Petplan Equine
Sponsored Rider - Lorna

May and June Update

May started off full of excitement – we were close to our first main event of the year – the Golden Horseshoe ride. It was the 50th Anniversary of the ride and the last time the event would run, at least in its current format and without running consecutive years. Training had gone well, preparation had gone well, Spangle looked and felt ready for the 160km of challenging Exmoor terrain.

We set off on our journey on Thursday 14th May, stayed overnight in Cheshire at the yard Spangle was born at, so had a lovely catch up with her breeder and some of her relatives. We continued our journey on Friday and had quite a fun time at one particular service station stop where we had a number of visitors as we offered Spangle her drinks and snacks and sorted ourselves with the same. One lady had been GB Team Chef D’Equipe in the past and another had endurance connections and would be at the event to help, this is how friendly the world of Endurance is, you can travel many miles from home yet people want to connect. We arrived at our accommodation for the next few days on the Friday afternoon and set up Spangle’s coral (electric fence paddock) in the field with some of the other horses nearby and sorted the trailer and car out.

Saturday dawned and Spangle was hacked out for some exercise – she was very on her toes and I did wonder why I wanted to have such a fit horse! All was well though and we went off and recced the crew points on the route, had a look at the venue, handed in our paperwork and got my number. It was all becoming very real and very exciting!

On Sunday there was a parade of all competitors taking part for the 50th Anniversary, this culminated with a reading of ‘The Horse’ written by Ronald Duncan, as the final part of Opening Ceremony. Spangle and I participated with pride with Spangle proudly wearing her Petplan Equine Thermatex rug.

Onwards from the parade to the pre ride vetting – Spangle stood solid at the vet inspection, calm and composed and trotted up well. I was feeling proud.

We then took the opportunity of being at the venue to exercise so I did lots of suppling work and schooling in the venue field to prepare and focus Spangle. She was much more settled than the previous day so that was a relief too. The weather was lovely on both Saturday and Sunday and we hoped it would remain so.

Monday morning – the day of the ride – and the weather had turned. Wind, rain and it was cold. We travelled from our accommodation to the venue and then sat for a minute or two wondering if we should get out?! It was awful, no more time could be wasted though and so I decided to tack up inside the trailer. I warmed her up and she was focussed and keen. We headed to the start and set off alone at our allocated start time with our minds on the job and ignoring the atrocious conditions, the sense of pride as we went out the gate of the first field was immense. Spangle was going lovely, just how I wanted her, listening but taking me but without wasting energy or being silly! We met up with others and came and went from their company as we just wanted to ride our own rides, suited to our own horse’s needs. I was really enjoying myself and Spangle was too.

We passed through our first two crew points and had sloshes and offered Spangle drinks. However, minutes after the second crewing point disaster struck – the track went under a leafy beech tree, there was an orange flag marking the course ahead, I thought the tree was leafy and passable but realised at the last minute that the wet hanging branches and leaves were hiding a very solid, thick horizontal branch and it was too late. I ducked and put my arm up to defend myself but hit the tree with considerable force. Thankfully I was not alone and Gillian Talbot worked hard to make me talk to her, I knew I was injured and just need to work things out! Trying to push myself upright was hard and I could feel and hear bits moving in my collar bone. I don’t give up easily but I knew I couldn’t ride another 147 or so kilometres over the next two days. I was gutted. My horse had been so up for the challenge, we travelled the length of the country, we’d put in hours of training and preparation and the financial outlay for all the preparations, journey, accommodation, entry fees etc sure mount up – but I can still hand on heart say I still very much managed to enjoy the experience – I made new connections, had some fantastic positive feedback about Spangle and met up with other endurance riders I have become friendly with in the past.

I was helped fantastically at the time of the accident by other riders, Sarah Coombs, one of the vets and her assistant Della, who kindly walked Spangle until my crew got the message there had been an accident, got the trailer hitched up and out to where Spangle had got to. I really can’t thank any of them, or others who helped, enough. I was seen by the St Johns Ambulance and then went to Taunton Hospital where it was confirmed that my collar bone was broken. Six weeks on, my third set of x-rays show that it is healing well.

The accident put paid to the plans for Marco too. Well one of the plans was for before the GHS trip but I decided to miss it as I needed to prepare and focus on the big trip with Spangle. We did have to miss leading one of the groups for the camp ride at Mar Lodge so we are still 47km away from our 5000km award.

I am back riding and both horses are going well and are both entered to compete for Findon Riding Club at the British Riding Clubs Area 22 Qualifiers (dressage). Both are entered to compete as either individuals or teams with the aim to qualify for the National Championships.

In my time off riding I have made use of my time to organise more training nights for Findon Riding and these were well received and it was nice for me to have some horsey time watching the lessons.

Lorna’s top tip

Be flexible with your plans, there are many roads to Rome. If one route isn’t working out for you, stop, take stock and see if you can alter your route. Do not feel that is a failure, to me it is all part of being a competitive sports person and especially where our equine partners are involved too.