Well Goethe has come and gone and I am tardy on writing this. I am also in CA on Holiday for Christmas, and more info: we did the Goethe Saturday, packed up went home that night, went back for awards Sunday, unpacked the trailer, repacked the trailer for a 50 with Dust and Erebus on the 29th (we get back from CA the morning of the 28th) then packed for CA and flew out Monday.

All 7 horses vetted in fine for the Goethe ride.  Saturday morning was nice after Fridays chilliness.  I was able to start in a T-Shirt without too much discomfort.

Stirgess and Cleo warmed up together and Vegas and Chanses warmed up together.  It was an uneventful start.

The loops flew by and Cleo and Stirgess got to do the first 2 loops together as the 100 and 75 were common to that point.  It was nice and relaxing. 

When we got into vet check one we had a great crew waiting for us.  Skip, Lynn and Mark Ashby, Mark DeVoti and Brett Lain.  Super awesome.  Both horses pulsed down although Cleo is a freak and out pulsed us by a minute or two!  Stirgess didn't mind her leaving to go pulse.

As we were getting ready to leave Rachel and Chanses and Erica and Vegas came in.  They were doing well also.

On loop two Jeremy and I were only about a mile out of the vet check when it became obvious that we were coming up on the LD riders that had just started their ride!  What a drag for everyone!  We had to now pass the 44 LD riders while racing our race, the poor riders on green horses that had tried to start in the back were now going to be passed by all of the front runners from the 75 and 100.  Bad planning.  Oh well, we slowed down each time and made sure no one got dumped.

We did get to see Erebus and Dust because of this though as they were both on the LD.

After the first two loops Jeremy and I headed separate ways on different loops.  Stirgess is really fun and he was just cantering along.  This loop got really hot and humid so it was our slowest loop of the ride, we averaged 11 mph.  We had been averaging 11.4. 

At the next vet check I saw Sarah and Nixon and they looked great doing the 1*. 

So far all were doing well. At the last vet check for my 75, mile 60, I trotted Stirgess out and he wasn't right.  The vets said to come back for a recheck so we went and crewed for him and then I did some practice trot outs and he looked questionable.  I represented him and  he vetted out lame.  The vets couldn't decide on a leg as it was subtle, so I guess that is better than being super lame.

In the meantime the 2 rookies finished the LD, Erebus and Dust.  They looked great, Rebecca and Elaine took great care of them.

Cleo came in and had her vet check and then headed out on her second to last loop.  Rachel left for her last loop and it was going to be common with Jeremy's so she went out to catch up to him.  Erica and Vegas had slowed down so weren't riding with Rachel and Chanses any more.

I took care of Stirgess and then went back to see everyone else finish.

At Cleo's last vet check at mile 85 she passed her vet check and Jeremy Rider Optioned.  He felt like she was not feeling like herself and it was better to save it for another day.

Chanses finished 10th and looked super.  Vegas finished a while later and Erica was all smiles.  It was the pairs first 2*.  All in all 5 of 7 finishing isn't too shabby, it's just a drag to prepare all the beasts and then not finish yourself!!  Oh well, horses.

We will be at the Greenway Getaway with the two rookies, Dust and Erebus for their first 50's. 

We sold Bailey last week to Barbara Hershberger.  They will make a great pair.

See you all soon, and Merry Christmas,
Heather