August 2010
Endurance GB, Barbury Castle 40 km, grade one, average speed 14.35 kph, starting heart rate 37, finishing heart rate 38. In addition Morris and Sarah rode as part of the winning North West team competing in the Interregional championship. The ride had some excellent going but parts had some long stretches of flinty tracks which Morris did not even notice. Go Morris!
A week later Morris and Sarah had great fun at the Isle Fun Ride at Bicton near Shrewsbury. This 10 mile ride has to be one of the most lovely rides of the summer. It takes the riders along the banks of the River Severn and has over 80 optional jumps. Morris got his eye in over the smaller jumps and even popped down some quite large steps at a trot.
The following week Sarah and Morris competed at the EGB Auriols ride in Lincolnshire. A slight navigational blip at the end meant Morris did 48 km instead of 41, but it didn’t stop him getting another grade 1.......... what a horse!
The last EGB ride in August was Morris’ third 40 km ride in a month. Here he got yet another grade 1 at the Cumbria Challenge. They weather was awfully windy with nasty showers but the Performance Barefoot boy did his best again. The picture below shows him flying over the moors.
September 2010
EGB Robin Hood Challenge, this was Morris’ third 40 km ride in three weeks. Held in Nottingham, he had yet another long journey to get to the venue. The ride was quite stony in places but the highlight was galloping down the all weather race track at the venue, Southwell racecourse, to finish. At the vetting Sarah couldn’t believe it when Morris pulled off a hat trick, 3 grade ones in three weeks, stunning!
And then it all went horribly wrong!!!! Sarah booked Morris to do his ninth ride of the season at the Red Dragon. Two weeks before Moo went down with a mysterious lameness which looked suspiciously like a bout of laminitis after Sarah let him on to to a part of the track which had not been grazed since May. First he was lame on his left front, then lame on his right front and if confined to barracks both legs swelled. Eight days later after a few sachets of bute he was fine but too late to risk a long journey and 40 km at a very tough ride. This was a very good example of what getting the diet wrong does to even a very healthy horse.
At this late stage in the season it’s going to be difficult to complete the 10 rides necessary to gain maximum points and see how far up the league table he could have got in the Novice horse championship, but with nearly 400 miles under his hooves since April we don’t think Morris needs to prove just how good a barefoot horse can be. 251.4 miles of the 400 were vetted and you just can’t argue with a vet!
As an up date: Moo came 20th in the UK Endurance GB, Novice Championship but this was with a total of only 8 rides. Horses in the top 10 and all completed the maximum 10 rides allowed at this level. Check here to see the league table and notice that Moo was the highest placed novice horse with 8 rides in the whole country. Way to go Moo!
November 2010
With the endurance season over Moo turns his hand to a spot of mechanical cow working at a Dave Stewart Horsemanship clinic. He is becoming a really grown up boy but every now and then his ditsy side comes back out and he shows his wild side in this video. Thank goodness for Wow saddles which really help you sit well.
January 2011
Moo has been learning to jump! Watch out for photos of him in action both here and on our Facebook page.
