Fort Valley and grand plans

Stephanie Teeter

This was definitely a 'wow' ride! The weather was incredibile, sunny, in the 60's and 70's. A little hot for the horses with their winter coats, but what a treat for the riders and ride management. And the scenery was magnificent - the fall colors were at their peak - red and gold leaves falling as we rode, and the trails were carpeted in color. The course was very tough! A lot of climbs, which gave us some spectacular views of the Shenandoah River valley, and the mountains all around - but the trail was VERY rocky, so the going was very slow. By the end of the weekend we started to get the hang of riding in the rocks (just shut your eyes) - but were still ultra conservative. After riding these trails, I think I'd have to say that the Old Dominion 100 would be a greater challenge than the Tevis - between the rocks and the heat and humidity it amazes me that anybody can do the 100 mile course at all!

Ride management was tremendous! Great dinners after the rides. And everything seemed to go very smoothly - cheerful volunteers, plenty of help at the vet checks. A very nice ride!

John and I hoped to ride all three days, so SLOW was the plan. We finished the first day in great shape, about 45 minutes before cut off time - and an hour later than any of the other riders. It was actually a push to finish when we did - we were so worried about going too fast in the rocks.... I think we could have gone a little faster! I won a beautiful mosaic of a turtle for finishing last. It was a fun day - our first ride in the East - and the views and trails were beautiful.

Day 2 was a little less fun... there was more hard packed road, and more ROCKS... and a very challenging climb up and over Sherman Pass - tough tough trail. John's horse, Sukaro HCC (aka Squeak) had had an allergic reaction to a Rhino vaccine right before we left Idaho - he got very very sick and between that and the trip across country wasn't in his best form, so I suggested that I ride Squeak and John ride Santini who is very tough and much fitter. I thought we'd have a better chance of getting both horses through all 3 days that way. Well... John had to pull Santini on the second day - he stiffened up in the hind quarters. Oops. I rode Squeak alone the last half of the ride, finished 15 minutes before cut-off time - and won another beautiful turtle mosaic! I really couldn't have ridden Squeak any faster... he didn't have the stamina to pull the hills well, and I was too nervous to go fast on the rocks. At one point though I figured if we don't move out on the rocks we'll never make it - so I sort of shut my eyes and asked him to move out, and just let him pick his way. It actually wasn't that bad ... once I stopped trying to guide him and let him do his own thing we did pretty well.

Day 3 was the same trail as Day 1, but in reverse. I rode alone again all day, though a little faster (with my new-found confidence going over the rocks). It was probably the most enjoyable day - warm, sunny, less worry. Still slow, but Squeak was feeling strong and happy. Amazingly tough horse. John took Khruschev out on the nicest loop, and I think he enjoyed it more than if he had tried to do another 50 - more relaxing, more time to enjoy the scenery. So... all's well that ends well. Of the 24 horses that started out to do all three days, only 3 finished! Robert Guidney (?) from New Brunswick, and Debbie (sorry, can't remember the last name). This was probably as tough a ride as I've ever done - I have immense respect for the horses that raced this course! I was very proud of Squeak, he finished in great form - all A's - and we even galloped most of the last loop. He felt stronger than when we started.

So ... what the heck are a couple Idahoans doing riding in Virginia?? Well, in one of my more creative moments this fall I cooked up a grand plan. I was so pleased with Khruschev's performance at the Pan American this summer (he just never tired) - that I thought maybe I would nominate for the WEC in France next year. A long shot, but what the heck, no harm in trying, and the course is perfect for Khruschev - fairly flat and good footing - his huge trot and gallop eat up the miles on this type of course... and I sort of thrive on setting my goals impossibly high :) So I need to find out if he can compete in heat and humidity, which is what will be expected in France in August. Well, I'll never find out in Idaho. I emailed Truman Prevatt asking if he knew of a place in Florida where I could keep some horses for the winter - and sure enough, his neighbor Darlene Krell, can keep the horses at her place and even ride them for me. So I'll spend some time in Florida this winter and spring, training for heat and humidity and John and I will be able to do some winter rides (yes, this is all just a fancy excuse for escaping the winter in Idaho :) This is one of these plans that seemed impossible at first, but things just kept working out. So I'll drop the horses off in Florida and fly home - then come back to start training after Christmas. Wow, still hard to believe. I've never seen an alligator before.

Copyright 1999, Stephanie Teeter

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