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Pink Flamingo Ride
in Cascade, Idaho
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Official Event Website
2008 Pink Flamingo
Images by Merri Melde
Stories: Reveal Your Inner Pink || 2008 Pink Flamingo Day I
Saturday July 26 2008 - 2008 Pink Flamingo Day I
Well, you learn something from every ride.My lessons from the Pink Flamingo Classic were: never, ever, eat another muffin before an endurance ride; and, don't just assume your horse will follow your plan for the day.
Steph and Jose, and Carol and August, left on the 50 mile ride at 5 AM. I had plenty of time to get ready for my 7:30 AM start, stuff a muffin down with a few cups of coffee. Only I looked at my watch, and it was 7:20, and I still had to get my helmet and chaps on, and I'd planned to ride Mac around a bit to warm him up, because it was a chilly, very damp, morning, and Mac had cramped up once before at a ride on a cold morning in the hind end, even after a very good warm up.
Well, it wasn't that big of a deal, I'd just start out on the trail walking a ways, then gradually take up a slow trot until he was good and warmed up, then go on from there. I led Mac up to the starting area and mounted him, all the while wishing I hadn't eaten that muffin for breakfast.
Now, Mac is from Rushcreek Ranch in Nebraska, where there is nothing but grass, more grass, and a handful of scrubby bushes no higher than horse fetlocks, with maybe a few scrubby 'trees' along a creek (like we have at home in Oreana, along which Mac sometimes grazes). He'd never seen a real TREE, much less a FOREST.
Friday July 25 2008 - Reveal Your Inner Pink
Friday morning I saw Rhett far out in the pasture by himself, which can often indicate something is wrong with a horse (recall the story of Phinneas, where he'd about sliced his back leg off and was out laying by himself) - especially Rhett, who never does that.I hiked out to see what was up with him, and oh, no, nothing was wrong with Rhett. He just didn't want to get in that trailer that we'd pulled up and parked in the yard. If you don't want to go to an endurance ride, what do you do? You hide, peeking out from under some shady trees to see if anybody is going to notice you.
Rhett hadn't been lame but he did have a mysterious crack in his coronet band for a week, and Steph decided last night for sure she wasn't taking him to this weekend's endurance ride. Rhett hadn't gotten the message, so he decided it was better just to hide. Maybe it was really the thought of wearing Pink that really scared him, because, if you go to a Pink Flamingo ride, there is a good chance you are going to be dressed up in pink, whether or not you think it is a manly color for a gelding.
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Saturday I |
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 Sunday I |
 Sunday II |
Dear Fellow Flamingos,
It is all coming together nicely and we are getting excited for the weekend. (I know my husband is looking forward to all this "pink" stuff to leave the living room. He's a very patient man!!)
Linda has been working hard at getting all the trails marked this last weekend around the "Rendezvous Mountain Men" that had the PFC ride camp this last Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully she hasn't been hit by a stray arrow or whacked by a flying hatchet. (You'll have to ask her how many men she saw this week running around in deer skin loin cloths). I have hear she has found two new really nice trails this year to replace a the two trails trails that were logged last fall. Each day will be fresh trails, lots of water (live and tanks), green grass for the ponies and incredible views to enjoy. No forest fires this year (keep your fingers crossed!).
A few folks have asked about the loops and vet checks....all vet checks will be in camp this year and there will be three loops for the 50's (one long loop, then a medium and short loop).
The high temperatures will be about 10ise so expect a high of around 82 you pack your camper, but when the sun sets at ride camp the temperatures will drop to 49
We'll be heading up on Tuesday, I think, to start getting ride camp organized and the trails finalized. If you have any questions, please email or give me a call. We do have pretty decent cell service in the meadow this year, so it will be easier for everyone to check in with the family while you are relaxing in camp.
See some of you soon!
Sally
PS For those of you that won't be able to earn your Tevis Buckle this year....you will have the chance to win the new and improved, custom, one and only, official, highly sought after, rare, almost gaudy but quite tasteful, pretty Pink Flamingo Classic bling-bling belt buckle for the Over-All First Place 50 Miler award. This belt buckle will be a collector's item someday and I bet the Antique Road Show would even value it for at least $75 (which is probably what it cost me to have made this year...). Hey, it is all about having fun, right??
From: Shannon Rivas Hello, Can anyone give me a little bit more info about the trails at Pink Flamingo? We are headed over there for the first time and I was wondering about the difficulty level. Are there steep climbs? Lots of ups and downs? Is the trail pretty moderate? Single track or log roads? What about rock-are shoes suggested or is there a need for pads too?
Thanks for any info!
Shannon & Bourbon
Shannon, The trails at PFC are totally barefoot friendly. There is probably 100' of gravel on one of the roads and maybe 50 rocks - total - on another trail. It really is amazing footing. Keep in mind this is a mountain ride, not a desert ride. It has lots of elevation gain and what goes up must come down. Linda has tried to get you up and then keep you there as much as possible but there is climb at this ride. You can't get away from that - you are in the mountains, you typically have two choices UP or DOWN. There are short sections that are steeper but nothing that is scary - nothing that would endanger your horse or you. If you had a young horse you might want to get off and lead them if they don't have mountain legs yet but nothing that is too long or scary.
The trails consist of old logging roads that are over grown, dirt forest service roads, some ATV trails, some deer trails thru the woods, and some new cross country. Each loop has a little bit of everything to keep everyone happy at some point. You will be mostly in the shade of the pine trees (unless it is high noon) but there will be some sunny sections but nothing like riding in the desert. (We moved that one loop last year that got hot in the afternoon).
There are some creek crossings but the water is super clear and cold (Clear Creek). The creek crossings are about 12' across and maybe 6in. deep.
My suggestion is to ride SMART and ride both days! Take it easy and enjoy the gorgeous scenery
Let me know if you need any more information.
Sally