Fun in the Sun=FITS Endurance Festival (FEI & AERC)

[sporthorse]

Pocita and I traveled to Goethe State Forest for the annual FITS (Fun in the Sun) Ride last Thursday. This year it really was fun in the sun. The weather was great. A little warm for the 25 LD and 50 mile endurance ride Friday, but not too uncomfortable. Pocita and I rode alone and finished 15th out of 20 completing. The trails were rocky in some areas and Pocita is barefoot so we had to go slow or get on the shoulder (when there was one) in those areas. Some of the trail was wet and there were a few large puddle crossings. One of my stirrup leathers broke on the first loop. It was not fun riding with only one stirrup. You don't realize how much you depend on them until one goes missing! Fortunately there were two tack vendors at the ride site, and Running Bear Tack found me a set of biothane "leathers". Boy, did it ever feel great to have TWO stirrups again We had a geat chicken/rib dinner that night at the awards ceremony, then to bed to rest for the next day's adventures. It cooled down Friday night and was chilly Saturday AM for the next 25 LD and 50 mile endurance rides. This time Pocita and I rode with our friend, Carla, on her Cracker Horse gelding. Sure made the ride seem to go a lot faster, riding with someone. We had a great time. Carla and her horse were last; Pocita and I second to last out of about 25 riders to start. Sunday was cold and clear as a bell, but no ride for us as only a 55 and a 100 mile ride were held that day. I packed up and left at 9AM. It was a nice ride and well-run. The 100 miler Sunday was also a qualifying ride for international competition so we had several out of state vets and officials there (including the ride manager, Jan Stevens, from Montana). It leant a little different flavor to the whole event, even for those of us in the LD division. I was so happy with Pocita. She looked as good or better the second day and I'm sure could have done another 25 Sunday had one been offered. She got off the trailer at home and spent most of the afternoon running around the pasture calling to everyone that she was back. She is such a spoiled princess There were no other Pasos there that I was aware of. Too bad, as it was a good ride. In three weeks we head to Tallahassee to Lost Posse Ride, another two day 25/50 mile ride. Will try to get the other horses ridden and all sorts of springtime chores done before then. Lindsay

[SandyMM]

Nice to hear that you both made it through safely and enjoyed yourselves!

[Pasogirlz]

Did you get any pix? :D

[sporthorse]

Unfortunately the ride photographer holds the copyright on the pics and I forgot to get permission to post. It was not the photographer who usually shoots the Florida rides. I'm so used to her and having permission to send as long as I give her credit that I never think about having to get permission from others. The photographer did get a couple of good shots and a couple not so good. One of them was of Pocita and I coming out of a pond. My left stirrup leather was of no use since it was broken. When Pocita clamored up the bank I was thrown slightly to the right where I still had a stirrup. I look totally out of balance and although I didn't feel like it, it sure looked like I was going to come off any minute!

[DebbieS]

Lindsay, sounds like you had a great time with your princess!! It sounds like so much fun :D 8-)

[motorgypsy]

Lindsay I somehow missed this post. This sounds like a such a fun ride. I know you're a great rider but to ride with one stirrup is really amazing. Can yuo imagine doing that on an Arabian???

Finally the riding season has started around here. We go from the too cold, wet, muddy season to the season of bugs and heat - overnight. We have cows next door had had to get out the fly mask today.

Pocita sounds like a real doll. Can't wait to see her. The price of gas is so ridiculous we have to plan the trips for maximum rides and minimum travel these days. How long before we go back to wagon trains for transportation???

[sporthorse]

Gypsies,

I am proud of Pocita. She has turned around 180 degrees (well, almost) since I got her in 2003.

We are so lucky to have good rides close by. And many this season have been two day rides which is really great. As you say, with fuel going up again we all have to be careful of how we budget. The whole thing makes me furious, but that's not for this forum :mad:

By the way, congratulations on your good placements at the Minters' fun show. That's what it should be about; people and horses having FUN!

So, when will we see you? Million Pines (Soperton, GA) is in 2.5 weeks. It's about 2 hours south of where Liberty Run used to be held. You know where Camden is. Sure wish Lucy would consider a two day ride on that one. It's a long haul for one day. And Red Barn is almost due west of Soperton about an hour it looks like. Did you know Raylin Patterson is having the two day Dawson ride the 16th and 17th June? Hopefully there won't be any hurricanes to worry about that early and it might not be as horribly hot as in August.

Lindsay

[motorgypsy]

It would be great if Hallelujah was a two day. It's such a pretty place and so convenient. If we do Dawson it would be to help crew or something because we really didn't like the terrain. We have tons of mountains up here with Biltmore that are much better trails. Our own property is mountains and our horse made trails are better than those. That fresh deep gravel was terrible. Lula told me in no uncertain terms that she DID NOT LIKE it.

I do hope we can get to at least one that you guys are doing. We do want to Pyramid though at the Kentucky horse park. It was great!

We were just about ready to put the house on the market when the ice storm hit and our neighborhood association hasn't cleaned up the natural area behind us and it was their trees that fell all in our yard. We finally got disgusted and cut the part that was in our yard but we had informed them several years ago that the trees back there were a hazard to our property so I guess it's time to start writing letters. GRRRRRR. It is definitley slowing down our progress in finding some more suitable horse property.