Avon Valley Endurance ride was one of the most cheerful, lovely atmospheres I think I’ve ever felt at a venue. Literally, every single volunteer was so helpful and smiley. The vets were accommodating and chatty and everything just had a really nice vibe. So great work from the Avon Valley team as I feel there’s always a bit of frantic paddling beneath the surface to pull these things off but above water all felt calm, smooth and welcoming.
At the start of the season I had planned to try and get the required 3 40km Novice rides to upgrade to Open done before June, in previous years this is when we’ve had super hard ground and I hoped that I could beat the weather and get our goals done early, but I also had an option every month up until September if for any/many reasons we didn’t complete/get to a ride. We were a little behind due to not getting to our first scheduled ride but we are now mission complete on upgrading Estrid to open.
She finished her 3rd 40km at 13.1kph in fairly muggy, hot weather, and although the ground was quite hard in places, there was enough grass coverage and loose dirt to make the going at Avon Valley pretty good. She’s been placed top 3 in the Performance Formula for every event too! So although her heart rates are high, her natural speed makes up for it.
I was very impressed with her. Throughout the year she has been excellent on course, super up for it and forward going but we’ve struggled to stay calm at the venue. At the end of her first ride we couldn’t wash her down because she just freaked out about it so we just waited before vetting but this time not only did she have a full wash down with a sponge, she also tolerated an endurance style cool down with buckets poured over her. Not only that but she had slosh bottles out on course too! A huge step in the right direction.
She also didn’t shake at the final vetting at all. She was still pretty wired, but she stood stock still for her heart rates and did a lovely trot up. Our first trot up of the season was across 2 lanes as she made a beeline for another horse but this time it was straight and quite enthusiastic….we definitely looked like we might run over the vet at one point.
Estrid even chilled out enough at the venue to stand still and have a little snooze, even with lots of horses and vehicles coming past. She wasn’t tired, she pulled me all the way back to the field once we got home and hooned around with Tissy so she was genuinely just chilling, which was lovely to see.
She’s been under saddle a year now with light but consistent work so she’s going to have some time off to let her brain process, mooch around being a horse and let everything rest before re-assessing what to do with the remainder of the season. Depending on the ground, weather, my finances, etc. I will either just continue to take her to social and pleasure rides, and as many new venues and experiences as possible or I will aim for a two-day 80km at the end of the year.
I don’t remember the last time both my horses achieved their goals for the season but it is a great feeling to have them ticked off, with so much time to spare too!
Beth Endurance 