3-3-12 - Charge of the Fast Brigade

Today I went to the yard not first thing in the morning, but in the early afternoon. The past few weeks have been ones of frustration, hacking out with as many as 11 other clients, and being led by slower leaders or horses. Having made quite a few friends now, we exchanged numbers and agreed to set up a faster private hack, got a discount price arranged, and was assured we'd have one of the fast ride leaders. This was the first meeting of our private, adrenaline junkie collective, and I was delighted to go into the office and be given Hugo, as I'd been dicing in my mind between Tom (currently my Common Riding steed), and Ripper (a fave who'll normally be unavailable on private hacks as he's my friend's first choice – in fact, she only does Common Rides when he's free).

I mounted my floppy eared steed, enjoyed some chatting and patting, and off we set. L was leading us, and was riding Bobo - the OTTB, who was leader for the first time and kicks at any horse that gets close enough to over-take (which is probably why he’s an EX-racer! lol). The way we left the yard, the slower ponies had gotten behind L, and the faster horses like Hugo, Tom and Gem got stuck further back. I got Hugo moved forward a little when he positively skipped across the river, but was still behind the little coloured mare Indie, who I find a frustrating because she's not very fast. I knew I'd have to keep Hugo on a short rein to stop him tearing past during the fast work, but I also knew that it would be good practice - the hard part of Common Riding (nerves and being a balanced rider aside) is holding a horse at gates until it's clear to go, and either holding back or steering to avoid any chaos occuring around you.

We quickly came to the first canter up the hill, and we had 'the lurch': that  juddering, standing start to canter that gives you this feeling of G-force pushing you backwards. Hugo was keen, and I knew I was going to have a handful of a horse - a definite hint of the 'machine' he is on Common Rides. He was however polite, when I told him at the bottom of the hill in no uncertain terms that we were not to over-take.

Getting to the woods, the first canter was fine, and I got a giggle at Hugo cantering on the spot waiting for a gap to open up for us to move forward. We all stayed single file that I could see, and the speed was steady and controlled. The next canter was nuts however: first of all, Tom flew past on my right, nearly scraping his rider off in the branches as there's no real room to pass, and I held Hugo to the left so that he couldn't do the same thing. That worked fine, until Gem decided to race Tom, but got rather close to Hugo, my steed leaping left to avoid Gem's bitey end (one she's not afraid to use). I wobbled to the left, but managed not to overbalance, but it was still a horrible feeling to not be secure in my seat while cantering, and with the adrenaline rush of horses suddenly whipping past without enough space. I saw that Gem's rider, who's lovely but a bit wobbley anyway and was almost taken off our last hack because of it, was almost entirely off as he'd lost his stirrups and was leaning forward. Poor Cha Cha, one of the new mares, scampered off in a gap in the trees, avoiding the mess entirely! It was the most ridiculous thing, as the over-taking occurred with no control and all the horses bottle-necked suddenly at the large puddle that they'd all slowed down for, the sudden braking not helping anyone’s unsettled seats either. I knew then that this ride may be too hairy to be fun, and while I had the fastest horse on the ride (if Bobo has speed, he's yet to show it as he's sluggish in canter), I didn't want to be up front behind him: not when there's people not holding a good enough contact to maintain their file order behind me.

Hugo seemed a bit disappointed that he wasn’t allowed to join in the race, but apart from tugging on me to try and get his head then yielding when he failed, he was pretty well behaved. My nerves had been rattled a little however, and I hadn't realised by how much until I brought Hugo back down from gallop at one point, asked him for trot, got it, but I still forgot to release the rein pressure. I felt bad for that - it's been a long time since I've held my tension in my hands, but I consoled myself with the fact that I wasn't happy at the high speed of his trot as it got us too close to the kicking mare in front, and from then on I was aware to always release as soon as Hugo listened in order to reward him.

We left our usual trails in the woods, and one of the nicest canters on our detour was along a farmer's access track, with one with a clump of grass down the middle from where the tractor tyres hadn't touched. There was enough room to go double file here, but Indie was kicking out at Hugo, and after my slip-up last week on Tom, I was determined not to over-take even though there was enough room to do it safely. Hugo tried to pull out right to pass, but quickly gave up when he realised I wouldn't let him. When we got to the end, we did a 180 and cantered back up the path again. Rather than snaking around in file however, Hugo did a sort of canter pirouette, and turned on the spot, leaping sideways into canter! Off we went, and the horses ahead seemed to be racing again and weaving about. Hugo was a gent about it when I asked him to contain his excitement, but was going as fast as he possibly could get away with, given the horses in front. I felt so secure on his back and was happy to have short reins but soft hands as I trusted him to yield if I put pressure on the reins, but I wished that I could have opened him up, or lacked the conscience and riding etiquette to hold him back.

After that, there was lots of cantering on completely novel tracks. Many of these were single-file only, making the whole thing enjoyable as I knew I was safe from others and didn't have to wrestle at times with Hugo to keep him literally in line. The landscape was beautiful, and there were two steep hills that we just soared up: it really is quite a feeling! We did have a fallen tree in our way though, so had to go down a ditch and up, with trotting pole-width branches on the down and up. I'd half expected Hugo to stag-leap out of excitement, but he just lifted in his knees like a Hackney, giving me the feeling of riding the world's bounciest trot. Shortly after though, we went down a steep bank, and the momentum had gotten Hugo too close to Indie; the moody mare kicked out, and just as my balance was shifting to reflect the gradient chagne, Hugo giraffed and shied left, but also pushed me into the right place and avoided Indie's hooves. I could have kissed that big horse for that!

We got onto the normal canter tracks on the wood after that, with another standing start on the inclined canter with the huge puddle. Hugo felt like a roaring engine, and I would have dearly loved to have gone faster! All was well up the lake-like puddle, me leaning back to allow Hugo to traverse it. After that however, the horses ahead thought the race was on and went back into a scrappy diamond. Hugo moved right, but I had a firm hold of him so he couldn't speed up. Indie did not like him moving however and went to kick. I'm not sure who reacted first, me or Hugo; either way, we both moved right, which meant me taking a branch to the face and almost losing my left stirrup. The tree hit me on my nose and filtrum (that soft ridge on the upper lip, below the septum), but at least Hugo slowed until I caught my stirrup. My face hurt immediately though - it felt both bruised and swollen from a blunt-force injury, and had the sting of a bloodied sharp-force injury too, which others quickly noticed. I wasn't worried however, and L had slowed Bobo down to stop the horses racing. The end of the incline is single file only, and we all got up safely, though there were a few proclamations by L and some riders saying some folk would end up parting company with their horses very soon the way they were going! We cantered back down this incline with more control, though the low branch at face height was an issue at the bottom. Hugo wouldn’t go under the highest point of the brance for me because Indie took that route and he knew better than to get near her, and with Hugo's head carriage so high, I literally had to put my face to his neck to avoid that one.

The last woodland canter was more straight forward thankfully, a nice pace, but Hugo leapt at something, and I got a bit unseated - I'd been tilted so my heels had gone towards the cantle in that makes sense, like someone pivoted me around from my waist. I also lost a stirrup, but managed to sit the canter despite the fairly sudden braking to a trot, Hugo's neck doing much to ease me concerns about tipping forward. Twice that horse had pulled me out of being unbalanced, and I was grateful as it is so unlike me to have a wobble, never mind too! I heard the rider behind me say they won't get so close to Hugo again. The rider behind me told me that Hugo had bucked, striking out at her mare. It was nice to have an explanation, as I really hadn't understood how I'd got caught out and ended up tipped in a way I don’t think has ever happened in all my days riding. Unfortunately after this though, one of the ponies behind me was trotting short. L spent 5 mins assessing her paces and cleaning out her hooves, confirming that she was lame in the front right. We called back to the yard for a replacement to be brought out, and for Honey to be gently walked home. The whole thing must have taken 30mins, and Hugo got on my tits a bit as we waited. My back was sore from all the cantering in the light seat and Hugo arguing about speed and direction, so anytime he tugged for his head whilst we were stationary, it felt like someone was sticking a knife in my lower back. I threw my reins at him and said 'Try pulling on me now!' He wouldn't keep still though, so we ended up in a cycle of me taking up me reins, having to give them up because the fight hurt, Hugo then moving too much (he kept straying onto the path we were trying to keep clear) and L asking what was up. I explained, and she didn't seem to mind too much as I corrected him so quickly. On another day, I'd have been fit to win that fight, and Hugo would have accepted that he’s not being held on the buckle.

I enjoyed the quiet middle part of the ride, but I did find myself worrying about the railway line, the first time in a very long time (since Ransom maybe) that I felt apprehensive about riding it. The problem is that there's room to over-take, and space to get up to speed if there's no pedestrians. People josttling about was inevitable, but I've also found Hugo to get really wound up behind Gem. That time Hugo and I overtook the RL’s horse and lead the gallop was when Gem was in the lead. I therefore had mixed feelings about whether I wanted her behind, as she did the most unsafe over-take in the woods that nearly unseated several riders, or in front and winding Hugo up. In the end, I decided to keep Hugo behind Gem, hoping I was strong enough to hold him if he really wanted to take off. L eased my mind a bit saying that we were allowed to over-take each other on the line, just not overtake her. On the railway line we ended up waiting a few minutes for a walker to pass. While Hugo wasn’t dancing and almost rearing like I've seen him do with other riders on the line before, I certainly couldn't keep him still. He wouldn't stand in the same place, so we were constantly walking and circling. He kept trying to move up, and tried to go ahead of Bobo, so I kept turning him around so we'd be behind Bobo, Gem and Tom. It worked, and I managed to get in single file behind them but in front of the ponies. We walked at first, though Hugo passaged the whole way. We then had another lurching start, and off we went. Immediately Tom started the chase, and Gem tried to over-take. I felt a bit sick just watching it, as Gem was going off track into heavy ground on the right to try and make it past. Gem's rider also gulders to go faster, and Hugo responded to the shouting by doing the same. Hugo was desparate to really go, but I held him for dear life - there was no way I was getting involved in the fight ahead, and I did not want to over-take them and end up behind the kicking Bobo. (I had plenty of space on the left to over-take the pair of them, and a much faster horse).

 L suddenly raised her hand, as she could see walkers in the distance ahead. I had all my weight against Hugo, and he was slowing down, but Tom and Gem were not doing so well, and L pretty much shrieked at them as they hadn’t their weight back. Their diamond had split either side of me, so Hugo came up between them, and coming back to walk, momentum had taken us right up to Bobo's backside. I quickly shouted "L, I am walking but am at Bobo's bum: sorry!" but luckily Bobo didn't react (I think because it was so clear the racing was over, and Hugo and I weren't trying to over-take). I'd been working so hard to stay in control, my back sore both from the amount of cantering and Hugo pulling like a train at times, and felt bad. L didn't seem bothered however, and it was nice to finally be behind L now that the canter work on the hack was over, so I could enjoy both her company and not having to worry about surprise over-taking manoeuvres.

The conversation with L quickly turned to Common Riding, and I'd apologised for snoozing last week and letting Tom get so close to Bobo. She said the main thing you need on a Common Ride is brakes at the gates to hold before a canter, and either brakes or steering when galloping in case you need to avoid kicking, over-takers or fallers. I assured her that steering was not an issue, and I had got Tom to the canter speed I wanted, but I did have to brace all my weight against him to do so. She said Tom could be good for me on the rides, but we just practice so that I can fully adjust his canter at will when he is keen to go like that (and the horses are exponentially keener on a Common Ride). She said I should have Tom on my next ride with her, and keep him second in line behind her. We'd practice collecting and extending the canter, just to give me peace of mind that I can do it on a big occasion. I said to her that I wasn't proud, and if turns out I'm better on a slower horse for the Common Rides then that's fine; all I want is for everyone to have a safe ride and for me to have a blast! Now that I've found work and it doesn't require me to relocate, I know I'll have years of Common Riding to come, and time to move onto faster horses and faster ride-outs; I no longer need to try and do it all in one season as I feared a few months ago. L said we’ll keep going with Tom, but heartily recommended Starsky or Hutch too, extolling Starsky's virtue in particular. (One reason I’d ruled them out in my mind is they’re 17.2hh heavies, and all my weight against them would do nothing if they decided to clear off and ignore me). The only real downside to Starsky for me is that he's spooky, but L assured me he's not spooky on a ride out. In fact, she said there's nothing to spook at: with hundreds of other horses, there are no squirrels darting in front of you unless you're the leader, and he's fine with all the bagpipes and crowds in town (I've seen that for myself when I photographed the city ride, and plus with such a big herd of horses, there's comfort for him in numbers). She said he's spectacular on the rides, looks after his rider, and is controllable. She said Hutch was controllable too, but said little about him because I think she much prefers the faster Starsky. I do think Starsky gives a more fun, faster hack, but I’ve a special place in my affections for Hutch. I have to say, my heart has never been with Starsky for Common Riding, but I forgot how much I missed him, and got super excited at the news that the big boys start back to work in a fortnight. I'll definitely try him again with an open mind, knowing that there's always Hutch too. L said if I was going on a steadier horse, that Corrie probably wouldn't give me as fun a ride as either of the big grey brothers would. So, it looks like the list is narrowed down to Tom, with Starsky and Hutch in the back of my mind in reserve. (I may also be doing the 2nd or 3rd ride on Hugo, schedule-depending).

Travelling home behind Bobo was fun, not just for the banter, but because he's a bit of a lummox. He doesn't seem to have great proprioception, not knowing where his legs and feet are at all times. He bounced right off a curb when trotting on the roads at one point, like a bowling ball off a gutter bumper! As an ex-race horse, he also doesn't like mud or puddles, having been spoiled with a life in a stable and on the sand gallops. He often tries to dodge the path along the river by jumping onto the banks around the worn path, but then sliding off as he's not placed his feet solidly on top. It's quite comical to see! L decided we'd trot home, that way he wouldn't have so much time to plan any avoidances. It was hilarious - I could see him mentally thinking 'AARGH!", hesitating putting his feet down and then picking them up  again as quickly and as high as he could manage. L did a fab job of keeping him in front of her leg, moving on even though he didn't want to. All in all, he'd actually been a fab lead horse: he was green at times, just as he was when mid-pack, but he didn’t ever nap or spin, just hesitate. He always responded to L backing up her aids, and riding him positively through it all. Hugo also enjoyed the trotting back home, as Bobo (so called as he was bottle-fed as a foal) would speed up to make the mud pass by quicker, and Hugo loved making up the gaps. Even on the way home on a long rein, Hugo had not switched off - again we charged through the river, and had a naughty canter back up the bank and onto the flat, with everyone behind enjoying doing the same. I got off quickly despite numb feet as I wanted to get lots of hands-on time with Hugo. I don't usually have treats with me, but I did today for a change. Having found out that Hugo 'asks' on command by lifting a front leg and tucking his hoof up to his tummy, I asked him to say please and he did it with relish. He gobbled up that polo, and the other riders were impressed at his manners! I got his saddle off, marched him to the wash bay, and held him while he knobbed around a bit at the cold water. I got some good scratches with him when he was clean, and he 'asked' on command for my last two polos. He looked so adorable with his wet, shaggy coat, bright eyes, floppy ears, and pleading expression. I could have snogged his big hairy face!

When giving Hugo back, I'd raved about what a good time I had. The truth was that I had, and I'd seen so much good in Hugo even when he is wound up and pulling to go. He was a wonderful mix of thoroughly keen to run (and bloody quick when allowed), to utterly trustworthy in walk, trot and halt. He did not require a tight rein and strong control all the way around - only in the fast work, and often only at the beginning as he quickly got the message about what I would and would not permit. On the way home, he actually responded to my vocal commands alone to move through the gears, and bumbled along on the buckle. Some of the ride I had enjoyed in reflection rather than in the moment. The nervous adrenaline from that original over-take, the getting so sore and tired from Hugo’s tugging and so much cantering meant I fleetingly questioned my Common Riding ability. In the end though, I'd come full circle and appreciated just how good Hugo actually was even when I was nervous, that even L had got unbalanced in all the ruckus so I hadn't suddenly transformed into an unbalanced rider, and I'd enjoyed all the extra canter work and speed despite all the work and physical discomfort it took. I'm also excited that L's going to help me do some Common Riding prep, and soothe my concerns that my first Common Ride is no longer 'Ride A' from my dilemma post, but is new option C - the Staff Common Ride as it were. I told LD it would be my first, and he promised I wouldn’t do a death as we’d all stick together, but L later said that it's not exactly slow, and Ride A really is an ideal beginning. Still, I have months to practice, and time to decide if I'm taking Tom, or should take out one of the big grey brothers instead. I'm so excited about what's next, and got a lot out of a 2hr 40min fast hack that challenged my boundaries a little. In fact, I got home to find that we'd covered an extra 2 miles compared to usual in 2hrs (as almost all of that 40mins was spent sorting stirrups early on, and swapping out Honey), and I'd done my personal best recorded speed (40km/h or 25mph) despite maintaining control on the railway line and using a fraction of Hugo's capability. Win!

Hack stats (map blocked out, in case you were wondering about the white space):

I had to wait on the office being opened to get my bag, and while I was in my tarmac armchair (ie sat on the ground) with my second Jack Rat for company, the hack organisers had gone. I'd really wanted to ask about doing it again, and my friend that missed today is dying get the next one arranged so that she can come. I text the lady that evening to say thanks for organising it, I'd had a lot of fun, and I hoped we could all do it again sometime. She replied that it was no problem, and she hoped my face wasn't too sore! (I have been left with two cuts, making me look like I've had an accident trying to shave off a Hilter-esque tash)! So, I'm hanging on a bit of a wire about when it will happen again, but I'm sure it will. I'm so achey today though, that the idea of not riding for a while seems just fine! lol. Ibuprofen for breakfast anyone?

My second personal Jack Russel for company :)