Liz Taylor

Report from Haywood Endurance Ride

Haywood was Karaanza's first race ride of the season. It is the first major ride in the British Endurance calendar hosting two FEI rides in both open and young rider divisions; a 100km ** and a 80 km**.

I generally give the horses the winter off work (October through to January) to relax and unwind after a busy season. Falaina, being in Abu Dhabi didn't get the luxury of this break until after her return from the desert, but Karaanza did - and she made the most of it!

Having been back in work since the end of February when we returned from Abu Dhabi this appeared to be the perfect opportunity to start Karaanza's season. Karaanza is my 9 year old pure bread Arab. She is now in her 4th season of endurance and was quite an exciting prospect last year when unleashed on the first step of the Endurance ride ladder - races of 80km's. Karaanza started well, winning her first attempt, then coming 4th and winning best condition against a very strong field the next time out and getting a very close 2nd place in her first FEI** 80km in October 2006.

She is a remarkably good doer who is simply fed Dengie Hi-Fi Lite, Alfa-A Original and Natural Vitality Performance Vits & Mins. She is also a very laid back character so upon some advice from Dengie's nutritionists we have just started to give her a handful of Naked Oats each day - to help with her sparkle - but not add too many calories which would make her fat!

Haywoods Oaks is a perfect venue for an Endurance ride; you get the luxury of good going and wide tracks for the race, barely any roadwork and all within the confines of the forest. Travelling up to Nottingham was done the day before the ride to ensure Karaanza had enough time to settle, she ate and drank well the night before - as usual!!

Although I was aware Karaanza was fit enough to do the distance, as we had been away with Falaina she had missed out on the long distance canter work we normally do in preparation for Endurance rides. Therefore the plan for this ride was to ride her conservatively, use the ride as a training ride and ensure that she enjoyed herself.

Now, Nottingham rides are renowned for thier perfect going - nice and fairly flat, well marked routes - so we were anticipating a fast speed. We hung back from the leaders for the first loop of 40kms, Karaanza had settled into a nice easy canter and was bowling along effortlessly eating up the ground, the first Vet gate went perfectly smoothly. Karaanza has a fantastic recovery rate which meant although we arrived at the vet gate almost last, a quick presentation to the Veterinary panel meant we actually left the vet gate in 6th position.

I was planning to give Karaanza an easy ride so we just cruised along at our own pace, however when checking my speed on my GPS, I realised our own pace was really quite a lot faster than I was planning to go! But Karaanza was enjoying herself and still cruising easily. Again, we reached the Vet Gate 2 quickly and presented within 3 minutes - improving our placing and leaving in 3rd position, 20 mins behind the horse in the lead and 15 mins behind the horse in second.

Realising I had quite a lot of horse left underneath me who was raring to go, I decided to increase the pace for the final loop, about halfway round the final loop of 16km we caught the eventual winner, however the leading horse was still 10 mins in front and so we gave chase!

Karaanza gave me a fantastic ride over that final loop, demonstrating her endless stamina and competitive attitude. We crossed the line in a very respectable 3rd place at 17.9kph, having taken just under 4.5 hours to race the 80km course. I was especially pleased as Karaanza is my "baby" horse, having only done 3 ER's prior to this one, and she was beaten by two horses that are long listed for the European Championships....!

Karaanza will now be going to the famous Golden Horseshoe ride in May, before stepping up in distance and trying a FEI*** 120km in June!

Liz