Old Dominion 100 Report or Awesome Teamwork....

Riding the Old Dominion 100 – June 12, 2021

By Caroline North

The Old Dominion is one of the oldest, toughest horse races on the planet.  This isn’t just my opinion, it’s called the ‘Beast of the East’ in endurance rider circles, and completion of the race is so difficult, the saying is that you can get everything right, and still need the stars to align in your favor for a successful finish. 

So, I thought we could do it.  We prepped.  Got new shoes.  Prayed for cooler weather.  And we were blessed.  Notice I said we.  This race was not just finished because Glory (my faithful Quarab gelding and fur baby) and I were tough.  This race was finished because we had a whole team backing us.  From my farrier Dan Ingleman and Justin Meyers making time to get shoes reset perfectly, to my riding partner Felisa Read and her horse Lenny (who’ve done this ride before), to Jenn G., Audrey Hager and Barbara Hager who were our crew.  And especially to the volunteers and veterinarians who put on the race and made everything as safe and cared for the welfare of all for the whole exciting, tedious 24 hours of the race!

We got to ride camp, deep in the Virginia mountains on Thursday.  Set up camp.  And rested.  My biggest excitement was the fact that Glory looked so happy in camp, calm and cool, eating and drinking well.  He was in his zone, waiting for race day.

Friday was more of the same.  A true vacation day for me of eating and napping!  Trying not to get nervous about what was to come.  Enjoying cooler wet weather that is unusual for this time of year.  We mapped out what we hoped the race day would bring us, and my crew packed and re-packed.  We vetted in.  Glory’s resting pulse was 36 (that’s really good)!

Race Day: I rolled out of bed at 4:30 am and we got ready.  The sun just started to peak out as we left at 5:30 am sharp down the road.  Lenny and Glory were strong but not crazy, and we settled into a nice pace.  The trail turned up the first mountain, and the muddy slick rocks were a little nerve racking, but doable.  We went cautiously, knowing that it was going to be a long day of this. 

After 15.7 miles we rolled into the first vet check – Bird Haven.  Our crew leaped into action (after a minor mishap of their own, they had lots of adventures just driving around through the mountains to get to these checks on the trails!).  Glory and Lenny pulsed right in (the horse’s heart rates determine when you can continue down the trail).  After pulling tack off, vetting through nicely, Glory and Lenny got down to the best part of endurance riding in THIER minds, namely eating at the buffet table put in front of them.  I was super happy that Glory’s Cardiac Recovery (CRI) was 60/56.  This means his pulse was lower after a brief trot out and back in front of the vets.  It was still pretty cool out.

At 8:32 am we started off again for the next loop.  Up more mountains, and then down.  The trails had lots more rocks.  We climbed through misty mountains, up and down and around.  We didn’t do much trotting, and every time we hit a forestry road, we picked up the pace quite a bit.  Lenny and Glory were drinking well, and if we spotted a nice patch of grass on the trail we stopped and let them grab several mouthfuls.  Some of the trails had brush, wild laurel and rhododendron so thick the trail was only 6” wide! 

After 16.4 miles we got to Laurel Run Vet Check.  32 miles down.  We memorized the names, because riding to check point to check point was how to do this race.  Just get through one more loop!  We didn’t have our crew to help here, there wasn’t enough parking in the forest.  However, the volunteers made sure we got well fed, both horse and human.  Lenny insisted on being fed one handful at a time like spoon feeding a fussy child, but he ate good.   Glory just hogged everything!  Felisa and I reminded each other to eat as well.  We left at 12:26 pm to keep on trucking.

The path to Bucktail VC was only 14.5 miles, but it was mainly uphill!  We also started to hear the cicadas.  The 17-year brood/swarm.  They got louder and louder.  Our pace was slow, but we tried to keep to the endurance adage ‘Never hurry, never tarry’.  This was a rough loop for me.  My stirrup leather was starting to dig into my calf.  It’s really hard to enjoy the ride when you know that this issue is not going to get any better the longer you go!  The cicadas droning on also started to get into my head.  I just focused on staying together mentally.  This is the realest challenge!

After 2.5 hours of this we finally walked into Bucktail VC.  I can see how whacked out I look in the picture!  Everyone got a little worried about me, and I brushed them off saying I was fine.  Horses vetted in good, but the vet got a tiny bit concerned about his gut sounds.  I was pretty sure Glory was just doing a pee dance, he was drinking a ton and hadn’t gone yet.  After our crew set us down and shoved food at us, (me in particular, I was still zoned out from the cicadas) Glory peed the longest I ever seen, I could hear him going ‘AHH’.  The weirdest things make us so happy on these rides!  As we headed back out Tom’s wife (another crew member of a competitor) made me drink a V8 juice saying it would help me.  It was gross but she was right!

We left Bucktail at 4:00 pm for the longest loop of the day, during the hottest part of the day.  We started in the mountains once again.  Trotting where we could, walking fast when not, picking over rocks.  Did I mention all the rocks yet? Oh, and drop offs too.  Pray that your horse doesn’t slip the wrong way on those trails for real!   We finally reach a nice stretch of road and start to boogie down it.  The horses were so happy to be off the mountain too!  Then we get to a sunny stretch of road up a steep hill.  I was pretty sure this lead up to the Gait and Go, which is a mini stop when a horse must pulse down in 10 minutes and then wait for 10 minutes.  

I got off and walked Glory up the hill, but since we were in the direct sun, it was no use, Glory was panting and hot.  This was the trickiest part of the whole ride, being in the hottest part of the day.  Glory is a hot potato in that his heavier muscular build really holds his internal heat in, which in turn can cause his pulse to rise.  The volunteers leaped (and I mean LEAPED) into action dumping water on him and scraping it off.  They shoved a cheeseburger at me and took over!  It was a little unnerving… but at last he reached pulse criteria of 64 and we were okay.  I finished the excellent tasting burger, hopped on and continued on our way.  Lenny and Felisa had gone on ahead because Lenny gets more nervous standing around.  Glory trotted up to Lenny complaining with a whinny ‘Bro you left me!’ Lenny just gave him a wise old campaigner look that seemed to say, ‘you got this kid’!

After a long.  Long.  Long loop of 24 miles.  I was ready to throw my saddle off the side of the mountain and ride bareback.  My stirrup leathers were digging in my legs in just enough pain to cause big bruises.  But not enough to make me cry (or was I too dehydrated to cry? I’m not sure).  It was maddening.  But at last!  Just before dark we get to Big 92 VC!  Hooray!  We were all so happy to see our Crew!  Horses feasted.  I finally got the taste of charcoal burger washed down.  We vet through fine.  Whew!  I even collapsed into a chair for 5 minutes and put body glide on my bruises.  I know I can’t do anything about the saddle, there isn’t enough time at the check.  This is where the placings of the race are determined.  If you linger too much at the holds, you will get left in the dust!  We do some calculating and realize we might make the top ten if we ride smart.  We get our head lamps on at 9:22 pm, and head out for the shortest loop of the whole ride.

We head down the gravel road and start picking up speed!  After 70 plus miles the horses just pick up and go with no complaints, they understand they aren’t done and faithfully keep trucking!  I never have to push Glory; we just keep on trotting!  The road becomes super dark, and now we’re in it.  The dreaded night riding!  This loop was 8 miles, and we were able to trot almost the whole way, it took less than an hour.  We got into Laurel Run for our second VC there, and the Crew barely were set up in time!  It was okay though, the horses still vetted good, and I got to change my clothes!  Oh, the little things in life can make you so happy! Glory even pulsed in at 60!  CRI is still very good.  We are so close!

We left Laurel Run at 10:53 pm.  We are making fabulous time for this ride.  However.  The next 13.4 miles is NOT nice trotting road.  It’s hard gravel/rock, and I finally feel Glory start to poop out a bit.  Lenny wants to keep on trucking, but I can feel Glory’s legs getting tired.  The concussion on the road starts to get him down mentally.  He’s still feeling sound, he’s just tired.  I start to bonk too, getting angry and worried.  But we walk for a bit, then trot to catch up.  I let Glory make most of the decisions here.  I start chanting mantras in my head.  I am regretting not consuming more caffeine.  My eyes are getting droopy.  Things got weird in my head.  Thankfully there was not a lot of wildlife around to freak us out.  After almost 3 hours in this state, we finally roll into Bird haven VC #6.  The last check. 

My crew is amazingly still awake.  The vet gets us through.  The endurance it takes to be a volunteer and crew member is just as important as it is for the horse and rider! It’s 1:30 am in the morning.  This last hold is only 20 minutes long, so horses and riders don’t get too sleepy.  I chug a cup of bitter black tea.  There is only 6 more miles to go.  In the deepest night.  On the wettest trail.  We head out.  And we walk/trudge. 

Felisa and I start talking about random things to stay awake.  I don’t remember much, except that our pace was slow over a rocky, muddy ridge, and I turned my head to the left and looked into the black abyss of the night and realize if Glory stumbles, we are DEAD, falling off the mountain.  There are a few trees between us and the gulf, but that’s it.  Getting off and walking was even more dangerous because those rocks were wet, and a broken ankle was a super high probability.   My brain goes upside down, but somehow, I turn and look at Felisa’s back and know we are going to be okay.  This is when I realize this ride is a true team effort, and I would not have been in such good shape if not for her and Lenny. 

Those last 6 miles took us about 2 hours.  But finally, with such great joy, we come out on the road to camp!  The relief is so sweet I can taste it!  Glory perks right up and takes the lead.  He starts trotting down the road so strongly I need to hold him back!  As much as it was tempting to run in, human common sense kicked in and we kept our speed down!  At 3:27 am we cross the finish line victorious!  Felisa and I tie for 6th place!  Slow and steady win (or at least survive) the day! 

I cry and hug Glory.  He says whatever ‘WHERE’S THE FOOD!’.  I jump down and hug everyone.  We vet through with mainly A’s on our ride card.  I am given the choice whether to stand for Best Condition (this is the highest award) or not since everyone in the top ten is allowed to.  I say yes, more to say we did it, because this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to do so for the toughest ride in the East!  Lenny and Felisa are happy and headed for bed.  We have our victorious trot out for the vets!  We aren’t too lame looking….(Note to self: when trotting horses in hand they mimic your movement, so don’t run with a limp!!!!) 

This race also has a special Best Condition Award for any horses that complete the ride in the top ten that do not wear any leg protection.  I decide to stand for it (I have never wrapped Glory in any way shape or form, he doesn’t interfere and wraps and boots just hold more heat).  To my astonishment, only 3 horses in the top ten didn’t wear boots, and we got the top score!  This trophy was well earned by him, and of course I got a picture of Glory eating out of the trophy!  A little girl’s dream come true! 

My crew and I then limp off to bed.  To come so far together.  Even though all of the volunteers and crews may have not been riding, I was carrying each and all of them along with me for the ride.  It was truly a team effort.  Thank you and Namaste (may the light within me honor the light within you!) to everyone who helped us to the finish.