Wild West is ON!
| May 24, 2010 | Posted by Melinda under Uncategorized |
Today was the day for making a final decision on whether I would be going to Wild West and riding 155 miles over 3 days. A forecast of rain chilled me to the core (literally) and I had all my excuses ready:
“Her suspensories are still a bit sore”
“Her glands are a bit swollen from giving vaccines”
“My knee is giving me problems and I want to give it some time”
“I’m not comfortable with my saddle fit”
All of which (of course) are partly true or at least were true at some point this month……but mostly they were all baloney. Because my real reason for wanting to cancel?
I don’t like riding in the rain and I’m a wimp. And the last time I did a ride in the rain here I was traumatized.
So it’s been with great trepidation that I’ve watched the weather forecast.
The pattern has been 3-4 clear days with 3-4 raining days and then repeat. They were originally predicted rain over the weekend, 2 weeks out from the ride. That meant if the weather system sped up or slowed down, I would have clear days instead of raining.
Gradually the rain got pushed earlier and earlier in the week.
As of today, they are predicting showers on Thursday and Friday, with 0% chance of rain and clear skies (and in the 70’s!) Saturday, Sunday and beyond. With the trend of rain moving earlier, I’m willing to do the ride. If nothing else, the rain will move EARLIER, not later into the weekend. As of right now I get 2 clear days out of 3 for the ride, and I might get that third, depending on the system.
That is an acceptable level of risk.
I’m going to Wild West!!!!!!
Which brings us to Glue on Boots Lesson 2:
When deciding to glue on boots look at the weather.
You may think that Wednesday is a perfect day for gluing on boots if you are leaving Thursday and riding on Friday. However, if the forecast is for RAIN on Wednesday, then perhaps TUESDAY is the perfect day. Especially armed with the knowledge the glue set up is Temperature dependent, you don’t necessarily enjoy drying hooves with a blow dryer, AND you lack a covered space to glue.
Yes, I’m thinking Tuesday looks just fine.
And BTW – I finally figured out why I need one mixing tip per boot. This was probably obvious to everyone else, which is why no one bothered to answer my question when I posted it various places. Once the glue is mixed….it hardens. If you glue one boot……and work with that boot until it’s set on the foot……how much to you want to bet that the glue in the mixing tip is also set? LOL. So you must remove the tip and place a new one on for the next boot!!!!!!!! Lightbulb moment for Melinda. I’m posting it hear in case anyone else is common sense impaired like I am.
Stayed tuned for more lightbulb moments. I never manage to do ANYTHING new without some sort of embarassment to myself, and glue ons will be no exception. (we aren’t even going to TALK about what happened at my motorcycle training course last weekend!) I’m envisioning myself glued to the concrete slab by the soles of my shoes.
I haven’t used the Renegade Glue-Ons yet, so all of my experience with gluing boots has been foaming on the old-style easyboots with easyfoam. Same principles apply, though.
Wear really old clothing and shoes you aren’t particularly fond of while gluing, because chances are you will get glue on them. This set of clothing becomes your “gluing clothes.” (I still have a pair of jeans with blobs of easyfoam on them…and I haven’t glued on a pair of boots in three years!)
Be sure to rub a thin line of vaseline around her coronet band hairline…this’ll help keep glue from sticking to her hair in case any gets smeared around. Along this same vein…when you’re working in the hind hooves, find some way to wrap/pin Farley’s tail out of the way. It’ll make things much easier for visibility, for one, and two, one less thing to worry about accidentally gluing.
A box of baby wipes is a very handy thing to have around for quick clean-up.
See you at Wild West! I hope you recognize me in my rain gear 😉
Your boot posts make me tired thinking about dealing with them, watching weather as to WHEN would be best to put them on etc., lol
Have a great ride. We are heading to an endurance ride down in the TX Hill country at a new ranch. They have 2 days of 50’s, but I’ll do Saturdays ride, then decide on Sunday.
Oh, Hanks shoes are already on. wink)
Wait, what? Motorcycle training course?
Can you reach the ground ok?
Good to hear!
hey didn’t I tell you to plan on using one tip per boot? DON’T RUSH!
Woohoo! Grats on deciding to do Wild West. I’d wuss out if it were raining too.