DRAW I , Horseman’s Park,
Palmyra, WI
May 8, 2005
by
Debbie Dixon
Horseman’s Park at New Prospect, WI
(in the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine) was the site of the May 8th, 2005,
DRAW I Ride and Drive. We set up
our camp mid-afternoon in the overflow area of the park as most of the other
sites were already filled with the Endurance and Competitive riders and rigs,
and afterwards took a walk around the park to see if any other drivers were
already there. Sharon Brunzlick,
her husband Larry and daughter Cadence, and their equine menagerie (two horses
and two mules) had arrived shortly before us and had already gotten in a little
trail riding. Sharon was in doubt
whether she’d get to do the drive on Sunday (she was planning on the 20 mile)
because Junior, her Standardbred, had come off the trailer lame.
She’d had the vets take a look at him but couldn’t pinpoint the
problem (there was no heat or swelling to indicate an injury) so was giving him
the night to rest, then would try to revet him in on Sunday morning hoping the
rest would “do him good”.
Later that evening, Jac Deweese drove
into camp, as did Randy and Sandy Rudstrom.
And the following morning found Derrick Dupler, Fay Van Camp,and Glenn
Garbisch in camp. Everyone passed
the vet check with the exception of Sharon’s Junior – unfortunately he was
still off. (I personally took
advantage of Sharon’s not driving and asked her to help Paul and I get our two
horses harnessed up -- and a big Thank You to Sharon for helping get Magic
bridled – she was being rather sassy and I know I couldn’t have done it
alone). The start order and start times were assigned after a short
drivers meeting to explain the trail and driver markings and special things to
watch for, then everyone scattered to get themselves and their horses ready.
Derrick and his Morgan, Rhia, were
first out for the 20-mile at 7am and Randy, driving his Standardbred Buddy,
followed five minutes later. Then the 12-milers started out at 8:15, going out
five minutes apart – Glenn Garbisch (with his daughter as groom) driving Akhea
(Arab), Jac Deweese with Scooter (Morgan), Paul Wasielewski with Baby Dude (Quarterhorse),
Fay Van Camp with Missy (Grade), and myself with Magic (Saddlebred).
We shared a short stretch of the trail in the beginning with some of the
riders, but for the most part had the trail all to ourselves. And what a
beautiful day it turned out to be – what started out to be a very cool morning
turned very warm (by noon the temperature was above 70)!
Some of the competitive riders had told us they had found piles of hail
on the trail Saturday morning from the bad storm that had gone through Friday
night, but by Sunday morning, all that had melted so what we encountered were
puddles and mud holes, along with a couple of culverts with bubbling water.
Several of the other drivers related after the drive that their horses
initially had tried to jump the first culvert (mine included -- quite a feat
while attached to a cart) – otherwise the trail was in excellent condition.
Funny thing, though, I don’t remember there being so many hills, and
ROCKS!!
The
12-mile drivers used the same course to drive 6 miles out and 6 miles back to
camp (with no vet check or hold at the turn-around, although there were water
tanks available), and the 20 milers used the same 6 mile course with an
additional 4 miles beyond, had a mid-point vet check and hold, then turned
around and came back the same course. The final vet checks found that some of
the horses were working rather hard – Glenn’s
Akhea had very high pulse and respiration which did not come down in the
required time and Glenn had to withdraw; Jac’s Scooter also had higher rates
which did come down but he lost points because of the recheck; Paul’s Baby
Dude (Quarter horse) was also a little high (but not high enough to require
withdawal) –even so, Paul asked for an immediate recheck of his rates, which
came out the same; Magic was higher than her norm, but well within the range
(although she did finish just slightly off on her right front which earned a
deduction), and Fay’s Missy had good
p/r’s;
And for the 20 milers – Derrick’s
Rhia had good p/r’s as did Randy’s Buddy.
This proved to be a difficult drive for some of the horses and their
pulse and respiration rates showed the effect that the warmer day can have when
they’re still shedding out winter coats!
All in all, everyone had a great time
and enjoyed the drive. After
cooling our horses and getting horses, tack, carts, and ourselves cleaned up, we
joined the awards ceremony to accept our ribbons, posed for a final group shot,
then said our goodbyes with promises to be at the next drive (and some of us
with a firm resolve to do more conditioning).
Results
for the 20 mile drive:
1st Derrick Dupler &
Rhia (Morgan) -- 382
2nd Randy
Rudstrom & Buddy (Standardbred) -- ???
and
for the 12-mile drive:
1st
Debbie Dixon & Magic (Saddlebred) -- 369
2nd Fay
Van Camp & Missy (Grade) -- ???
3rd Paul
Wasielewski & Baby Dude (Quarterhorse) -- ???
4th JacDeweese & Scooter (Morgan) -- 331
Editor’s Note:
My apologies to the drivers in the 12-mile event – I did not get
pictures of these participants because I was one of the 5 involved!