Qantas breaks the Lorry - Vlog 16 - Beth Endurance

With lockdown restrictions easing I thought it was about time I took the Q-Ball out and about for a decent hack. Travelling, tacking up in new places and exploring different routes is all part of an endurance horses education, it's not just about getting them physically fit but also mentally capable of coping with lots of stuff and new surroundings.
I try to emulate the competition routine by preparing, tacking up, washing down and treating the horses as I would at an event so that they get used to the routine and find comfort in it when they're away from their normal environment. I know if I'm nervous going through the motions of setting up the crew space, tacking up the way I always do, just following a routine get's me into a calmer headspace and helps me find my flow.
Qantas hasn't been out much and he hasn't even been to a social ride yet, he's very much still in the education phase rather than the fitness phase of his training. I don't know what happened as I was the other side of the lorry putting my stuff on when Q decided to take exception to being tied up and pulled the tie ring off the side of the lorry. I had the camera in my hand as he did it so you caught a glimpse of actually how chilled he was despite his escapade. I was worried he'd panic, trip on the rope, run out to the road or crash into one of the parked cars, but no he just went for the grass then casually walked back to me, such a good boy.
We'll be doing lots of little outings like this over the next few weeks to get him better at travelling, calmer in new places and show him lots of interesting things. I may have to tack up in the lorry until I get the tie ring fixed though!
Thanks for watching,
Beth

[@Kelly_Ben]

I'm so impressed how you just get on with things. The first time I saw him rear in the lorry I would have turned back for home! And that was before hearing your stories about the Woods of Doom! I'm working on expanding my comfort zone again after dealing with an accident years ago. The man with the beer made me chuckle... I assumed he was a hiker. At least he was out for exercise! I learned the hard way that my horse likes beer when I was cleaning her stall one hot steamy night with a cold beer, and she knocked it off the shelf into her feed bin and drank it! LOL Same for coffee.

[@bethendurance]

I've always been quite good at 'feeling the fear and doing it anyway ', I think it's all the extreme sports 😝
😝 naughty mate, bet she had a good snooze after

[@marneymcgovern4285]

I just love how chill you are and how you take things in stride.. Goals!!

[@spotteddreams7935]

The man with the tinnie made me laugh! We have a couple regular drinkers on one of our main hacks. Totally harmless blokes who just want a bit of a chat. I loved when ‘your’ man was talking to Quantas and relating his stress to the pandemic!

[@bethendurance]

I know it was so cute 😝

[@fernlintner65]

Wow. I had a little Arab very much like him. but I went through an extremely intensive desensitization program including sound CD’s in the barn lol and it actually worked! She is still full of life but so much more fun to ride now that I don’t have to worry about her running away and dragging me places lol. He is gorgeous!

[@bethendurance]

That's very reassuring to hear we're not the only ones. Great that your mare has become braver and you get to enjoy adventures together. I've been playing loud noises to Qantas too 🙈 hopefully it works for him x

[@alisonwilliams2632]

Well done Beth! I think all those dramas getting there would have really put me off getting on especially on my own but glad you had a good ride in the end xx

[@bethendurance]

Thank you 😊 Oh it does put me off 🙈 but I try to just do it anyway! More often than not it's ok in the end. X

[@melaniebailey3446]

OMG Beth, you certainly do have some adventures!!! 😂

[@bethendurance]

Never a dull moment hey :P