LM 42 (Bonita) in the 3* FEI 160kms/100 miles in Fontainebleau France
28th March 2014
It was a bit of a worry to be aiming at such a big competition so early in the European season, because of the risk of battling the weather conditions. However, despite the wet weather and the sodden ground we managed to keep on with our training using every bit of Norfolk forest and woodland, local farmers land, and the gallops at Newmarket. Bonita (LM 42) was going to have a hard act to follow as I had come hot of the heels of second place with her half sister Bolena in Argentina in her very first 100 miles.
This was to be Bonita’s second 100 miles, after we took the route slowly in Leersum due to very deep sandy conditions. I was hoping that Fontainebleau would be better and that we would be better trained to cope with whatever was thrown at us. Bonita is quite a feisty but tiny chestnut mare, and is a joy to ride.
I knew we had trained well, and at the Endurance GB Team Training weekend the Team Vet was very pleased with her condition and muscle tone, so we had done all we could to set ourselves up for success. Success in this ride would be to ride to my training plan of around 15.5 kms per hour, aiming for qualifying speed for WEG.
Another early start at 4.30 am saw us heading off to the Channel Tunnel. This was our first time using this route, and it was a prep run in case we ever needed to use it as a contingency if we got stuck on the continent due to the weather. It all went like clockwork, and soon Andy my husband, and Michelle our head crew and full time employee were heading through France enjoying the pretty scenery.
On arriving at the venue we could not believe the great set up. The stabling was excellent, there was a little village of shops and food stands in the middle of the venue. A purpose laid out slosh lane with taps and tankards of water for slosh through as you came in the timer gate and before the vet area and hold. The vet area was full lined out in was a super arena surface, and the hold a grassy area under the trees. Perfect. Even better they were operating GPS tracking collars on the horses with automatic timing as we rode in and out.
I was also stunned at the sheer number of entries, and how many people I saw and knew from around the world. The atmosphere was just brilliant. I was a little daunted at the idea of 90 starters in the pitch dark at 5.30 am but I also knew that we could do it ! I just had to keep calm and ride to plan.
The morning of the ride started and our lovely horse physio Melanie had already arrived and was busy checking that all was ok. She was very pleased with Bonita, so no worries there. I had walked the start the day before, and had also ridden a far way down the first part of loop one. I knew that the route included lots of sharp twists and turns, and that the ground varied dramatically between race track style sand, and deep sand often with many stones in, plus areas of much bigger boulders ready to twist a fetlock, some very hard tracks including man made stone tracks mostly down hill and a couple of sharp climbs and steep descents clambering over rocks and boulders. Add to this some long but gradual uphill climbs and it would give us a really good ride with many challenges.
Bonita was just wonderful, we did have a few hand stands as we went round loop one, but overall we kept it together and she vetted beautifully. All of my horses are quick to vet and she is no exception, but we took our time as we were not racing this one and just wanted to keep to our plan. Her vet gates were all still around 3 minutes. Her heart rates were great, and Melanie was happy with her overall condition. So we just kept going at a consistent speed and every loop I became desperate to let her go faster as I could feel how much was in the tank and the nearer we got to that finish line the more I knew I had to stick to my training plan and speed. She was going brilliantly on the last loop so I allowed myself the luxury of a gallop to the finish line against the Swiss rider whose company I had the pleasure of sharing, Andrea Amacher. We had super fun and Bonita looked amazing trotting up for the vets.
She did not look at all as though she had done any work at all, and the next day she charged out of her stable looking fantastic. Melanie checked her all over and said she looked better than a lot of the horses had looked at the start ! What a super star. She came in 28th at 15.8 kmph. Qualified for WEG and with a delighted rider and crew.