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Zahra did amazingly well and became an Advanced Endurance horse on her first ride of the year on the 6th April at Wiltshire Droves doing 66km (40 miles) and getting a Grade 1 with a final pulse of 43. She thoroughly enjoyed herself.
We entered her for 100km (60 miles) at Breamore Tenantry on the 8th of June. It was her first experience of corralling overnight and she behaved really well as if she was an old hand at it. I allowed all the others to start first so she didn’t get too excited. We had a superb ride once she had settled down, she is always so keen at the start and needs to burn some energy. I would prefer her to be calm and steady at the start but that is not her chosen way!
We were thrilled that she passed the half way vetting with a pulse of 54/56, she was still excited and wanting to go. She came in 6th after a ride of 7 hours 10 minutes at an average speed of 13.95 kms per hour.
We had planned to take Wasima to Cirencester 12/13th July to compete in 160km over two days for the Home Internationals representing England. Unfortunately Wasima had a small puncture wound on her hind right fetlock which had filled a week before. She wasn’t lame but I decided she was not sound enough to go.
We decided to take Zahra instead. This was not on her list of things to do but I felt she was fit enough.
Zahra amazed me. She stood patiently to be plaited up, she stood controlled and collected and posed for photos. She warmed up without any problem at the start and we left with a huge rush of enthusiasm at the front. The going was amazing though very hot, as it had been dry and we cantered probably around 45 miles on the first day. Most of the course was on wonderful grass rides on Lord Bathhurst’s estate. Her canter is very light and she pinged along. We presented very quickly and her first vet gate pulse was 52/38, her second 55/52 and her last pulse on the first day was 52/56.
I had no idea how she would cope with the second day as this was the first two day ride she had done. She looked good and appeared happy. We gave her a rest in the stable then lots of grass and gentle walking about. She ate and drank well.
My husband Rob and my daughter Saskie did a wonderful crewing job.
The second day and at the vet check before the start her pulse was 44 which I was really pleased about. We were slower on the second day with more trotting. At the end there were 4 of us and I knew it had to be a racing finish. This amazing little horse galloped to the finish line in 4th place. I only asked her gently and she tried her best. I was so very proud of her. We passed the final vetting with Zahra being tired but fine, looking around as if we had just done a 2 hour ride not 100 miles at 12.86 kms per hour.
Her first vet gate was 52/56, second 56/58 and at the end 52/48. She had all ‘A’s for muscle tone and gut sounds and a 1 for dehydration.
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