Part 1

Part 2

So onto Nexon for our second ride of the year, now Nexon is not my favourite ride, its hard work and one particular vet is always there who seems to see something in Monfi’s action that no other vet has seen. Last year he told me Monfi had a very serious problem behind and needed to be seen by a vet the next day and he disqualified us at the final vetting, now I am not disagreeing totally, he was a little stiff behind due to catching a leg in a ditch and no he should not have passed the trot up but I was totally bemused by his comments about Monfi’s action. I called my farrier Gregoire on the Monday morning to come and look at Monfi, now you are probably thinking why not the vet well I not only have great faith in Gregoire as my farrier but he also trains endurance horses and his wife Nadej rides in the 160km so if anyone is going to see a problem he will. I trotted Monfi up for Gregoire who agreed he was just a little stiff behind but nothing more than that, I was so relieved I had visions of scans, x-rays and goodness knows what else appearing on the horizon. This year guess who was the vet at the final inspection? The very same and although he passed Monfi again he made a comment about his hind action. I would say that Monfi has a bit of a strange action behind, it looks a bit like he’s paddling but its level and according to Gregoire not unusual for an endurance horse. Two weeks later we went to Manzac Sur Vern just south of Perigueux, so not very far for us to travel. Here we would do another 60km in preparation for the 90km later. A new venue for us very friendly, well organised and well marked course. Judith did another 20km with her horse Narlat and I set off for the 60km I rode with two very nice French men and we stayed together for both of the loops, when we were about two hundred metres from the finish line they called to me so we could all cross the finish together, it was a lovely moment and I felt I had been accepted as a serious competitor here in France. Monfi and I finished in fifth place that day, a very good result.

Now on the home front one of my Akitas, the elderly one, had got into a sack of dried dog food and gorged herself unbeknown to me. It was only when I looked at her and did a double take that her stomach appeared to be growing before my very eyes. At this point she began to whimper in pain and was trying to be sick but couldn’t, so off to the vet we rushed. An immediate x-ray showed the amount of food she had consumed was horrendous and that her stomach was displaced. If you can imagine a cartoon character that had been blown up with air, that is what she was beginning to look like. She went into surgery straight away. Later the vet came to see me in the waiting room and was almost speechless at the amount he had removed. I left her there overnight and returned the next day to bring her home but she had had complications and had lost a lot of blood over night and was only given a 50/50 chance of pulling through. They just couldn’t find the cause of the bleeding and she was getting weaker by the hour. So, in steps my other Akita, Ted, to the rescue and gives a blood donation. I am pleased to say that all is now well; it was a very expensive bag of dog food 650.00 euros in all.

Super cool Ted, the blood doner!

Back to the Endurance - I may have mentioned before or maybe not, that I have had a problem with blisters on my little toes when I compete. This only seems to happen when it is hot weather and I think it maybe the heat that causes my feet to swell a little. So a friend of mine bought me some gel plasters, what a difference. If anyone else has this sort of problem try these plasters, they work.

So finally the next competition was going to be our first try at the 90km free speed. It’s exactly what it says you go as fast as you want. Mazerolles in the Poitou Charente’s was the venue; well we found Mazerolles but no endurance anywhere! I then started to think I had got the wrong Mazerolles and that awful feeling of dread was in the air. David was doing his best not to have a wobbler and then a very nice Frenchman came to the rescue and took us to the venue at least 5km from Mazerolles. We arrived just in time for me to vet and also before the other trailers and lorries started to arrive. It was chaos, there was just not enough parking and nobody to tell people where to park, so there was a bit of a traffic jam outside on the road, more of that later.

Down to the start and we were counted down to go, it was three of the same loops of 31kms. I was determined to stay with the leaders, Monfi felt really strong and pulled most of the way in canter. When you finish the first loop you must vet your horse as soon as possible, the heart rate has to be below 64 and be sound, we vetted in 7 minutes, heart rate 46 all ok, now we have a rest for 40 minutes. The others were all vetting around the same time so we would all start the second loop within seconds of each other. On to the second loop, I couldn’t believe it Monfi was getting stronger and faster, now there was a group of four of us out in the front each taking it in turn to lead and working together. David was doing brilliantly with the crewing, having everything ready at the assistance points. Still in the group we arrived at the end of the second loop. Monfi vetted in 8 minutes, heart rate 56, one horse gets eliminated, now we rest for 50 mins. The other two horses vetted about a minute before me so they set off first. Monfi was raring to get started especially when he saw the others go but we quickly caught them up, the pace stayed at a steady canter as had the previous loops, Monfi showed no signs of fatigue, however I cannot say the same for me. I was getting tired and when the last km marker came up I was relieved but there was no slowing down. The pace got quicker and about 200 meters from the finish the lady in front of me kicked on into a flat out gallop, so the chase was on. We crossed the finish line,  I was one second behind her, there were huge cheers from the crowd that had gathered there. We dismounted and gave each other a big hug and wished each other well for the last inspection.

Now for the final vetting, you have to vet within 30 mins and the trot up is in front of three judges. It takes us 20 mins to vet heart rate 48, blooming marvellous and the trot up was passed with flying colours. The final results came and we were in second place behind the lady I had ridden with, Stephan Levillain and her very good looking mare Shetane. What a wonderful day we had had at Mazerolles, Monfi had been amazing I had no idea of the strength he had, to have raced for 93 km at an average speed of 16.75km per hour. This has to be one of my best rides I am still glowing now as I think about it. David had had a frustrating time, as I mentioned earlier the parking was chaos and at one point he could not get back into the venue with the car so had to abandon it and run for the finish line with the vet card to meet me.

Now Judith was also there for her first 30km and Narlat was not co-operating and refused to start at first then decided to go at break neck speed. This was difficult for Judith to hang on to her because of the injury to her hand last year, so not a good ride for them but they passed the vets inspection and came second. I think the breaking system has to be adjusted somehow. At the moment Narlat goes in a hackamore and it may be better for Judith if Narlat has a bit in that she will respect a little more. It’s a big learning curve finding out what your horse goes best in. My old Arab only ever needed a hackamore and never really pulled, Monfi is a totally different case and when we compete I put in a Myler short shank combination bit, he can still pull but not nearly as much. For me the hackamore was a disaster I ended up with blistered hands and sore shoulders from trying to slow him down. I think Monfi is happier with the longer distance and certainly the free speed seems to suit him.

I remain undecided about the 130km in September, I am sure Monfi can do it but it is whether I can. I have to admit I was very tired after Mazerolles but I hope to do another couple of 90’s and then make my mind up.

Back home David has gone back to the UK and has been away for nearly a month. To keep myself occupied I decided to paint inside the house, up the stairs, landing, dining area and the kitchen. Good idea at the time but going up and down the ladder has resulted in me having a very painful right knee and 'Wally of the week' award also goes to me, as I decided to go shopping in Perigueux last Monday. It didn’t even occur to me the roads were quiet only when I pulled into the supermarket car park and I was the only one there, did I realise it must be a holiday.

Happy riding!!