Winstock 2011

Friday night I signed up to work Winstock. It is a country music festival in our neck of the woods, so a few big names come to town. Marley and I had originally signed up to work the early afternoon shift to early evening. I'm not a late night person and like my sleep. But with us being the newbies on the posse we got bumped to the 7pm-Midnight shift. We pulled in at about 6:30pm got tacked up and signed in. The weather was a bit cool and drizzly. I rode with 2 other members and all we did first was took a ride around the different campground areas to make sure we knew where things where before it got dark. You can see from the picture below there where seas of campers/tents/trailer to get through. There where 8 of us on duty at a time. We also got asked to make sure we knew where the problem areas would be where people sneak in without paying. It was alot of fun talking to people, so many of them came up and wanted to pet the horses. Most where rather interested in Marleys mane and coat. As the night went on things started to get more interesting, we helped in assisting making way for the medics for a guy that had collapsed, escorted folks out that did pay, another medical, and last a half an hour before our shift ended we assisted the sheriffs department in a fight that had broken out. After dark you had to be very careful with all kinds of things that might be on the ground, tent stakes, glass bottles, etc. You horse really has to be desensitized to the sirens and the vehicles also 4-wheelers because there are plenty of them buzzing around as well. At one point during our shift we were walking pasted the biffies and a guy came flying out with to much to drink and fell right into Marley. Poor Marley didn't know what to do other than stand there until he caught his balance and went on his way. All I have to say, he was a rock, a wonderful trooper, and was very tolerant of everything that was going on in those 6 hours. I had a great time listening to Rodney Atkins and Darius Rucker all while riding Marley.

This week has been really super busy getting ready for a Competitive Trail Challenge we are having at a state park. I can't wait to finally get out and do some camping with both Larry and Marley (and of course my family as well).

Till next time, Ride Safe!

Marley & Dana (MN)