For more information about the American Endurance Ride Conference, visit https://aerc.org.
Geneva and Tango at the 2019 Old Dominion Ride.
Photo © Becky Pearman, www.beckypearman.smugmug.com
Morning came way too darn fast. I really just wanted another hour of sleep. I thought this was a bad sign because I typically shoot out of bed so excited to start. I was nervous, starting to feel sick to my stomach, doubting if I did the right thing by my horse in entering this ride. Before I knew it we were leaving camp five minutes late and behind everyone else, but that was just part of the plan. We walked out which was fantastic and just how I had hoped it would go.
The first loop we pretty much did our own thing, passing some people along the way. Near the end of the loop Tango met a horse named Lugnut, ridden by Amie, and fell in love. She tried bucking me off when I held her back and let him pass us.
In the hold I met my crew who had everything laid out perfectly for us. I trotted my horse out and then went about the normal way I would do things for my horse. I would soon learn by the stern words of Dawn's husband Dean that I needed to “sit down and eat and drink!” From then on, I got into the hold, passed the horse to my crew, and did just what he said.
Shortly into the second loop we ran into “Lug” again and I knew I was in trouble. Tango hadn’t settled yet and wouldn’t for another 15 miles or so. She made it clear that she wanted to stay with him, and I would allow it as long as they paced well together. You know, Amie and I finished that ride together and it was pretty special. We made jokes, told each other about our families, tried rapping “Old Town Road” but instead used the words “OD Road.” Those poor horses had to put up with us. At a snack stop Lug nearly got caught up in a rattlesnake. Later we saw a juvenile bear crossing the trail, and also spotted a family of wild turkeys.
On trail there were a lot of rocks and some big climbs. A couple times I got off my horse to help her out and let her know I was in this with her. Didn’t that horse see me struggle and push her neck into me as if to say, “Grab on, I’ve got you”? She does this often when we are at home and I’m jogging the trails on foot. I will never forget that feeling—the feeling that I had a best friend who would do anything for me.
Coming into the finish I started getting choked up so I couldn’t even holler out in joy to the people waiting for us. Amie looked at me and said, “We just rode 100 miles on our horses,” and I blurted something out and started crying. She grabbed my hand and we crossed the finish like that.
I knew I had to suck up the emotion for just a little longer. I wouldn’t let myself feel true joy until the vet gave us our completion. Again, Dawn took Tango and jogged her out. When I heard the vet say, “Congratulations,” I just hugged Tango and buried my head in her neck.
Looking back, I had anticipated feeling like crap, getting delirious (well, there may have been a few episodes of seeing things), and not being able to walk the next day. I had anticipated working a lot harder getting my horse’s pulse down, and I wasn’t really sure we would even finish. It still feels surreal. I saw shoes flying off left and right while I volunteered Friday, but ours stayed on nice and tight.
I felt like I researched too much, and not enough, all at the same time. My horse made this easy for me with all of her heart and proper fitness. My crew made this easy for me by not letting me lift a finger while in the holds. They made sure I ate, drank and rested. My trail buddy made this easy for me by keeping me occupied and we truly had fun out there. If any one of those factors had been different I think I would have been telling a completely different story.
A million thank-yous to everyone on my dream team.
Update: Geneva and Tango completed the Vermont 100 on July 20 as well!
Coming into the finish I started getting choked up so I couldn’t even holler out in joy to the people waiting for us. Amie looked at me and said, “We just rode 100 miles on our horses,” and I blurted something out and started crying. She grabbed my hand and we crossed the finish like that.
I knew I had to suck up the emotion for just a little longer. I wouldn’t let myself feel true joy until the vet gave us our completion. Again, Dawn took Tango and jogged her out. When I heard the vet say, “Congratulations,” I just hugged Tango and buried my head in her neck.
Looking back, I had anticipated feeling like crap, getting delirious (well, there may have been a few episodes of seeing things), and not being able to walk the next day. I had anticipated working a lot harder getting my horse’s pulse down, and I wasn’t really sure we would even finish. It still feels surreal. I saw shoes flying off left and right while I volunteered Friday, but ours stayed on nice and tight.
I felt like I researched too much, and not enough, all at the same time. My horse made this easy for me with all of her heart and proper fitness. My crew made this easy for me by not letting me lift a finger while in the holds. They made sure I ate, drank and rested. My trail buddy made this easy for me by keeping me occupied and we truly had fun out there. If any one of those factors had been different I think I would have been telling a completely different story.
A million thank-yous to everyone on my dream team.
Update: Geneva and Tango completed the Vermont 100 on July 20 as well!