The Sesenta Años pioneer ride (Road to Tevis # 58)

With the Sesenta Años pioneer ride (xpride description), I finally feel that Fantazia and I really could be on the Road to the Tevis Cup. If life (or her possible anhidrosis) doesn’t get in the way. She was amazing. The ride itself was great fun. I love xprides and the Nicholsons. In this post, I will focus on the ride itself, and include lots of photos and videos (many of which have other riders in them. Feel free to download or ask me for a larger file!)

The location

The Sesenta Años pioneer ride was held in the Rancho San Fernando Rey–for the most part! We did venture into the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area on the first day. I ventured into Los Padres National Forest the third day… but only because I went off trail and was temporarily locationally challenged.

Just 20 minutes up from Santa Barbara in the upper Santa Ynez river valley near los Padres National Forest, the ranch is private land full of fragrant plants. I found three types of sage (white, purple, and hummingbird) as well as tarragon and rabbit tobacco. The terrain is hilly and dry, although there was gren grass coming up everywhere from a recent rain. Bexause it’s a working cattle ranch, there were water troughs everywhere. There were also many gates–not as many as at the Quicksilver Fall Classic, but at that ride, they could all be opened and shut from horseback. At Sesenta Años, we had to get off to open and shut gates.

Day 1, Sesenta Años Pioneer Ride (Veteran’s Day)

Loop 1, around 27 miles

Fantazia went fairly fast on Day 1, for the first loop: ~27 miles in four hours and thirteen minutes. I forgot to start my watch app for the first half mile, and then to turn it off at the end, so I am estimating the distance. Because we started at 7am, I know we totaled 3 hours and 51 minutes moving time, with an average moving speed of 7.1 mph. There was a short vet check, and I sponged at most troughs, which explains the non-moving time. Fairly hilly: 3.562′ total elevation gain.

At first, I was worried about getting lost. (aka, going off trail and doing extra miles… I wasn’t really going to get lost.) We all were, so we travelled in a pack. It was fun and good training for Fantazia. (Short video of us following a group.) She got more worked up than she does when we ride alone, but was manageable. She is getting better every single ride, and this one has been the best of all (more later). I got off and led her downhill (mostly jogging) and uphill (mostly tailing and/or walking) when it was steep.

I had planned to ride alone, and fall behind. Eventually, other people moving faster did move off, and I thought I was further back in the pack. I tried to slow down even more on the second loop.

By the time we got back to camp, it was fairly hot. I led her the last half mile in, and it still took her about 5 minutes to pulse down (I think… I didn’t ask Annie to check for a while). Our out time was 12:20. I ate one of Annie’s wonderful egg-salad sandwiches and had a Bubly while Fantazia picked at alfalfa and ignored her saoked beet pulp and feed.

Above: Towards the beginning still, Loop 1, Day 1 of the Day 1, Sesenta Años Pioneer ride.
Below: Later, looking down on other horses and riders. If you rode that day, you might be among them!

Below: One of the many videos I took with my GoPro. Unfortunately, I had it angled too far down, so most of them were terrible.

Loop 2, 20+ miles

Once again, I forgot to start my watch, so the distance is not precise (my watch recorded 19.75 miles). This time I did remember to STOP it though!

We did the second loop very slowly. I led her (walking and jogging) for at least 5 miles. It took us just slightly less time than the first loop had (~4:12, based on out-time), despite being around 7 miles shorter. Total of 3,002′ total elevation gain, and it was in fact a more difficult loop than the first one. It was hot, for one thing, and began with a long steep climb to the top of the ridge. I led her all the way from the water trough at the bottom to the one at the top… I was exhausted!

Above: Elevation profile for loop 1 (top) and loop 2 for Day 1 of the Sesenta Años pioneer ride. If you look closely, you will see that Loop 1 had a lot of ups and downs at lower elevation (max = 1,512′ per my watch), whereas Loop 2 was a long steep climb to 2,586′ (base camp was at around 850′). Much more difficult.

I rode alone almost the entire time, and Fantazia was unenergetic. She wanted to stop to eat all the time. I noticed she was not sweating nearly as much as she had that morning, despite it being much hotter. I had not taken the saddle off or gotten rid of her sweat marks from the morning, so I was not certain, but I began to wonder if she was sweating at all…. Just as I had at the Quicksilver Fall Classic.

I sponged at each trough and went very slowly. Average moving speed was 5.1 mph. Still, we finished easily and–as it turned out–in 7th place of of 17. Only about an hour behind the leaders.

At the end of Day 1…

Fantazia was uninterested in mash or feed in the evening, but she was drinking well and attacjed her hay.

She was sound. Her legs were clean. I did not sweat them or use poultice. I did stretch her and inspect her thoroughly for wounds, swelling, heat (I have a little heat reader), and pain. She was slightly sore under the saddle, which was worrisome. I had used the Reactor Panel, because it fits better when she’s fatter. After palpating her back and stretching her, I decided to wait and see how she was the next day, and switch saddles. if I decided to ride. I had brought my OrthoFlex and Zaldi.

The Zaldi made her hairs turn white last year, but she had never been sore with it. The Orthoflex fits her well when she’s thinner. It’s not as comfortable to trot in, but it’s more stable for mounting. I also find it easier to stand in the stirrups, which is good when my hip starts complaining or other aches and pains happen.

Day 2, Sesenta Años Pioneer Ride

Saddling up

In the end, Fantazia’s topline was much better the next morning. She stretched well. I decided we’d ride the 50, but I changed saddles. She was certainly thinner after a few days of ignoring her Ultium, and I really think the Reactor Panel is not a good fit. I probably shouldn’t have used it the first day either. Reducing her alfalfa–which I did even more in the weeks leading up to this ride–means a thinner horse because she simply will not eat enough other hay.

The most comfortable saddle for me to ride in when I am sore or when my hip hurts is the Zaldi. It has a very narrow twist. However, it’s a lot less stable when it comes to mounting (which is also work) so I opted for the OtrthoFlex. I planned to be getting off and on frequently to open gates and lead/tail. The OrthoFlex is also great for standing in the stirrups, which I reckoned I’d be doing a lot of.

Normally, I tack up at least 20 minutes before the start. This gives me time to warm up (I do versions of this exercise). On Friday, however, I planned to lead Fantazia at a walk for 1 mile, so I waited till the last minute.

Day 2, Loop 1, about 28 miles

Again, I forgot to start my Garmin. This time it took me 9 minutes to remember, but we hadn’t gone far, as I was leading Fantazia at the walk. At the end of the loop, I spent about 6 minutes at the troughs outside ride camp. I took the saddle off and sponged Fantazia down thoroughly to remove all traces of sweat marks. By the time we went in, she was already pulsed down. Our out time was 1:20. We had started at 6:30.

Per my app (plus 9 minutes): Total time was 5:48, total moving time 5:10. Yes, we spent an hour and a half longer for the first loop on Day 2. (On Day 1, we started at 7am.) I was riding (and leading) very conservatively. This time, the first loop was the more challenging: 3,806′ total elevation gain, most of it in the first half of the ride. Fantazia and I rode alone almost the entire time, only at the end accompanying Kristin Ojala and her mare for a few miles.

At lunch, I made sure Fantazia dried completely and cleanly. I ate my sendwich, chips, and candy; Fantazia ate alfalfa hay. As in the morning, I saddled up just minutes before our out-time.

Above: Elevation profiles for the second day of the Sesenta Años Pioneer Ride. The first loop (top) was more difficult.

Day 2, Loop 2, almost 22 miles

Yes, according to my Gaia app we did nearly 50 moutainous miles on Friday! My Garmin died at mile 18.86 and 4 hours, 1 minute. At that point, we had 3 hours 44 minutes total moving time, average moving speed of 5.1 mph (like the prior afternoon), and total elevation gain of 2.142′. My heart rate monitor was crazy (it read over 200 when I could feel her pulse was below 60), so I disconnected it and rode the old-fashioned way: listening to respiration and feeling the energy of my horse.

On sweating

I also watched her sweat production. Or, more accurately, her lack of sweat production. Fantazia did not sweat at all. She was dry under the saddle and bridle the entire afternoon. Yes, she has at least partial anhidrosis (though I will have the vet test her after Thanksgiving to verify).

By the time my watch battery died, it was dark. There were no glow sticks, and although I had a headlamp in my hydration pack, I didn’t take it out. I figured its white light would do more harm than good (I’ve ordered a green light). We were heading up a windy rocky gulch as the light disappeared. Fortunately, we had gone out the same way in the moring, and even more fortunately, I had recorded that track on GAIA. I lowered my phone screen to minimal brightness and used Gaia to follow my track back. We went very slowly.

It was somewhat comforting to know that there were two people behind me! It was even more comforting to spy a headlight (though it blinded me) in the distance… someone had come to open the gate to the main ranch road. From there is was just half a mile. I got off and led Fantazia in. She had pulsed down before we got to camp. It took use 11 and a half hours to complete the ride.

At the end of Day 2…

(Official ride time: 10:35)

When we got back to the trailer, Fantazia stuck her head straight into her feed bucket (the one with Ultium and riace bran) and didn’t take it out for half an hour. The first time I had ever seen her eat her feed at a ride.

Her topline was a bit sore, but less than it had been the night before. Everything else looked good. She vetted out fine, trotted well (if tiredly). I made her stretch, made myself stretch. Took some ibuprofen. Debated riding the next day or just packing up and heading home. Then I went to ride meeting, and John talked about the next day’s first loop; he mentioned a dudleya wall. The first person outside of my brother, boyfriend, and a few others I had ever heard talk about dudleya.

I signed up for the LD.

Above: Top row, dudleya. First two are chalk dudleya, third is probably lanceleaf or maybe canyon. Middle row, left to tight: Grey pine, purple sage (there was also a lot of white sage), and long-stemmed bickwheat. Bottom: Oak tree. Some yucca. This ride was great for viewing native plants.

Day 3, Sesenta Años Pioneer Ride

Fantazia was great on Day three. She ate a good part of her breajfast (Ultium), stretched well, had no pain on her topline, and was much more energetic than on Day 2. I attribute the nergy to eating! I’m hoping she has learned her lesson and eats well on my next ride from the beginning.

Above: Other rides on Day 3 (Loop 1)

Fantazia could have done the 50, but I was quite sore, so I was glad I had signed up for the LD. It was a tough one! We started with a long steep climb up to over 3,000′. At the top, we discovered a surprised vet hold! The horses had to pulse down to 68 before continuing… and it was hot, with no water. There was a certain amount of grumbling, but I thought it was an excellent idea. Otherwise, people might have just kept going, possibly accelerating the pace because it was downhill. I always get off an lead Fantazia down, but most people do not.

Above: Sesenta Años Pioneer Ride, Day 3, Loop 1. (My only loop). There was a surprise vet hold at the top of the hill. Criteria was 68bpm, no water, little shade. Some who had charged up ahead ended up leaving behind me.

I thought Fantazia waas down to 64 in about five minutes, but when Dr. Nicholson listened, he said she was at 68 and a half… And that I could go, if I wanted. Of course, I then got worried and waited another five minutes in the shade. He counted a full 30 seconds; I had stopped. He was the vet… By the time I started leading Fantazia down, she was under 60, so we jogged.

I went off-course…

At one point, the trail curved sharply up and to the left. I took the road down to a creek, where Fantazia drank deeply. We crossed the creek and continued up an unmarked trail through a pretty ravine. I was so busy appreciating the landscaped that I failed to notice the lack of pink ribbons. When we came upon another creek, with no outlet, I finally realized we were off trail.

I rode up and down looking for ribbons, and would probably still be there if more riders hadn’t made the same error. Two more people joined me in riding up and down… and then someone else came. Finally we went back to the main road and found the trail.

I don’t regret going off trail, because it was a long time until we found more water, and it wasn’t nearly as good as the creek. And it had been a beuatiful side trip. It did add 34 minutes and a little over a tenth of a mile to my ride, but I wasn’t trying to win anyway.

But we still finished within six hours.

And I handwalked Fantazia the last mile. By then it was hot, and she was no longer sweating well. I stripped her and hosed her down before checking her pulse. She was down, we vetted through to completion (and 17th out of about 25 riders in the LD). I am not sure of our completion time, because I stopped my Garmin and Gaia after vetting. They both read 5 hours and 48 minutes (and I had started exactly at 7am), so I ‘d guess it took us 5 and a half hours to do the 26 miles.

When I tied Fantazia to the trailer, she once again stuck her face straight in her bucket and ate a meal’s worth of Ultium and rice bran.

Above: Previously unsuspected ribbon thief!

The take-home of our weekend at the Sesenta Años pioneer ride

At the Sesenta Años pioneer ride, Fantazia ate her feed for the first time... after the second 50-mile day!

It was a great experience. Fantazia did not cramp. She pulsed down (although admittedly it took some careful riding because of the heat and her limited sweating). She ate her feed for the first time ever at a ride. Feeding little alfalfa at home meant she gobbled her alfalfa hay too. She also ate wheat hay well, though she disdained the expensive orchard grass I had bought specifically for the ride. No more of that. She still prefers to drink out of communal troughs, but she also drank at the trailer over night.

I gave her CMPK (60cc) once per loop. Per much appreciated advice from vets and experienced endurance riders, I’d started that at the Quicksilver Ride. I also used Endura-Max sparingly. (One scoop the night before the first day, half a scoop twice per loop after that.) There is no way to know if that was why she didn’t cramp; maybe she wouldn’t have anyway. She never cramped before the Cuyama Oaks ride, and I believe that cramp is easily explained by her behavior. The cramp at 20 Mule Team was that same injury; I didn’t give it enough time to heal. At Wild West, it was a different place, different side, no good explanation besides lack of calcium thoug, so… Better safe than sorry. I will conti with CMPK and Endura-Max.

Of course, I too was sore. Still am, although Fantazia seems completerly recovered. But the ride was a success. We did 125 (official) miles in three days. 125 AERC miles, more WDRA miles, because they compensate for elevation changes.

A digression on distance….

Yes, for the same (or less) distance, WDRA gives you more miles than AERC. Which is a very good idea.

A few years ago, I wrote about the whole distance-controversy in my post “What is a 40-mile Ride”. Then I argued that they should all count for endurance, and didn’t worry about adjustments for difficulty. Now, after having ridden many more miles, I believe that terrain should be put in the equation such a 40 mile ride with 4,000′ elevation change should count the same as a flat 50 (for example… the exact equation could be negotiated.) There is simply no comparison, and insisting that people do 50 full miles in steep terrain–and on top of it, complete within a given time–seems to illustrate a sad lack of consideration for the horses’ welfare. It does, in fact, encourage exactly the opposite of what AERC purports to promote: not racing (ie. riding fast to “win” or, in the case, complete) and putting equine welfare first.

Don’t want to continue down this rabbit hole, but it’s something to think about.