26 – 80km to Impress the Selectors

Seven weeks after the 120 we went to a new course at Owhango being run by Waimiha.  Although we were entered in the 80 I withdrew Lace after the first loop.  It was a challenging course and a bit rough in places, normally ok but we were specifically training for a fast time on what had been promised to be a fast course at the NIs.  Going slowly over sometimes rough ground was not on the agenda at this point.  We had an 80 coming up in two weeks at Taupo Equestrian Centre, a course we knew was suitable for a quicker run.

My team were coming together.  Kerry had officially committed to being Lace’s groom should we be lucky enough to be selected!  This was a great relief, it is a huge thing to have someone do for you.  Nicola was totally up for helping crew in NZ but would not be coming to Kentucky – each horse took only one dedicated crew anyway.  At that stage Richard was also on the NZ only team, but he later decided that if Lace, Kerry and I were to go to Kentucky, then he wanted to go too. 

So we started to have training rides where we would also practice crewing.  Initially we were looking for a track we could use, we wanted somewhere that we could safely run Lace a bit faster than training along the road allowed and not too far away for everyone to travel.  Kerry managed to get us permission to train around the outside of the polo grounds in Leammington, Cambridge… this was brilliant, 2km of well mowed grass with hosing facilities and trees.  It was good crewing practice too as Lace was never particularly settled there so we had plenty to work on!  Not much good practicing if their heart rate drops too quickly!!   Thus we learnt the benefit of getting your horse’s head down when wanting low heart rates and so Lace learnt that no matter the distractions she was to have her head lowered.  Now if she is stressed or has been naughty she immediately drops her head to ground level in front of me, I think it may have become a bit of avoidance behaviour but can be very useful nonetheless.  We also learnt that if I gallop Lace – and I mean really gallop, not what endurance people call a gallop, which is usually really only half to three quarter pace (except when the juniors do it!) – then getting her heart rate down took a while, so one would only plan to do that for something that was REALLY important.

After much discussion we had decided to make the 80km at Taupo a target ride to step the pace up a bit.  We knew the course could deliver and it would be a good opportunity to practice our crewing before the NIs.  So we would aim for 20km/hr! 

I think Liz rode with me for the first loop which was nice.  She sensibly did not stick with us though.  First loop was just over 20 with lag time 2:14, heart rate 56 though, so we should have gone in sooner.  Next loop a little quicker- 21 – lag time 2:51, but again 56, so again too slow!  The third loop we went a little slower, the hard tracks at Taupo should be respected, I was doing my best to keep Lace in the soft dusty bits to the side, but didn’t want to jar her legs.  It was great fun to go faster, Lace was really enjoying herself, but she was definitely a bit tired towards the end of the third loop, but it would bring her fitness a lot up for the NIs.  End time?… 4:04, just a smidgeon below 20km/hr!  Mission achieved.

Was it a good idea?  I think the fitness she gained from the run would help us at the North Island Champs.  We knew it was a little risky with the hard ground at Taupo, but we did a lot of ice boots and leg care.  Did it get the selectors attention?  Yes.  I got instructions about looking after her recovery.  Would I do it again?  Possibly, possibly not, but I don’t regret it, because it worked and we got away with it.