Million Pines Limited distance endurance ride

[sporthorse]

Pocita and I headed to Soperton, GA last Friday to ride 30 miles in the 15th annual Million Pines Endurance Ride. A 50 mile ride was also held the same day. As per usual the ride was very well-run and the food post ride Saturday night was wonderful. Everything was home cooked by ride manager Wesley Crowe's family. The awards were very nice and included the famous handmade wooden trunks for best condition on the 30 and the 50 and, for the first time, a drawing was held with all riders' names in the pot for a third trunk, "just for completing the ride and having a good time."Unfortunately Pocita and I did not place (we were 46th out of about 65 completing) so no best condition and they didn't draw my name out of the hat. Darn! Ed will post a picture here shortly of Pocita and I heading up "Bobcat Rock" about 3/4 of the way through the ride. I look like I'm yelling and I was, at Pocita, as she decided to forge her own trail through the rocks. She was leaping them like a deer.
We rode the entire ride with Ron and Diane Maury of Camden, SC. Both were on their Pasos. It was great fun. The only scary time was on the first loop when it rained and lightening struck fairly close several times. I do believe Diane is more afraid of lightening than I am and that is saying something. We were both praying like crazy for the storm to be over SOON! And it was, with the rest of the ride being very nice indeed. http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/vistalargo2000/CCI00020.jpg
Lindsay

[JennLM]

That looks like a lot of fun.

I guess endurance races never entered my mind for some odd reason. Hmmm hmmm hmm.

Maybe Pocita was trying to show you a quicker way ;-)

[sporthorse]

they have three endurance rides in Las Vegas area & one or two in & near death valley

[JennLM]

ooooooooooooooooo something to shoot for in the upcoming years.

[Laura S]

That is a good pic! Maybe she new something about the trail that you weren't aware of?? Gotta give her the benefit of the doubt! 46th out of 65 isn't too bad. I plan on trying CTR or endurance soon. My mare is only 4, but that is our goal at some point! congrats!

[motorgypsy]

Great picture!!! Looks like difficult terrain! Pocita is soo gorgeous!!!

[TrueStepPaso]

Wow....that is so cool - you should be really proud of yourself, & Pocita (of course)! CTR is something I hope to be active in in the future....we'll see.

[Barbwire]

Wow, that is one of the coolest pictures I've seen posted here. Excellent! 8-)

[nmcreel]

Lindsey, What a great photo. It looks like Pocita knows exactly where to place her feet. Congrats on your success. My first Limited Distance is in two weeks.

Nancy

[sporthorse]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I guess Pocita knew exactly what she was doing as she never missed a step. She is barefoot to boot. She has become quite the competitor and a real pretty mare with all her conditioning.
Good luck on your first endurance ride, Nancy. Don't you usually do Ride and Tie?
Barbara, I have to thank the photographer, Becky Siler of Claremont, FL, for the fabulous photo. She made me two 8.5x11 copies. I plan to hang one in the LQ and one in the barn.
And to the lady from Pahrump, NV: Ed and I lived in LV for 3 years (actualy Ed lived there almost 4). We really had a great time exploring Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, Bristlecone, Valley of Fire, the opal fields, Lake Mead, etc. We found places the natives didn't know existed! We never rode on an endurance ride, but did assist Claire Toomey and her group a couple of times in marking trails for rides. Let us know when you get your first one under your belt. Lindsay

[nmcreel]

Lindsay, I did the Ride and Tie last year, but this year the Worlds are in San Diego and I don't want to trailer Cassidy through the desert in July. I'm planning on trying some endurance rides and seeing if we can build Ride and Tie locally by hitching to their coattails.

Nancy