Ridecamp was covered in sloppy mud and by the evening on Friday, I had about 5 pounds of mud caked onto my pants. I caravaned to the ride from Pacifica with my barnmates Becky, and her daughter Julie, and as we sipped our hot chocolates after the drive, we were entertained by the different rigs that slipped and slided into camp throughout the day. Check-in went smoothly. The head vet, Richard (?) really liked Isabella's quiet demeanor and commented on how much he liked "him" many times, asking how old "he" was and how long I had "him" (even after correcting the vet multiple times that "he" was actually a "she", he was set on calling "she" a "he" - it was pretty amusing. oh well, he's the head vet :) ) Afterwards I ran into Sandy (who is doing the Tevis!) and her daughter Katie who I met back at the Quicksilver ride. She showed me her Freeform saddle - which I'm seriously considering as my next saddle. My Arabian Saddle Company Solstice isn't fitting Isabella as well as it used to, even with a complete lambs wool reflocking done a few months ago. Poop!

After check-in, I met up with Katie and her arab Shrimp and we went for a pre-ride in the rain. We did the short 2 mile loop around the trail and had a great time chatting while our horses bounced into each other. For some reason whenever Isabella and I ride with other horses she likes to get cozy with them (then pin her ears and make mare faces, go figure). Did I mentioned that this pre-ride was officially my *second* time riding in the rain. What can I say? I'm a weather wimp..! Ah well, the next day MORE than made up for all the days I decided to skip riding and stay inside. :)

The night before the right was rough for me. My allergies plagued me throughout the night and I spent most of it lying awake and listening to the pelting rain. At about 4:00am in the morning, the rain *really* started coming down. Funny enough, it was never a question to me that I was going to ride.. although I heard of several people turning around and leaving once they saw how muddy everything was. One irate woman got upset because she couldn't park in a reserved spot and after a few verbal exchanges, stormed off and left on Friday afternoon!

At ridestart, Isabella was a bit upset at me for seperating her from her pasturemates who shared the same corral overnight. She finally settled once I began saddling her, and my plan to start out 15 minutes after the start time was thwarted by her frantically calling and prancing around at all the passing horses. She knew her job and wanted to GO! Once I got on she was fine - we walked to the start on a loose rein. Funny horse. 30 seconds later a pair of gaited horses passed us and Isabella was convinced that her legs should be moving that fast also and thus began the jigging. We jigged the whole first loop. Ugh! I was not looking forward to a ride of mud and jigging. Fortunately we ran into Jaime from Caramel Valley on her lovely grey arab gelding who was also jigging. The two horses found sanctity within one another and you could hear the sigh of relief (from both the riders and horses I think!) when they both began to walk and enjoy the rest of the ride in each others company. Jaime and I had fun the first loop together, chatting about life and horses. We walked into the vet check and Isabella pulsed down after a few seconds, despite the exertion from all the mud and hills. We vetted in and she recieved all As except for a C on gut sounds even though she began eating ravenously as soon as we entered the vet check. The gut sounds are beginning to be an issue for us.. it started from a B pre-ride check to C's on the mid and post-checks. :( If we're ever going to do 50s we need to address this.. I'm ordering some ABC Pro-Bi today to see if that'll help.

The rest of the ride went by quickly. I departed ways with Jaime and her gelding because Isabella's HRM was beginning to act a little funny. 150-180 bpm while we're walking? What the heck. We slowed down and walked most of the way home because I didn't want to take a chance (wimpy rider). Later I would find out that the electrodes had both found each other and were stuck that way. Oops! Becky and Julie caught up to us and we got some good trotting in before the finish.

I was more than happy with Isabella's performance. She was fresh and interested throughout the ride and at the end she was still raring to go. Her mystery lameness that showed up at Quicksilver was gone and now that she is shod, she recieved A's on gait all day long (yay!). The only issue that really concerns me is the gut sounds..

After the ride I vetted her through and cleaned her up. She was pulling at me on the lead rope, trying to eat everything in sight! I warmed her up with a blanket and rain sheet and she was a happy camper with a large selection of beet pulp/grain, carrots, grass hay, and lots of oat grazing at her disposal. It was beginning to get quite cold so I hibernated myself into my trailer and snuggled up in my sleeping bag.. oohh.. comfy futon. ZZZzzzz...

The next thing I knew, 2 1/2 hours had passed and I woke up to it being 5:45pm. Dinner and awards began at 5pm. Oops! Bleary eyed and a bit fuzzy, I stumbled to the campfire and found Katie and her mom to sit next to. I told them I was concerned about Matt, my boyfriend, who was expected to be at camp around an hour earlier.. 'lo and behold, I returned to the trailer to put my dog back (who was having a field day trying to get at peoples' dinner plates) and Matt drives up. Hooray! I wasn't too late for the awards either - completion awards were bottles of chardonnay and red wine, and a junior rider got a nice biothane breastplate and BC for the 50 (Michelle Rouche) recieved a nice halter/bridle. Dinner was delicious too - some of the best BBQ chicken I've ever had and yummy oatmeal cookies with locally grown strawberries. YUMYUM!

Ruth, the ride manager, noted that this was the nicest group she had to work with. No one was awarded the 'Pissin' and Moanin' award' because everyones' spirits were goodnatured the whole weekend! I'd have to agree - I didn't meet anyone who didn't have a smile on their face or had something nice to say. Ruth and her husband were so sweet! Their attitudes definitely made up for the "challenging" weather conditions. :)

Matt and I had a fun evening that night playing 'Mad Libs' in my trailer (even at 28 and 30 years old, we're still entertained by this game - haha!) and had a restful evening before driving home the next day. At home Isabella took a long drink from her trough before galloping away, whinnying for her herdmates. She was in great shape - no puffyness or soreness. She never ceases to amaze me. Next ride, Gold Country.. where I've heard it's usually HOT HOT HOT. :)

Julienne
& Isabella Mari