This was my first trip to upper Michigan, and what a beautiful state! The drive up was great, we had decided to try car pooling with the horses. My friend Laura and I drove up in her truck and trailer (a four horse stock trailer, it's quite a bit larger than my rig!) with Alice. Then Mike took his friend Noah and the girls (Noelle and Leah) with him in our van, including all three dogs. AND he had packed the van full of tack, tents, corrals, camping gear and three coolers. Oh, and he had our canoe strapped to the roof. The plan was for the guys in the van to head up to MI first, and set up camp for us. So we were quite surprised to catch up to them in traffic within the first 45 min of our trip. Apparently they had trouble securing the canoe to the van.... Guess life is about being flexible!
So we caravaned up, and the drive took us a little over five hours. The temperature was steadily dropping as we went north, which was a welcome site! We finally arrived at the turn off of Highway 41 north, and yeah here come the gravel roads. We had probably ten miles to go on VERY rough, washboard gravel roads. Apparently this county does not believe in gravel road maintenance! However driving on gravel roads again made me a little home sick, there are no gravel roads in southeast WI so makes me miss North Dakota. We pulled into camp at a very reasonable 5:30 pm, and the park staff actually walked us down to our camping site. We were at a spot that was narrow, with stacks of wood on each side of our site. I was worried at first, but the back of the site had plenty of room for two tents and two corrals (both of which were made large so yea!). At $8/night camping it was great!
We got all vetted in, the horses looked great. I set out my clothes and tack for the morning, and tried to synchronize all of my watches. Apparently northern MI is on Eastern time, and we are on Central time, so that kind of sucked to lose an hour but the trip home was an hour faster :) Off to bed, and I slept a little bit (as is normal the night before a ride). Up at 4:30 to get rolling on a 50, our second one of the season. Noelle had decided to ride a 50 mile CTR with my horse, Abbie, who she has been riding all season. It's a big step up in distance, but we decided that they were ready. We discussed strategy, and decided to ride at least the first loop of the 50 mile together. Easyboot Gloves on Simon's front feet, and Abbie hoping for few rocks so she'd be good to go barefoot. Off we went, with strong horses pulling for more speed!
The first loop was 13.5 miles, and I had MAJOR easyboot issues. I lost my front left boot not once or twice but THREE times, and the other boot was completely ripped off from the gator. Of course we have no idea where it was lost at, either. Then the stupid boot fell off the saddle when I attached it to my cantle. So I'm off my horse AGAIN, securing it to Noelle's saddle. Nothing like losing 45 min to tack malfunctioning. I went from fourth place in the pack to almost last with now a barefoot horse. No big deal though, I wasn't racing anyways, so we're back on and headed towards the first check. Both holds were out of camp, so my great husband was waiting for us at the first hold. Simon was down to 60 beats per minute within ten minutes, so about normal for him. He looked great on his trot out, and got all A's on his score card, except the vet noted some minor back pain starting. Off to check the pad and to make sure that nothing's rubbing, and to try and do some massage on his back to make him more comfortable. Abbie is looking great, with a PR of 11 and 7 and an energetic trot out.
Forty minutes later we are tearing out of camp for the next loop, which was 18 or 19 miles. The horses were very forward, pulling to go faster. The terrain was great, but very hard hills. The intermittent rain showers had pretty much stopped by this second loop, and the heat was starting to rise. We trucked along past the turn back to camp, which I don't think the horses even realized WAS the way back to camp. Good news we found the ripped off easyboot though! We were probably about a half of a mile to the second vet check, just walking along, when Abbie charged up behind us and I felt her step on Simon's left hind foot. Then she barreled into us, and I felt his back end give out. He was instantly lame at the trot, but walking felt okay so I was hopeful that he would work out of it quickly.
He pulsed down to 60 within a few minutes (a few miles of quite walking into check made a difference, I guess) but the as soon as we started trotting it was obvious he was quite lame on his left hind. The vet stopped us within a few strides, we thought he was cramping he was so lame. So calcium was given to him, and we checked him for tight, cramping muscles. A few muscles were a little tight, but the vet diagnosed him with a stifle injury most likely from having his foot planted and his hind end giving away (exactly what HAD happened when Abbie ran into us). So she predicted that he will be out for four to six weeks, and he for sure was done with this ride. Great, so now we can settle down to wait until the ride management is finished at this out check so we can hitch a ride back to camp. The positive side was that Abbie was still looking great, and she had no problem going back out on trail alone. Noelle had almost three hours to do the last loop, which was 17 miles.
The last loop had a six mile loop trail, then the riders came back through the vet check to head towards the main camp. Abbie looked great when she came back through, but poor Simon got all worked up AGAIN when she left him for second time. Poor thing is in love with a mare who doesn't know that he exists! We waited for the the final two or three riders to pass through the loop before we headed back to camp, so we had a lovely rest in the shade with some great people. Then a we hear shouting from down on the trail, and so help was rushed out to the rider. Her horse was colicking, so thank God a vet had stayed out at the check! It was a very scary episode, but as of Sunday afternoon the horse was doing well.
We decide to haul Simon back to camp in the ride management's two horse trailer. Apparently he doesn't care for two horse green trailers with a ramp, because he would not load. Very frustrating!! Nothing like being hot and tired with a lame horse who refuses to do more than put his front feet on the ramp. I called my husband to tell him that Laura needed to come get us with HER trailer. Too late, she was already on her way with her trailer to come pick up the sick horse. We loaded Simon into the front stall, then we put the sick horse in the back stall. He jumped right in, what a team player for a sick horse! It was a long trip home on washboard gravel roads, but we managed to make it back to camp with everyone on their feet and alert.
Back in camp, I immediately Kinesiotaped Simon's stifle. Then I fed him, poulticed and wrapped his legs and let him rest. Abbie looked great after her 50 mile comp, I was very proud of them! Of course we both opted not to ride on Sunday, so we spent the day at the beach with Alice. It was great to have a camp with a lake right there! Alice had a lot of fun playing in the lake with her new friend. Our puppy Hunter had a blast playing in the lake, as well. Mike and his friend Noah took the canoe out three times all weekend, and they got some good fishing in. A husband who is happy makes for an excellent endurance ride partner! I ran Simon up to the vet station to beg for someone to check him over again. We trotted up, and she noted that his trot was looking much better. He went from hopping lame to probably a grade one lameness. Heat was much reduced in the stifle joint, and the swelling was greatly reduced. Here we go into rehab, hopefully I can get a few more attempts in at 50 miles as we head towards fall....
Overall it was a great weekend, except for my injured horse. This ride was ran excellently, and the trails were great. Excellent footing, and the horses did great barefoot. Some sand and a little rock, but overall the footing was great. It was tough terrain though, probably the hardest hills that we have ridden on this year. This ride is definitively on the "to do" list for future years, and it makes me want to try the Grand Island 100 miler. Of course we have to work out our 50 mile kinks first though. This ride was great though, with excellent camping and fantastic help and management. Thanks to everyone who made this great ride possible, we'll see you next year :)
So we caravaned up, and the drive took us a little over five hours. The temperature was steadily dropping as we went north, which was a welcome site! We finally arrived at the turn off of Highway 41 north, and yeah here come the gravel roads. We had probably ten miles to go on VERY rough, washboard gravel roads. Apparently this county does not believe in gravel road maintenance! However driving on gravel roads again made me a little home sick, there are no gravel roads in southeast WI so makes me miss North Dakota. We pulled into camp at a very reasonable 5:30 pm, and the park staff actually walked us down to our camping site. We were at a spot that was narrow, with stacks of wood on each side of our site. I was worried at first, but the back of the site had plenty of room for two tents and two corrals (both of which were made large so yea!). At $8/night camping it was great!
We got all vetted in, the horses looked great. I set out my clothes and tack for the morning, and tried to synchronize all of my watches. Apparently northern MI is on Eastern time, and we are on Central time, so that kind of sucked to lose an hour but the trip home was an hour faster :) Off to bed, and I slept a little bit (as is normal the night before a ride). Up at 4:30 to get rolling on a 50, our second one of the season. Noelle had decided to ride a 50 mile CTR with my horse, Abbie, who she has been riding all season. It's a big step up in distance, but we decided that they were ready. We discussed strategy, and decided to ride at least the first loop of the 50 mile together. Easyboot Gloves on Simon's front feet, and Abbie hoping for few rocks so she'd be good to go barefoot. Off we went, with strong horses pulling for more speed!
The first loop was 13.5 miles, and I had MAJOR easyboot issues. I lost my front left boot not once or twice but THREE times, and the other boot was completely ripped off from the gator. Of course we have no idea where it was lost at, either. Then the stupid boot fell off the saddle when I attached it to my cantle. So I'm off my horse AGAIN, securing it to Noelle's saddle. Nothing like losing 45 min to tack malfunctioning. I went from fourth place in the pack to almost last with now a barefoot horse. No big deal though, I wasn't racing anyways, so we're back on and headed towards the first check. Both holds were out of camp, so my great husband was waiting for us at the first hold. Simon was down to 60 beats per minute within ten minutes, so about normal for him. He looked great on his trot out, and got all A's on his score card, except the vet noted some minor back pain starting. Off to check the pad and to make sure that nothing's rubbing, and to try and do some massage on his back to make him more comfortable. Abbie is looking great, with a PR of 11 and 7 and an energetic trot out.
Forty minutes later we are tearing out of camp for the next loop, which was 18 or 19 miles. The horses were very forward, pulling to go faster. The terrain was great, but very hard hills. The intermittent rain showers had pretty much stopped by this second loop, and the heat was starting to rise. We trucked along past the turn back to camp, which I don't think the horses even realized WAS the way back to camp. Good news we found the ripped off easyboot though! We were probably about a half of a mile to the second vet check, just walking along, when Abbie charged up behind us and I felt her step on Simon's left hind foot. Then she barreled into us, and I felt his back end give out. He was instantly lame at the trot, but walking felt okay so I was hopeful that he would work out of it quickly.
He pulsed down to 60 within a few minutes (a few miles of quite walking into check made a difference, I guess) but the as soon as we started trotting it was obvious he was quite lame on his left hind. The vet stopped us within a few strides, we thought he was cramping he was so lame. So calcium was given to him, and we checked him for tight, cramping muscles. A few muscles were a little tight, but the vet diagnosed him with a stifle injury most likely from having his foot planted and his hind end giving away (exactly what HAD happened when Abbie ran into us). So she predicted that he will be out for four to six weeks, and he for sure was done with this ride. Great, so now we can settle down to wait until the ride management is finished at this out check so we can hitch a ride back to camp. The positive side was that Abbie was still looking great, and she had no problem going back out on trail alone. Noelle had almost three hours to do the last loop, which was 17 miles.
The last loop had a six mile loop trail, then the riders came back through the vet check to head towards the main camp. Abbie looked great when she came back through, but poor Simon got all worked up AGAIN when she left him for second time. Poor thing is in love with a mare who doesn't know that he exists! We waited for the the final two or three riders to pass through the loop before we headed back to camp, so we had a lovely rest in the shade with some great people. Then a we hear shouting from down on the trail, and so help was rushed out to the rider. Her horse was colicking, so thank God a vet had stayed out at the check! It was a very scary episode, but as of Sunday afternoon the horse was doing well.
We decide to haul Simon back to camp in the ride management's two horse trailer. Apparently he doesn't care for two horse green trailers with a ramp, because he would not load. Very frustrating!! Nothing like being hot and tired with a lame horse who refuses to do more than put his front feet on the ramp. I called my husband to tell him that Laura needed to come get us with HER trailer. Too late, she was already on her way with her trailer to come pick up the sick horse. We loaded Simon into the front stall, then we put the sick horse in the back stall. He jumped right in, what a team player for a sick horse! It was a long trip home on washboard gravel roads, but we managed to make it back to camp with everyone on their feet and alert.
Back in camp, I immediately Kinesiotaped Simon's stifle. Then I fed him, poulticed and wrapped his legs and let him rest. Abbie looked great after her 50 mile comp, I was very proud of them! Of course we both opted not to ride on Sunday, so we spent the day at the beach with Alice. It was great to have a camp with a lake right there! Alice had a lot of fun playing in the lake with her new friend. Our puppy Hunter had a blast playing in the lake, as well. Mike and his friend Noah took the canoe out three times all weekend, and they got some good fishing in. A husband who is happy makes for an excellent endurance ride partner! I ran Simon up to the vet station to beg for someone to check him over again. We trotted up, and she noted that his trot was looking much better. He went from hopping lame to probably a grade one lameness. Heat was much reduced in the stifle joint, and the swelling was greatly reduced. Here we go into rehab, hopefully I can get a few more attempts in at 50 miles as we head towards fall....
Overall it was a great weekend, except for my injured horse. This ride was ran excellently, and the trails were great. Excellent footing, and the horses did great barefoot. Some sand and a little rock, but overall the footing was great. It was tough terrain though, probably the hardest hills that we have ridden on this year. This ride is definitively on the "to do" list for future years, and it makes me want to try the Grand Island 100 miler. Of course we have to work out our 50 mile kinks first though. This ride was great though, with excellent camping and fantastic help and management. Thanks to everyone who made this great ride possible, we'll see you next year :)
