January 27--Mountain storm takes toll on horseback-riding Raiders
By James Bowyer

Raiders head out for more than two days of horseback riding

Lekhotsa is looking after the 260 horses to be used for the third Raid discipline--a two-and-a-half day ride through the mountains. Collecting the horses was a staggering task considering that the biggest horse owner in the region has only four horses. The animals, valued at about $400 each, have been gathered at the remote village of Makhotlong, a jewel of stone huts deep within the Lesotho mountains--a settlement now transformed into the Raid's first headquarters.

Up until now, dehydration has been the biggest problem facing teams; now the rains will bring new dangers. The horse trail, expected to give teams a rest after the rafting section, has been made difficult by a temperate cyclone that has settled over the region. Rains have reportedly washed away parts of the Sani Pass, sealing the Raid's route off of the mountain.

The rain will certainly take its toll on the teams who set off on horseback today. Hardened sun-baked clay paths have been turned into squishy mud by the downpour. Swollen rivers may force horses to walk shoulder-high through the water.

Competitors who spent most of the day in the rain now face camping in the open--an uncomfortable option for those who left tents behind to cut down on baggage.

Another factor that teams must consider are the strict regulations that prevent riders from pushing the horses too hard. Teams will be penalized if they arrive at a checkpoint before the stipulated time, and horses will be monitored for injuries and excessive pulse rates.

While positions are not likely to shift much, teams could lose valuable time through heavy penalties if they are not experienced enough to look after their horses.

Meanwhile, at Makhotlong it appears as if a small army has taken root next to the sleeping village. It is the first checkpoint where competitors can overnight with their support teams. By the end of the third day, 42 of the 46 teams who started the race have set off on the horse trail.

Ertips has kept its lead, followed by Infopoint/Hewlett-Packard and Team Endeavor.

The expected rains are sure to further wear down the Raiders, who are beginning to show the strains of the past three days.

Quotes for the day

"You cannot spend a day without seeing a Basotho person on a horse." --Thabung Lesupi, a local, explaining the importance of the horse for the mountain people.

"In the high mountains, the rains are very bad." --a Raid organizer who flew over teams riding across the mountain.

"There is no chance we can take it easy, our teams are counting on us." --a support crew member who returned to the field after seeking medical assistance for a poisonous spider bite.

James Bowyer is a freelance journalist living in Cape Town, South Africa.