Training Log Archive: vmeyer

As some of you know, I don't tend to want to do much else when I go to orienteering events, except the orienteering related stuff and then veg out. With that in mind, I decided to find an activity to try in New Zealand, which was new to me. After looking around, I chose a guided trek on a horse. Selected www.boutiquehorsetreks.co.nz as the most suitable place and made arrangements for this morning for the sunrise ride. The pictures with me in them are courtesy of my guide, Dzidra.

Of course, I then decided that I needed to actually ride a horse ahead of time, so that I would more enjoy the experience. So, I signed up for lessons, which I took on Ed in February and March.

With my newly acquired right side driving skills, I took myself off, in a fog soup kind of morning.



I met up with Dzidra, who paired me up with Onyx, while she rode Bowie (named after David Bowie). Onyx was not much for small talk and was a bit of a handful, but I enjoyed the challenge, though it did take me a while to exert enough muscle to rein her in when I wanted to.

[I didn't remember to start my tracks until about halfway through...]

We wound our way around and through some adjacent farms from the stable, even having to dismount to deal with disabling an electric fence. I got to hold the fence handle, coming and going, and I was a bit nervous of that.

Dzidra on Bowie on the bike path.


Along the canal, lots of swans.


D leading Onyx and me around the edge of the Tuki Tuki river after Onyx refused to go along as planned, even turning around after we were in the water. I was too nice to pull her as hard as I should have, so we were led for a bit until we reached the beach.


Hawkes Bay













Back along the canal on a grassy path this time. Along here, I inadvertently gave Onyx the size to trot, and she was off, and she is not nearly as slow as Ed, that's for sure! After an exciting minute, I slowed her down...that was enough excitement for me.




When we came back through the electric fence area, I held both horses while D put the fence back to rights. Bowie was quite aggressive in scratching an itch. What a hoot!




Headed back...sheep 1


More sheep - hard to take pictures in focus when on a horse.


Back at home base, with Onyx enjoying one of the apples from the tree outside of the cottage's front door.


I really enjoyed the ride on Onyx, despite her recalcitrant attitude at times. I am glad that I took the lessons on Ed from Emily. Talking with D was also nice, like chatting up with an old friend. It was just the right amount of time, and I would do it again, if the opportunity arose. I.

C • horses 1

In the afternoon, I helped label and test the radio controls for the upcoming events. Also admired the results of Philip's 3D printer, the piece attaching the usb cable to the laptop.



And, a custom built box to hold the two monitors for the commentary team...








A chill afternoon...nap, giving the horses apples, being fed a home cooked meal...a good day.