Tales from the Guide - by Rod Frew
The unseasonally hot weather, a greater numbers of participants and a wider range of rider capabilities all combined to make this a more challenging ride than the previous two. However this was a supposed to be a testing and challenging ride, where we were all participating to really earn our sponsorship and feel that something worthwhile had been achieved.
The heat perhaps provided the greatest challenge for both riders and even more so for the horses. A good supply of water was always going to be paramount and whilst, at this time of year, streams were always flowing , and we crossed many, there were long stretches that were dry and the back-up jeep and crew, Sherry, Rupert and Joel, really had to earn their keep and play a much larger part than previously, which they did with limitless energy and good humour. Nevertheless there were a number of enforced changes of mount, some only temporary, as a result of heat exhaustion or lameness. No lasting damage though, and all soon returned to normal.
Keeping tabs on 20 horses and riders ....with a ratio of 17 women to 3 men!.... strung out across the Algarve hinterland, with frequent hills and bends, was always going to be a challenge and it was not really possible to expect everyone to be able to adhere to the guidelines established. Getting going in the morning and getting moving again after lunch as not really the group’s strongest point! On the whole however everyone did their bit and the ride was completed with fewer setbacks than might have been expected. A nasty accident to one of the participants at the very beginning of day 4, before we had even left the overnight stabling point, was most unfortunate, but was effectively dealt with and hopefully the unpleasant bruising and a few stitches suffered will soon disappear. Losing a couple of participants near the end of day 2, albeit temporarily, was a bit careless, but they turned up eventually!
There were some especially long and hot days, particularly days 4 and 5, which tested everyone to their limits; day 4 between Messines and Monchique had some long and arduous hills and deep valleys with stifling heat, whilst day 5, with over 55km to cover, needed 10 hours in the saddle. In compensation however the long sunny and clear days gave everyone the chance to see the Algarve hinterland at its very best. The spring flowers were all out, the countryside still verdant, the views quite stunning and the villages we passed through alive, scrubbed and clean for the summer .... wonderful enough to make everyone forget their sore backsides and aching legs. At the end of every day, to revive flagging bodies and spirits, there was always a great dinner and an inexhaustible supply of wine supplied by a generous sponsor.
Hardest working of all.... apart maybe for our equine friends....were Jinny ( almost worn out through organising the logistics and coordinating the supply of horses before we even started !) and her tireless support team; Alex, John and Shirley. Always there, everything ready and waiting for our arrival at the end of the day, and always in the right spot with a great picnic in the middle of nowhere for lunch. Some spending almost sleepless nights in the horse lorry keeping an eye on fidgety horses corralled in the countryside. Many tiring kilometers on the roads were also spent by Sue, Frank and John collecting lame or exhausted horse and delivering fresh ones. Many hours were spent by Nat endeavouring to ensure the media kept the public aware of the aims of this event. At the end, when it was all over everyone let their hair down and had a great time at the grand finale dinner organised with great flair by Caro.
Some of the greatest respect and admiration was earned by the great group of ‘gals’ from the PSP. All with some deeply personal involvement with this awful disease they did themselves proud; most had never done anything quite like this before, some had hardly even ridden horses before, but all did their bit with courage and good humour. Hopefully they raised as much sponsorship as their commitment deserved.
A lot of people worked very hard for this event and every penny of sponsorship was truly earned. Sponsors in their turn were very generous and these two worthy charities on whose behalf it was all organised, will be able to give even more help to PSP sufferers and more opportunities for disabled children to benefit from riding.
The heat perhaps provided the greatest challenge for both riders and even more so for the horses. A good supply of water was always going to be paramount and whilst, at this time of year, streams were always flowing , and we crossed many, there were long stretches that were dry and the back-up jeep and crew, Sherry, Rupert and Joel, really had to earn their keep and play a much larger part than previously, which they did with limitless energy and good humour. Nevertheless there were a number of enforced changes of mount, some only temporary, as a result of heat exhaustion or lameness. No lasting damage though, and all soon returned to normal.
Keeping tabs on 20 horses and riders ....with a ratio of 17 women to 3 men!.... strung out across the Algarve hinterland, with frequent hills and bends, was always going to be a challenge and it was not really possible to expect everyone to be able to adhere to the guidelines established. Getting going in the morning and getting moving again after lunch as not really the group’s strongest point! On the whole however everyone did their bit and the ride was completed with fewer setbacks than might have been expected. A nasty accident to one of the participants at the very beginning of day 4, before we had even left the overnight stabling point, was most unfortunate, but was effectively dealt with and hopefully the unpleasant bruising and a few stitches suffered will soon disappear. Losing a couple of participants near the end of day 2, albeit temporarily, was a bit careless, but they turned up eventually!
There were some especially long and hot days, particularly days 4 and 5, which tested everyone to their limits; day 4 between Messines and Monchique had some long and arduous hills and deep valleys with stifling heat, whilst day 5, with over 55km to cover, needed 10 hours in the saddle. In compensation however the long sunny and clear days gave everyone the chance to see the Algarve hinterland at its very best. The spring flowers were all out, the countryside still verdant, the views quite stunning and the villages we passed through alive, scrubbed and clean for the summer .... wonderful enough to make everyone forget their sore backsides and aching legs. At the end of every day, to revive flagging bodies and spirits, there was always a great dinner and an inexhaustible supply of wine supplied by a generous sponsor.
Hardest working of all.... apart maybe for our equine friends....were Jinny ( almost worn out through organising the logistics and coordinating the supply of horses before we even started !) and her tireless support team; Alex, John and Shirley. Always there, everything ready and waiting for our arrival at the end of the day, and always in the right spot with a great picnic in the middle of nowhere for lunch. Some spending almost sleepless nights in the horse lorry keeping an eye on fidgety horses corralled in the countryside. Many tiring kilometers on the roads were also spent by Sue, Frank and John collecting lame or exhausted horse and delivering fresh ones. Many hours were spent by Nat endeavouring to ensure the media kept the public aware of the aims of this event. At the end, when it was all over everyone let their hair down and had a great time at the grand finale dinner organised with great flair by Caro.
Some of the greatest respect and admiration was earned by the great group of ‘gals’ from the PSP. All with some deeply personal involvement with this awful disease they did themselves proud; most had never done anything quite like this before, some had hardly even ridden horses before, but all did their bit with courage and good humour. Hopefully they raised as much sponsorship as their commitment deserved.
A lot of people worked very hard for this event and every penny of sponsorship was truly earned. Sponsors in their turn were very generous and these two worthy charities on whose behalf it was all organised, will be able to give even more help to PSP sufferers and more opportunities for disabled children to benefit from riding.
posted by Ride The Algarve Way @ 5:52 AM
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