Cirencester Summer Solstice Ride Report
Again the dutch gag bit
seems to give me the fine control of Dougal I need for the beginning of
an ER given the going and the result of our last few outings the
intention was to complete the ride at about 16kph. So we held back at the
start and were in the middle of the field for most of the first loop
riding with Sally Hall and Vicky Brown. David Yeoman set off at a
cracking pace obviously intent on leading the field from start to finish
which he duly did. Dougal completed his first loop at about 17kph but
took about 10 minutes to be ready to vet. I had been surprised by him as
prior to starting the ride he had a big drink. I was pleased with his
behaviour during the vet gate as he drank as well as he has ever done.
His trot up for the vet had been strong and straight. The hold time
appeared to pass quickly and we were soon tacking up ready for the
off.
On the second loop we
quickly caught up with Sally Hall and her riding companion, drinking
several times out on course at the manned watering stations. We spent
most of this second loop riding with them up to the last watering hole
when I thought I heard one of Dougal’s shoes go clank, looked down
and checked they were all there, which they were. Shortly after this before
check point 8 on a narrow track I felt him put a few short strides in on
his off fore so pulled up at the check point, allowing Sue Cox and
another few riders I was with to go on. Dougal had lost his off fore and
his near fore had rotated and was just on. Given we where only about 1.5
km from the finish I applied a shoof to his now unshod foot and took him
in steadily. I was luck enough to get his front feet reshod prior to
vetting in and still have one minute to spare. However we vetted out lame
behind.
All horses vetting out
were being thoroughly checked out by the treatment vet so they could be
signed fit to travel or not this year so of to the treatment box we went.
Unfortunately during the re-examination Dougal’s heart rate had
raised to 70 and did not fall over the next 20 minutes. The end result
being that he had 40 litres of fluids administered and had to stay
overnight. It is now time to sit back and reassess Dougal’s
future.
Below are my heart rate monitor and GPS readings from this ride.
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