If you read my other post last week on the Off Course board, you’ll know that life has thrown some lemons at me lately (and I think first they froze then and then they got Nolan Ryan to lob them at me but anyway…) and my endurance plans got a little side tracked. I have a mare that I got in January (9 year old, Rocky Mountain). She was kind of rough- typical back yard gaited horse training- aka she only knew how go, go some more and sort of stop. She’s come a long way and so far we’ve done two 15 mile CDR’s, a 26 mile CTR (Cheshire), and 2 LD’s (Foxcatcher and Old Dominion). She’s done very well at all of them, mid pack, pulsed down to low 40’s right away, no soreness anywhere, takes care of herself on trail, etc. My plan had been to do the 30 at Muckleratz, spend a week of conditioning in Big South Fork (aka my vacation), and then attempt the 50 at Hector at the beginning of September. Well Muckleratz and Big South Fork are out because of my other mare’s emergency surgery and Hector is out because I’m a dummy who didn’t look at the calendar to see that it’s the same day as my brother’s wedding.
So plan zed is the 50 at Iron Mountain. I’ve always heard great things about this ride and have wanted to do it for a while. I love that the vet checks are away from camp and it’s a bigloop. I know it will be hot and there will be a lot of climbing. Has anyone done it? Any tips or thoughts? Am I crazy to make this our first 50? ( I have done a 50 once personally, it was over 20 years ago, I was in my late teens)
First - HI again! I rode with you at the OD 
Thanks again for that.
I’m sorry to hear of all your struggles recently - I hope things are on an upswing now!
I have done the LD at IMJ, and this year the trails will be a little different due to damage from storms (Nancy announced on FaceBook)…
Such as the LD will have all checks in camp now (since the new base camp is where we usually did the away check), not sure about the 50 if there is now a different away vet check or all will be at the new base camp too. We are no longer having base camp at the river, which is a bummer but at least the ride isn’t cancelled!
Are you on Facebook? That would be a great place to toss the question to to get more who have done the 50 there before and maybe get some insight from Nancy on the trail changes…
Thank you @paintedtrails 
It was so nice at OD to end up with a ride buddy who had a similarly paced horse- and I totally realized afterwards that I never got your name. I will definitely post on FB too. Are you riding IMJ this year?
I get that - we are often on alone since his walk is so big and appreciated the company too!
Yes, I plan on doing the LD Saturday at IMJ. We won’t try for a 50 until cooler weather, and once I feel we have enough conditioning in place so may not be this year…our schedule has been a mess too this year and just not getting out as often as I’d like
(No worries! I’ll message you my info if you want to look me up on FB)
Yes, definitely message me your info And I’m crewing for a friend in Saturday’s LD (she’ll be on a chilled out gaited guy with a big walk too) so if you need any crew help, let me know
These videos are of the trails including the parts to and from the other camp, but it gives you a basic idea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtjI9eNu1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1lyGTx5owU
Hope to see you there!
Thank you! I always love watching your videos And hope to see you there too- I promise, I’ll have my awning figured out by then lol
Well unless we get ours replaced before then, I may be coming to sit under yours!! :lol:
funny…I’ve had this trailer just about 4 years and FINALLY started using my awning this year I was scared to open it and not be able to close it lol
