This is an article I wrote for endurance news about preparing for the 2001 XP. “Preparing for the 2001 XP”.
I surveyed and interviewed many if not most of the riders that went on the ’01 XP and got a lot of varied responses.
This may help some of you that are planning for the 2011 event. I’ve got lots more to post, so keep checking back.
Enjoy! Karen
Preparing for the 2001 XP
by Karen Chaton, Copyright 2002
Part 1 of 3
This summer a group of about 60 endurance riders rode from Saint Joseph, Missouri on the original Pony Express trail to Virginia City, Nevada. So just what does one do to prepare for an 8 week, 2,000 mile multiday endurance ride? I asked several riders who went and found that there are as many different ways to prepare for a monumental event such as this as there were miles to be ridden.
Many of the riders had planned on doing this event for 2 ½ to 3 years, when Dave Nicholson, DVM made the announcement at the 1998 Death Valley Encounter. At that time riders began purchasing entries and making plans and dreaming!
For some, preparation included reading up on the actual trail itself. In 1992 the Pony Express National Historic Trail, which covers the entire route followed by pony express riders, was designated part of the National Trails System. It goes over much of the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails, which are also of great historical significance. The most read book by riders was the Traveler’s Guide to the Pony Express Trail, by Joe Bensen. Other books read included the 1976 Great American Horse Race and Graves and Sites on the Oregon Trail. A great number of riders felt a connection since they had ancestors who had come across the trail, some as immigrants in wagon trains and at least one relative who pushed a handcart.
A lot of horses brought on the trip were solid competitors, having completed multidays previously. Nearly every rider polled mentioned completing 5 day rides such as Outlaw Trail, Fort Schellbourne, Applegate-Lassen, Lost Wagon Train, the Fall XP, Renegade and Timberon rides. Quite a few horses had over 3,000 career miles and some more than 5,000 and 7,000 miles. Many others had very few career miles but had been conditioned for several months. The riders themselves as a whole were a very experienced bunch, and included ride managers, veterinarians and AERC Directors. Not everybody had a lot of experience, for at least one rider this was his first endurance ride.
Getting the rig ready for such a trip included doing such things as fluid and filter changes, checking brakes, bearings and getting new tires and spares if needed. Hayracks, bucket holders, trailer window screens and additional water storage were common things that were added. Some made hay hoists ranging from simple to elaborate. A couple of people also put winches on their vehicles and added an exhaust brake. Most everybody had cell phones to communicate with. There were a variety of rig configurations with most riders using what they already had, including pickups with gooseneck trailers, motorhomes and pickups with campers or shells and bumper pull trailers. Some trailers had nice living quarters with all the amenities while others were very simple with just dressing rooms. Some even used tents to sleep in. A few riders brought two rigs.
The most common purchases for this ride included GPS’s, cameras, tack, Easyboots, rain gear, riding tights, flashlights, and knives. Several also purchased laptop computers and map software. Another popular purchase was an overhead tie system for tying their horses. Less popular were corral panels and electric fencing. Some felt it would be asking too much to have their crews set up and put down panels every day while others felt that taking up that much space in a crowded camp was inappropriate. The biggest purchases made by at least a couple of people were completely new rigs. Some riders purchased used trailers or even new trailers with the intention of using it just for the ride and then re-selling it.
Many riders planned on getting several horses ready for the event, and then chose the ones they felt would perform the best. A couple of people mentioned getting new horses and conditioning them for a year prior, only to have them come up with a problem just weeks before the ride so ended up taking their old campaigners anyway. Problems with horses just before the event included horses getting strangles from attending an endurance ride; injuries from pasture accidents and lameness. Most planned on bringing 2-4 horses.
A lot of riders worked really hard to get themselves in condition. They mentioned jogging, working out and riding 3-4 times a week. Many went to endurance rides to keep themselves and their horses in shape. Some riders did not do any endurance rides, or only did one or two in an effort to save money. Most conditioned their horses themselves, often with the help of a spouse or relative. A couple of people hired trainers to help them with their horses because they couldn’t do it all by themselves.
How did people find crews, knowing that they would need somebody to commit for 8 or 9 weeks? Several people took their relatives, including spouses, parents, grandparents or children. Others hired friends or even strangers from want ads they had placed in newspapers or on the internet. Most reported paying their crews around $3,000 for the two-month trip. Not everybody had great luck with his or her crews. Sometimes they just didn’t get along. In some cases the crewperson quit, or was let go. Several people mentioned damage sustained to their rigs and unnecessary accidents involving their horses because of their crew. Many would agree that the riders who had the most harmonious relationship were the ones who had their spouses crewing for them.
For many, the time off work and loss of income was the most complicated part of doing the XP. Many riders were retired so getting time off work wasn’t an issue. Others used all their vacation and sick pay. A lot were self-employed. Regardless of their situation, leaving home for such an extended period required considerable planning. Several people paid somebody to housesit for them or relied on friends, neighbors and relatives to look after things while they were gone. Arrangements had to be made to have all the bills paid, animals fed and the lawn mowed. Some paid their bills electronically or had somebody do it for them if they hadn’t paid in advance.
Finding horse hay and feed along the route topped the list of concerns riders had. (which, incidentally turned out to not be a problem) Weather was another major concern. People worried about the heat and humidity, the high winds, hail and rain. Others worried about getting injured or having their crew get injured. Some weren’t sure how their horses would handle being hauled such a long way in the summer heat.
About half said that they didn’t do a budget because they didn’t want to scare themselves, while the other half said that yes they did a budget. A few mentioned that there were still unexpected expenses. Riders took out loans and borrowed money if they had to, deciding that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that they could not pass up.
Riders became more serious about getting ready once the New Year rolled around. That’s when most said they started making purchases and stockpiling things they knew they would need on the trip. Items most commonly stocked up on: AA batteries and Desitin, Easyboots, duct tape, Vetwrap, Gu, electrolytes, sports bars and beverages.
Did a lot of planning ahead of time make a difference? Some riders feel that it did. One rider who had prepacked her horse feed and had it waiting all along the route said that it was one of the best things she did. They didn’t have to try and find feed or worry about being able to get it along the way or at what intervals. Ultimately, it probably wouldn’t have affected how many days she rode but it was one less thing to worry about. We all know endurance riders could use one less thing to worry about.
Most supplies were easily had along the route. Wal-Mart’s, feed stores and other services were easily found the first few weeks of the ride. So it turned out that if somebody had forgotten something they could find it as they went along. Just like the pioneers, some that had overpacked were dumping things out the first week of the ride to lighten their load. The most mentioned item that people said they brought too much of? Clothes.
There really was no right or wrong way to prepare for this event. Probably the most important preparation was with regard to the horses, and success depended on overall basic horsemanship and common sense of each rider and crew person there. Nothing else really mattered. Whatever riders did or did not do to prepare for the 2001 XP, it must have worked. When asked if they would do it again the answer was a unanimous YES!
Next month we’ll go over some of the more memorable parts of the trail.
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