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Over 2 days Zafar Stables competed at Distance Riding New Zealand 2023 Endurance Champs in Taupo.
We took 4 horses Box Hill Storm Boy, Raoul Bashir, Garonne Park London and Puketoi Shaffal. 2 horses were in the 160km race, 1 horse was in the 120km race and 1 horse was in the 80km race. We had a team of myself,Olivia Fogden, Braden Cameron, Tom Renais, Margot Maugeais and Wayne Cameron. For the 160km race on Saturday, we had a 12 am start with 5 loops all different distances but equaling up at the end to 160km. It was pitch black with one headlight on the top of your helmet and switching paces between 10 and 19kmh meaning the rider has to stay totally focused until sunrise. Between the loops which were 40 minutes, each horse gets a vet check which includes checking the heart rate, lameness, dehydration, stress levels and lots more.
During the breaks, the crew would make sure the horse is ready for its next loop. By the end of the day, the 2 horses we had competing got 1st and 2nd place for the 160km race. Day two which was Sunday started at 2 am with 1 horse riding out in the 120km, 4 loops in that race and 40-minute breaks too with vet checks. Around 5 am on the same day, we had another horse ride out in the 80km with 3 loops, 40-minute breaks and vet checks as well. After the 2nd loop for the 80km horse, he was vetted out as lame which meant he couldn't continue the race.
After that, the rest of the day was focusing on the horse in the 120km race. By the end of the day, our 120km horse and rider came 1st. We had awesome results for Zafar Stables despite our one horse being lame and we had a lot of fun. We can't wait for next year's champs!
Olivia Fogden, Year 11
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