Sorry I’ve not been about to cheer you all on recently - lots of work and struggling to hang out here for more than a few mins. Anyway, progress:
Tues: 7k ish with Good Gym, from the Swindon Oasis to Penhill (which lives up to it’s name) and back after delivering fliers for Prospect Hospice.
Thurs: 3.3 miles on my own, more of a jog than a run, starting and finishing at Eldene Health Centre and going around the edge of the Estate in search of a new PR venue. Unfortunately not going to work because one short bit adjacent to the road but fun anyway!
Today: Parkrun - soooo pleased! 10th in my age category (TOP 10!!!!) wasn’t lapped again (even with a bigger field this week) and smashed the 34 min with a time of 33:19. Really pleased to see DressageRider33 get a PB too - how did she get so good so quickly?!?!
I was so energised by that experience I went Xmas shopping after doing some horse weighing for a local yard, and have set up some outside lights.
I’ve got an article to write next week but I hope to have some time too keep up with everyone’s progress.
I think about you lovely people on every run, and am so thankful for you all. Happy running everyone! 😘
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Equi-geek
Graduate10
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Busy lady! But still managing to run - good work, Equi. Love that you reported in, always good to hear what you have been up to. (Horse weighing?! Hope you have some sturdy scales for that.)
Thanks Sadie! Yes, it’s a 2m x 1m platform covered in rubber matting, that splits into 3 pieces so it will fit in the back of my car! I do regular clinics in the local area, a bit like equine weight-watchers!
Woohoo Equi, brilliant on every level. 👍 Fabulous PB at parkrun! 👏👏👏
I know all about horse weighing. I worked at an equine veterinary teaching hospital and it used to be used for people and dogs too! Funny how people can’t resist! 😅
Aw super! It’s amazing the dogs, cats, chickens, all want to stand/sit on the rubber matting! And when the horses stand on it they often have to be persuaded to get off because it’s such good footing and warm. I found that when I visit every month it really helps owners get control of their horse’s health - catching losses or gains before it shows too much, physically, and tracking progress. I also use body condition scoring and take measurements of heart girth and belly girth. I bring a weigh-tape with me to see if that would also work for their horse, but it tends to under-estimate for draft/native breeds by 50-100kg, especially if they are over-fat and are not worked in canter or gallop, because of the visceral fat. Also the tapes show quite a step in weight for each cm and owners notice changes too late, really. I even advise owners to ride to the C25k app to help healthy but unexercised horses get fitter safely and with a structure 🤣 I half-own the scale with a former masters classmate who is now doing a PhD on energy expenditure in resting horses and ponies. His son is doing a maths degree and will be analysing our joint results to determine a model that is perhaps breed-specific. Really interesting work! I’m off to see another regular this morning and we’re weighing a foal for the first time 😁👍
What a great idea, riding to the C25K app! 🐎 😀🏃♀️
There’s a real epidemic with overweight horses and ponies now isn’t there? We used to cringe at the vets when they’d be brought in for an unrelated procedure, and they’d have that telltale gutter down their spines, and massive crests. The vets would try to be uber tactful, but it’s hard as many owners love seeing their neddies all fat and shiny. Unfortunately, lots of the lameness/arthritis issues could be reduced massively by losing several kilos, but owners hated to hear this.
Bit off topic for a running forum! But hey, horses also need to stay fit - and that C25K idea would definitely work and be lots of fun for riders too! 🐎🐎
Yes, it’s a sign of the times unfortunately. Feed companies actually sell products for ‘extra energy’ (only racehorses, hunt hirelings, and top event horses might actually need it) There is a demand for these feeds too, from one look around the store room of our feed merchants. So I often point to athletes like Jess Ennis-Hill and have a discussion around how much energy she’d have to run and jump if she was carrying an extra stone or two of fat. Would she hit the protein shakes and take glucosamine, or get on a diet? The advice in Facebook groups is horrendous. Nothing is allowed to have vaguely visible ribs or be left without a rug [‘cruel owners’ starving their animals] but cellulite, rubbing thighs and an equine double-chin are perfectly acceptable until it gets to the level of morbidly obese 🙄.
Yes and what’s apparent to the eye is only half of it. Internal fat around the organs too ....... so sad, and yes I know exactly what you mean about the feed companies. 👎
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