So my first ride went well. We only went 100km (about 65 miles). I am not in very good shape though so that was enough for me. My legs hurt very bad now. Some things were very interesting. The trip to the race was about 7 hours and we drove very fast. We only stopped for gas twice and they did not offer the horses water or let them out at all. In the morning we vetted in then rode the first 25 miles where we saw the vet once and she just waved us on. After that we had a vet check and a 35 min hold. The next loop was about 40 miles in which there was two vet check with about a 20 min hold each. That loop ended back at camp and I was tired and so was Peter's horse so we stopped there. It was interesting to see how they did things. Michele would meet us along the trail about every 10 miles with a bucket of water for the horses and bottles of water to pour on their necks. We did not carry any saddle bags and there was no need for a breast plate as the trail was all flat. I did not see them give the horses electro lights at all. We did the whole ride standing the trot and when Peter's horse would get tired he would use a tree branch for a crop and just push her faster. At the end we had a final vet check and then they put a electro mag blanket on the horses. Also some kind of cooling mud on their legs. There was only one other rider competing in that long of a ride besides us so I guess we placed first and second. When it came time to leave the next day we had to go find the vet on the trail and have here check the horses before we were allowed to go. It was a very interesting experience and so far I prefer endurance in the states.
I will post picture soon.
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