Goethe Challenge 2011

The last time Farley and I competed at Goethe we completed the 75 mile course. It was my first 75 and I was tired yet elated about the completion and how well Farley and I worked together. The cold beer afterwards was nectar to my body and soul. It was a good feeling.

This year was different as we only did the 25 mile course for several reasons: With Farley coming back from his recent tie-up I didn't want to over do it yet I wanted to see how he was in his performance level (as good as ever), I had told friend and ride coordinator Helen I would volunteer the remainder of the day and that can be hard to do after riding the longer miles and I also don't do well in humidity and it wasn't lacking on ride day. All in all, I made the right decision for the right reasons. We came in 9th place with a 3 hour ride time and a very good card. CRI's were 52/44...nice. Doesn't mean I won't stop worrying when he doesn't drink as often as I think he should but he seems to have recovered which was most important to me. It was still a good feeling.

A few of us dressed for the occasion. That is, we decorated our horses and ourselves for Christmas. Oh sure it was an FEI ride but as AERC riders we thought a little holiday cheer would liven up the place. Debbie and Boomer were bedazzled in red & green glitter with green tinsel braided in Boomer's mane. Come nightfall, battery operated Christmas lights were adorned. You could see the pair coming a mile away. Jody and Stormy aka Snowflake were sporting large snowflakes and silver glitter. Oohs and ahhs were heard all over camp. Farley was dressed in traditional red ribbons with Christmas bells. His bridal wrapped in berries and mistletoe and we both wore antlers. Pictures were taken, fingers pointed. It was fun.
I volunteered, which I like to do when I can, for many reasons...to watch how other horses vet through, learning the ins and outs of timing &scribing, assisting in any way and of course...the jokes, gossip and carrying on with each other. You have the opportunity to learn so much about the folks you have been competing with for years.

We are all so much alike in that our lives cater to the funding of our addiction...horses and endurance riding. And we all seem to have similar "when I first started endurance riding" stories.

Talk to anyone who has been in this sport for awhile and most of us have one thing in common...we over rode our first horse. We were sure that to have a fit horse we HAD TO RIDE miles upon miles weekly and we had to do it as fast as the horse could. Thank you to all of those kind first horses that went the extra mile (literally) for us to get this far.

Many of us try telling new people to the sport that too far, too fast, too soon is TOO MUCH. More often than not, they learn by experience. I think it is because it is a competition and it is assumed we may have an ulterior motive but we don't. We help each other for the better of the horse, for the education of the rider.

What would have been MORE helpful to me as the above is the following:

If you are a female in the sport then at some time you are going to experience the "screaming pee-pees". Sounds funny but this is no laughing matter. The wrong saddle, wrong underwear or just too much friction on your "hoo-ha" and you'll know as soon as you go pee. Trust me, there is no "ha-ha" in a rubbed raw "hoo-ha". LOTS of ointment before peeing and during riding helps this malady tremendously. Seriously.

Our significant others know that any celebrations we do after the ride that involved the "screaming pee-pees" won't be involving the "hoo-ha". NO WAY, NO HOW. Talk to us in about 3 days until then, be one with yourself. For real.

Overall Goethe was a tough course this year. Florida has been in a drought and with that the sand becomes deeper. I always find a flat sand course more challenging than a course through the mountains.

Congratulations to all who completed and to those who didn't, I have no doubt a valiant effort was put forth in both the rider and their horse.