[RC] The Biltmore

[goearth]

We went. We saw...and we were floated away by the experience.  3"'s of water in my tent i was glad i had an air matress to keep me out of it when allll night long it rained this steady cold rain.  I felt like a ParrotHead out of my environment.  I did not have enough warm clothes and was pulled at 38 miles on the 50 w/ all A's because of the CRI. We came in w/ a 60 pulse but after eating some the pulse went to 72 and came back down. Tommy's Tip of the Day...if you hit a Vet check and your pulse is down go STRAIGHT to the Vets.   No matter how hungry the horse is eating keeps the pulse up.  Observation # 1...When did the CRI superceed ALL other Vet Criteria?  Anne and her Biltmore Staff  has managed to put on the Premier East Coast Ride and the weather was outside her control.  The OD used to be the Premier but w/ so few people attempting it has become the hardest and in this age of weiners people dare to take the challenge anymore.  The Biltmore is deceiving because its all either up OR down.  With the footing that had the broadest expanse of colors and textures i've ever seen in mud it was a toughie.  Observation # 2...Has Anyone ever heard of a 100 being shortened to 80 because of trail conditions?  Has it ever been done before?  do the riders get a prorated refund?  I'm not trying to create a stink on this because i was wet and whipped but this is ENDURANCE and the trail tho hard to manage was not dangerous and i have seen other more dangerous predicaments to be in.  Was this management decision made to appease the FEI Folk? and if they were not using it as a demonstration ride would they have still shortened it?  My point on this observation is if it was shortened because of the FEI Folk it just strengthens my "Fooie on FEI" mentality.  To close...we left and got home at 4:30 AM and i was tird and in my hot tub at 4:31 and warm for the first time in 2 days.  Way to go Anne and thanks for your ambiance and the experience of being at the Premier Ride on the East Coast. it was fun....even tho i must have missed the wet T-shirt contest.   tom sites