14/7/13 - Eating Dust (But Not Biting It)

I arrived at the yard this morning to be told that Abbie can’t go to the Tuesday Common Ride. Before I could ask if she was okay, I was asked who my second choice is. I quickly said Hero, as it’s an answer I’ve brewed over before in case it arose, but said I’d like to try out one of Frankie’s boys, Finlay especially. Lo and behold, YO’s daughter told me to go into the office first and get Finlay on trial, and that’s what I did. Sadly though, the person running the office didn’t even know Abbie wasn’t going on Tuesday, never mind why! I ended up leaving the yard not knowing either in the end :(

I climbed aboard Finlay, sorted my stirrups to as close to even as they were going to get, and then we were off – all 14 or so of us! L was leading us on Shadow, so I knew it would be a fast ride, and while I usually secretly hope that my first time on a horse will be a steadier affair, I wanted to get a better feel for Finlay as a Common Riding horse, rather than as a mere hacker. I certainly got what I wished for!

The first indication of Finlay’s speed came as early as the 2nd trot. I wouldn’t let him drop away from the horse in front as he usually does with less experienced riders, and my guess is that he worked out then, if he didn’t know from my posture and things already, that he had a proper rider so wouldn’t be allowed to plod. Nonny in front did drop off the main pack though, so when Nonny started trotting, Finlay zoomed along in a trot as fast as a canter. He felt rather comfortable though – not as short a stride for his height as his dam Frankie, and with the nicest saddle I’ve experienced at the yard so far in terms of cushioning.

The first canter up the hill quickly arrived and Finlay flew up! I quickly felt the difference being on a Common Riding horse who’s at peak fitness, compared to a hacking-only horse. He didn’t disappoint on the next canter on the flat either, springing to action and keeping up with what I assumed were faster horses in front, but listening when I told him not to get any closer. The next canter was the slightly inclined one with the ditch-like puddle (currently a dust-bed, but still worn-down). The horses were all a little wound up, as the 1hr hack had just cantered before us and were at the top. Finlay however appeared outraged at the fact that Cha Cha and Nonny ahead of him, two fast horses, had not taken off sooner and leapt into action to try and beat them at the start line. I had to hold him back, and he totally evaded me – with no martingale on, he got his nose right above his ears. Thankfully I got enough of a hold to keep him behind, and he didn’t need much managing to prevent over-taking on track. He did go like bilio though, and thankfully doesn’t have the same deep-routed opinions about which path is best and that riders are fine going through thick branches like his stubborn mother! All in all, I was feeling like Finlay could be a great wee Common Riding horse. I was also feeling grubby though - the mud bath of the woods had turned into a dust bowl, and it was sticking to my sun cream so badly that I looked like a chimney sweep by the time I got back! lol.

Another blast up the steepest of the hills onto the back route, and Finlay really did feel bigger and faster than I’d assumed for a leg-in-each-corner type of pony. He certainly didn’t disappoint on the farmer’s vehicle track, where he went like the dickens and totally kept up with the lead horses, a TB amongst them. L usually gives me the job of galloping one-handed to let the folk at the back know that we’re slowing, and I was happy to do so on Finlay. He was coming back to me, but did stay in canter for quite a while rather than trotting as I asked. Still, the speed was safe and the down-transitions steady, so I thought nothing more of it. Finlay was also exquisite going back downhill: much like Frankie, I didn’t have that worried feeling as I usually get, even on my least favourite descents! (I also went hill-walking the day before, and got a reminder that it’s not a horse riding thing specifically – I also freak out a bit when walking down a gradient too).

Just like last week, L avoided the road-work that leads us to the railway line – with the sun shining and the weather so hot, it would be covered in people so preclude anything more than a trot along the line. Instead, we did extra routes through the woods, and then we took a familiar turning for home – one that passes the hay field we raced around last week. This week, the hay had been bailed, so the whole field was clear. Rather than having that little voice that toys with me, the “You can just sit it out, you know”, I was eager for this – I’d had so much fun on Frankie, and a stubble field is a real Common Riding test. If Finlay was to be my back-up ride for Tuesday, I wanted to felt like I knew him, and this is where I would get the measure of him. Boy did I get what I asked for!

As we didn’t have precious hay in the centre to protect anymore, L decided that we’d just gallop across the long diagonal of the field. I was happy with that – it was a bit shorter than doing a lap around, but the drying hay was no longer highlighting a path around the edge, and it would be more straight forward for some of the riders who were new to the hacks. Finlay tore off like the proverbial off a stick, and we held in a broad line with the fast horses on the ride, just behind Shadow. We were to stop at the gate however, so I asked Finlay to start decelerating before we got that far, so we could smoothly move down the gears rather than have an abrupt entry into walk (or worse). Finlay did not listen – he evaded again and I swore I almost ate an ear, and we were still in quite a fast canter when we got to the apron beside the gate. We weren’t alone in this – many horses had to do a right-angle turn to use the apron to slow down along, but it is not what I wanted, and not what I’d used my seat, hands and voice to ask for.

L decided that while that was fun, it was too short, so we would gallop around the edge of the field like last week. Finlay galloped off without a single aid from me, and while we argued about cornering, he wasn’t too bad to keep on the imaginary outside track. L decided to cut off the downward slope though, so we cut across the diagonal again. Finlay absolutely tore off – I wish I’d had my tracker with me, as I’m sure it’s the fastest I’ve ever been on a horse, and he overtook all the fast horses. In fact, I had to fight to keep him behind L on Shadow! Over-taking the ride leader is decidedly bad form, especially at the speed she was doing already.! Again, I asked Finlay to come back so that we’d hit trot by the time we were at the gate. This time, his nose went even higher, and from such a speed, he took much more distance around the apron to come back. Now, I had felt comfortable on him at the fastest I’ve ever felt any horse go – I would swear that Finlay was at his absolute physical maximum speed. He canters and gallops with a more upright head carriage than I’d expected, which is always a little comforting on a new horse with so little neck. I was also happy at the changes of gradient, and taking corners at speed – this horse’s build and paces are within my zones of comfort and preference. The evading me and not being adjustable at the gallop totally ruled him out for me on Tuesday’s Common Ride however – it was a decision that I made in an instant, and mulled over on the way back to the yard just to be sure.

There was one more canter to be had before home – the canter uphill past the fields. Sadly the wee log that I jumped on Frankie last week has crumbled, so I wasn’t going to get to feel Finlay in the air that way. I did however go the fastest I’ve been up that hill – even faster than on Gem I’d say! Finlay’s fitness came into its own – he never even seemed to tire nor want to trot on the way up. He powered it all, and at speed! We totally split the hack in half – it was at least a minute before the next rider appeared once I’d reached the top and parked Finlay on the grass. I will most definitely hack this chap again, and I can see him becoming a favourite! Despite that blast of controlled fun, it did not change my mind. Also, when going at a much more sensible speed back down this hill, I saw Abbie looking stunning in the field – the sun reflecting off her gleaming summer coat, the breeze in her mane, and her sharing some social contact with Fliss. I wondered if she was lame, so was delighted to see her walk normally forward, when she came to see the ride going past. That doesn’t preclude lameness, but if she’s not 3-legged at a walk, then that’s a good thing. It also supports my theory that she is physically well, but either there’s a farriery issue (she sheds shoes like she does hairs) or she’s been booked by someone more important than me, meaning my CR has had to be cancelled to give her the rest. Either way, she has never looked more beautiful to me, and I was beyond delighted to see her looking so happy :)

The Common Ride on Tuesday is longer, faster and generally more advanced than the two I’ve done so far. In fact, if it wasn’t the ‘yard’ CR, I wouldn’t have ever chosen to do it at all. I had nearly swapped off this ride before, thinking it was too early in the season to step it up a gear, but then I loved the last one so much and had every confidence in adjusting Abbie’s speed in either direction, that I felt ready, willing and able to take it on. Having Abbie taken away from me took the wind out of my sails entirely though: while I’ll hack pretty much anything, I’m not at the point where I’ll Common Ride pretty much anything. While Finlay’s galloping until the last second regardless of his rider would have been fine for the previous Common Ride, it’s not a style I was prepared to take on for a more challenging ride-out. Alas, I had to report to the office that Finlay didn’t suit me, though they were glad I was honest – they were saying that given how much it costs, what would be the point to pay that much money and not enjoy it as I’ve taken the wrong horse!

Our next step was then to cycle through potential horses. To my amazement, I was offered Buddy – the SEXIEST horse on the yard in my eyes. He is a dappled grey, 18hh tank of deliciousness (a true Huntmaster’s horse), and is often The Cornert/Herald’s steed as he’s so fast and powerful, and looks so utterly commanding in the photographs. Despite trying to get Starsky for months this spring, I haven’t ridden a ‘big’ horse (17hh+) since last September, so wasn’t prepared to Common Ride on one. In fact, the general consensus became ‘no bigger than Hugo, but with brakes’. I made clear that Hero was my 2nd choice however – he’s been a steady, reliable star when I’ve hacked him out, I’ve seen his obedience on Common Rides for myself, and in the field where I had no control of Finlay’s gallop, Hero’s rider complained about Hero’s relaxed attitude about the whole thing. The only other horse I could think of that would be the same is Whisperer, though given that she’s slower, I’ve only ridden her once (over a year ago) and never on a hack, she is much lower down my list. The only issue is that Hero has been in a lot of Official Parties despite not being the fastest, meaning he’s done a lot of rides. It’s now mid-season and with it being so hot, the horses are more tired than usual; YO’s trying to give extra rest days now to all those who’ve been out solidly since late May/early June. I also totally understand this, and wouldn’t have it on my conscience that I’ve taken a horse that isn’t quite ready to go again. So, when I phone on Tuesday morning to find out my mount, que sera sera: if it’s not someone suitable, then I’ll be safer by not going and still enjoy my day off work. If it’s Hero, then it’s only because he’s had a few days off beforehand, and a few days to come afterwards. Whatever happens will be the right thing I’m sure. My partner in crime will be disappointed, but she will understand; besides, the debrief drinks will be on me to find out how it goes if that does happen!

So, all in all, it was a mixed bag on the yard: I had a super fast and really enjoyable hack in the sun, I finally rode one of Frankie’s boys and can see him becoming a favourite, and the weather was glorious. Sadly, I might not be Common Riding on Tuesday (but at least Abbie looked comfortable, happy and so glorious that the imagine is burned eternally onto my brain). It’s an odd one… I’m certainly looking forward to what that phone call on Tuesday morning brings!