Brownie’s training is really getting serious now, even though I still haven’t really picked a race to ride.
For the quality work-out on Tuesday I went to my hidden little “track” in the jungle and did 6×2laps (or about 0.4 miles) lope, alternating with one lap jog for recovery. Brownie was able to do them at around 2 minute, only on the last lap I pushed him a little more and got 1:50. We totaled over eight miles of riding, including warm-up and cool-down.
On Wednesday Brownie didn’t have to run that fast. We did four slower miles in an hour down James Road. Fortunately the new gate that the neighbors put up is never closed, so I could ride past mean Mrs Green’s house on the way back. Stephanie and Baleigh were riding Ruby and South in the arena when I approached out of the jungle. After I called out that it was just the Brown Cow, everything was fine.
Today was maybe Brownie’s hardest work-out so far. I’d planned a 6-7 mile ride, including 4 miles of consecutive loping. I don’t think he’s ever done that before, at least not with me. I was a bit warm, but the sun was always disappearing behind big clouds, so I gave it a shot.
During our warm-up I saw two motorcycles approaching on the grassy part of James Road. They stopped and informed me that one of them was the land owner. He doesn’t mind us riding on his property, but does not like all the four-wheeler and people having party, littering, shooting guns and just generally being stupid on the trails. I couldn’t agree more. They told me they were working on the trails, cutting back some bushes with a chain saw, attached to one guy’s motorcycle, and wanted to know if Brownie was all right with that. I told them not to worry and – secretly – made a point riding as far away from them as possible. I’m sure Brownie doesn’t really mind the chain saw, but with my planned tempo ride, it could get a little complicated. I didn’t want to ride them over either.
So we started loping, only interrupted for a few strides of trot here and there when the trail got too curvy.
There’s a half-mile loop closer to I-95, far away from where the owner and his friend were working and I took advantage of that, riding in circles until it was time to turn around. Even though Brownie was sweating like crazy, I never had to push him. He even got faster as time went by. He ran four miles in 19:53.
He’d been running well, but now I could really tell how tired he was. He jogged very slowly, followed by an even slower walk. But that was all right, he had all reasons to be tired.
Back at the barn he got an extra portion of oats that he had to eat in the rain. Saved him a shower from the garden hose.
Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day for him.
I’m really happy about how well the training is going. I’ve never ridden him that much, but it’s a lot of fun and he’s responding very well. What a nice horse!
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