A Good Attitude is Less Useful than a Good Knife

Every time I see a video or photo of the Derby, I thank God I was born a cowboy. Because basically that's what I'm so far relying on to give me an edge. That, and a physical fitness program that kicked a marathoner's ass last month.

The Derby will be fun. Personally, I'm hung up on the whole helmet issue. That we riders have to wear them. Not too excited about a photo of me in a fricking riding helmet. KW said she'd look into an exception if I was willing to pay the lawyer fees. Right. Sure. Bet that would be cheap. Whatever.

I'm also hung up on the question of legwear. No way I'm wearing tights/britches/anything lycra or tight-fitting. Think I'll trade some Wrangler jeans for Mongolian pantalones when I get there. Wool with Patagonia capilene underneath. Going to smell great after 1000km.

I think it would be best if we all stayed in the same hotel beforehand so that everybody enters the steppe with the same degree of hangover. We're going to be friends, we're going to get drunk together, and we're going to try to cover more ground on a horse quicker than any of us have ever ridden before. Except those two blokes from So Africa who list their occupations as adventurers and have re-upped for round two. And the chain smoker, who looks like a good dude.

I know everyone wants to see photos of cowboying in the Colorado high country in June, so I'll get some uploaded soon as possible. By the way, what great videos of KW saddling and mounting Mongol ponies. Audio was sweet. That's the kind of headwind that could cost a guy a day. What I took away from both videos is that the horses are super sensitive, have high-degree of self-preservation, and that it'd be unwise to get out a rain slicker on one until he's loped a few miles. And that all those years of starting rank colts would surely pay off.