Marie and Mister IDR

The 2012 Mud Run for which Marie had been conditioning Mister happened on Sunday, May 20/12. It started out with a ton of hustle and bustle at the barn at 6:15am Sunday morning, after a full day of pit crewing for the LD riders. Mister was his usual "full of beans, raring-to-go self" and was interested in all the goings-on around him. He loaded like the old pro he is and arrived at the site unfazed. Marie was shown how to tie him to the trailer by Todd and taught by Pam how to braid a green ribbon into his long black tail. There was almost always a camera taking pictures or video of their activity.
Mister was number five in the group of riders so she had her pre-ride exam early on. She groomed him and had fresh water & hay, thanks to Pam, for him to eat while she fussed over him. When it was time for his exam, she untied him and walked with Lynn/Spirit, Kathleen/Caddy, Troy/Wind and Shelley/Summer to wait their turn.
He stood pretty well for Mel to check him over, a 31 year old Canadian held by this 10 year old. Not sure exactly how he rated, but he was fit enough to proceed after his trot-out. Wooohooo! Off to tack up!
Mister's pre-ride exam
After Mister's pre-ride exam
Marie grooming Mister before tacking up
Mister had been working with Marie since December after a week or so of ground work. He was happy to play with her and they played almost every day, even if it was not a riding day. He was ready! and so was she. He taught her to ride a forward horse after she learned her balance and horsemanship by riding Lynn & Gary's rock-solid Shetland pony, Ginger. Mister was always ready to go, as if he didn't realize he was an elderly gentleman. He only needed to be asked by her to trot or canter and he complied unless he was done for the day when he was treated to a nice groom and some treats. She was thrilled to be "training Mister up for the Mud Run" and he was happy to oblige. His energy and willingness surprised everyone but Marie.
Back at the trailer the temperature was rising, not typical for this ride - often it is raining, thus the name! This turned out to be bad news for Mister. Shortly after the sun started hitting him, he started to pant. This instantly raised the alarm for the Tidal Treasures team who all mobilized to treat Mister. We got him into some shade, Pam and Shelley and Todd rolled out the awning on Pam's trailer. His heart rate was monitored. He was sponged down all over. He was loved. He cooled down and started taking treats and bits of hay again. Mama stayed with Mister while Pam and the others offered kind words and hugs. (and later a nice cold beer - thanks Tammy!).
Decision to pull him from the ride was made and call made to Gary to please bring a trailer to take Mister home. Marie took that decision with maturity beyond her ten years. Mister is more important to her than her ride, she didn't once say, with tears in her eyes, "...but I want to ride Mister...". And I know she felt that.
What to do now with Marie? Shelley offers her mount, Summer. Can she ride Spirit? Check with Mama. Lynn and Troy look to Mama and Mama says she can ride Spirit. He took Lynn 30 miles the day before and even though that boy is a jet engine, he is kind and sensible. And Mama knows that Marie can ride.
Off Lynn goes with Marie and Spirit to have a practice ride - quite a feat with thirty riders registered for the IDR and parking lot full to overflowing! They come back determined and Troy had a quiet word with Mama about how he'd watch out for her. It's an amazing feeling to know that your child is in the best hands and not worry about her safety. It must be rare, maybe - it certainly is special. Off they go with Troy/Wind, leading three riders riding their very first IDR: Shelley/Summer, Kathleen/Caddy and Marie/Spirit. They all completed their ride and the junior riders worked hard to earn their 1st and 2nd place Junior Rider prizes for Condition and Trail.
Marie would not have been able to ride Spirit if Mister hadn't taught her to ride a forward horse.  It turns out that Marie wasn't training Mister for the ride - Mister was training her.
Sometime in this commotion, I think I heard someone say, "That girl has Spirit, in more ways than one!"
It also turns out that the S on Marie's t-shirt that day didn't stand for Super girl - it was for the Spirit she was riding. And the spirit within Marie.
Marie's IDR on Spirit, thanks to Mister
IDR finish
Thank you so much, Mister, you are loved more than you know.

Marie and Mister waiting their turn at pre-ride exam.

Marie on Spirit with Lynn, after their quick practice ride.

Proud and happy Marie and Lynn.