spookypony
Well-Known Member
My apologies for a 2-week delay on this report! It's been mayhem at uni with the new students and preparing for term, and I simply haven't had the energy to put a post together.
At the end of August, the Spooky Pony and I were entered in our first 80km Competitive Trail Ride. We had completed our second Silver Thistle Qualifier (at 64km) at the end of July, and were going for our Silver Thistle Final (STF).
This particular ride was a new ride for our branch, having run as a Pleasure last year. This year, classes were offered for three consecutive days (Fri, Sat, Sun), with the long classes on Saturday, and two-day classes. A big event! Although I had originally planned to use this event to ride on all three days to build even more fitness, and then try an 80k a few weeks later, several things changed my mind: first, two of my ride buddies from the 60k in July were keen to try it; second, it was fairly close by; third, we had been told that it would be a good grading ride (meaning, relatively easy, so that one can keep up the minimum speeds); and fourth, I have a wedding invitation for the day before the other ride I was considering.
A ride that distance means staying over, so we arrived on Friday afternoon, and I managed to get the pony corralled and rugged, and my tent up, just before the rain began...said rain was set to continue pretty much for the rest of that day and Saturday. I was a bit worried, because I had been unable to find a crew, but fortunately, suzysparkle's mother was very kindly willing to crew for both of us on course. I thought I could probably cope with the vet gates on my own. The first evening, suzysparkle and I went for a great pub supper, appreciating sitting in a warm dry place to go over the maps, and then we had a quick drive around to check that the places we had identified for crewing were indeed the best ones.
The start the next day was quite late, so we waited what seemed like forever, getting progressively more nervous, to get going. suzysparkle's mum seemed quite happy with the places marked on her map, and everything fit into her small car rather well, so we at last set out. Our third person had withdrawn due to a kicked horse, so there were 7 starters in the 80k class in total. First to leave on the first loop (38km) was a group of 3 consisting of a 3* horse, a horse going for Gold Thistle, and a cute Exmoor also going for STF. Then another rider went on her own, again aiming for STF. Then it was the pair of us, and finally one of our most experienced riders, trying out a new horse.
At 10km, we were already well behind time (there was a long time allowance for terrain, but we were determined to pretend it didn't exist until we needed it): there was a very steep climb and descent of about 3km which under normal circumstances was ok for a fair speed, but the rains had made it extremely muddy and slippery, so we walked much of it. The senior rider behind us was going a bit faster, so she caught us after the hill, and from then on, we rode together: the Spooky Pony (embarrassingly right after I had praised his brakes) simply latched on to the faster horse, and we flew along. Since we had time to make up, we were initially quite content with this.
Some tracks that were meant to be lovely long grassy canter tracks in the forest, were instead boggy ponds...the pony didn't seem to care; he was just going. At about 20km, we caught up with the first trio. We never passed the rider in between our groups, and didn't see her the rest of the day!
From then on, we were a highly-energised group of 6, bowling along. suzysparkle and I were both thinking that we would rather drop back a bit and go at a more sensible pace, since we were now well up on time. Just about 7km away from the venue, we finally had our chance: a boot cable snapped, and the Spooky Pony bolted along the track with an alarming turn of speed. Thankfully, I got him stopped (mostly by dint of using an Arab for brakes), and the brief delay of pulling off the offending article (on a hind foot) and stuffing it into a saddle-bag allowed the others to draw ahead enough that the pony finally calmed down a bit. Somewhat later, we met our excellent crew-person again, who told us that the others had passed, but that the Exmoor pony was a bit behind the others.
We dismounted shortly before the finish and led the horses in, in an effort to get heart rates down as quick as possible. We both presented to the vet quite quickly, though here I learned one reason for having a crew at the Vet Gate: I was having a hard time holding the pony still enough for washing down and taking his heart rate before going to the vet. Thankfully, an innocent bystander gave me a hand and held on to him for me. I put a spare boot on and went to the vet, and he passed with no problems.
Back at the lorry, I discovered a second reason for having a crew at the vet gate: I was feeling rather ill and faint, and I had a lot of things to do, not least of which replacing the snapped cable (the spare boot is elderly, and I didn't want to have to rely on it). Again fortunately, a friend who is experienced with these boots (GingerTrotter) had a few minutes, and kindly fixed it for me, while I stuffed myself with plums, chocolate, juice, and a roll, and tried to feel less ill.
(continued in next post, as apparently too long!)
At the end of August, the Spooky Pony and I were entered in our first 80km Competitive Trail Ride. We had completed our second Silver Thistle Qualifier (at 64km) at the end of July, and were going for our Silver Thistle Final (STF).
This particular ride was a new ride for our branch, having run as a Pleasure last year. This year, classes were offered for three consecutive days (Fri, Sat, Sun), with the long classes on Saturday, and two-day classes. A big event! Although I had originally planned to use this event to ride on all three days to build even more fitness, and then try an 80k a few weeks later, several things changed my mind: first, two of my ride buddies from the 60k in July were keen to try it; second, it was fairly close by; third, we had been told that it would be a good grading ride (meaning, relatively easy, so that one can keep up the minimum speeds); and fourth, I have a wedding invitation for the day before the other ride I was considering.
A ride that distance means staying over, so we arrived on Friday afternoon, and I managed to get the pony corralled and rugged, and my tent up, just before the rain began...said rain was set to continue pretty much for the rest of that day and Saturday. I was a bit worried, because I had been unable to find a crew, but fortunately, suzysparkle's mother was very kindly willing to crew for both of us on course. I thought I could probably cope with the vet gates on my own. The first evening, suzysparkle and I went for a great pub supper, appreciating sitting in a warm dry place to go over the maps, and then we had a quick drive around to check that the places we had identified for crewing were indeed the best ones.
The start the next day was quite late, so we waited what seemed like forever, getting progressively more nervous, to get going. suzysparkle's mum seemed quite happy with the places marked on her map, and everything fit into her small car rather well, so we at last set out. Our third person had withdrawn due to a kicked horse, so there were 7 starters in the 80k class in total. First to leave on the first loop (38km) was a group of 3 consisting of a 3* horse, a horse going for Gold Thistle, and a cute Exmoor also going for STF. Then another rider went on her own, again aiming for STF. Then it was the pair of us, and finally one of our most experienced riders, trying out a new horse.
At 10km, we were already well behind time (there was a long time allowance for terrain, but we were determined to pretend it didn't exist until we needed it): there was a very steep climb and descent of about 3km which under normal circumstances was ok for a fair speed, but the rains had made it extremely muddy and slippery, so we walked much of it. The senior rider behind us was going a bit faster, so she caught us after the hill, and from then on, we rode together: the Spooky Pony (embarrassingly right after I had praised his brakes) simply latched on to the faster horse, and we flew along. Since we had time to make up, we were initially quite content with this.
Some tracks that were meant to be lovely long grassy canter tracks in the forest, were instead boggy ponds...the pony didn't seem to care; he was just going. At about 20km, we caught up with the first trio. We never passed the rider in between our groups, and didn't see her the rest of the day!
From then on, we were a highly-energised group of 6, bowling along. suzysparkle and I were both thinking that we would rather drop back a bit and go at a more sensible pace, since we were now well up on time. Just about 7km away from the venue, we finally had our chance: a boot cable snapped, and the Spooky Pony bolted along the track with an alarming turn of speed. Thankfully, I got him stopped (mostly by dint of using an Arab for brakes), and the brief delay of pulling off the offending article (on a hind foot) and stuffing it into a saddle-bag allowed the others to draw ahead enough that the pony finally calmed down a bit. Somewhat later, we met our excellent crew-person again, who told us that the others had passed, but that the Exmoor pony was a bit behind the others.We dismounted shortly before the finish and led the horses in, in an effort to get heart rates down as quick as possible. We both presented to the vet quite quickly, though here I learned one reason for having a crew at the Vet Gate: I was having a hard time holding the pony still enough for washing down and taking his heart rate before going to the vet. Thankfully, an innocent bystander gave me a hand and held on to him for me. I put a spare boot on and went to the vet, and he passed with no problems.
Back at the lorry, I discovered a second reason for having a crew at the vet gate: I was feeling rather ill and faint, and I had a lot of things to do, not least of which replacing the snapped cable (the spare boot is elderly, and I didn't want to have to rely on it). Again fortunately, a friend who is experienced with these boots (GingerTrotter) had a few minutes, and kindly fixed it for me, while I stuffed myself with plums, chocolate, juice, and a roll, and tried to feel less ill.
(continued in next post, as apparently too long!)
I know he runs with low HR and it comes down very quickly after work and his normal speed is pretty speedy for a pony. One day I'll be asking you all the silly questions 
