Ruby and I had a good weekend. We headed out early Friday morning for ride camp. Ruby was not too keen on getting into the trailer without her pasture mate. But, didn’t put up too big a fuss. She stomped around a bit in the trailer on the ride up but she has been far worse. Orland is a 2 hr. drive from home. I was a nice sunny warm day. There weren't many people at ride camp when I arrived so I had my choice of spots. I pulled in next to Irving McNaughton. A seasoned and crusty old timer who all know and can’t help but love. I was going to set up Ruby’s pen beside his horses pen. He quickly informed me that he was saving a spot for a couple of woman who he would be mentoring through their first ride. That left me with setting up my pen on the living quarter door side of my trailer. Which actually worked out great since I could step right out into Ruby’s pen to take care of her and feed her. And go out the back door if I didn’t want to go over her pen fence. Though I still managed to “test” the fence at least 3 times over the weekend. Apparently the batteries in the charger are good since it was working great. Ouch! I quickly set up Ruby's pen and settled her in with hay and water. She could not see any other horses at first so did some hee hawing in protest of her loneliness. Soon others began arriving. Heather showed up at noon time and Ruby’s new boyfriend, Maddy, was soon camping beside her. She was a very happy mule with her boyfriend nearby. The vetting in went quickly. There were two vets for the ride. Art King and Ron Miles. Ron vetted Ruby. He loudly announced that he was the specialized mule vet and would be judging all the mule while Art handled all the horses! Too funny. Of course Ruby was the only mule there. It's amazing how quickly Ruby has become an old pro at the vetting. She knows what it's all about and what is expected of her and is such a good girl about it. No more fussing about the stethoscope. You can see her still trying to control her twitching but knows it is ok and won’t hurt her. She still wants to pick up her feet when the judges run their hands down her legs but that is minor. When I first went up to get Ruby vetted in, Ron was talking to me while scratching and patting Ruby’s face. Ruby decided this meant they were now friends and quickly spun around and requested a “booty scratch”. Of course Ron immediately jumped out of the say asking, “Hey, why is your mule trying to kick me!” and he was wondering why I was laughing. I then enlightened him about the mule addiction to booty scratches. I’m not sure he believed me but he carefully went back to Ruby, got behind her and started rubbing her butt. When he was how much Ruby liked that, he got a good laugh about it.
Tracy Bradford came with her husband and their horses. I can't wait until her mule, Prize, is old enough to ride. There was a pot luck supper that night. Heather did not bring anything for the supper nor did she want to unhitch her truck and go out to eat. Nor did she bring any food. So she ended up with my bag of Dorito’s. There was lots of good food at the pot luck and I ate too much. After supper I sat talking with Heather and had a beer. The lack of sleep and the beer did me in and I went to bed early. I had worked Thursday night into Friday morning.
Sat. morning was cloudy and very foggy. It was not hot, but quite humid. It kind of stayed that way all day with periods of light drizzle. The humidity did drop through the day though. The ride was supposed to be 30 and 60 mile distances. But, the ride manager changed the trail at the last minute to keep us off pavement and on more trail. So, the 30 mile ride went to a 35 mile ride. The 60 mile riders went out at 6:00 AM. Ruby is getting so much better with everything and did not pitch a big fit when the 60 mile riders went out. She was bright and alert and you could tell she would like to be with them, but she knows now her turn is coming. We 35 milers headed out at 8:00 AM. The trail was TOUGH. The hardest ride I've done. I had planned to race this ride a bit but within the first 3 miles there was a hill we climbed that was so steep, I nearly had to cling to Ruby’s ears to stay on her back. This was NOT going to be a racing kind of trail. There were several members of the US endurance team at this ride. When one of the “big time” riders and her husband went by us, he commented it was the tougher rides he's ever done. They have ridden a LOT of rides so know a tough trail when they see one. This ride was very hilly. Some VERY steep sections. And sections of rocky, rooty, woods trail that was slow going. I rode with Tracy and Heather most of the ride. The horses got along fairly well. Ruby and Maddy are definitely in love. And both were being kind of crabby with Tracy’s horse, Fanny. Fanny was a good girl and minded her own business. Maddy did manage to give her a good kick right square in the chest in the beginning of the ride. No harm done thankfully. We all 3 leapfrogged leading throughout the ride and all the equines were good about that. A couple times Ruby had to lead past some horse eating boogers! It took us 3 hrs. 15 min to get to the hold. We went straight into the vet check before we even pulled tack. Ruby pulsed right down to 40. Ruby had not started to drink yet but I am finding this is normal for her. She usually goes 20 miles or so before drinking. She ate well. Heather didn’t bring anything for her horse so I shared my alfalfa cubes, dengie and hay with her horse. I had brought extra. And I shared my food with her also. Tracy had come well prepared and also shared her hay with Heather’s horse. We were out of the hold right on time. It was an "up and back" trail so we knew what we had facing us on the return trip. A few miles out of the hold the first of the 60 mile riders caught up with us. It was Connie Walker. A top competitor who has represented the US and won international rides. We thought she would want to pass us but we were coming up on the worst part of the trail and she said she would be happy to follow us though the "nasty stuff". Soon, two more riders came up behind us. One being on the US endurance team and her husband. They also were happy to let Ruby lead through the tough trail. So, Anthony can now brag that his Ruby mule led part of the US Endurance team through "the nasty trail!" Once we got out on dirt road, they were all off and gone! Ruby started drinking good about 20 miles out. Near the end of the ride, Heather and Tracy were getting a bit tired. Heather was suffering from an undergarment malfunction so refused to trot or canter any more. Tracy was just getting sore legs. So, I went on ahead of them. Ruby sure hated to part from her boyfriend but only expressed her displeasure by hee hawing her way down the road. She did not resist going nor did she try to turn around. Good girl. Ruby and I crossed the finish line alone. I took her straight to my trailer, pulled her tack and quickly sponged off the worst of the dirt. Then I took her straight up to the vet to get our completion. Ruby was pulsed down fine. She trotted out nicely and we had now officially won the limited distance ride!
After the ride, I settled Ruby in with food, water and hay. Later the wind really picked up and got chilly so I put a light blanket on her. I stayed for the award ceremony. When they called Ruby and my name as the winners of the 35 mile ride, I heard on person comment, “A mule won the ride?” Then they added, “Well, it was a tough trail and a real mule kind of ride!” I sure am proud of Ruby!
Hot Toddy Hustle I 6/S-F
1. 7:15 Cindy Ross on McAllister's Ruby
2. 7:20 Heather Bonniea on SA Mr Madazsin
3. 7:30 Tracy Bradford o LS Simply Fantastic
4. 7:50 Angela Gore on Megal
5. 7:50 Belinda Crose on Ruckus
6. 7:50 Irving McNaughton on RC Neon
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