Helmet Cam Pilot Run with Tom – 18/5/13

I have to be honest: last week’s ride shook me a little bit more than I first realised. I was very genuinely laughing about Hutch’s antics and my wobbling on the day, but I noticed that during the week I was feeling nervous about riding big horses at speed (simply because of the momentum when transitioning down). I began to wonder was it really a horse-specific thing with Hutch, or am I just not capable over 16.2hh. Thankfully I pulled my socks up and listed the number of big horses that I’ve had a fab and balanced time on, and haven’t been nearly bounced off. Saying that though, I was still nervous about asking for Starsky today, even though I knew I had to in order to make sure if he’s a good choice for me for a Common Ride. I certainly don’t remember having any problems riding all his paces and transitions last summer, but I had to make sure I wasn’t romanticising about him, as the hacks I had him on were fast and fun semi-private hacks with L.

I put on my brave girl pants, told myself to stop being stupid, and asked for Starsky. I was given him, and no sooner had he been marked off, than the YO remembered he was doing the afternoon Common Ride that day, so he was taken off me just as quickly. I’d just told myself “Well done, it’s the right move, last week was a one off”, but still felt a bit of relief. Sadly I couldn’t have Abbie either, as one of the more novice riders needs more practice on her before Common Riding, so my beloved Tom Boy it was! Even better, L was leading on Spice, so despite starting with 16 riders (trimmed down to 12 before we even left the yard due to the trot test showing up people’s over-estimation of their skill), it was set to be a fast one!

So, below is the video of our ride. The camera worked pretty well, and was entirely waterproof as promised despite the apocalyptic-type levels of rain. The fast work looks surprisingly slow though, and the steep gradients look like nothing; wish it had been dry enough to track the speed and altitude on Endomondo! I knew beforehand that the camera wasn’t great in dim light though, and with the day so dark that the cars had their headlights on, it definitely suffered in the general gloominess. Overall, it was pretty stable in canter and gallop though, and only bounced badly when I sat to Tom’s canter near the end to bring him back to me (I really should have cut it shorter at the end of the farm tracks, as the sitting to the canter then Tom’s springy trot made the camera shake like it was going to come off)!. Tom was a super star – he is faster than the bay horse in front of him, but I told him we’d go at my speed, so I chose at one point to give us some space, so I’d room to catch up or down-transition more gently. Tom agreed, but when we were ahead of that horse on the railway line, you can literally see him him leap forward under the first tunnel, as Jordy got close and Tom said “FECK NO! Been stuck behind you for long enough slow coach – you’re staying behind me!”

Tom really is my favourite horse, even ahead of Hugo. I adore Hugo, but he is a tit sometimes and takes a lot of effort: he’s an utter joy and worth every argument though, and has a nature to die for. Tom is a horse for all occasions though, and he Common Rides as he hacks (albeit with more speed on the big occasion). I rode with the former Cornet of my first Common Ride this season – he won the Cornet’s Race on the race track with Tom last year! (My friend tells me we’ll be doing the Ladies Race around the track this year, so that’ll be fun, even though I’ve no chance of winning on Abbie). Tom also lead the field, and when the Ex-Cornet had to stop him to help divert for fallers, he stood like a lamb with hundreds of horses heading toward him until he was told he was clear to go again – no fighting, and no dancing. He is a gentleman, he is very comfy to ride (another advantage over bouncy Hugo), and he is both keen and quick; I wish I’d found him sooner, so he would have been free for nearly all of my rides, rather than just one!

Anyhow, enough of my blethering: here’s the video. Enjoy :D