Category: Horse riding

Essential Waterproof Trousers developed by the experts.

Date posted: 09/06/2022

waterproof riding trousers for men and women by Just Chaps

Just Chaps’ owner, Helen Salmon, explains how spotting a gap in the market led to developing a range of waterproof riding trousers for men, women and children – that rapidly became best-sellers and won the company their first product development award.

Once upon a time …

How did it all begin? A family of 4 – pony and dog mad, spending half their lives at the yard, at shows and at various Pony Club events. And, of course, in all weathers. You’ve seen it all before: Kids larking around, generally getting amazingly dirty, covered from head to toe in shavings and hay. Mum busily keeping it all together with lots of standing around, watching and waiting. And Dad muscling the hay bales and grumbling about burning £20 notes.

the original design of waterproof riding trousers

The original waterproof riding trousers, a simple over-trouser design, yet very effective.

Just Chaps – the family business, which we were juggling with ponies and kids – was doing very well supplying hundreds of like-minded people with the Just Chaps original waterproof over-trousers. You may remember them – they were simple in design, basically two rectangles with an elasticated waist, brought together by two full-length zips. In their day, they were brilliant – you could whip them off in the saddle (poor pony!), required little or no maintenance and kept you pretty much dry and clean. However, they didn’t fit very well and they could make you a bit warm. The reason for this was how the fabric was waterproofed. The nylon outer layer was “plasticated” on the underside – basically a thin layer of plastic was sprayed on to coat the material and prevent water from coming through. Brilliant in their day, but wear and tear meant that the coating wore off, so in areas of friction, you would spring a leak.

Have another cup of tea

So back in the kitchen, over yet more tea, we researched and put together ideas for the next generation of waterproof trousers. Fortunately the revolutionary microporous membrane was now available (think Goretex). This clever, wispy thin membrane worked by having tiny holes – or pores – which were too small to allow water in – but still large enough to allow water vapour (ie sweat !) out. No more plasticated fabric. The membrane would sit under the tough nylon outer layer and do the wonderful job of allowing moisture vapour to escape but not let rain droplets through. And a lightweight inner lining provided more protection for this membrane.

image shows how the impermeable membrane works

The new fabric, with tough nylon outer, had an impermeable membrane which allows moisture out but does not allow rain in.

A star is born

At the same time we completely changed the cut and fit of the trousers and added several new features.

The new model had to be:

Unisex
Well cut and fitting – so it fits like a proper pair of trousers
Slim in the leg – but just wide enough to take a pair of country boots (with boot access zips up to the calf)
With a non-slip seat
Nice and high in the waist to keep out drafts and rain down the small of your back
With stirrup straps to avoid ride up (which of course are adjustable and removable).

After many, many prototypes we had landed on a fantastic new product.

Don’t forget the sizes!

We knew that were going to need A LOT of sizes. Not wanting to leave anyone out, we opted for 3 leg lengths in each of our 7 sizes – and that was before we started on the kids. Well – if we wanted to be The Specialist in Riding Waterproofs – then we needed to be able to fit everyone.

And the kids had to be treated the same. This doesn’t come cheap but we couldn’t skimp. Same trousers as the adults, just smaller and with 6 special sizes.

waterproof riding trousers for adults and children by justchaps.

Waterproof riding trousers to fit the whole family.

Time to Celebrate!

In 2019 Horse and Hound put our new trousers into their “Tried and Tested” award scheme where we won “Best in Test”. Our first professional accolade was awarded at Olympia that year and from then on our riding waterproof trousers flew out the door. Continuing to grow our sales on line and at shows, we also began to win prestigious accounts such as Gleneagles and the RAF. Many more independent equestrian shops asked to stock them too.

In 2019 Horse and Hound put our new waterproof riding trousers into their “Tried and Tested” award scheme and we won “Best in Test”.

Branding

With this success, we decided that they deserved a brand name of their own. Many, many, more cups of tea.

We had been calling our waterproof full chaps (their sister-product) “Dri Riders” for some time so it made sense that we put all of our waterproof riding products under one brand umbrella – Dri-Rider. We formally registered this as a Trademark. Dri-Rider Waterproof Systems is now recognised for uncompromising, all-weather performance for riders.

Dri-Rider – the brand name given to the range of waterproof riding trousers and full chaps.

Don’t Stand Still !

In product development you can only sit still for a wee while, so after only a couple of seasons we started to investigate how to improve these best-selling waterproof trousers.

We are fortunate to get to meet thousands of our customers at shows where people try on our products – we get to see how they fit again and again – and of course we hear direct from the customer exactly what they would like.

The next generation of fabric

It was time to look at the next generation of waterproof fabrics. After worldwide research and rigorous testing we are thrilled to have found a wonderful British supplier.

Why did we pick this new fabric..?

It has wonderful drape. Sounds a bit flouncy – but this makes the trousers even nicer to wear. Who’d have thought we’d be saying this about a pair of riding waterproofs ?
It’s a little lighter in weight which has its advantages – you can always add thermals if you need more warmth……
It’s made in the UK which not only makes us feel good, but is also easier to control and check
Most importantly, this marked the end of the 3-layer construction as the new fabric has an integral membrane and just a thin inner-lining, resulting in better performance and less weight

Dri-Rider waterproof trousers are now made using a 2 layer technology.

We are very proud of this latest upgrade to our waterproof trousers and feel sure you will love them.

Performance just keeps on improving

Our new Dri-Rider waterproof riding trousers are the most weatherproof yet, with a 3.3 score for waterproofing and breathability in British and European Standard EN343.

Easy wear, easy care. Whilst we continue to advise periodic gentle washing to keep the membrane clean and breathable, there is no longer any need to reproof the external layer.

If you have any questions relating to our products – be it sizing or technical, please do contact us on 01730 812000 or email info@justchaps.com. We are here to help ! Buy your waterproof trousers here.

Kelsey Eliot Putting in the Miles for the Mongol Derby

Date posted: 20/04/2019

The most important thing in preparing for the world’s longest horse race in hours is the saddle. There’s no way to prepare for 1,000 km before I get there, so long days will just have to do! As the days tick down closer and closer to the Mongol Derby, I am riding as much as possible.

My big milestone in prepping is an upcoming trip to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. I will be spending a week in the area, riding all day every day, starting with a 25 mile endurance ride on the first day. This solid week of riding will be a great way for me to gauge how far along I am in my training and how far I still need to go.

Getting the horses in shape for the ride at Biltmore is a challenge, especially this early in the season—the weather is less than cooperative. Long, slow hill work and lots of trotting is the start of getting fit, and then adding either distance or speed each ride, but never both at the same time.

It goes without saying that my Endurance chaps from Just Chaps are one thing I don’t need to worry about – they do the job perfectly.

I’m looking forward to the trip—keep an eye out for updates on how it goes!

For more information about the riding chaps used by Kelsey Eliot, get in touch today.

Which Riding Chaps will fit over Chunky Boots?

Date posted: 12/03/2019

lady horse rider wearing Just Chaps Cool Half Chaps with chunky riding boots

Why Just Chaps ?

As the UK’s leading equestrian specialist in riding half chaps and gaiters, we have more options and more sizes to fit more riders. Here’s how we help riders to find riding chaps to fit over their chunky boots.

Find the perfect riding chaps to fit over your chunky boots

Riders regularly ask which riding chaps will fit over a chunky riding boots. Just Chaps can offer several options that work with this popular footwear, giving riders lots of choice with colour, style and size. Here’s what we offer:

Half Chaps are designed to fit over larger boots

The design of our Half Chaps is given a lot of careful consideration. Both the overall shape and functionality of each section, especially the area around the ankle, is designed with particular care. We want the area around the ankle to accommodate various styles of boot, including the more chunky options, and we introduced a “concertina panel” behind the zip and at the “toe” of the chaps to allow room for such boots as the Ariat Telluride or Kentucky. The combination of concertina panels, and use of neoprene (in the All Purpose Half Chaps) allows a great flexibility of fit so that they can be worn easily over a traditional jodhpur boot or stretched over a chunky boot, such as the Ariat Telluride.

Just Chaps options to wear with chunky riding boots

All Purpose – all-time best selling Half Chaps that fit well and look great. Made from stretchy comfortable neoprene and available in black and brown and in all sizes from Age 2 to Adult Extra Wide.

Saltos Half Chaps – another award-winning product, scoring 9/10 in Horse & Hound. Made from full-grain, soft leather with a unique stretch-leather panel which allows these chaps to be worn with chunkier boots. Perfect for posh days out, yet durable enough for every day wear. All sizes.

Classic Suede – traditional half chaps made from soft yet hard wearing suede. Adult sizes.

Cool – made from perforated faux suede. The little perforations let your legs breathe. Perfect for warmer weather, warmer people. Or just many hours in the saddle. Worn and love by Endurance riders in the Mongol Derby year after year.

In a nutshell, all of our half chaps, as described above, will fit over Chunky Boots. Our only product that will not fit over a heavier boot is the Saltos Gaiters, which are designed to be worn over a traditional jodphur boot. But that’s another story.

We hope that this helps when you’re looking for your next pair of riding chaps. If you have any questions, please call our expert, friendly team on 01403 820887, or email info@justchaps.com. We look forward to meeting you!

Kelsey Eliot prepares for “the behemoth that is the Mongol Derby”.

Date posted: 04/03/2019

Kelsey Eliot tells us how she is preparing for the Mongol Derby:

I have been riding twice a day for the past month on any horse I can get my hands on; the more variety can I get, the better. I intend to increase the amount of ride time as the weather improves. I also purchased a pony with an attitude problem to work with. His feisty attitude is a good warm-up for the feral ponies I will meet in Mongolia.

I’m spoiled to have a great relationship with a wonderful endurance and trail riding barn in my area, and they are helping to coach me, give me lessons, and set me up with horses to ride.

And of course, the gear is a huge undertaking to prepare for. I’ll be wearing this stuff for 1,000 km! It needs to be able to stand up to abuse and be as comfortable as possible. I’ve been researching dozens of brands of riding tights, shirts, hydration packs, and half chaps. Just Chaps stood out to me immediately—three-time Mongol Derby rider Devan Horn rides in a pair of the endurance neoprene half chaps. They’re the obvious choice for the derby.

Hopefully I am going about this the right way and I’m prepping for success on this grand adventure! Stay tuned as I prepare to tackle the behemoth that is the Mongol Derby.

From Manhattan to Mongolia – How Kelsey Eliot is preparing for the 2019 Mongol Derby

Date posted: 04/03/2019

My name is Kelsey Eliot, and I will be riding in the 2019 Mongol Derby, a 1,000 km horse race across Mongolia on the back of feral horses. There is no marked trail, no comfy camp, and no support. It’s just you, your horse, and the endless steppes of Mongolia.

When I submitted my application in August 2018, I thought there was no way I would ever hear back from the race organisers. Two weeks later I was proven very wrong, when they contacted me and told me they actually wanted me to come and ride this thing! First I felt elated. They think I have what it takes to do this! Then I felt terrified. What was I thinking? How am I going to conquer this? How do I prepare for what will likely be the most wild ride of my life?

It was time to hit the ground running—literally. The day I got the call that I was in, I downloaded the couch to 5k app and started running. I quit drinking coffee, mostly to save my wallet but also to stop my caffeine dependency. I didn’t want to have a caffeine crash out in the middle of Mongolia. I also hired a personal trainer and purchased a three-month personalized workout program. Getting as fit as possible was my number one priority to start with; now that we are less than six months from the race, saddle time is my number one priority!

Is the Mongol Derby something you might be up for? Learn more here.

SOME THOUGHTS ON WHAT TO DO NOW IT’S WINTER?

Date posted: 22/11/2018

Just Chaps would like to thank Maggie Pattinson, Chef d’Equipe of the England Endurance squad and official coach and trainer of the Mongol Derby entrants for sharing a few thoughts on what to do at this time of year. Just Chaps are proud to support Endurance GB and to provide the team with a selection of our Half Chaps including the Air Mesh and Endurance ranges.

Well the season’s over and there’s the decision of what to do now – there are various schools of thought and all have their pros and cons – so thought we could just look at a few of the options!

There’s the Old School – shoes off and out, I still know Event people who do just that. It is only really a possibility if you have enough room and enough grass and probably wouldn’t suit an older horse. The pros: the horse gets complete rest – can be a horse – grows a “woolly” (hopefully) and gets some “foot” rest. The cons: most of us don’t have enough room, not enough grass anywhere – not many horses are “tough enough” to be out with nothing on – the ground is either so hard it can break hooves up or so soft that they rot & get mud fever! – for any REAL benefit from this you would need to be looking at 3 months and then it’s bringing them back from scratch i.e. 4 – 6 weeks walk work – then 2-4 trot work before introducing canter back.
Ticking Over – most horses benefit from this one: the pros : you can let them down enough to get a good coat – have a bit of a rest but still keep having the odd hack and schooling session – you keep in touch with how they are – this definitely suits the older horse, keeps their joints moving and their muscles toned. The cons: possibly difficult to let down the “excitable” ones – you still need to do some serious “back to work” training – but no real cons.
Change of Scene – this is probably suitable for those who need their “minds” occupied (the excitable ones) – youngsters who don’t really need a rest and those who maybe had a short season for one reason or another. You can really work on the Schooling aspects (that’s the area that sometimes gets “left” because there’s always somewhere better to be!) Maybe work towards some Dressage or Indoor Show Jumping – it’s still hard work for them but of a different kind and with lesser physical stress levels (or physical stress in different areas) (for the horse that is). It’s a good time to improve how you both work together and will improve your partnership for the next season.

There are no real rights or wrongs here because each case has its different merits and each situation is different – but it is important to take a step back and think carefully about what you are going to do. Older horses do not often cope well with complete rest – but if you believe they need it although you don’t want them out, remember how valuable good grooming (strapping) is for the muscle tone – something that is harder to rebuild the older “we all” get! Keeping joints warm is essential if standing in for long periods of time and once the weight starts to go – it’s hard to get back in the colder months!

Probably the most popular choice is some variation of the “ticking over” choice – we all like the hack out – there’s always the Riding Club “Xmas! outings” – not to mention the “On the hoof” – Xmas ride – and keeps the joints and muscles going for both horse and rider! “Change of scene” can be as “intense” or “ticking over” as you please and really beneficial to youngsters, as well as developing (or remembering) our jockey skills.

Whichever road you decide to take – how you bring them back to work is where you need to plan and plan well – looking at what you want to achieve next season and when – then build your fitness programme around it – and a fitness plan will be needed whichever option you have taken.

With a lifetime’s experience across all disciplines and a personal passion for fitness and individuality, Maggie can assist in all aspects of training programmes. Contact: Maggie@onthehoofdt.co.uk

Race the Wild Coast 2018 Day Four

Date posted: 17/11/2018

Just Chaps thanks Iain Paterson for sharing the final leg of this epic adventure:

Day four, now I really hurt! My leg was very bruised by now and I had lovely raw patches on the backs of my thighs from the saddles which were a very different shape to my own rendering my hard earned callouses near useless. However, that wasn’t going to stop me and I set off with the leaders just ahead, the first section was back onto the beach and meant a good amount of cantering for the chase then we were to pass into the Dwesa Nature Reserve. I reached the gates and was stopped by the security lady who was in quite a state as she hadn’t managed to stop the other riders and was therefore determined to get the entry fee from me, I had no money and she would not accept my explanation that I was part of a race and that our entry fee to the park had already been paid! This wasted 5 minutes until the next two riders turned up, one of which thankfully had money and was able to pay for us all to enter the park.

Riding as a pack now we set off in hot pursuit making good time over the open ground and beautiful beaches. This first stage of day 4 was long 43km, and my thighs were burning where the rubs were now raw, this led to my poor fellow riders having to hear copious ooohs and aaaahs everything the horse change direction or speed! However in the latter stages we could see the leading riders just ahead so we kept up the pace to try and catch them, meaning we arrived at the vet check just after them. Everyone had been pushing their horses so the recovery times were a bit longer leading to some frantic cooling. The three leaders vetted through, then me a couple of minutes behind, then the other chasers a couple of minutes behind me. This hold seemed to fly by and before long we were tacking up to go again.

Leaving this check we went straight into low forest so I didn’t bother to get on as I would only have to get straight back off again and leaving the vet check my horse seemed reluctant for the first time, I knew we had gone quite fast and perhaps he was feeling tired having ridden a long way quite quickly and a lot on his own. However, once I was back on he picked up a nice rhythm and we kept on going, not as fast as before but still chasing. A fellow rider caught up with me and we caught up with one of the leaders whose horse had tired and was travelling very slowly, we kept going together with the horses all appreciating each other’s company.

This penultimate stage was really beautiful, the sun was shining, the going was lovely and the company was great. Unfortunately it was here that I started to really feel a bit worse for wear, my camelback had burst on day one leaving me without a way to carry water on course, this meant that I could only drink in the vet holds and the lack of ability to drink while riding was causing problems as the hot African sun quickly dehydrated me. I really should have known better and taken better care of myself but when in the vet holds your focus is on your horse and making sure that they are eating, drinking and comfortable and the rider always seems to be an afterthought!

We came into the last vet check quite steadily but even so my horse had his longest recovery time yet, this I knew was a sign that he was getting tired but he was sound and happy so I was comfortable that he could do the last stage. There unfortunately wasn’t much in the way of drinking water for people at this stop so I knew that this stage was going to be a struggle for me but I was up for giving it my best shot of catching the leaders. Before long tired horse and tired rider were ready to go and we set out alone, again chasing the three leaders with another rider close behind me. The other rider caught me quickly as my horse was not going particularly fast and we set out together. At multiple times I thought I would be left behind as my horse had had enough and refused to go faster than a gentle trot but we kept her in sight and caught her when the navigation got tricky meaning we joined one of the leaders, the same one whose horse had also had enough, again and made a three.

Rich picked up at this point and we all kept up a steady pace, knowing we probably wouldn’t catch the two leaders but all aware that there were still minor placings up for grabs. This final stage was probably the easiest of the race and soon we were close to the finish. At this point however, Rich had had enough and slowed right down, knowing that in my extremely dehydrated state I didn’t have the strength to push him on again. I got left behind and I made up my mind that I would just make sure that no one else passed me.

The last 5km was the longest 5km I have ever done. Rich refused to go out of walk (he was sound, happy and comfortable just a bit tired!) so we plodded on through the hot sun and hoping the finish would come into sight soon. I was quite ill at this point and 2km from the finish had to stop to vomit due to dehydration, not a fun situation and I knew that if I didn’t get to the finish and get a drink soon I would be in trouble so I kept pushing on. Finally, I came over the last hill, leading Rich so as not to tire him out too much and saw the beach with the finish flags! I led Rich down the last hill and through the last bit of forest and mounted again when we got to the beach. Even with the finish in sight Rich refused to go faster than a walk so I had the most sedate finish to a race I have ever had but I did it!

350km through the toughest country imaginable, as well as some unimaginable bits, and I had got to the end, mostly in one piece! Rich vetted through well and I got some electrolytes and started to feel better immediately. Everyone was in great spirits and we all relaxed on the beach while waiting for the next rider to come in who was not far behind me. Once he was in and passed the vet, those of us who were finished were taken to the accommodation to have a shower and sort ourselves out as the other riders were still quite far away. Oh the joys of a warm shower and a proper bed and clothes that aren’t wet when you put them on!

The evening after the race I finally saw the medic for my ankle who suggested we go to hospital for x-rays. This resulted in me being kept in overnight as, although not broken the specialist wanted a good look at it in the morning. He was happy with it and allowed me to return to the finish camp to join in with the celebrations, thank goodness, I would have hated to have missed the party!

The final part of the trip was a traditional Braai and a prize giving in which everyone was awarded a traditional Xhosa blanket, the ladies received a beaded necklace and the men got a traditional Xhosa fighting stick, truly beautiful prizes.

Looking back on the race, it was undoubtedly the toughest undertaking if my life, the terrain was brutal and you could never switch off and just cruise, you always had to be thinking ahead which made it mentally as well as physically exhausting. But the teamwork and camaraderie between everyone involved were incredible Everyone wanted you to succeed and get to the finish, the support crew were amazing, working tirelessly to make sure that we had everything we needed when we needed it, be it food water, or just a hug! The horse team looked after their charges admirably and those are some seriously tough horses, they went over country I would never dream of taking my own horses over.

Finally, Barry Armitage and Rockethorse racing, the organiser of this incredible event are awesome! To put on and run such a mammoth task and be completely tireless throughout was incredible and I am so grateful to them for their hard work and commitment to make this event “the toughest horse race in the world”, a title this race more than lives up to.

If you’re looking for a challenge, find out more about the Wild Coast Race 2019 with Rockethorse.

Race the Wild Coast 2018 Day Three

Date posted: 16/11/2018

Just Chaps thanks Iain Paterson for sharing his epic adventure Ride the Wide Coast:

Day three was a very early start. We were due to start at 5am but due to it still being dark our start time was held by 1 hour allowing everyone to start in the dawn sun. Due to my horse’s slow recovery time the night before (he was a big horse and took a while for his heart rate to drop below the required 64 beats per minute) I was last out but another rider had a tack problem so we started together and set out to catch the others. This stage was short with not very much beach, but we caught them quickly and the easy trails meant we made it to the vet check very quickly. Again, my horse took a while to pulse down, but we passed and I tucked into breakfast! The chasing group of riders of which I was part were not far behind the leaders and we had closed the gap by riding the previous section in the morning light rather than the dusk like the others had so we all felt hopeful we could catch them today and keep ourselves in the race!

The first riders set off while our horses were still in the hold and before long we were saddling up to begin the chase. The day was starting to really heat up, definitely warmer than the previous two days and not ideal conditions for the heavier Boerperd horses. We were almost glad when we came over the top of a hill and spied the second swim of the day, only a near vertical descent to the cool water! Once we reached the bottom there was a dilemma, straight into the river here, close to the sea and risk being swept into the waves or clamber over the rocks a bit further for a smoother swim. I went with the second option which I was glad of when I saw the other riders having to swim through the breaking waves after being dragged a bit further out by the current, my swim, despite having a sudden drop of a rock into the deep water was much shorter and less taxing by comparison.

After this everyone set off at a gallop along the beach, quite a stunning scene and definitely one I won’t forget! However, no one was paying attention to their GPS and at the end of the beach we realised we only had a 200-metre climb to the vet gate! This meant that we arrived on the top of the hill, exposed to the sun with hot sweaty horses with high heart rates. 15 minutes of frantic cooling with whatever receptacles we could find ensued, I ended up throwing cold water on my horse with a mug! However he did eventually come down and passed the vetting, only 18km to go for my tough second horse!

Having been slow to pulse down again I set off chasing the second group but caught them quickly, by this point I could work my GPS very well and could also read the country better, navigation was definitely becoming less challenging. This final stretch with our second horses proved to be tough, not only were there some steep climbs (and some equally steep descents) this was a section that featured a lot of the paths where you could touch the hill without leaning over on one side and dropped to the rocks/sea on the other. All you had to ride on was a narrow goat track, once on one of these tracks you couldn’t turn around, you just had to follow it to the end and hope your horse didn’t trip!

By this point my horse was getting tired and not being as careful as he could with his feet, not a nice feeling half way up a cliff, so I got off and walked a lot. The chasing group had also split up with a few of us leading the charge and trying hard to catch up and others opting to stay steadier and aim for a definite completion. The final steep descent to the final vetting for horse two and the horse change came around quickly and I kept the pace up ahead of the others to try and give myself the pick if the fresh horses. The heat meant my horse pulsed down slowly again and I wasn’t the first of my group to vet, but I was through and ran to pick my horse. This was one of the trickiest parts of the race, judging a horse purely on what is standing in front of you, no ideas about temperament, history or ability, all you have to go on is conformation, the look of their fitness and the expression on their face. However, my eye was drawn to a tall grey Arab and I picked him, from the reactions of the crew I knew I had got a decent one and saddled up confidently. Oh the feeling of a fresh horse again!

I set off gently to warm him up and upped the pace after a couple of minutes to catch the couple of riders of my group who were out ahead of me. We swam the first river about 4km from the vet check and made it across easily, I only found out afterwards that he had never swum a river before, only paddled across! I caught the other riders soon afterwards and we all set of in pursuit, I had been told once I had picked him that my horse, Rich, had great recovery rates and had done 80km two weeks previously so I knew he was fit and as such, kept the pace up. We covered the ground quickly but there was some serious climbs (although where wasn’t there serious climbs on this race??) so we never quite caught up with the leaders. Soon enough we were coming along the beach towards the first vet check with our new horses, I decided to risk a fast approach and hope that Rich’s recoveries were as good as I was told, they were and we passed quickly and opened up a gap on the other chasers. After having had Rich’s front shoes put back on (he lost both!) and a back one tightened I saddled up for the final stage of the day. Now I was only 12 minutes behind the leading riders and riding on my own, time to get a shift on!

I left the vet gate on a mission, I wanted to catch up as much as possible and at the same time, not be caught by the other chasers. This meant a lot of fast riding, thankfully this stage had good tracks and a lovely section through the Cwebe forest where I could make up time, this was where I learn that Rich had a cracking trot and we flew along. Within the last few KM we came to a series of long wooden bridges through the forest, I opted to get off and walk as I didn’t know how he would react, I needn’t have worried as he followed me over beautifully but it gave us both a break and meant I could appreciate walking through the treetops and admire the foliage and bird life.

I decided that since we had gone quite fast and the vet check and compulsory overnight hold wasn’t far that I would lead Rich the rest of the way. This was tough on my sore leg and we slowed up a bit but we made it to the vet check in good time! Having vetted through quickly I had made up a few minutes on the leaders and had expanded the gap between me and the chasers. I had Rich’s back shoe redone as I was worried about it and got a shower then headed to bed knowing that the chase was very much on in the morning and one way or another, I would be finishing this race tomorrow! 243km completed, 107km to go.

Race the Wild Coast 2018 Day Two

Date posted: 15/11/2018

Just Chaps thanks Iain Paterson for sharing his epic adventure:

Day two started early and wet. I was due to start at 8am, start times were 12 hours after your finish time the night before, and due to my horse’s quick presentation we had a slim lead. There was only one stage to go on the first horse then we had a horse swap at Port St John, so I was hopeful I could remain as part of the leading group. After a quick breakfast and a last attempt to dry kit out on the fire we saddled up, Hazzan looked in good condition and had eaten and drunk well over night. After having his shoe replaced again (this was the third time he had lost the same shoe earning me the nickname Cinderella) I saddled up and walked him a bit before going to mount. Hazzan had other ideas and as I put my weight in the stirrup he threw himself to the side and fell over. I managed to jump out of the way, but it was a little alarming! Wiesman, the horse’s breeder and owner, helped me get on and we warmed up, trying not to think about the fact that our underwear was already damp! Everyone set off and immediately we started to climb, straight up a steep slippy hill resulting in us taking it steady so as not to pull muscles.

Then, disaster, my cantle bag containing my sleeping bag fell off! I jumped off to get it but everyone else continued on without waiting, leaving me on my own. This rather upset Hazzan who would not stand to let me reattach my cantle bag to the saddle so I eventually gave up and slipped it through the breastplate so that I didn’t get left to far behind. Cantle bag secure (ish) I went to remount and all hell broke loose, Hazzan threw himself up and sideways as my weight went into the stirrup, for a brief moment I hung on his side as we danced sideways before he tripped on a hummock and we started to roll. Next thing I knew we had rolled in a heap into the back of a building, the building was built into the hill so we were stuck behind it. Hazzan was cast against the wall with my legs trapped underneath him, his full weight crushing my left one against a rock. As I lay there waiting for my leg to snap I called fore help and two locals came running around the corner. Unable to do much they talked to me while I tried to figure out how to get this horse off me, I couldn’t reach the SOS button on my tracker to summon the race team for help and I couldn’t wriggle free. After a few minutes Hazzan had had enough and started to kick and scrabble to free himself, with my head at his rear end I protected my head as much as I could and waited for it all to be over. Thankfully he got up without damaging me but I heard afterwards that he did kick a hole in the building, a narrow miss for me!

I got up and checked all my limbs, no breaks! My leg hurt a lot but I could weight bear, I caught Hazzan and checked him over, no serious damage to him either. Somehow, we had both gotten away with it. After catching my breath I decided that Hazzan needed time to warm up and would let me get on later when he wasn’t so close to home, so I set of with me leading him, trying not to lose to much time and not get lost on my own! This started 16km from hell where the horse would not let me get on and only trotted when he felt like it! When the second group of riders eventually caught me up I was absolutely knackered and was not very happy, however, the guys were amazing and helped me remount and we set off together to traverse the last section of the stage. This was a tough hilly section that required us to get of and lead the horses down the hills, this was fine until I had to remount and even with everyone’s help I could only get on Hazzan some of the time. This made the finishing stretch of this stage very arduous and I could not wait for the horse change.

The second group all arrived at the horse change together and rushed to vet through, the rules meant that as soon as your current horse had passed the vetting you could choose your next horse, saddle up and go. Hazzan vetted through quickly and I set to work to reattach my cantle bag to the saddle to avoid it bouncing on my back all day. This took precious time and when I went to select my horse there was only one left! Note to self, next time choose horse then fix tack. My next horse was a tough Boerperd, the native south African horse. These horses had been used for the middle stages of the race as these had the toughest hills and required steadier, sure footed horses to traverse the steep cliffs. The first stage with our new horses began with a quick ride along the beach then turning inland towards the town of Port St John. We had to ride inland in order to use a bridge to cross the Mzimvubu river, unlike the other rivers which we could swim, this river is a well-known breeding ground for Bull Sharks and was therefore unsafe to swim. Navigating the busy town proved difficult, particularly as my cantle bag fell off again! The horses were not particularly used to traffic and the south African custom of driving past at full speed while beeping their horns didn’t help the horse’s nerves. We did make it through however and entered the blissfully peaceful Silaka nature reserve, a beautiful patch of rainforest with some lovely tracks that allowed myself and another rider who had waited with me when I lost me bag to catch up with the second group of horses, I was no longer dead last!

This stage included one of the biggest swims of the race and when we arrived there was quite an audience, again, my horse was a brave swimmer so I set of into the water and started swimming, we were swimming for what felt like ages but I’m sure was only was few seconds before we made it to the other side and jumped up the jetty to get back onto trail. The rest of the stage went smoothly but with the light fading we knew we had to get a move on in order to be allowed to leave the next vet check before the cut off. Then, disaster! The trail we were meant to be following was nowhere to be found meaning a long period of picking our way through the jungle, hoping that the tricky trails we were following would take us in the right direction. They thankfully did and the two big rivers that we had to negotiate were relatively straight forward but we still made it to the Kraal, the cut of point, too late meaning that we had to stay there rather then continuing to the compulsory overnight hold at Hluleka.

In all honesty, this was a bit of a blessing in disguise as we were totally taken in by the wonderful people at the stop and were provided with warm dry beds, very welcome! Once the horses had been sorted out and the sleeping arrangements established I got to have the first good look at my damaged leg, it hadn’t caused to much trouble through the day so I was hopeful however upon removal of my boots the level of swelling was immediately obvious, my left leg was twice there size of my right leg! Removing my sock revealed the extent of the bruising, safe to say the colours were pretty impressive… Straight to the vets for their thoughts on the damage. No breaks suspected but they wrapped it with an animalintex dressing and a vet wrap to keep a bit of pressure on it during the night. Time for a good night’s sleep and maybe even our kit to dry in the room. 150km completed. 200km to go.

Race the Wild Coast 2018 Day One

Date posted: 14/11/2018

Just Chaps thanks Iain Paterson for sharing his epic riding adventure:

Race day dawned bright and early, a dry but breezy day greeted us as we went through our final kit preparations, pulled on my waterproof chaps, and mentally steeled ourselves for the challenge ahead. Start was at 10AM to allow easy river crossings in the first few km so we had a grueling wait until it was eventually time to saddle up and head to the start. This proved to be a challenge in itself with a trek along a sand track then a steep climb up a boulder field to reach the flat plateau that was the start. All the horses made it up easily but this was a bit of an eye opener for the riders, if this was just the route to the start, what was the rest of the race like?? With gathering excitement, we lined up on the start line and then we were off!

Keen, fit horses made for a chaotic first 5km with riders being wiped out by trees and loose horses careering past, not the usual sedate start of an endurance ride in Scotland! We eventually got going though and I put myself into the group of riders near the front, helping set the pace, determined not to be left behind at this early point. The going was smooth with lots of space to canter, but we all kept our horses steady to preserve them for the many miles ahead. The first real challenge came at the Mntentu River, before we would tackle our first deep river we had to descend a tricky rocky escarpment with only a narrow path to the bottom. I reached this descent first and hopped off to lead my horse down, he followed like a mountain goat, I had no idea horses could be so nimble on their feet! We reached the bottom unscathed having jumped from rock to rock and headed to the river which, although deep, the horses didn’t have to swim so we made it across easily. The rest of the run to the vet gate was over open hilly country which the horses coped with brilliantly, and we made it there fairly easily.

The vet check was on top of a hill straight after a beach section which meant that we had approached quite quickly but my horse pulsed down to below 64 very quickly and we would begin our 40-minute hold where the farrier could replace the shoe I had lost early in the loop. 40 minutes flies by when you have a crew to help you look after your horse and yourself but when you are fending for yourself it positively vanishes! Hazzan and I left the vet gate in the lead with a minute’s advantage over the next riders and at this early stage in the race two distance groups of riders were already forming. The other riders caught me quickly and we spent the rest of the day taking turns to lead and navigate. This section included some tough climbs including a section up out of a gorge where we had to cut across the cliffs to get to the top, a scary moment when you just had to leave the horses head alone and trust that he knew where to put his feet! This was not too bad in the light of the day but towards the end of the section, with some of the most challenging riding still to come, the light began to fade.

We descended and then ascended a tricky rocky gorge as the last of the light left us and this is where we all began to get worried and I had my first setback, everyone was in a hurry so got on their horses and rode into the dark rather than waiting for each other, I was last to get on my horse and he put in a nasty jump as I mounted, sending me over his head and onto my back, ouch! Thankfully he didn’t run off and I was able to mount and try to follow my GPS into the darkness, hoping to find the other riders before the infamous rocky descent before the vet gate and compulsory overnight hold at Mboyti. We did catch up thankfully and then started one of the scariest half hours of my life.

The route took us down a steep boulder field which would have been difficult to navigate in the light but in the dark was nigh on impossible. We were all dismounted and marvelled at how these horses neatly descended through seemingly impossible boulders until we eventually reached the beach below. A quick canter in the dark along the beach saw me catch up with the leading riders again and we all turned off the seashore towards camp, only 500 metres to go! However, in that 500 metres there was a lagoon. A dark, uninviting mass of water which we had to cross to reach our end point, there was no way round, the two riders who tried turned up 30 minutes after we were all safely vetted having got completely muddled, so we just had to ride into the oily black. My horse being the most confident in water had to lead which was very scary as I couldn’t tell when he was going to disappear from underneath me into the cold water and we would have to swim for a bank we couldn’t see! However, his feet thankfully stayed on solid ground and we eventually waded out and made it to camp, thank goodness! A quick untack and vet presentation and it was time to get a good night’s sleep. 77km completed 273km to go.

Tune in tomorrow for another bite.