Fantazia’s return to endurance and Fire Mtn. (Road to Tevis #81)

One year after completing the first two days of the Fire Mountain pioneer ride (read about our experience here), Fantazia completed 50 miles on the first day in fifth place. Last year, we were also 5th–Time 6:27 according to our AERC record. I believe that doesn’t include holds, because in my blog I say we finished at 2:48. This year we finished at 3:34. Considering she had had nearly 8 months of rest, Fantazia’s return to endurance was not bad at all!

(Next up: Jazz’s first endurance win!)

Fantazia’s return to endurance was slow

After not starting last year’s 20 Mule team because she was lame, Fantazia had a long time off (read about extended rest here). We couldn’t figure out why she was lame, just that it was below the fetlock and caused her foot to club up. I start riding seriously again in October (read about bringing her back here).

I had planned to do the LD at Cayuse with her, but the ride was cancelled due to rain. By this last weekend, she was ready for a 50. We had been doing 16-18 mile rides with steep climbs every two weeks. No, she was not nearly as fit as she had been when we were competing. But I overtrained her at first. I had enough horse to do 100 miles when we started with a 50-mile WDRA ride in February 2020 (read about our first ride here: Our first endurance ride). On Friday she was not that fit, but in consequence she was much easier to rate. Fantazia’s problems do not include lungs or atheltic ability; mainly, they include arthritis. Overtraining is not ideal.

Because of the recent rains in California, I had not ridden for nearly two weeks before our pre-ride on Thursday. Fantazia was very fresh, and I ponied Jazz. Yes, I had a handful! And I was trying out an original Stonewall saddle (I’ll blog about that later). But the good news–Fantazia was completely sound!

The vet-in

I was nervous about the vet-in and every single subsequent vetting, because Fantazia had not started 20 Mule Team because of right fore lameness last February. Of course, I hadn’t seen a hint of lameness in her since last April, but still. She had also got stuck somewhere in the pasture last week. She had lost a shoe inexplicably (Fantazia holds onto shoes until the nail heads wear completely off)… Inexplicably until I hosed the mud off her for the farrier. Turns out both her back legs were all cut up from cannons to above the hocks. All surface wounds but ugly. It was a relief to vet in with all A’s, and to finish with all A’s.

Yes, I asked for my vet cards, for the first time since Oklahoma!

The ride (day 1, Fire Mt., 50 miles)

The ride was pretty much identical to the Day 1 50 we did last year at Fire Mountain. I suppose the main difference was that last year we had a controlled start. I prefer those. Still, Fantazia and I did the same thing. We started off in front and let people pass. She does better that way. Yes, we went faster last year. Below you can see some comparisons.

Above: The only video I took with my phone, shortly after the beginning of the ride. I may have more on my GoPro. I’ll check later and add if so!

Loop 1

Loop 1 is 15.5 miles. Last year we completed it in 1 hour 54 minutes (8.5 mph average movign speed, 1:48 moving time). This year it took us 2 hours and 10 minutes (7.4 mph average moving speed, 2:06 moving time). She was in far better shape last year, and pulled on me much more. This year was a more peaceful ride! Fantazia finished the loop with Bs on gut sounds and mucus membranes, As on everything else. She had not yet taken a drink of water; no surprise, I wasn’t worried. Fantazia rarely drinks before 20 miles unless it’s hot. But it does make for less than perfect scores.

We had a thirty minute hold. Jazz was pitching a fit when we came in, rearing and trying to dig to China. It’s better for Fantazia to have a buddy to come back to: she eats much more this way. And no matter how upset Jazz is about being abandoned, he always eats. That’s the main reason I’ll be riding Fantazia first whenever both horses compete. She does NOT eat.

Above: Jazz and Fantazia during our second hold. Fantazia does much better with a buddy at the trailer.

Loop 2

Loop 2 was 14.5 miles this year, and slightly different from last year. I also forgot to start my watch for the first mile and a quarter or so last year. We can compare average moving speed recorded though: 6.8 mph this year, 7.8 mph last year.

The most important thing is that Fantazia vetted in with As on everything but mucus membranes and gut again (Bs). I was most worried about gait and back. Gait for the obvious reasons, back because I was trying out a new (to us) saddle, an old Stonewall. I had only used it once, the day before in our preride. It seemed to fit Fantazia well, but you never know until you do miles. She had no pain at all, so I decided to finish the ride in the Stonewall, which was proving to be excellent for my hips.

Above: The Stonewall saddle seems to fit Fantazia and me well.

Read my post about the Old Stonewall endurance saddle.

Loop 3

I really enjoyed Loop 3. It’s got the most interesting vegetation, and I love the way it winds down into the flats at the end. It was a pretty day in the desert. The sand was perfect for riding and the cacti shiny and bright after the recent rains. I took it easy (6.0 mph average moving speed) and led her down many of the slopes. We finished at 3:35. Fantazia was not tired and completed with all As on her card.

Take home

Fantazia’s return to endurance was easy. I totally overtrained her for the first year or so. This no doubt contributed to lamenesses, at least the first two, both of which were muscle spasms. She’s a lot easier to rate when she feels a bit tired earlier, and doesn’t do the sideways cantering and power trotting. And clearly she doesn’t need that much training to complete 50s, even in the top ten. We might not know why she was lame last spring, but we do know she’s arthritic. This too benefits from less work.

Future plans

My long-term endurance goal with Fantazia is Decade team. I’m fairly sure we can do it, as long as I do easy rides like this one. She won’t be able otherwise in any case, if she settles this spring (still planning to make a Morab with Beroni semen).

As long as life doesn’t get in the way, I’ll go to the next three xprides, Laurel Mountain, Eastern Mojave, and Cuyama Oaks. I wish I could do the initial Joshua Tree ride, but work must happen and it’s a long way to come home and go back to the desert in a week! Fantazia will do a 50 at each. In April we’ll try to breed her.

As long as she takes by June, we can do a fall 2024 ride.