First Sponsored Ride

Captain Bridget

Captain Bridget

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10 April 2010
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I'm taking my share horse [16.2hh ex racer, 6 years old] on my first sponsored ride at the end of the month. He went last year with his owner I think and I've taken him out with the hunt for a couple of hours and often canter/gallop out on hacks, although either alone or with one other person, but I feel I can handle his behaviour just fine.

My only issue is he isn't that keen on jumping. He was trained as a hurdler but was too careful and hasn't really been taught to jump properly. The ride says it has jumps for all abilities and I'll have a sensible lead if I decide to jump so we'll see if I have my brave pants on that day! I'll certainly have my body protector on anyway...

What sort of day am I to expect at a sponsored ride? Has anyone done the Candover Valley ride or will be doing it this year?

Lemon drizzle cake or dairy milk chocolate on offer!
 
I do loads as it's great training for endurance.

It really depends on the individual ride as to what to expect, as some organisers are better than others! You won't have to do any jumping, it's always just an option and the jumps are usually easy to give a wide berth if your horse is a bit too full of himself.

Marking can be hit and miss; sometimes you can bomb around and clearly see the route you are following, other rides aren't so clear and you have to keep a sharp eye out for markers.

Other riders should be polite and call out to you when they want to pass, and keep to a quiet pace going by, but again this depends on the individual ride and the types it attracts and how strict the organisers are in enforcing that sort of thing.
 
Sounds like you've done plenty of prep for it so should be fine :)

I've been to Candover a couple of times and it's fab! There's a nice walk to start away from the start area so you don't get faced with a fieldful of galloping horses at the start. There is then quite a nice field that you go up the long side of and across the top - a good place to let them go if they need to settle and get a bit of fizz out of their systems...

I chickened out of any of them, but there are some nice jumps, and quite a few lines along field/hedge edges - my friend jumped and I cantered alongside with plenty of space.

You cross a little river/ford and if I remember rightly, you get a cup of squash at the cross-over point.

All in all my fave of the local fun rides I've been on - just counted rosettes and I've been to Candover 4 times!
 
Ah that's fantastic, glad to find someone who's done it! The boys love going through rivers so I'll get soaked doing that bit! We have been in rivers/water a few times and he loves pawing in it!

I'm sure the girl I'm going with will be jumping most of the jumps but probably larger than I want so I'll just potter along and see how we feel probably, nice that we can have a good canter though. Although walking probably won't happen as when Larry is excited, we just jog!

I want to get over £50 sponsorship money because you get a prize if you do, which was a saddlecloth when my friend did her first ride, which would be great!
 
Bump!

What do people normally wear on these things?! I was thinking base layer, body protector and polo shirt, with either beige or grey jods and depending how warm it is, warm ariat boots or short boots and gaiters. Does this sound suitable?!
 
I think as long as your clean and smart looking, you can wear anything (as long as they meet safety requirements; kitemark hat, proper riding boots etc)
 
Theyre really good fun to do esp if you're going with someone else.

The jumps are optional and the one I do each year has large amount of space around them so you dont have to do one (can only do this ride as i can hack to it would like to do others but he wont box :( )

I have some lovely photos from the 4 years Ive done mine, not sure if there will be one at yours but think they take pics of the non jumpers as well as the jumping people (all mine are jumping ones)

If there are horses up ahead if he's anything like mine who's a knobber with new jumps and will often stop he may well jump them as he is wanting to carry on with the others or if youre going with another horse who is reliable re jumping he will probably follow them over and often there are jumps next to each other of varying sizes so could maybe jump the smaller one while friend does big one as long as it wont wind him up!

Mine gets v strong when doing them as think he has hunted before and thinks he is doing so again!

Most of all have fun :)

ETA re clothes- one i go to is organised by local blood hound pack but I and most others just wear polo shirts and dark/ normal coloured jods (or coat if its raining like it was this yr :( ) I also wear my body protector but then I wear it everytime I ride. And a hat obv ;)
 
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