39 – 2011/2012 Season Begins
A late start to the season saw us taking the trip up to do 50km at Auckland Woodhill in September. I got a bit lost at one point – can’t remember how – and so I got the fun of having Lace in pursuit mode in a forest. Long gone are the days of going nuts and trying to catch up at the gallop immediately, now if there are horses ahead she just gets very focused and intent, combine that with her love of narrow twisty-turny forest tracks (motorbike hoon in a former life) and it’s just FUN! We caught the team up again no problems, Lace was clearly never in doubt about that! Lisa and Tigs ended up fourth in their first open ride.
An 80 at Waitomo before heading back up for a second 80 at the next Auckland Woodhill ride. They held this one at Waiuku to be less distance for people to travel which was very appreciated. Lisa and I were on our own with the float… it was the weekend of Kerry’s dance show. Bonus – one of the ride organisers works for Frucor and had free “V” (energy drink) and the new “isotonic V” for us to try. I wasn’t sure I liked it initially but by the time we got back to base at the end of the first loop my body had recognised it as V in a different form and it tasted good!
Back to the start… we set off from the Gun Club over the hill and down to the beach. The tide was in so it was along the track behind the dunes, Lace and I were not in the lead! Two horses in were in front. Now it’s a bit conceited of me but I was concerned that they were going too fast, I know my pony and I know how fast she goes, we were in soft sand and I didn’t want her going any faster… a little difficult with others in front! Not my problem though, you can’t ride other’s races for them, and not a lot I could do about it anyway, they were well ahead and having fun.
We had a lovely time, Lace was keen but not excessively so and so we were just trucking along by ourselves. But sure enough the front runners had overdone it and one had tied, it was going to be a long walk home. Hopefully they managed to get a trailer to come and pick them up.
Loop two and Lace was starting to feel the effort of the sand tracks, by herself she was now picking the firmer sides of the track when the sand was heavy – like I’d been suggesting all along! Lace and I won, with Tigger and Lisa ending up second, albeit an hour later. He had had a bit of a meltdown getting down to the beach and managed to pull a shoe in a spinning event, so a good effort given there were sections he’d had to walk as a result. A tough course for what was still quite early in our season, but a great build up for the FEI ride at Whareama in two weeks’ time.
The long trip down to Whareama, broken with a stay at a friend of Kerry’s in Palmerston North – always lovely. Right next to the railway, the ponies never seem to mind the trains. On to base – no Lace dramas this time. (Remembering Richards broken ankle of the 2009 Nationals at the same course). Lace was in the 2* 120, Tigs the 1* 100. Henry was there too, I guess he was in the 2* but I don’t remember. Tigger’s ride was on Sunday so we had Lisa to crew for us on Saturday – always a super bonus. Lisa had crewed in Kentucky for an English rider and was later paid extra to go back for another season! She really is top quality crew and it is awesome to have her looking after you and your horse!
Lace was in fine form. Just under 17km/hr for the first two loops, 17 for the third and then 19 for the fourth and last loop. We rode most of it on our own, but at one stage before a big hill I saw a horse not far behind. I did a trick Emma had told me about, look at your watch as you pass a known point – shutting a gate – and then watch to see when the next horse reaches that point… they were three minutes behind us! Come on Lace we’d better trot up this hill! I had come this far in the lead, there wasn’t too much further, so we had better do something to stay in front then! This was when I learnt that near the end of a big ride if you just keep riding endurance style then Lace will sort of switch off, get tired and just mosey along. But if you pick up your reins and ride with intent then Lace will match you… we were off! Some nice flat paddocks at a strong canter – fun.
Lace won and also picked up the best conditioned. I was particularly thrilled about that as there was a lovely black wool rug and I had not got one of those yet! There was no rug for the winner. One of the other team members had had lots and had lent us one to take to Kentucky, and I had wanted my own ever since… The best conditioned at the Nationals had been a canvas cover – more useful but not quite so special. Her BC rug from the Aria North Islands had been cotton. So this was special, and it actually fitted her, which her later ones did not so well (too big).
Lisa and Tigs did really well the next day getting around their 100km in fine style not only picking up fourth but qualifying for the BC.
