Post by racaille on Oct 21, 2013 17:33:07 GMT
Well, either Racaille has turned a corner or he has found his discipline - or both. He was amazing!
We had to set off quite early as I chose to go the 'long way round' to the Camargue to avoid the ferry over the Grand Rhone which is a bit hairy, so I had to go through Arles and then down almost to the bottom of the Camargue. But R loaded beautifully (he always does) and we set off with high spirits despite a disastrous weather forecast.
We arrived at Salin de Giraud on time and I had to be brave and shove the truck and trailer into a tiny spot in a crowded parking area - I didn't know endurance was so popular. Salin is an odd little village: it is on the edge of the salt flats and was built for the salt workers and has a grid of streets that have houses that look rather like British 'workers' cottages' - very pretty and totally untypical of here. Of course the surrounding land on the Rhone delta is utterly flat and there were some fabulous long grassy stretches. I suddenly realised that I was missing a treat
The vet inspection was quite rigorous and started with the ubiquitous reading of the microchip. R seemed very chilled but his heartbeat was high at 56.
I went of with a chum to do the assistance and of course, being novices, the teenager had left her vet papers which I picked up and went off with. Due to poor phone reception and a lot of faffing (mostly on my part
) it took two trips by the chum to get the right papers to her so her group could get going. Ooops.
Despite a few bunny hops of excitement, R was an angel all the way round. He settled into a good trot and when cantering was happy to be wherever the ruddy orange arab couldn't kick him. There were a couple of horses who were not well behaved and one has been 'banned' from going out in a group again.
Anyway, the teenager had a blast. They hadn't really realised that the assistance stops counted in their time so a bit too much chatting and spraying each other with water meant that they finished their 20km with an average speed of 12.3km/h, pretty slow.
Bizarrely (well we are talking about R), his heartrate at the final vet inspection was 54, less than his start rate. Nevertheless - and I don't yet understand the equation to work out placings - they were pretty near the bottom of the group of more than 50. But the teenager was elated, she'd had such a good time.
Then ... it seemed a shame to be so near the sea and not go for a gallop, so we loaded up R and two others and went off to the beach. R was a bit surprised by the waves but got over it and they had a blast galloping up and down the beach. It was windy but the forecast rain held off all day apart from one quick squall.
I was feeling brave so I took the ferry back - it was free for horses - and feel I have conquered something too as it's quite intimidating to drive on and off
www.flickr.com/photos/brize/3609679707/
but it's now something I've done and wonder what all the fuss was about!!! Equally I reversed out of the parking space no bother (despite a helpful man telling me my technique was all wrong - who cares as long as it works?
) And I've just done a three point turn with the trailer and feel I'm on a roll!
I was sad not to be part of the endurance day as it looked like huge fun, which surprised me as I thought it was more 'serious' and intimidating. I knew P wasn't fit enough though. But I'd have loved those long grassy canters! There were of course the 'serious' ones doing 90km ... and some headbangers cantering on tarmac and some accidents.
Obviously a lot of arabs but I'm going out on a limb here and going to say that I don't admire the rangy type arabs or the ones with banana shaped heads. One of our group has got an arab who is really lovely looking (but an undisciplined pain in the butt) but the exaggerated shapes didn't please me at all. Each to their own.
I've got some fab pix which I will upload asap.
We had to set off quite early as I chose to go the 'long way round' to the Camargue to avoid the ferry over the Grand Rhone which is a bit hairy, so I had to go through Arles and then down almost to the bottom of the Camargue. But R loaded beautifully (he always does) and we set off with high spirits despite a disastrous weather forecast.
We arrived at Salin de Giraud on time and I had to be brave and shove the truck and trailer into a tiny spot in a crowded parking area - I didn't know endurance was so popular. Salin is an odd little village: it is on the edge of the salt flats and was built for the salt workers and has a grid of streets that have houses that look rather like British 'workers' cottages' - very pretty and totally untypical of here. Of course the surrounding land on the Rhone delta is utterly flat and there were some fabulous long grassy stretches. I suddenly realised that I was missing a treat
The vet inspection was quite rigorous and started with the ubiquitous reading of the microchip. R seemed very chilled but his heartbeat was high at 56.
I went of with a chum to do the assistance and of course, being novices, the teenager had left her vet papers which I picked up and went off with. Due to poor phone reception and a lot of faffing (mostly on my part
) it took two trips by the chum to get the right papers to her so her group could get going. Ooops. Despite a few bunny hops of excitement, R was an angel all the way round. He settled into a good trot and when cantering was happy to be wherever the ruddy orange arab couldn't kick him. There were a couple of horses who were not well behaved and one has been 'banned' from going out in a group again.
Anyway, the teenager had a blast. They hadn't really realised that the assistance stops counted in their time so a bit too much chatting and spraying each other with water meant that they finished their 20km with an average speed of 12.3km/h, pretty slow.
Bizarrely (well we are talking about R), his heartrate at the final vet inspection was 54, less than his start rate. Nevertheless - and I don't yet understand the equation to work out placings - they were pretty near the bottom of the group of more than 50. But the teenager was elated, she'd had such a good time.
Then ... it seemed a shame to be so near the sea and not go for a gallop, so we loaded up R and two others and went off to the beach. R was a bit surprised by the waves but got over it and they had a blast galloping up and down the beach. It was windy but the forecast rain held off all day apart from one quick squall.
I was feeling brave so I took the ferry back - it was free for horses - and feel I have conquered something too as it's quite intimidating to drive on and off
www.flickr.com/photos/brize/3609679707/
but it's now something I've done and wonder what all the fuss was about!!! Equally I reversed out of the parking space no bother (despite a helpful man telling me my technique was all wrong - who cares as long as it works?
) And I've just done a three point turn with the trailer and feel I'm on a roll!I was sad not to be part of the endurance day as it looked like huge fun, which surprised me as I thought it was more 'serious' and intimidating. I knew P wasn't fit enough though. But I'd have loved those long grassy canters! There were of course the 'serious' ones doing 90km ... and some headbangers cantering on tarmac and some accidents.
Obviously a lot of arabs but I'm going out on a limb here and going to say that I don't admire the rangy type arabs or the ones with banana shaped heads. One of our group has got an arab who is really lovely looking (but an undisciplined pain in the butt) but the exaggerated shapes didn't please me at all. Each to their own.
I've got some fab pix which I will upload asap.
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
