Broxton Bridge heralded the fall season for us and our first attempt at a 50 mile race. There is quite a bit of back story as to how we even arrived here.
Joys of Florida
Initially, Spruce Creek was supposed to be our first attempt at a 50 and it was supposed to go down at the beginning of October (I can’t remember the initial date). However, what else was happening around that time, crushing the Southeast?
Hurricane season!
Some years are fine in Florida, other years the weather has plans and this one has been crafty. Hurricane Milton came through and threw all our plans to bits. Ride management changed the date and all my ride options fell through for the new date.
But that’s okay! Duck and weave!
I moved my eyes to the next one I had hoped to attend: Broxton Bridge. I love Broxton. Broxton was my first LD two years ago in 2022 and Roach and I placed 9th. The trails are great with fabulous footing and the food is amazing!
Okay! South Carolina here we come! I borrowed a truck, borrowed a trailer, got my own husband to haul Roach to Callahan, Florida where my new friend, Kaleigh Kozdras of Holistic Equine Wellness and Kozdras Farm would take us the rest of the way to South Carolina with her mare, Penny.
Did I mention it was the first time my husband and I have ever hauled anything? Yeah, so that was stressful. But we made it!
Broxton Arrival
The drive to Broxton was wet but otherwise uneventful. I felt confident but a little nervous about traveling solo with Roach.. I had only ever traveled with Angel and Jessie previously so it was a bit of stress to check and double check I had everything I needed. Additionally, I was attempting a 50. Did I mention that?
The vet check did not go as well as I had hoped. Roach vetted in with “C” for skin tenting, indicating he was dehydrated. We have never vetted in with anything less than an “B” so I was concerned and all his food from then on out was a soupy, sloppy mess. I believe traveling to Callahan alone to a new place to unfamiliar horses followed by the trailer ride to Broxton the following day put him off his normal drinking habits. Noted for the future: stuff him full of mash days prior to ensure he’s hydrated.
Later that evening, I performed a skin tent test on him, and he was back to normal—first hurdle, side-stepped.
What do you mean “check back in the morning”?
At endurance rides, there is always a rider’s meeting the night before. At the meeting, the ride manager, vet, and trail master go over various aspects of the following days’ events. Usually, a board is brought out presenting the ride routes for the various distances, we (the riders) are given a break down of how the trails work to avoid any confusion, we are told about any potential hazards or unpleasant footing, and the vet talks of the expected parameters such as pulse rates and cautions us on any outstanding environmental conditions like if the temperature will be exceptional.
I sat there with my pen, index card for notes, and my phone ready to photograph the board. All we’re presented with is a board of camp rules. What is going on?
Well, let me tell you. Broxton had 45 days of drought and the weather forecast was pretty amicable. A little bit of rain on Thursday and it should clear out by the weekend. It looked like perfect ride weather to everyone. Mother nature decided to have a laugh and drop 10 ½ inches of rain in less than 24 hours. We were informed various portions of the trail had been washed away, the main pond had nearly burst its banks, and three dams had, in fact, burst already.
Please note, this meeting was taking place at 6:30 pm and the hundred mile riders were set to start at 6:00 AM the following morning. So, this occurred less than 15 hours before race time. A real “Our thoughts and prayers” moment for our ride management.
We were told to come back in the morning for the board to see what our routes were. Well, that doesn’t make me feel like we have an uphill battle!
Fortunately (or unfortunately), I was already in a shell-shocked state of stress from being overwhelmed embarking on this solo. Therefore, I took the news in stride. In my opinion, I was already going to be blind as a bat on this ride so not knowing my routes in advance wasn’t going to hinder me anymore than I already was. I was feeling a lot like the Black Knight in Monty Python, limbless and screaming, “I’ll bite your legs off!”
And they’re off!
I awoke at 7 am, fed Roach, grabbed my coffee and my phone and headed on over to where the board was posted. I took my picture, feeling pretty good, instructions were pretty clear. “Black and Gold, change at Water trough #1, Green and white”. Very straightforward. I was feeling confident.*
*Author’s note: Here is where the audience should chuckle…
Morning Preparations
His skin tent was good, he was bright and alert. I tacked up and quickly snacked a beef stick and protein ball as I had completely forgotten about breakfast. Who needs to eat when about to embark on a 12 hour adventure? No one, surely.
At 7:30 am, we head out on the black and gold loop feeling pretty darn sure of ourselves. We make it to water trough 1. I double check my instructions as other riders fly by it. “Black and Gold, water trough 1, green and white” Check , check, and there’s the green white! Check! I got this.
I was pretty darn proud of myself as Roach and I confidently trotted down the trail with one other rider who also agreed with me that those were the directions on the board.
First Loop Confusion
We’re doing well, chatting as I monitor Roach’s heart rate, keeping it below 120 BPM while chugging along at 8 MPH. Typically, I work him between 120 and 140 BPM, so my goal was to keep him below 120 to ensure I had plenty of “fuel” for the day.
We see no one. Usually, I’ve been passed by a ton of riders by now. My companion believes the front runners are way ahead and that’s why we haven’t seen anybody. We check the directions again: Yes, black and gold, water trough 1, green and white. There was a big “1” drawn on the trough too, so we were very confident it was water trough 1.
The trail then deposits us back at water trough 1 in front of a sign pointing right stating “On to vet check”. We check our mileage. Definitely not enough. The first loop was supposed to be 20 miles.
At this point, some FEI crew were setting up near trough 1 and I told my companion we should ask them for directions. I recognized one of the officials so I was confident they could sort us out and at that moment a couple other riders made their way to the trough as well. Perfect! A think tank!
I walk over and I explain what happened and our confusion. We were then informed that despite the confusing board, we were supposed to do ALL of Black and Gold then switch to Green and White when we came by trough 1 the SECOND time. Definitely not what the board said. I was a little flustered. However, it wasn’t my first time being lost on a ride and definitely isn’t going to be my last. It also wasn’t a big mistake. All we had to do was go through all of Black and Gold and then we could go into the vet check. We just did it in reverse is all, our mileage will be the same.
I was just grateful I didn’t accidentally add 5 miles to my ride which I have done before. In the world according to Léa, all was good!
My companion did not feel the same. She was pissed. Seriously cheesed off. Everyone handles mistakes differently and, while I agree with her, this one was not our mistake, the board was confusing, there’s nothing to be done for it now and after the vet check we’ll be on a clear slate and back with everyone else. I will also say that a year or two ago, I would have been like her but I’ve turned a real corner on my mental health this year. I’m so thankful for it too. Life is so much more enjoyable being able to laugh at oneself but that’s another journey.
All Alone
Eventually, my companion and I got separated—whether she galloped ahead or took a different turn, I suddenly found myself alone on the trail. By this time, the LDs riding the 30 were on Black and Gold and I got a delightful surprise of being passed by Kaleigh and Penny.
Kaleigh was using this as a confidence ride for her mare, going through it fast and solo. I cheered her on as they went and was uplifted being able to see them.
Onward, ho!
God is weird
I’ve always been taught by God through horses. So many lessons learned. This weekend felt like another one. If I hadn’t made the mistake I had, Kaleigh’s ride would have been a lot less fun for her. Maybe my job wasn’t to finish the 50, but to gain the confidence I badly needed and then to be there for Kaleigh and Penny.
As we were going down the trail, I caught up to some other LD riders and they had a riderless horse I recognized after a moment. Penny! I looked around frantically. If Penny was here, where was Kaleigh?
Thankfully, we hear, “Penny! Ma’am! You left me!”
And there’s Kaleigh, covered in mud, hobbling down the trail. She says she’s good to ride on. She mounts up, the other LDers go on, and Roach assumes his habitual position of ESM: Emotional Support Mule.
Emotional Support Mule in Action
If you haven’t read our other posts, Roach has such a cool vibe about him, horses just gravitate to him as a security blanket. There have been many events both endurance and ringside where he’s been needed for those vibes to help other horses get through life.
Penny had given herself a good spook and her self-confidence was clearly shaken. Roach just said, “Let’s go,” and off we went.
Horrid Rain Impacts
The next sections of trail were horrid. The ground would look solid, the horse would take a step and up the fetlock (the ankle joint) they’d go. Portions of the trail were actively degrading as we rode and several times we had to climb down into small ditches and then back out where the trail was literally carved in two from water flow. The trail was so bad, reroutes took place that night again for the Saturday riders. I don’t envy the monumental job of Ride Management. They surely did the best they could with what mother nature threw!
Roach loves this though. He loves technical terrain, he loves climbing in and out of things. Anytime he can show off being a mule, he does.
We picked up another buddy who I hope to run into on other rides. I liked her tremendously and she seems like fun. We finished Black and Gold and ended up back at my good friend “Water Trough #1”.
As we were letting the horses drink, Kaliegh desperately asked if anyone had any extra water. Apparently, her only bottle of water was lost to the wilds during Penny’s spook. Once again, had I not been there, she would have been out of luck. As it happened, I did have an extra bottle of water that I was using only to balance Roach’s saddle bag. What fortune!
I gave it to Kaleigh, bid adieu as they headed down Green and White and I headed to camp.
A Mystery Resolved!
Struggling to Pulse Down: the Initial Puzzle
Historically, Roach has struggled to pulse down. At first, I thought it was an arrhythmia, but then I concluded it was an issue with our electrolyte protocol. I had severely cut back our use of electrolytes which resolved some of the issues. However, on a 50 mile ride, you need them. There’s no two ways about it. If you want your horse to have good performance, they need some assistance throughout the ride.
Finding the Right Solution
Many people have many methods, some involving electrolytes, others not. But the long and short of it is nearly everyone supplements something on these rides to put back what the horse is using. I had not yet found Roach’s magic combo. Until this ride.
Kaleigh really emphasized that I should try hers. I figured we don’t really have anything to lose. Either it works and we’re better off than we started, or it doesn’t and I’m just dealing with same issues I’ve had before.
Finally, Success!
They worked!
My boy was finally able to show off his true fitness that I see in training rides at home. He was down to 47 BPM as soon as I got off. Off to the check we go! I’m feeling great! We did the first 20 miles, only 30 left and I have a beast of a mule ready to work!
…Only I didn’t.
An Unexpected Setback
He vetted with all As and pluses. Then we do the trot. I’m told he’s a little off in the hind and to come back ten minutes before my hold is up to present again. I’m a little stressed. So I start massaging him and another lady comes over and helps. I go back to the vet, I trot out and on the return I hear, “Walk!”
Oh no. No, no, no, no.
She says he hasn’t gotten any better. She’s advising me to withdraw. Now the thought does run through my head that maybe I should have a vet vote. That’s when three vets look at your animal, do not discuss with each other, and vote on the animal’s ability to continue. I decided not to. We’ve come through 20 miles of crap ground, his heart rate is stellar. I live by the motto of quit while you’re ahead. If he is indeed off, is it fair for me to push my luck for another 15 miles when we’ve already passed my two biggest mental hurdles? He’s proved he can do 20 miles in a single go and pulse down beautifully. That was my biggest concern for completing 50s: his ability to pulse down.
I don’t say anything to the vet and take my lump. “Please head over to the treatment vet,” she says and I see the scribe pick up her pen. “LAME” is written and double underlined on my vet card. That’s that. We’re done.
The Issue
I am determined to not cry in front of anyone. Afterall, it isn’t the vet’s fault and I don’t want her to feel bad. They do their job and it is what it is.
I take my time heading over to the treatment vet, allowing myself to process my feelings of both disappointment and worry. Tears do come but I pack them all up when I see the next vet.
I tell her what’s going on and she pulls out her hoof testers. No response from Roach. Good. She feels all his legs and tells me all his tendons and ligaments are tight and cool. Excellent. So why am I pulled? She has me trot him for her and she does say he is short striding. She does flexion tests and those are all good, so no joint damage. She feels the inside of his right thigh and he pops a small warning shot. There it is.
Thankfully, it’s just a small muscle strain. In a couple days he’ll be fine. If I have banamine or bute, I can give him a single dose today, if not, that’s no big deal, just leave it be. That’s how small this injury is.
A Lesson in Humility and Gratitude
I was a mixture of frustration and gratitude. Gratitude it wasn’t something bigger. Frustration that I couldn’t go on due to such a minor thing. Endurance has really taught me a lot about ego. I knew my frustration was due to this pesky thing, competitive selfishness. I breathed out, and let it go. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I would not have finished this race anyways. Black and Gold was also the FINAL loop for the 50s. I know me and how I ride, I would have to have done it in the dark. No way, José. I would have pulled after the next loop anyways.
Celebrating Our Progress
Back at camp, I gushed over Roach: “Congratulations! You’re the first 50-miler to finish for the day!” He didn’t know he hadn’t done the full mileage, but he knew he’d done a good job and had a great time doing it.
I spent the rest of the day watching riders come in and out. I had a great view from my site. Kaleigh and Penny ended up earning High Vet Score and placing 4th in their LD. Both ponies did so well!
Looking Forward
My main concern with Roach was: can he do the first loop and pulse down effectively? Can we do this alone? The answer is a resounding yes! We’ll be making a second attempt for our 50 in 2024 at the 40th Anniversary Carolina Ride.
Even though we have yet to do our first 50, I’m always looking for the future. Next goal after getting a couple 50s under our belt is the FEI. FEI, this mule is coming for you! That would be the fulfillment of a very childish horse girl dream of being an international rider. I don’t care how well we do. I just want to do it at least once!
AERC’s Decade Award and the FEI are the next two targets we’re chasing!
I adore this mule and he really does make me feel like we can do anything and everything. We’re shooting for the moon, and even if we fall short, we’ll still be among the stars.
Hello!
Good cheer to all on this beautiful day!!!!!
Good luck 🙂