My Stallion and our Shahzada adventure

I really wanted to take my stallion Scrupulous to the Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2009. Unfortunately due to a small injury for both of us, we did not make it to the state championships to qualify. There needed to be a big challenge for us in 2009, and I set our sights on Shahzada.Ken Bradley had spoken about Shahzada at Christmas. I had thought Shahzada beyond me, however I knew Scrupulous was geared for long slow distance. With a little encouragement from Sue Todd, I paid the entry fee up, and arranged with Ken to share transport to St Albans, NSW. The other Victorian entered was Wendy Bootle on Blue Bopp. We ventured interstate, knowing only Wendy and Ken.

Scrupulous had some careful legging up leading up to Shahzada. He had a few Bowen treatments before leaving. There were new shoes with pads on. I also got him a saddle fitting, only to find that the saddle no longer fitted, and was much too small. I purchased a new saddle just before the ride, so much for no last minute major gear changes. Scrupulous was immediately happier in the new saddle, even volunteering a gallop in our first ride, something he had never offered before.

The longest ride Scrupulous and I had completed, prior to Shahzada, was 100km in a day. I felt it was gong to be a big ask, 80km of rough, hard, hilly country, for five consecutive days. I started to get nervous. I am not known for having hig energy levels, and I was concerned for both of us. I kept on telling myself, one training ride at a time. I borrowed enough saddle blankets so that we had one for each leg.

It took 18 hours of travel to get from Bendigo, Victoria, to St Albans, NSW. Scrupulous shared the truck with Phoenix Park Epona, and the two were fast friends by the time we arrived in St Albans. Ken, my partner Ty, and myself made the trip, with Ken and Ty sharing the driving. It was a good experience for Scrupulous to have a long journey, getting on and off the truck at parks and grazing stops, is great for developing a horses maturity.Initially, I felt the countryside was somewhat familiar, I had never been to Canberra or Sydney before. As we got closer to St Albans, the countryside became more and more rainforest like.The weather was in the mid 20's, instead of the cold 9 degree days our Victorian horses were acclimatised to.

On Friday, we crossed the ferry, lost mobile phone connectivity, and we were in a new world - St Albans.We checked in, met Sue Todd, who took us to our campsite. We set up camp, and made preparations for Ken to ride out Sunday morning, for his 500km attempt.

Sunday morning, Scrupulous had a little separation anxiety, his new friend was headed out onto the tracks at 4.00am in the morning, and he was not going. He did not know what his job was for the week ahead. we went for an early morning walk, and he settled down. It was a hot 30 degree day, and a good distraction for my nerves to help strap a hot horse when Ken returned from each leg.

Once we started out on the ride, Monday morning, Scrupulous' separation anxiety subsided, along with my nerves. They were probably related! Some of the horses went out quite hard along the roads, and I was looking forward to the first hill, so that we could slow down. The first day was a hot one, the strategy being to get the ride done in the morning, so we could avoid some of the heat later in the day.

The first steep climb was a bit of an eye opener, McKechnies. I was riding with Ken at the time, and told Ken off for convincing me to do the Shahdaza. "Are all the hills like this" I asked, with the response "Yep, pretty much". During the climb, which was single file, I attempted to tail up the hill. It worked really well, until another horse further up the trail, decided that hill climbing was stressful, and caused a bottleneck. Scrupulous was feeling a little fresh, and Epona gave a warning kick to stay back. At some stage I slipped, it may have been then that I cut my horses mouth with the bit. I walked as far as I could up McKechnies, but then I got back on and let Scrupulous do the work. I was puffed, and the steepest part was over. We finished the day with a heart rate of 40bpm, on a day when some horses vetted out on metabolics on the first day! We were off to a good start for the week!

Tuesday morning I discovered the hard way, what a cold backed horse can do. Having never ridden Scrupulous the day after a long ride, I walked him about his yard in the the usual fashion, before mounting. As I put my foot into the stirrup, he had a massive pain response, and flipped over, through his yard, and squashed me against a barbed wire fence. It hurt a bit. I was quite concerned, as this was very unusual behaviour for my horse. We took him up to the vets to be checked. The vets said he was fine, and that he wanted to get going. I briefly exchanged words with Ken, Epona having to represent due to a shoulder injury on track, and not passing. I was placed onto my horse. I mostly rode across all terrain on Tuesday morning, as I was too sore to get off. I lost a bit of function in my left hand, however Sharen, the massage lady on site, fixed my shoulder after the morning ride, and I was able to use my hand again. I was grateful that Ken was able to help with the strapping, now that he was no longer riding.

We saw some really pretty country, the National Park looks like a botanical garden, with shrubs, wildflowers, and rock flowers protruding from uninhabitable looking rock faces. There were also some lovely rain forest like valleys, with a small stream running through. When the sun comes out, it is like being on the top of the world. The scenery is spectacular, with mist in the valleys, and beautiful and harsh countryside.

Coming back down Shepards Gully track on foot, Scrupulous got ahead of me. I fell over whilst stopping him, I think I smashed my helmet on the ground, and lost the headlamp too! I grazed my arm and hurt my knee. This was proving to be an eventful & accident prone ride.

Upon returning to camp I noted that my new saddle was bridging front and rear, and not giving an even saddle mark. Scrupulous had a slightly sore back at the vetting that evening. He also had a very tender mouth. We decided for the next day, to try Ken's treeless saddle, riding headcollar, and lower the bit in his mouth, so that it was not touching the sore part.

All in all, I was pretty chuffed with Scrupulous at this stage, He had already done more distance than ever before.

Later, Scrupulous had a roll in his yard. He caught the lower stand of hot tape whilst doing so, and bounded up, quite startled. He appeared pained later that evening, and I took him over to Maurie, the muscle man on site. Luckily Maurie was able to put both sides of Scrupulous twisted sacrum back in, and he was pain free again.Wednesday was the hardest day. There were lots of steep climbs, and rough country underfoot. Scrupulous took it very steady, with Wendy and his paternal brother Blue Bopp for company. At the first checkpoint I was advised that I could remove the bridle, and ease his sore mouth. For the rest of the ride I rode my stallion in the riding headcollar. The treeless saddle fitted really well, however it felt too forward going down the hills, and I got off and walked for these. Scrupulous vetted fine, however was tired by the end of the ride. I wondered how he would wake up for the next morning.Thursday morning he was keen to go, pawing impatiently as the other horses started to leave camp. He was full of energy, and I wondered where this came from. We went down the steep Steps, at one stage he had a back leg on the wrong side of the cliff. He very carefully lifted it up over a boulder, and placed it back on track. Very sensible! Later in the day, some horses came unstuck on the Steps. It would be easy to do, luckily all were ok, with a bit of bark missing. In the afternoon, I had my next incident. Picking grass, walking down a steep incline, I cut my finger on some razor grass. It bled heavily, and we stopped the bleeding enough to get back to camp before 5pm track close, and allow the first aid ladies to attend to the cut. Ken and Ty strapped Scrupulous. Friday, it felt like we were nearly there. Scrupulous started to break out with greasy heel, despite the preventative measures we had taken all week. Apparently many horses get greasy heel during the week at St Albans.We completed the first leg. The farrier fixed a lose nail, and noted that he had worn his shoes very evenly. The next and final leg, we left camp with plenty of time. Blue Bopp lost a shoe going up the Steps. We took it easy until back to accessible roads, where a farrier tacked the shoe back on. The last 12 km were on the hot roads, with no breeze. Scrupulous felt a little jarred on the concussive roads. We got back, 400km ridden, and cooled him off, and vetted with a 45 final heart rate. When we went through the final trot out, he looked slightly lame. Three attempts at the trot, and his sore shoulder muscles placed us into the infamous "Friday Club". I was a bit stunned.

I think Scrupulous had not worked enough in the changed saddles, that allowed him a lovely free forward movement, and these muscles tired at the end of the ride. I am very proud of Scrupulous and myself, for getting so far on our first Shahzada attempt. There were lots of tears and hugs from those supporting us at the ride, and it was touching to see people, some that I had only just met in the past week, all so affected by our vet out. It was our (and my) very first vet out ever.

Scrupulous stiffened up Friday night, and we walked him through it. He had hit his limits during that last 30km leg. He was much better Saturday. At presentations, I saw some very fit and sound athletes, as well as a few that were a bit stiff like my horse the night before.

We packed up on Saturday, and made the long trip home, arriving on Sunday. Scrupulous looked in good order and incredibly fit and muscled.I was unable to make a thankyou speech at presentations. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ty for supporting me and preparing food, Ken Bradley for taking us along to St Albans, and strapping my horse, lending me gear. Thanks to Wendy and Blue for sharing much of the riding, and for advice along the way, and thanks to Maurie and Sharen Thompson for keeping us going when our muscles were sore! I had support from many people along the way, from friends feeding the animals at home, to snippets of advice from many riders. Thank you all. The Shahzada committee and team did a fantastic job putting on the ride. Finally I would like to thank my horse, Scrupulous, for being such a fantastic horse, keen to go out each morning, steady in the vet ring, and for getting us around the challenging tracks safely.
We will have to return to Shahzada in the future, better prepared from the lessons learnt, and take home that buckle! Hopefully some more Victorians will join us in future years!

Kelly Jol - August 2009.