LM BOLENA – 100 miles/160 kms FEI 3* Ezeiza Argentina
I always love to ride in Argentina, with my very good friends Carlos and Fecundo who look after the horses, and their grooms including Roberto who is an especial fan of Bolena. Bolena is the spitting image of LM 42 who we call Bonita, except Bolena is one hand taller. Both are exceptional mares and I am privileged to have them. I do love a chestnut mare !
We arrived bright and early off our BA flight into Buenos Aires and as always took a taxi straight to the venue so that I could ride immediately. The weather was absolutely gorgeous bright sunny and of course Warm – such a blessing in the middle of the British winter. As we arrived we could see the horses, and Bolena looked amazing – just in really fantastic condition, with her lovely chestnut coat literally shining like burnished copper. A sight for sore eyes when ours are in their winter woollies in England.
We had a good warm up ride and a chance to catch up on all the news and how the horses are all doing. We normally sit around the camp stove with the tea being made, under the shade of the trees while the horses graze around us. I also catch up with friends that I have not seen for a while, and we generally enjoy a lazy day until its time to vet the horses.
The weather was getting pretty seriously hot, but even we weren’t prepared for 28 degrees at 4.30 am when we set off from the hotel the next day. Now we knew it would a very hot day. Of course the horses are used to the weather, but there are always exceptions.
We got to the venue and got Bolena warmed up. The class was a good size and it is such great fun to ride there. One of the other riders was on a “mission” and quite literally hurtled out of the venue through the avenue of trees towards the main road, where we follow the grass verges for a while before heading off into woodland and fields again. After a previous mishap on Bolena I had decided that if she wanted to go, I wouldn’t argue and would let her have her head. These things always seem such a good idea. So, of course, we also hurtled flat out of the venue in hot pursuit of the first rider ! Carlos and Andy looked extremely surprised at the speed we were travelling at and were shouting at us to slow down, I shouted back “tell Bolena !”. I went a few more yards and without touching the reins, practised breathing her speed down, and was most relieved when we dropped down a gear. A bit more breathing her back and we had reached a more sensible but still too fast pace. A group of riders caught us, and I took the opportunity to let them pass and drop behind them. I slowed a little more, letting a few more riders pass us. Then slowed altogether to a walk – gathered ourselves and set off at a more appropriate steady canter. At least we were only a couple of miles into the race and had plenty left in the tank. The route was exceedingly hard – the chalky ground felt like concrete and I took the long stretches like this really steadily, and the day got hotter and more and more humid.
As the ride and heat progressed, more and more horses vetted out. Then at the venue the heavens suddenly opened and we had torrential tropical rain – it was stair rods and we were all drenched in seconds. The skies split open and a dramatic thunder and lightning storm commenced, which raged all throughout the next loop and the one after. By this time the route was totally flooded in many places and instead of concrete hard – It was now so slippery I was really worried about going over. Again more and more careful riding – one long stretch taken at a walk while I just concentrated on finding the best ground.
At one point there was talk of stopping the ride for health and safety or even dropping it back to a 2* 140kms but thankfully they allowed us to continue. Sodden but very very happy we went out on last loop knowing that rider number one was just out in front of us, and we shortly thereafter trotted back into the venue, in 2nd place on her first 100 miles. I am so proud of this wonderful horse who never batted an eyelid at totally extreme weather conditions.
This was also a bit of personal victory – not only did have a horrific fall off Bolena at this same ride the November 2 years before, but I also had a terrible accident at a ride in the UK during a thunder and lightning storm and got air ambulanced to hospital unconscious. Thank You Bolena for taking such care of me.
Bolena didn’t look as if she had been out the next day. Her condition and trot up was just fantastic and she is definitely a star of the future for me. For now she will stay in Argentina, but I am sure it will not be too long before I bring her back to Europe.