Old Dominion 100

This weekend, Dream and I went to tackle the Old Dominion 100, which is called "The Beast of the East." It takes place in the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. It's known for rocks, heat, rocks, humidity, and rocks. Yet people keep coming back.


Our camp:



The view after the first climb:



Coming into the first hold:



On trail:



Rocks:



Another amazing view:



Trail you could move out on:





During yet another climb (Joe, that is Roberta in the light blue behind the lady tailing):



Getting ready to go back out as the sun sets:





Dream enjoys her well-deserved breakfast Sunday morning:



The ride started at 5:15am Saturday. Dream and I crossed the finish line just after 2am Sunday, tied for 4th.

I couldn't be more proud of her!!!

Congrats!!! Those are some bug rocks out there. Looks like a great ride though. If I ever have more time in my life I would love to train up for a 100. How long do you give her off now?

Awesome!!!

OMG, that is one hard-core ride!

How ever do you stay up for at least 24 hrs straight AND ride at the same time for most of that?? And all that Posting?? Plus in the dark??? Jeez.

Here I was feeling worn out after working almost 15 hrs straight, even if I did get to sit for maybe an hour of that time.

I don't know how y'all do it, but...

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND DREAM!!!

Congratulations to you and Dreams. OMG those rocks are KILLER. Biscuit would be holding up a hoof telling me he was crippled!!! Dreams is one tough chick and so are you!!! I am thrilled for you!

Congratulations on your achievement. It sure looks like a wonderful place to ride minus the mega rocks. Really nice scenery in your videos. You must have put a lot of hours of training in to go the distance. What breed of horse is Dream?

Congrats, a great achievement. Dream is shod, right? Do you use any caulks or studs or something for those rocks?

Dream will get about 4 weeks off, in which she will just chill out in the pasture and be a horse. The next ride we have planned is a 50 in mid-July, so I will get on her maybe twice for short spins before that.


Dream is shod, with pour-in pads in her front feet. No caulks or studs, though she does have 2 borium-tipped nails in each shoe.


Dream is a 12 year old full Arab, of American racing bloodlines (which give her a not-very-typey head.. a lot of people think she is an anglo).


I didn't feel tired until I had finished and cleaned her up and got her back in the pen.. but I do know some people who have fallen asleep in the saddle during the later parts of 100s. I also know people who have hallucinated out on trail (something I have, so far, not had the pleasure of doing! ). And for me, the posting is actually much easier than the walking parts of the trail.. guess my body likes the movement of posting, whereas I get very stiff sitting the walk.

Riding in dark seems to be a love it or hate it thing for people. I have finally found the right amount of light to make me comfortable (and able to duck oncoming branches!), yet not mess with Dream's night vision. And in general, if its dark, its not hot as hell. Always a plus!

WOW, what a huge accomplishment! I am in awe of you and Dream! Congratulations, you guys are a tough team!

I saw you in some of my friend Roberta's pictures. She's my hero. Top tenned in the 100 on a Ten walking Horse.