Ride report: Cannock Chase

It feels like this has been a long time coming! After lots of soul-searching, and many challenging decisions, I’m so excited to share that I’ve finally completed my first successful endurance ride not only of the season but since August 2023!

My last successful ride was the 80km CER at the Advanced National Championships in August 2023 at Well Vale. I had every intention of continuing with that momentum, but things don’t always go as planned, do they? I attempted the 80km CER at Lavenham in 2024 too, but Chip, my loyal partner in this journey, went lame at VG1. That setback hit me hard, and I found myself questioning everything—about Chip’s future, his arthritis, and the costly steroid injections that maybe he needed to keep going. The path ahead wasn’t clear, but what I’ve learned over time is that resilience is built in the quiet moments of doubt and reflection. Not forgetting that I've really missed actually getting to ride at endurance rides!

During the winter, I made a shift in our routine. Instead of pursuing more intense training, I focused on lighter but more consistent work. This approach has worked wonders for him. His topline has improved considerably, and I'm not the only one that has noticed. Working with our osteopath and physiotherapist has also made a massive difference, and I'm really seeing the benefits. But what really stands out is how well his feet and posture have improved, and I have to thank my saddle fitter, Jeremy Rudge Saddlery, for always ensuring that Chip’s saddle fits perfectly. I can’t express enough gratitude for that. It’s all of these people that, when combined, have absolutely set Chip up for success into his advancing years.

After all, it’s hard to justify spending money on hock injections when you’ve got a house, a boyfriend, and a Dalmatian on the payroll. Yes, meet Rita—the dream Dalmatian I’ve always wanted! I may have slightly diverted the money I’d saved for Chip’s injections into buying her instead, but she’s totally worth it.

With a new home and Rita around (who seems to think her primary role in life is to chew on anything she can find), my priorities have shifted a bit. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about my first love—endurance riding. Despite a couple more A&E trips for me over the winter (broken ankle and stress fractured foot), I felt strongly that Chip was doing well. After getting a thumbs up from every professional I spoke to about Chip’s soundness, I took a leap of faith and signed us up for a 32km ride at Cannock. A 32km ride, you say?

Yeah, I probably wouldn't have got out of bed at such a short distance before, but now, after everything we’ve been through, I decided to embrace it. And, honestly, after the hiatus, I’m determined to cherish every single kilometre.

As the day of the ride approached, I was filled with anticipation and a little nervousness. At Lavenham, Chip had to re-trot at the start and only scored a B, which sowed the seed of doubt before we'd even got to start. But at Cannock, Chip scored an A for action, which meant we were officially on for the ride! What’s more, it was important to get to start as I was riding with my friend Shanti Roos and her young horse, Oscar, on his first-ever endurance ride. Believe it or not, but we've actually never ridden together before!

The ride itself was much more challenging than I’d anticipated. Cannock is known for its stony paths and hills, neither of which we have much of at home. It was a stark reminder of how lucky we are with our riding at home. I thought I remembered the ride well, but let’s just say I was wearing a pair of rose-tinted glasses when it came to the stones! Thankfully, we’ve been using Chip’s Explora hoof boots for a while now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I was for them. My tenuous relationship with hoof boots was certainly forgotten whilst Chip trotted his way around the entire ride without feeling a single stone. Those boots didn’t twist, move, or come loose—not once. It does help that they have been professionally fitted so I really do recommend this as they don't work for every horse of course. I also used sheepskin noseband covers around the pastern straps for extra protection, which I highly recommend. They worked wonders, and although one shifted a little, I didn't lose one. That extra layer of protection gave me peace of mind, knowing Chip was comfortable throughout the ride.

Going into the ride, I was also concerned about Chip’s fitness. We hadn’t done much over the winter (comparatively), especially since we’ve been taking Raine on most of our rides on the lead rein. I wasn’t sure if Chip was ready, but I also wanted to take it easy and keep the pace slow for Oscar’s sake. But I needn’t have worried. Chip was still full of energy and pulling everytime he spotted other horses on the horizon. He even pulled us up the hill into the venue, and I could tell he was surprised when we didn’t continue on for another loop. He’s truly a horse who loves the job.

The weather was colder and damper than expected, and I was keen to get Chip vetted as soon as possible to avoid him stiffening up or losing any adrenaline for the final trot. The vet area was a bit tight, and there was a queue with just one vet doing heart rate and metabolic checks and another doing trotting. It was a bit of a wait, but I made sure Chip kept walking to keep his muscles loose. His final heart rate was 42, and he trotted perfectly, scoring another A for action. I was so relieved. It was a moment that made all the doubts fade away.

I couldn’t have asked for a better result, especially considering the challenging terrain and what felt like insufficient fitness work leading up to the ride. The worry I’d put into that 32km ride now feels a little unnecessary, but I’m grateful for the journey. It has taught me a lot about patience, preparation, and trusting the process.

Looking ahead, my goal for this year is to get Chip out on more rides, with the ultimate goal of escorting Raine around her novice rides. After this ride, I feel confident that Chip truly does love being out on endurance rides and he's more than sound enough to tackle challenging terrain we just need to keep the pace and the distance light. He thrives on the attention, the build-up, and the excitement of the day. He’s in his element, and there’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing him so happy.

I did look for an April ride, but there isn’t one within two hours of me, so now we’re aiming for May. Fingers crossed, we can take Raine too. It’s going to be a year of rediscovery, and I’m so looking forward to the next chapter in our endurance journey. Each ride, each kilometre, is a reminder of why I started this in the first place—because there’s nothing like the bond between rider and horse, and I’m more grateful than ever to be sharing that with Chip. Here’s to many more adventures ahead!

If you enjoyed this content and would like to support more blog posts like this, consider buying me a coffee! Your contribution helps keep the site going and ensures I can continue creating valuable content for you. Thank you for your support! ☕💛

Buy me a Coffee