EGB Findon 08/04/2012 33km CR Team endurance RDRC

Navigation and maps

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/practical/maps-for-walkers.htm Follow this link for a very good site on use maps and the types of navigation available, this site also has the rout for the Sabrina way- which i will be following for 200 miles from Harrington station to great barrington. Both the horses had a visit from the horse physiotherapist today. The timing is spot on as invarriably after the physio they have to have a few days off, to allow their muscles to adjust after being worked on and as it snowed last night, they would have had to have a few days off anyway, to let the snow and ice melt. I worked a ten hour night shift last night, finishing at 7 this morning. So I went and had a sleep, planning to come backand hold the horses for the physio, but ended up sleeping right through! The horses were done without me, but I missed out on the chance to talk to the physio directly. Harry was sore behind the saddle and the physio suggested that it was either because I was sitting too far back on him, or that the western saddle may be too Long for his back. As I've been having lessons on Harry and my instructor is happy with my position, I am going to stick to his English saddle from now on, as it has been professionally fitted to him. Cognac was stiff, but being an older horse and over due for the physio, I think that this wasnt due to anything in particular. Im going to incorporate carrot stretches into his daily warm up routine to help keep him supple and comfortable. As we set out for the ride in 5 months time and between then and now we will being doing a lot of training, I will try and schedule the horses to see the physio again before we go and possibly a few weeks after we return.

Joe and Sue Bird Photographers

Training rides

Im in the process of planning a 'like real' training ride. My plan is to take both horses, ride one and lead the other and ride east along the South Downs Way to the National Trust Gumber Bothy on the Slindon Estate, this is about 15 miles from the yard, so a nice easy day to start with. The next day we are going to ride 25 miles to Pyecombe ( and head down to the fantastic pub!) from here we may continue along the SDW to Alfriston or turn around and head home, I will decide nearer the time, depending on how we fit the ponies are. We are setting out on the 9th April, it'll be a great trial run to try out the distances and new equipment and also a good training exercise for the horses. We will also be accompanied by a friend.