EGB Ride Findon- Team Rabble RDRC

Yesterday Cognac and I competed in an endurance ride at Findon. We competed as part of a team for Rogate Riding Club alongside three other horse and rider combinations. The ride was very well organised and the atmosphere with pretty relaxed, the rain the night before had left the grassy tracks springy underfoot and being high up on the downs at points we had some great views.

We rode pretty hard and fast, with Cognac getting rather over- excited at the end! But all managed to get graded, three of us with a grade one and one of us with a grade four. It was a great experience all round and we hope to compete in another EGB ride next month.

Although the ride was faster than I will be doing for my long horse ride, it was of similar distance to what I plan to cover each day so was great fitness training for Cognac (and me!) I think it also helps to break up Cognac's training a bit as it is definitely more exciting and interesting for him to ride out in company.

Thank - you to everyone that helped us on the day and all the volunteers that allowed the event to take place. Special thanks goes to Dawn for organizing team Rabble!

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.