W(h)att a mighty good man!
A "Watt" appreciation post is in order and perhaps even long overdue. We are still out competing together, last weekend a CER80, which had been a while due to my heart condition. And or course we have done twice that distance in the past, so it should be easy but both of us are getting that bit older. More noticeably for me I'm as not as fit as I was, not as mentally resilient, and I could do wit a few kg less....
But Watt is super fit, and still loving being out there. Especially coming back to Thetford, where he did his first big endurance rides when the Euston Park rides were huge events. I remember it well when we came over with him and Asphodele in 2017, part of our more to living in the UK. Asphodele found it all a bit much, the tannoy, the flags and the gazillion of horses. But Watt grew, he knew he was bred to do this! And he did, his first 120's were here, as was his first 160 and the European Championships.
He absolutely loved being back this weekend, the FEI rides do give a slightly different atmosphere which we both enjoy. This weekend would be a test to see if I'd be up to trying a 1* next month, or if that would be a bridge too far with my health issues. I have been thinking a lot about what takes to be an endurance rider, and I will do a post about the mental side of endurance later, because the physical does impact the mental aspect, and vice versa. But back to Watt.
These days he is my main horse, my mares are too old, my other horses too young. So everyone sees me out there with him. Few know that I bought him unseen, and only brought him to the Netherlands when he was 4. Even fewer know that I did not compete him myself until the year of his 2nd 120km, before that he was competed by friends of mine while I rode Nib or Asphodele. Watt was the easiest, and I have never really felt that compatible with him. He has quite a low centre of gravity, and with my short legs and longer upper body I have a reasonably high centre of gravity so I often felt out of balance on him. He's also not that big, and whilst I'm not a giant, I am fairly tall and not the lightest. Watt is also very introvert, and it takes quite some time to get a bond with him, though there has always been that mutual understanding and respect. But he's really not my hearts horse, I even nearly sold him to Spain, and then changed my mind. But we have grown to understand each other and I have found he really looks out for me and notices when I struggle.
When I was in trouble at Golden Horseshoe (a 2nd time he experienced that) he really needed to touch me to make sure I was ok, so special. And on Saturday he really seemed to notice when my heartrate was way too high and I was panting hard, 7 km out from the finish. He slowed right down and let his girlfriend go, I didn't have much of an option to just take it easy for a bit. I got off, took the bridle off and let him eat. I took my hat off to cool my damp head, and we just walked for a while. And then I clipped the reins on the headcollar and we trotted bits, snacked some grass (Watt, not me) and made our way home that way.
A quick vet as he recovered quickly of course, and I was still able to do an ok trot up without getting woozy and we were home and fine. He was looking pretty smug afterwards, and back in his paddock he did want some cuddles. He helped me get through that ride safely, W(h)att a man, what a man, what a mighty good man!!
No FEI 1* for me unfortunately, but i do have more info to see what I can or cannot do. The cut off point seems to be prolonged activity (around 5 hours) and then my HR start rising steadily (even when the intensity of my activity is less). I noticed the same when we climbed Croagh Patrick 2 months ago, but then I would just take breaks, which is trickier at a competitive endurance ride. But i do want to know where my boundaries lie. I have some very talented young horses and I want to have an idea what i can or cannot do. So the plan is to try the CER80 again next month. See if the pattern is the same, or if being a bit fitter makes a difference. I'll also chat to my GP about my meds and see if on long intensive days like an endurance ride I might need to adjust them.
The great thing is that both me and Watt are fine after, a little tired but not very sore at all (and I can suffer from DOMS quite badly) so this 55 year old and the 17 year old stallion will keep playing and testing for another bit!
