Endurance Photos: Deadman 2000

8/11/2012

This is an infrequent series of photos that compares the differences between an endurance seat and a dressage seat.

This is an interesting photo because Montoya has seen the photographer while I haven't. This time I'm looking towards the trail, and she is preparing for what will be a very hard spook! Since we're climbing a little rise in the trail, I am leaning forward a bit to really get off of her back which will allow her to use her hind end more freely without also having to support my weight.

We finished the 50 mile course 17th out of 57 riders with a ride time of 6 hours and 33 minutes. We had an advantage at this race as we were on trails that we had ridden many times. I was in charge of marking all of the final 30 miles of the course so Montoya knew exactly where we were going.

The 2000 Deadman 50 Miler

Val

8/10/2012 11:47:08 pm

Beautiful picture. Montoya is stunning every time I see her and I like your pants! The countryside is just gorgeous.

Did you mark the trail as you rode it for the other riders? I do not know how that works in endurance.

Karen

8/11/2012 03:39:35 am

Val - Montoya was well known as a beauty. More people recognized her than me. Not only was she quite glamorous, but she was a serious athlete as well. I feel very privileged to have been her person. :0)

In general, endurance trails are marked up to several days before the actual event. Unfortunately, in urban areas especially, sabotage is common. People either see the ribbons as litter and remove them, or they do not want equine events in "their" area and so they remove the ribbons hoping to discourage people from returning. Cows are also a big problem as they eat anything, even ribbons on clothespins!

This particular ride was a challenge to mark in some places because of the cattle. There was a long stretch of trail, several miles, that had NOTHING upon which to hang a ribbon. I was forced to gather cow pies into a pile and drive a wire surveyor marker through the middle. We also used scattered bones in piles to hold our ribbons. Many people caught the joke - The Deadman 50. At one point along the section that I marked, we arranged a variety of bones into a humanoid shape and attached our ribbons that way.

Endurance rides can be long and tedious. Many ride managers and volunteers will try to place something amusing along the way to keep spirits up. Sometimes volunteers will sit out on the trail with a bucket of licorice or a bag of chocolates to hand out to passing riders. For me, that stuff was always a welcomed respite from the rigors of the trail.

For this ride I remember clearing trail for several weeks before the ride and marking the majority of the trail the weekend before. The next morning we then had to go and unmark the trail - a lot less fun to do especially since we had ridden 50 miles the day before. If at all possible, trail is marked by truck or motorcycle which is much faster than marking by horseback. In state parks, it almost always has to be done by horseback. Since this particular ride was on private property, we marked by quads, trucks, and horseback.

BTW, trail markers usually consist of bright colored (pink/orange) surveyor ribbon tied to clothespins which are then attached to trees and fences. Paper plates are often common as is flour or lime (chalk) on the ground in an arrow shape or across a road to indicate wrong direction or don't go there.

More than you ever wanted to know about marking trail! :0)

Judy

8/11/2012 01:26:37 am

Beautiful shot! Montoya was such an athlete!

Karen

8/11/2012 03:40:33 am

I miss her, but in a rosy, nostalgic way. Her pictures bring back fond memories and always make me smile. :0)

AareneX link

8/11/2012 02:56:59 pm

Love the story about gathering up cow piles! We use fiberglass "cross-fencing" posts in the areas that lack trees, and the stupid cows even try to eat THOSE (or rub against them and knock them down, grrr)

Karen

8/12/2012 10:29:59 am

I think someone could write a book :0) about trail marking around the country. I'd love to see all the creative ways it's done.

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage