Busy Monday after the long transfer in Germany, but today is very hard find the right concentrations becausethe sensation that Alta Gracia and all the team have done something unbelievably extraordinary, doesn’t decrease even that euphoria leave space to normality.
What can I say, usually I like write my reflections with philosophic al romantic tones (after all, as my dear friend Renee always emphasizes, horses are important because make us dream) but this time, I believe that is not possible don’t let space at the cold mathematics and at the pitiless (or in this case, extraordinary) numbers:
First CEI***, 160km (without discount!), final speed average 18.63 kmh, last loop at 19.69 kmh, final result 10th position, 2nd in the European teams, first in the recovery total time list: 5 mins and 19 seconds as total time on 5 gates (excluding obviously the last one, done anyway in 2 mins and 46 seconds), 2 gates done in less than a minute (45 seconds at 95km - 56 bpm, and 56 seconds at 120km) always going around 19 kmh of speed average, never a recovery index positive during all the race, and, apart for the chronic “B” of Mucous Memb., never a “B” or a “2” during all the 160km. (All the official Vet Tickets are available..)..
What else can I add?? Thanks are compulsory. Always. Not just for question of gentlemanly (it is very easy distribute them, when things go so well no?) but because very few sports are so team-sports like endurance, end help and contribution of everybody is extremely fundamental for the final result.
Thank to everybody then, to Emiliano, every compliments for him is very superfluous and reductive (I have to admit it, with a deep feel of fairy sportingly envy), to Simona, she has knew Alta Gracia only the day before the race, but she has ride her, for all the 160km, with extraordinary serenity and lucidity, and only True Professional Rider can do it: “Dear Simone we finally took our revenge on Anghiari 2010!” .. Thanks also to sweet little Camilla that, apart had work very hard, she kept all us in a fanny mood for all three days!
Find the rights words to thank Cristina is very hard. I’ll try to do it in the simplest way then. We are not professional trainers, nevertheless I am firmly convinced that this year in Uzes and in Dillingen, we have raced two competitions very enviable and extraordinary; well, without Cristina, without her professionalism, without her Daily diligence (Daily with capital “D”), without her obstinacy, without all her job of training and preparation, we would never have leave for France and Germany, I believe that this means more than a lot of words..
A special thank and a big hug for our dear friend Renèe, for all the free experience that she has generously given to us in the last years.
I can’t forgot even our irreplaceable friend Frenk: thank to him every time we can stay far from home and far from horses very peaceful and quiet.
Last thought is still for Alta Gracia, very Classy horse that every time surprise us with her professionalism, the easy way to fly kilometre after kilometre with her lightly gallop and especially for her extraordinary serenity at the finish line of very loop and during the veterinary visit, even if all around is a big caos.. Unbelivable, really undelivable existing horses like this! “We hope to be at your highness Alta Gracia, for sure we will work hard to do it!”
Lately, I often discuss with my friend Alessandro about the sense to continue to race in endurance competitions, a sport so hard, very demanding under every point of view, sometimes unfair, that need so much daily presence.. “Bhè.. Untill, watching an horse, cutting the 160th km finish line, I’d have to terribly fight with my self for not show my brightly eyes full of tears, I will keep it doing my friend Alessandro!” ..
Gianluca