. Being the true professional that she is, going without sleep was only a small rock in the road, not a boulder.

As usual, the food at the vet check was gourmet. There was cut up watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, munchies, lots of cold drinks & no less than four kinds of HOMEMADE cookies.

The riders were amazed that not only was hay, water & bran supplied, but volunteers were offering to hold horses while the riders used the FLUSH toilets. Where else can a rider find such amenities?

None of the horses were bothered by the small planes arriving & taking off. 

I was only at the third vet check, but from the rider comments, the 2004 Gold Country Endurance Ride was a resounding success.

See you all next year!

Carol Saunders

PnRs
Ina Hutchings

I am glad to hear how successful our GCER ride was. This was the first time I was in charge of a P & R stop and I am extremely grateful to those that helped me that day. They made it fun and the time just flew by. 

The riders all had great attitudes, even when I told them their horses were too high. The horses were great too! Especially the ones that were still energetic, then there were some horses that liked to play lets hide the heartbeat and rub at the same time.

It was also interesting seeing the different tactics riders use to get their horses to pulse down, From one person singing to her horse while sitting down (that way he would think the ride was over) to finding another horse for company, and the old favorite.... strip and soak. Jon and Jim were great with the water, we never ran out, and talk about service with a smile, even when the riders and horses got in their way.

I thoroughly enjoyed working our ride, it was almost as much fun as riding it. 

Ina Hutchings

Write Ups

Despite the standard "RideCamp blows things completely out of proportion" thread following Cherryl's shock/horror decision to award participation awards (!!!), there were many stories from people saying what a great time they had at the ride. The sanest comment came from someone who said "Heck, if I finish the ride, I think of my award as a completion one, while if I get pulled, then I regard it as a participation award". And the moral of the story was summed up by the person who said "Remember, RideCamp isn't the real world".

The following appeared on RideCamp (www.endurance.net):

Linda Hedgpeth:

I am looking forward to next year, when hopefully I can once again, attend your wonderful ride. I haven't been able to ride for a long time, and I'm just now getting back in the saddle. Your ride is the BEST!!!! I only hope you don't get tired of doing it. Gorgeous trails in the mountains, a beautiful campsite, lot's of people and horse goodies, scads of friendly volunteers, and well organized........what more could one ask????

I would ride *this* ride again and again with no awards!!!!

Linda

(Jackie was the person who inadvertently sparked off the controversy by her innocent comments, despite the fact that she seemed to have little problem with the participation aspect of the award)

Jackie Floyd: 

Had a great time at Gold Country this weekend. Shady trails, lots of nice people. Around 140 horses on the trail between the 30, 50 and Ride and Tie. I didn't take any pictures this ride, forgot the camera, of all things. So just had fun riding.

Just wanted to thank the very capable ride management and their hordes of cheerful volunteers. I must say we were all treated like Kings and Queens and were waited on hand and foot. And the food ... my goodness. Talk about decisions. There was so much food available for us at the vet checks I stood there gawking, not being able to make up my mind what to have. Water bottles being filled, left and right ... oh and then there was the drug pusher at the first vet check <VBG> offering up Advil, etc. That was pretty cool.

Base camp was great. A big grove of shady trees. The trip there was a little challenging for me. I chose Placerville to Coloma on 49 instead of the Auburn route. My rig is a little long and I don't think my choice was any better than the Auburn route. I really didn't think I was riding my brakes that much but apparently, I was because when I got to Coloma, they smelled pretty bad. So I stopped and let 'em cool. I was parked in front of the Blacksmith's shop so I asked the guys in there if going 193 all the way to Georgetown would have been better and they gave that a big NO. Hmmm .... think I'll just build a house at Dru Barner.

But Lucy Trumbull came to the rescue and gave me a better option to get home. Black Oak Mine Rd. to Marshall Grade, a small dab of 49 to Lotus Rd. down to Shingle Springs and then home on 50. Well, Lucy ... I made it! However, I think I'll modify the trip for next year. Marshall Grade was a leetle bit much for my driving capabilities and I again ended up with some pretty smelly brakes at the bottom of Marshall Grade and stopped and cooled them off again. I doesn't help when you have an automatic transmission. My husband spent part of the afternoon explaining to me how to keep it from switching itself up to the next gear. Like what do they put those numbers on there for anyway if you can't count on the thing staying there??? Next time I think I'll go back out to Cool, down 49 across the river and finish off with Lotus Rd. The only part I really didn't like about my route there was the part between Placerville and Coloma and that cuts that out completely.

The only thing I was sad about this ride is that the awards were announced at 4:30 and I didn't get in until 4:30 so I didn't get to hear who the top ten were or BC or who got all those great belt buckles for First in Divisions, or where I came in, in that large pack of horses. I don't care about my placing, but I'm always interested to see how fast or slow everyone is riding on a particular day compared to how I'm riding. 

In looking at the perpetual trophies the evening before I found it interesting to note how much the winning times varied from year to year. I saw a couple of 3:30-some-odd minute wins with the other side of the spectrum being 6:30 wins. Quite a difference. Must be the weather. This year is was a very comfortable temperature but I know that I was already out from lunch quite awhile, after a 4-hr 30-mile loop, when the front runners were cantering past us going back in. So I'm thinking it wasn't a quick win this year.

Next weekend Battle Creek 25 with James Dean, the new boy...


:) Jackie

Tara Sherman:

Ah, yes-- another of the semi-frequent ride stories. An account from... hmm. Basically all of the interesting things, leaving out "And then we drove along the road and then a car passed us but it was legal but they were speeding and I read in the car and we stopped for Taco Bell for lunch and I lost the sporks and we hurried back to the horses and they were okay but..." and all that stuff. 

See?! I'll just put "bla bla bla" instead of boring you with the details - the boring details.

That morning, I slept in. Bla bla bla. The car ride? Bla bla bla. Once we got into camp and got parked, there wasn't much to do. Except, of course, to help other people put their corrals up and groom the Beloved Equine until she shimmered! Literally. We were parked next to (on one side) Pat, who had TWO Shadow horses! One at the ride, one at home. Kind of like us-- horsie Shadow and doggie Shadow. But even more so. On our other side, we found out that Jacque knew our neighbors who had just recently started going on many rides with us. We hadn't even vetted our horses in... and the adventure was already starting.

We vetted in... bla bla bla. Ride meeting... bla bla bla.

However, that night as I set up my sleeping bag and struggled with my mom trying to set up the tent, I felt like an old pro. In the bed of the truck (my mom clamimed the tent) I'd swept it lovely-ly and clean. I think that some of the people camped near us were questioning my sanity as I swept bits of hay across the tailgate... but oh well. I had a wonderful foam pad (which I had to bargain both horse blankets and my small foam pad away to my mom for) under my sleeping bag. I slept in my ride clothes for the next day, with my bit at my feet and a sheet of Bounce beneath my pillow. Boy, I was not willing to hold a Tara-buffet for the mosquitoes like I did at the ride meeting! lol.

In the morning, well, I wasn't the first up, but my mom managed to wake me before most people woke. After a wonderful breakfast of bagel, chocolate soymilk, sliced apple, and chocolate grahame crackers, the horses actually had finished eating. Well, sort of.

Bla bla bla.

After they were tacked, we went out to the road where other people were walking their horses before the start. To calm our horses, we took a more roundabout way than most people did.

Bla bla bla.

The start was controlled, but we started seven minutes late (at 6:07) but we were so incredibly late and typically so slow that it didn't particularly matter. After it became an un-controlled ride, my mom and I rode basically on our own. For a while, we rode with a group of individuals, and sometimes we would carefully keep our horses behind a couple of people. We basically passed and let pass, and kept our own pace. Shadow, however, decided that her pace was faster than Storm's.

So, we got behind some other people again. Ones that wouldn't take off once they got a chance. It was a woman named Beth, who (as we discovered) was the same Beth who sponsored me on the last seven miles of the American River Ride! She was riding with her eight year old daughter, Katey, who was riding Ima the mule. We stayed with them until a while after lunch, and at the last vet check before the finish Beth waited past their hold time to make sure that my mom's horse didn't get pulled and I wouldn't need another sponsor for the rest of the ride. Such a kind woman.

Anyway... I think I skipped ahead in time! Of course, there isn't much to say... except that the volunteers were wonderful. Out on the trail there would be water troughs and sponge buckets, with people refilling your water bottles and giving you sodas. Sometimes there were carrots for the horses, people pouring water on your horse for you... it was just WONDERFUL! At the first vet check there were all types of snacks, and piles of alfalfa, bran, carrots, and apples. For shy people, volunteers would come up asking if you needed your water bottle refilled. People took requests of those in the vet line, bringing them cups of Gatorade and lemonade. A huge pie/cake/bread pan of coffeecake and pound cake was brought around, along with a bucket of pretzels. Once all had been fed, a paper plate laden with all of the above and chocolate cake was-- well, almost-- shoved under your nose if you happened to be standing in the vet line. Anyway... enough about the first v et check.

Now, I cannot remember the trails-- how am I supposed to remember 50 miles of it?-- so I am simply going to say: bla bla bla.

At lunch, all was uneventful. The horses pulsed down and drank. And ate. They got vetted in within 40 minutes of being pulsed in, though not uneventful! Shadow does not like to trot out. That's (almost) all there is to it. You have to flick the rope back at her so she realizes, This is business! Now, I must say that I never have been an accomplished rope flicker. Anyway-- in my opinion-- what was it if Shadow got a B in attitude instead of an A? Well, it turns out that I should have been an accomplished rope flicker. Or, indeed, I should have flicked the rope on the way out instead of just on the way back. Because the vet that we got thought that Shadow was off in her front right leg. Only when she was trotting away! On the way back (when I flicked her) she was perfectly sound. So, my mom took Storm to the end when Shadow trotted out again. She did it perfectly. That is, except when she tried to run away with me when Storm was trotti ng back again. Buddy issues? No kidding. Once Shadow had a reason to trot, she was perfectly sound. However, a note was taken for the vet at the next stop to watch her right front leg. It remained sound for the rest of the day.

Trail: bla bla bla.

The last vet check! It was as good as the first, with watermelon, snack mix, cookies, soda, iced tea, bran, alfalfa, and carrots. Storm was tiring metabolically, so we took it easy the rest of the way back...

Bla bla bla.

Before the end, we were panicking. We had 35 minutes to get to the end, and we were anywhere from 1-5 miles from the finish. Plus, we couldn't trot because of Storm's metabolic tiring. Oh gosh.

(Tense, panicky music plays) Bla... bla bla!

We finished with seven minutes to spare. Surprisingly, there were four or so people behind us.

We had an our after finishing to vet in... right? So at 6:4something (we came in at 5:53) we went to get vetted.

The vets were gone.

We were (once again) panicking. I mean... THE VETS WERE GONE! At last, we had finished within time... AND THE VETS WERE GONE! Talk about post-ride hysteria. Well, several minutes and hoarse throats later, we managed to find a vet. Several minutes later, a scribe came up. Lifesavers. The horses were sound, got their completions. Surprisingly enough, Storm's jugular refill and skin tenting were better than Shadow's. And to think that my mom was afraid for his hydration.

Another ride successfully completed, another confusing, jumbled up ride story. Luckily, we missed the drama of lameness, bees, and falls. Instead we got an adventure. Not necessarily one that I'd be willing to repeat, but hey. We're alive, we're well, and we've got 50 more miles under our cinches-- not to mention the after-ride dinner!

I really didn't intend for it to be this long!

~Tara

Stories

Cooley Ranch
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull

No story, but this ride has got to be one of the most beautiful ones in the area. I hope you enjoy my ride photos at: http://www.quacky.co.uk/~elsie/Cooley-Ranch-2004/ (click on the thumbnails to view larger photos)

Ride & Tie 2004 Championship
Fort Bragg, California
Cheryl Domnitch

The June 26, 2004 Championship Ride & Tie course was at Fort Bragg, California and Mocha, Michele and I made a last minute decision, to make the long trek to the coast. I had been hoping to pace at the 100 mile Western States Endurance Run that weekend, but my scheduled runner, decided not to run, and Mocha needed the miles in preparation for a long Ride & Tie at the end of the summer. 

The course included three loops each one returning to base camp for a vet check. Loop 1 was 16 miles. Loops 2 and 3 were each 9 miles. In terms of scenic beauty, the course was spectacular. Stunning ocean views, beautiful coastal forests… and the weather, couldn’t be beat!

Starting on Loop 1, my equine and human partners got off to an unusually rough start, with Mocha deciding he needed to show off, by rearing and bucking for a full 10 minutes before the start. Although, the minute the “hat was dropped” to initiate the race and we were making forward motion, the childlike behavior from my 12-year-old ceased. But by this time, my human partner, was a little freaked out about mounting my bucking bronco. Can’t say I blame her. 

Several miles later we settled into a regular routine of transitions, about every three-fourths of a mile. Our strategy was that I would ride Mocha into the vet check, leave him with our fantastic crew, and then I would run out onto Loop 2. Michele would then run into the vet check, vet Mocha, and ride out to catch me. 

The best-made plans were ruined by not knowing the course. The last mile or two into the vet check were downhill, and since I was running, I got way out in front of Michele and Mocha, and ended up running into the vet check before them. Next to running past your tied horse on the trail, this is the most time consuming error you can make on a R& T course. Although R & T has very few rules, which is part of what makes it such a great sport, one of the rules is that at vet checks, the rider and runner must transition. So, since I ran into the vet check ahead of Mocha, I had to stand around and wait until they got in. This means that one of the two humans is not making forward motion, BIG, BIG, mistake. When they finally arrived, Michele was able to head out running, but I was still delayed while Mocha’s P & R dropped (and of course he needed some loving and snacks, too) and then vetting. This error had very little to do with poor course design, but more to do with no course knowledge.

Starting Loop 2, Michele was out running for quite some time before we were able to catch up to her, but again, when we finally did, we were efficiently completing our transitions. 

We planned our second vet check better. I rode Mocha in first, left him with crew, and took off running on Loop 3. Now I’m making forward motion out of the vet check, Michele is making forward motion into the vet check, and Mocha is letting his P & R drop (and getting snacks) waiting for Michele to get in. As soon as she gets in, crew tells Michele that Mocha is ready, they quickly vet, and head out on Loop 3 to catch me! Since I was already on the trail, I knew that if Michele was taking care of my horse, it would be unlikely that she would catch me,…at least for a very long time,….and I was relieved that I had carried water with me. 

Loop 3 started with a non-runnable, non-trottable 1.5-mile climb. It was a slick grass, rutted, sideways sloped, steep uphill climb. The following downhills were so steep, that I knew Michele would dismount and lead Mocha down them at a walk. The steep trails were never ending. Finally, about 6 miles into the 9-mile loop, Michele and Mocha spot me and call out that they are approaching. We were on a STEEP downhill, however, and Michele was leading Mocha, so it wasn’t until we reached the bottom and started the climb up the other side that they were able to catch me.

Our finish wasn’t pretty, not last, but definitely at the back of the pack. Best of all two humans, and one horse, finished the course, tired, but otherwise unscathed. 

The Nightmare of Tevis - 6
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull

At the close of last month's installment, I was commiserating with myself over Provo's suspensory injury, but cheerful that a generous friend was going to lend me her #2 horse, Jane, for Tevis. 

I'm usually pretty fatalistic, but was feeling quite good about Jane, especially after driving down to the delta to take her for a spin. The concept of riding a comfortable horse was almost overwhelming... ...and then a week later I got news from Cold Springs XP ride - Jane had come up lame on the second day and was no longer considered sound enough for Tevis.

Uck.

Ever-undaunted, I went to Cooley Ranch to ride one of Bay Laurel Arabian's Tevis horses - Fiora - because her rider couldn't make it that weekend. Cooley Ranch was quite lovely and definitely a ride to mark on next year's calendar (assuming I have a horse that hasn't injured a suspensory at that time... I've still got one left in the paddock that I haven't had a chance to break yet). 

At 5:30 in the morning, shortly before we set off on the ride, I talked to Peter Rich and told him about Jane's lameness and how I was, once again, sans Tevis horse. Peter asked if I would be interested in taking Fausto (the horse I rode at Wild West) to Tevis for the experience (Fausto's, not mine). Fausto wasn't necessarily expected to finish, but it would still give him a leg-up in future years to have "bin there, done that". 

Since my choices were limited to a) not riding, or b) riding as far as smart riding would get us, I jumped at the chance. After seven years of being on the sidelines I was determined to at least start.

To further acquaint myself with my new partner, I joined Bay Laurel Arabians for their annual pre-rides -  Robinson Flat to Foresthill, and Foresthill to Auburn. These rides were amazing. It's the first time I'd seen most of the trail above El Dorado Canyon, and the whole experience was just spectacular. Getting to ride the trail in big chunks gave me a better idea of what I'm faced with, compared with the shorter pre-rides Provo and I had been doing - especially now that it's starting to heat up.

Having seen him in action on "The Trail", I've now ceased to worry about Fausto's abilities.He's like a wind-up toy: set him going and he continues to trot along cheerfully without any histrionics, tailgating, or the need for continuous rating - or, for that matter, chiropractic adjustment to your shoulders and back at the end of the ride. He goes downhill like a dream and seldom stumbles or spooks (definitely a plus, on those shelf sections, high above the river).

Fausto looking like a quarter horse,
 while I fret as to whether he's considering rolling in the river at Poverty Bar

On the flip side, I have become depressed with the knowledge that I'm more than likely going to be starring in reruns of "You Are the Weakest Link". My attempts at getting acclimatised to the heat seem to be failing dismally, resulting in my getting into the river a few miles before the Quarry on Saturday, to try and drop my body temperature. It was made worse by the loss of my sponge about five miles out of Foresthill. I do carry the sponge for the horse's needs, not mine.. honest (...the horse should get his own sponge...). My knee still hates me and I'm having footwear issues. I'm drinking large quantities of water, but need to figure out some sort of elyte pills, or force myself to eat a Gu every hour, rather than the every 2-3 hours I'm currently managing - water alone just isn't cutting it.

So we shall see. With less than two weeks to go, there's not a lot I can do about any of it, so we'll just have to see what happens on the day.

I wish all Tevis participants - riders, crew, and volunteers a good day, and most of all, a safe day.

Enjoy.

Almost a Horsewoman 
Cheryl Domnitch

My day is filled with thoughts of horses,
Although a few years ago, I would not have imagined;
The impact these creatures would have on my senses.

My nose on his neck,
I elicit a breath.
My day is transformed,
My mind is at rest.
Who would have thought,
I’m almost a horsewoman.

The moment is rare,
When I’m granted permission,
To step in his space, 
And nuzzle his muzzle.
Who would have thought,
I’m almost a horsewoman.

The pasture gate clangs;
The chatter begins;
I’m not fooled by the noise;
It’s just time to feed.
Who would have thought,
I’m almost a horsewoman.

An apple shared,
An abundance of pleasure;
My heart to his mouth,
Insurmountable joy;
Who would have thought,
I’m almost a horsewoman.

I watch from afar,
The peace within pasture;
A brief quiet stillness,
Before renewal of tricks.
Who would have thought,
I’m almost a horsewoman.

Fear turns to respect,
With more time spent,
In his presence,
I relent.
Who would have thought,
I must be a horsewoman.

State of the Trails

Cronin Ranch Project

The Cronin Ranch project (a few miles south of Cool, just off hw-49) is still going ahead, but American River Conservancy (ARC) are still around $450,000 short of the needed funds to purchase the property. They will be going ahead regardless and will more than likely have to get a bridging loan, which will add to the cost.

In the process of planning the Pledge Ride coming up on October 23rd, I got to see the existing ranch road trails first hand from both on horse and on bicycle (note there are plans to put in more trails in the future). 

The property itself extends from hw-49 to the river and it connects to a trail that starts from a few miles east of there at hw-49 and parallels the river all the way to Salmon Falls.

In the summer, there isn't too much shade on the main property (although the trail that parallels the river has some nice oak shade on it), but remember back in the winter when you were desperate to find somewhere to trot that wasn't hock-deep in bog mud? This may well be the place. It is a large bowl shaped valley, with rolling hillsides, flanked by two higher ridges. There are several places you can do hill-work with excellent footing, wide open areas for speed trotting, lack of drop offs for your greenies,  and easy access to the river for both drinking and cooling off. El Dorado Co. have promised to develop a 40 acre portion at the entrance for arenas and round pens, etc.

To help out with a donation, please visit ARC's web site at http://www.arconservancy.org/trail/trail2_2.shtml

Upcoming Dates