| Moon Me Endurance Ride July 2006 HERE'S THE STORY!!!! |
| Thunder In The Moonlight By Bill Wicklund |
Don’t just stand there, come on in and find a chair. We were just about to start on the
first ride for Thunder after the National Championship ride.
On July 8th 2006 we attended the Moon Me Endurance Ride, held at the LBJ Grasslands
in Decatur, Texas. I took Eagles ThunderNToby for his 3rd 50 mile endurance ride. This
was a night ride, to escape the July heat in Texas. Start time was 7:45 pm. We did great!
Until we were 50 yards past the starting line…………..then there was a mis-communication
between Thunder and I. He turned sharply left, and I turned (sharply) right. Thunder spun
around and trotted back to the starting line where Eric Janousek, friend and half of my
crew, walked up to him, caught him and brought him back to me, as I painfully arose. I didn’
t seem to have anything broken, so I prevailed upon Eric to help me into the saddle before
more help arrived and held up my ride. (Ride Managers have a tendency to want everyone
that is in way bounced off the ground to see a Doctor), I have only a vague recollection of
the first 5 miles of this 15 mile loop, I was weak and dizzy (flying through the air can do that
for you). I do remember CeCe Butler passing me and telling me that my crew had missed
me at the road crossing right out of camp, I was already past it. She told me that they
would be at the Texas Gate as planned. Thank you CeCe. I didn’t seem to have any
energy at all. I was able to stay upright and guide Thunder down the trail, but that was
about the limit. I am so grateful for my excellent crew: Eric Janousek, who wanted to come
and learn about endurance riding, and Thunder’s owner, Deanna K. Brown. They met me
at two places on the trail on each loop. They cooled Thunder, fed me drinks, and just in
general kept us going. I didn’t have the energy to get off and on Thunder 2 or 3 times
each loop. I just could not have done it. Did not have the energy. The knowledge that
your crew will do whatever is necessary for cooling your horse and yourself gives an
incredible lift to your spirits. Just knowing that your crew would be there at 2 points on the
trail, and back in camp when you got there was very reassuring. When we got to camp on
each loop all I had to do was dismount and hand Thunder to Erik and Deanna. They did a
wonderful job all night. In camp, they cooled him and took him through the vet checks. I
got to rest and get ready for the next loop. Erik and Deanna fed Thunder, brushed him
and brought him back to me.
At the end of the first 15 mile loop, about 10:50 p.m., we had a trot-by and I actually
dismounted and trotted Thunder for the vet. He commented “If the rider were going on
foot he was in a lot of trouble, but the horse looks good”. To re-mount, Deanna found the
handicapped mounting block (Yes, they have one there) and I mounted from that. Off on
the red trail, 2nd loop, 10 miles to the first mandatory hold. Erik and Deanna were at the
Texas Gate and the windmill. Then they drove to the end of the dam and cooled us again
before we did the last 2 miles into camp. We arrived in camp at about 12:50 a.m. and met
criterion by 12:55. Deanna and Eric took Thunder through the vet check and Deanna led
him back to the trailer, while I rode in the truck with Eric to our campsite. This was a one
hour hold. I was able to rest and nap while Deanna and Eric did everything for Thunder,
fed him, cooled him, fanned the saddle. At 1:50 a.m. they brought him to me, all ready to
go. We started back out on the 15 mile white loop again. We started on that 3rd loop at
five minutes till 2. I knew that about 4:00 a.m. it would get really dark. I carried a regular
flashlight as well as two mini-maglites. After 4:00, as it got really dark, we slowed down
somewhat.
Just about then, we were hailed with a request to pass. We moved over and a couple on
Arabs passed us. As they went by, I asked if they were on their last loop (the white and
red loops run together for 5 or 6 miles there). They said yes, they were. They were
traveling faster than we had been, but their presence ahead of us seemed to invigorate
Thunder, and he picked up our pace to match theirs. We continued at this pace for about
3 miles. When their red trail split to the right, we called good luck to them and went left on
the last mile and a half into camp. We reached camp at about 4:45 and Thunder pulsed
down at 4:50. We were into our 30 minute hold. As I rested, I went over the last 10 miles
in my head. I knew I had a lot of horse left. Daylight would overtake us about 6 a.m.
Maximum time was 7:45 a.m. Our out time was 5:21, but I took an extra few minutes and
left at 5:30 on our last 10 mile loop. We took it easy ‘till 6:00 a.m. As it got light, we picked
up the pace. We came to the Texas Gate in the dawn. Deanna and Eric were there to
cool us. The humidity had been very high all night. We zipped on down the trail to the
windmill. We could boogie in the daylight. A little after 7:00, we were at the end of the dam
with about 2 miles into camp. When we got to the meadow before the finish line, I put
Thunder into his running walk. We passed the finish line about 7:31 and walked into camp
about 7:36 or so. I dismounted and sat down while Erik and Deanna took Thunder through
his final check. Out of 33 starters, we were 25th to finish. We made it! We went back to
the campsite, and Deanna and Eric cleaned up, fed and unsaddled Thunder. I walked
over and got his card signed. Thunder done good, carried a heavyweight rider 50 miles,
finished within the 12 hour limit, recovered well at all the vet checks and was sound and
looking good at the finish.
I cannot say too many times that the key to my finishing this ride was my crew, Deanna
Brown and Eric Janousek. Deanna and Eric kept Thunder and I cool, aware, focused on
the ride, and took excellent care of us both on a very humid night.
With a LOT of help from my excellent crew, we did Great!
At this point, Thunder had 3 of the 7 fifty mile Endurance Rides needed to qualify for
his Medallion. Little did we know that a speed-bump in our campaign was just around the
corner. But, that is a story for next time. Until then, ride a good Foundation bred Appaloosa
horse.
