The gallop

So I galloped a racehorse this morning, a proper mud in your face, will I ever stop gallop around the track.  It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.  Squeak was a little keen, we were following Sue on Miley, “just try to stay about 5 lengths behind me” said Sue and off we went.  Squeak didn’t quite hear that and was trying her best to catch up, so my arms were slighly stretched but by the 2nd lap on the track and that was the moment we were going to move up a gear for the gallop on the last 3/4 lap.  Race horses are bloody fast.  Those warmblood show jumpers just don’t know how to gallop, this was bloody fast.  And we stopped at the end, of course…..it all went fine and then I remembered to breath 😆😆😆 that gave Sue a laugh.

We have to wear fluorescent vests at the track and lights on our hats if it’s still dark.  I have been told a few times that my face is the same colour as my bright pink vest by the time I get back.  I never realised how much different riding a race horse would be.  I’ve ridden horses almost all my life, but I am using muscles I never knew existed and now know the true power a horse can generate.  I’ve sweated off about 5kg thanks to those horses and learnt a whole new style of riding.  

Did you know, for example, that you can ride a race horse on a long rein and that doesn’t actually mean they will bugger off with you?  I was riding one of my other favourites, Zed, and at first he pulled my arms out around that track (pink face moment).  But as it turns out it was me doing the fighting.  Sue suggested I try a slightly longer rein and just let him “pop in to canter”…..it was quite unnatural for me to give this horse a slightly longer rein (I know he can put in a hefty buck based on previous experience…..he can be a little shit!).  But it worked, off we popped and the whole time round my brain was saying “I want to shorten my reins” but I was saying to myself “no don’t do it Kelly”.  Zed cantered around the track quite happily at the tempo that I wanted, not pulling at all and my face was a little less pink.  We tried it again today this time at a higher tempo and it worked again (not a fluke then).

It has been great learning about the horse racing world, both at Sue and Mick’s and at Paul and Carol’s.  The race horses are meant to pull, it’s logical that they should be keen to run fast.   We train them to go the tempo we want but the manner of achieving that is so different from the style I am used to.  I have enjoyed fighting my instincts and trying a whole new world of riding.  I’d say it’s really helping me to improve my riding as you have sort out your balance pretty quick when you are hovering with short stirrups (still not as short as those jockeys!!) and a tiny saddle above the horse.

We were planning to stay in the Hastings area until after the Horse of the Year show, which is taking place this week (more about HOY later).  So now we will start to look into our next adventure, who knows where we will end up next!  We have both thoroughly enjoyed our time here and it will be very sad to leave (we feel so at home!), but I do know we have made some great friends that we will never forget.  I think we have to make sure we leave enough time to visit all our friends when we make our way back towards Auckland at the end of our trip!

Laters

Kelly