Hiya everyone, this is the beginning of my blog where I will attempt to keep you amused and updated on what it is like to be an endurance Young Rider in the UK. I hope that you enjoy reading it!
We are just entering July and, so far, this season I could not be happier with the horses’ performance. We have three Vadeer bred horses all of which are 7 yrs old this year and all are... shall we say a little quirky! However once they get going and are out on course they really enjoy what they are doing and are lovely to ride. This year, the Dark Endurance team (consisting of my mum, dad and myself) were hoping to line them up for 2012 by trying to get them all through their first FEI 1* and 2* rides. Already Vavavoom (Prince), has completed his first FEI 1* YR (Young Rider) 80km ride, and won! We then took him to Haywood Oaks where he completed his FEI 2* YR 120km, finishing 2nd. The other two, Kates Mate (Spirit) and Open All Hours (Zara), managed to complete their first FEI 1* YR 90km although, as they were both in the same class (only one ridden by me, obviously), they did not want to leave each another which meant we rode together coming in 3rd and 4th. So far, so good taking them steadily through the levels and trying to keep them settled, on track and sound.
On top of competing at endurance rides almost every weekend I have a part time job and am currently studying for an Interactive Multimedia & Graphic Design FDA. This limits the amount of time I can spend training the horses but it works out fine as I am a firm believer in rest and recovery (once they are fit), so when they are not competing they can relax in the field with the rest of their herd. It also then means they can self exercise in the field and they do love to play and race one another round when the day cools off!
I still have other horses to compete, the ones that are just starting endurance and working up from Novice to Advanced along with some returning to compete at FEI level. Sovereign, one of my horses that was rising through FEI 1* and 2* last year sustained an injury, and since then he has been rested and lightly worked. He did not enjoy being on box rest, so we created a box-paddock for him and gave him lots of turnout in the round pen to have a good roll, which just about kept him sane! In April we got the all clear to bring him back into work, so after over six months off, I was expecting fireworks but he was just happy to be back doing things. His shying was at an all time high though, because he had been competing at a high level he retained a lot of his fitness even throughout his lay-off.
This meant that soon Sovereign was ready to try his first outing, 40km at Cerne Giant. To keep his feet firmly on the ground he was accompanied by Zara, as we realised because she has been off in 2010 having a filly foal she had lost her 40km FEI qualifier. All went well and both horses passed the final vet, which was fantastic news as he was then entered him in a 80km at Dukeries, which would be more of a test of his sustained recovery.
As he had competed in the FEI 1* Young Rider 90km there last year, he was excited when it was his turn to go. He had his ears picked and was ready. We set off and rode all the way round in company and he was so happy to be back! When he saw the same scary tree stump that he had me off at last year he naturally tried the same trick again but I was a little more prepared. He enjoyed himself so much that it was hard work keeping him at a sensible speed. We finished the ride and he was still bouncing at the vetting ready to go again! He then had a well deserved rest in the field although he just saw it as more play time.
Next up was something a little different, as we were going to attempt the ‘Man Vs Horse Marathon’ in Wales, a 22mile race between runners and horses...the runners get a 15min head start and over the undulating and tricky terrain the horses then get a halfway vetting before they can continue on the second half. Although Polo, the horse I took, is semi retired he still loves to compete though not at FEI level anymore, which means he was perfect for this event. The weather was gorgeous and after being vetted we were relaxing in the sun, waiting for the off when the heavens opened and we all got soaked before we started. Polo behaved extremely well and as we started he went from standing in the rain to a coiled spring in seconds.
It was hard work keeping him in check on the road and when we hit the tracks, he was in his element. He powered up the first few hills, pulling my arms out. We were cantering up and down the Welsh hills and soon took the lead with other horses in hot pursuit. We descended at speed down a hill when I saw the first runners joining our track, some way in front. As we got closer Polo changed pace to a bouncy canter while he tried to make out what the little figures in the distance were. We gained on the runners and in no time were sailing past them and nearing the halfway. By this point two other riders had gained on us, one of which had overtaken us staying just in front as we cantered down a slippery grass hill into the halfway vetting.
Once in the vetting Polo would not settle as he is used to covering more mileage before a stop, and the runners were still going past! As the crowd cheered the runners on, Polo got more and more unsettled. Once he was out on the course again, after losing a lot of time at the vetting waiting for his pulse to drop, Polo was storming along. We caught up and over took some horses and then he was on a mission. Unfortunately, we made a couple of wrong turns and lost a placing, but we still managed 7th at our first attempt at this event, so we were very happy.
Finally the best news so far has to be Soverign’s second FEI 2* YR 120km ride, which also gained him a qualification (subject to selection) for the Young Rider World Championships in Abu Dhabi later this year. Once out on the course, Sovereign wanted to take the lead although being in front, he then felt the need to shy and spook at various leaves and even the marker arrows telling us where to go. A few of us shared the lead on the first loop, and soon vetted and departed on the second loop.
One of the other riders started to gain a lead but we did not mind as I just wanted Sovereign to get round at his own pace. We continued our ride and soon some FEI 1* 80km riders caught us up and we all cantered along until we got to the last checkpoint on that loop where I tried to make sure Sovereign was drinking and well cooled before he left. We continued with a Spanish rider who was also in the 80km class. At the end of that loop Sovereign relaxed well in the compulsory ‘hold’ where we used cool boots on his legs and a massage pad on his back.
We set off on our next two loops alone. I heard there was only one other rider left on course who was doing the big class, the 160 km. He caught me up and as I moved out of his way, rode past cheering us on. Sovereign had not seen another horse on course for two loops, so he was happy to have a friend and keen to canter along keeping the 160km rider in sight. When we approached the final crew point my team were looking slightly confused! I was being escorted by the quad bikes who were finishing their course duty. The 160 km rider’s crew came over and helped, after he had left.
We set out again, and as we approached the finish of the final loop, I was holding back the tears. I was so pleased with Sovereign and how willing he had been all day – he had had his ears pricked bowling along the tracks. We cooled Sovereign down and presented him to the vet with a pulse of 56 (maximum required is 64) and got the thumbs up. He had passed! I was very emotional and so proud of my boy. I love this particular ride and have ridden it several times before, but this has to be one of the greatest moments for me, he had been so fantastic and keen all day with such enjoyment in his eyes. So to find out that he had taken 2nd place at an average speed of 17.55kph - I was just out astounded and delighted! After the prize giving where we were awarded a beautiful horse trophy and giving Sovereign several cuddles, we took him back down to his coral to rest before travelling home the next morning!
