The Rider:  Forty three year old Pat Evans, of Evans Quarter Horses (me on the right!)

The Horse: Nine year old, black quarter horse mare, 14.2 hands, that we imported late 2006.  By Haidas Little Pep (LTE: $425,000) out of  Leoncito Seda (producer of offspring earning over $250,000).  Heidi is a trained cutting/cowhorse and team penner with nearly $4,000 earnings.

The Event:  Man V Horse June 2007.  Twenty three miles (or so!) of tarmac, boulders, bogs, forest tracks with a 3,000 ft ascent, then of course, descent!  What goes up, must come down!  About 52 horses entered (officially the UK’s largest horserace) plus about 250 runners, competing to see if a man can beat a horse over a similar course and distance.  This started in 1980 and has been an annual event ever since with the course changing after the last time and only other time I did it in 1991.

The Aim:  To get around in once piece (or two pieces as someone pointed out!) and raise money for Maforga Christian Mission in Mozambique and our local cat rescue centre, and have fun!

OK.  Let’s take a cutting/cowhorse trained and bred horse and do endurance, in western tack, proving QHs are the most versatile breed in the world!  Must admit, I did wear a hard hat, always do, Caldene Jodhpurs and Ariat Grasmere long boots which are the most comfortable things to wear…..sponsorship please for mentioning the brands LOL!  Aim is not to win, just to get around safely and pass the vet checks.

Horses were lining up, waiting to be vetted prior to the race lots very excitable.  Vet and farrier check Heidi, who is nodding off, and laugh “the strain is all too much for her, she’s really laid back, isn’t she”. “Until you get a saddle on her” said Graham. Heidi with a pulse of 48 is fit to start, me with a pulse probably twice that was not fit to start but what the heck!

Sweaty palms, mouth dry, knees knocking and that was just Graham!  We hadn’t done anywhere near the training I’d hoped, how fit was she?  We’d only done about 3 hours a week training due to lack of time and working fulltime.

The atmosphere was absolutely electric.  Heidi had never seen or been anywhere like this before – how would she behave?  Some cynics had said beforehand “your horse will go nuts, all the crowds and noise…”

We tacked up and trotted the few hundred yards back to join the parade through the town and crowds – too late!  They had already done it.  We caught up with another lady on a big horse and we rode, on our own, towards the waiting crowds.  Gulp! Hundreds of people lined the streets, shouting, cheering, clapping, cameras flashing, beacons flashing, flags flying, loudspeaker blaring.  Heidi just walked through the whole lot like a police horse.  I was so proud of her. 

We all waited in a car park for the runners to get away.  Some horses were kept in a different car park as they were very hyped up. Heidi was yawning and going to sleep.

We joined the others following the pace car who  was making sure no one went too fast at the start.  The whole crowd counted us down…..”five, four, three, two, one…GO!”  We kept about 5 from the back to keep out of trouble as some horses were going sideways, kicking, prancing.  We kept a steady trot; we’d been warned that the road was very slippery and reports of horses having fallen the year before.  Heidi was very steady and sure footed.

The first ascent was about 2 miles later, very steep and rocky with lots of ruts and boulders to avoid apart from other horses.  We overtook a few on this stretch at a trot and canter. No western jogging or loping on this bit, just fast trotting and cantering.  Through a farmyard with cows in an open sided barn….”no Heidi, no time for that today” I said as she cocked an ear and clocked them.  A bred and trained cutting horse is always interested in cows!

A few miles later and we hit the forest tracks, very winding but fairly good underhoof and we picked up the speed and started to catch the runners.  Riders were told they had to shout warnings to runners when passing and we weaved in and out of some very hot and tired looking people as it had all been uphill to this point.  We got overtaken by a very experienced, endurance grey Arab stallion and some other Arab horses, then we caught up with a big thoroughbred.  The rider was busy telling me she was keeping him from going too fast, as he’d not long come off the racetrack and wanted to go flat out all the time.  We cantered more or less together for about a half mile, came to a lovely straight stretch and she shouted to me “I’m going to have to let him go!” and surged into a flat out gallop.  We kept a couple of lengths behind him and I couldn’t resist….I said “what do you reckon, Heidi, shall we take him?” She flicked her ears, I kissed to her and honestly, she doubled her speed and the “racehorse” was left standing!  That was out Seabiscuit moment!!  We’d had some fast gallops training but I didn’t realise she was so fast.

We were still climbing and came to a near vertical hill which everybody walked up and had a breather.  Lots of chance to chat to runners who were saying “give us a lift”. Open moorland was well marked and everybody had to stay on within these as there were peat bogs everywhere and horses had been stuck on more than one occasion.  The cool air at the top was a welcome relief to everyone.  More cows on the hill.  I had visions of Heidi and me ‘bringing in the herd’, City Slickers style!!

Then a near vertical downhill bit which was very slippery and most people got off here, to a long gravel downhill track which we picked up our speed again to a fast trot over a stream where there were hundreds of well wishing spectators. Wish I’d had a £1 for every “Ooooh, look, a western saddle” I heard that day!

Back onto tarmac and trotting to our first crew stop.  “How far have we done?” I asked Graham, “Seven miles”  - “Is that all???  Feels like 20 already” but Heidi wasn’t keen to stop and drink, she was full of energy. I managed to drink some and split even more down myself which was really lovely.  Heidi had cool water sloshed over her.  Tarmac for a couple of miles.  Two motorbikes overtook us and she was fine with the first one, but the second one just had to be raced…”Heidi!!” Managed to persuade her not a good idea on tarmac!

More hills, then a superb grassy track down a fairly steep hill towards forestry.  Heidi thought it would be a good idea to canter fast down here! OK, we’ll go with that then. Then back onto forest tracks towards the mid way vet check at about 12 miles.  There were only a few people crewing at this stop due to the nature of the access to it. I’d heard a horse had collapsed just before the vet check.  It was the grey Arab. He was taken away in a horsebox on a drip. This worried me.  We weren’t experienced or that fit and a black horse on a hot day would find cooling down more difficult.  Someone and his friend, came to help me with towels and water.  “My friend here is an equine chiropractor” the man said to me.  I said, jokingly, “oh great you can do my back while we’re waiting then”.   I’d had a knot in between my shoulder blades for a few weeks.  Boy, did he shift it and boy did it hurt! “What is that strange man doing to your mum Heidi” said the helper who was holding Heidi while I was manipulated.  My back had never been so good!  What a nice man!

About 10 minutes after we arrived at the vet stop, my new crew checked her pulse “get her to the vet, she’s fine” so we presented her and her pulse was 62.  “Go!” they said.  My temporary crew helped me tack back up “watch your back” I said as the chiropractor picked up my western saddle – he grinned. I thanked them once again and we were away, completely on our own this time as lots of horses were failing the vet for one thing or another and being held up due to pulse rates being too high, I heard one failed due to a punctured sole.  We weren’t hanging about by any means yet the leaders were an hour in front already.   I never pushed Heidi once.  I let her go her own pace, most of the time I was slowing her down.  Didn’t want a dead horse at the end! It was very, very hot.

Cool forest tracks and we got up a nice fast canter then back onto the road again where my official crew were waiting with more water.  Back into the woods and up a very steep dried out river bed which was very slippery and rough.  Onto the hill and again more uphill climbs.  Passing lots of runners and everyone urging each other on and saying “well done, keep going”.

Another “caution” sign.  Heidi, I’m sure was reading these, as whenever we came across one, she stopped and looked around at me.  I was getting off to be on the safe side and leading her.  I assumed she was walking behind me down the very steep single track sheep track.  The reins suddenly went tight, I looked round and she’d gone alongside me and came to a stop as she was perched on a rock about 4 feet above the main track.  ‘Hmmmmm….not a good situation, think I’ll just reverse her back along and…. ‘.she suddenly launched herself towards me.  I have to say I shut my eyes and waited for the impact.  Nothing.  Turned around and she’d managed to jump back onto the track and never touched me!  She looked really surprised and almost said “come on, we’re wasting valuable time here?”  She had a big kiss then “thank you Heidi for not flattening me” How she managed it I’ll never know.  Bit like about 6 miles into the race leading her down and over a mountain stream, I tripped and fell, she tripped and almost went down, put her front leg out to save herself which was where my leg was but somehow overstepped and avoided treading on me. 

More uphill climbs up the side of a mountain.  Five miles from home and we were tired.  Very very tired.  Heidi’s ears were floppy.  We walked through a farmyard alongside a runner who suddenly tripped and fell heavily on the gravel. Heidi spun around and walked over to her, all concerned, and we waited while she picked herself up.  The lady said “what a sweet looking horse”. She was OK, a bit shook up so we stopped for a while and walked slowly with her to make sure she was OK. 

Walked for a mile or so along and uphill again on tarmac.  Back down a lovely, level single track through forestry and along the bottom of the hill.  Her little ears pricked up and she wanted to go.  So we cantered for ages, hadn’t seen a horse since the vet check, Heidi’s first ever ride alone, and she loved it!  I was laughing out loud.  What an amazing horse! Passed a few runners here and there including a 79 year old man who looked amazing.  The Cambrian Woollen Mill was in site, 2 miles from home!  We both got our 3^rd or was that 4^th wind and picked up our speed.  We could hear the loudspeaker!  Yes! We’re nearly there.  Just a short stretch along the tarmac again, Heidi started to trot really fast, down the bank, across the river, up the bank, across a very narrow, scary concrete bridge with no parapets, and a deep ditch below.  She dropped her head, quick look to see if it was safe, and walked across.

Come on Heidi, we’ve got to trot the last bit. We were still alone. This brave little mare, I only clicked once to her, and she was off at a trot, around the corner and she paused slightly upon seeing the crowds, and the stripy plastic tape flapping in the breeze.

Hundreds of people started cheering and the loudspeaker announced “here’s another horse”. People shouting, clapping, jumping up and down, waving “well done! well done!”

“It’s number 98, Pat Evans and Haidas Black Top, well done!”  I was in tears as we crossed the line, Graham, my brother Emu (sorry Robert – long story!) and Heather were all in tears too.  We did it !  Now we’ve got half an hour to get her pulse rate down to pass the final vet.

Back to the vet check area, buckets of water, washing her down.  About 10 minutes went by and my chiropractor friend came over “How’s she doing?” he asked.  “OK I think, she’s very relaxed”.  He took her pulse for me as I felt exhausted and a bit sick.  “Hmmmmm” he said, “Can’t feel anything”  “Oh” I said, “Is that bad?”  “No, present her to the vet!” he said.

Took her down.  Vet checked.  “Pulse 58” she said to the steward who recorded it down.  “Just trot her down and back”.  She wouldn’t trot. “Come on Heidi!”

 “Take her right down to the end and back, she’ll probably trot then” advised the vet.

“Come on Heidi, one last time, big girl” I said.  There were gasps from the onlookers “Ooooh” they said.  “It’s really rough and full of potholes and look at her float” “Ooooh, is that the Quarter Horse?” I heard someone say.  “please don’t make me do it again” I begged the vet.  I was shattered  “Well done” she said and gave us our completion rosette.  YES!  We were officially 23^rd out of the 52 entries.

Extra special thanks to Graham and Robert for popping up all over the place with water, to all the spectators and competitors who encouraged us and everyone else every inch of the way, to all the extremely generous people who sponsored us – we raised over £300 for the local cat rescue shop and Maforga Christian Mission in Mozambique where a friend of ours, Heather Lloyd, is a volunteer, to Bev and Jayne who came out training with us, since Christmas, every week, mostly in wind and rain and most of all to Heidi.

Heidi is my horse of a lifetime.  She's not a big mare but has a heart the size of Texas!

She gave me the ride of my life, gave me 200% every step of the way, when the going got a bit tricky. which let's face it, was most of the way, she side-stepped dips, rocks, runners and ruts, all I had to say was “steady” and she checked her speed, a “kiss” would send her into negative G to get past horses, ears pricked all the time, apart from when some horses overtook us, then she pinned them!  What else can I say about this fabulous horse who we’ve only had since the end of last summer.  She finished fresh and relaxed, I finished exhausted and felt sick with the effort and she did all the work!

We heard 11 horses failed the vet and/or didn’t finish for various reasons.  Hear after that they were all ok though which was a relief.

Now, how far back were those cows………..? 

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