The Wild Coast race is one that Haggerty longs to do
Each rider had three horses to use during this 350km race and each rider and horse were fitted with trackers
KINROSS – Photographer and skilled horse rider, Mr Ian Haggerty, took on the Rocket Horse Race at the Wild Coast for the second time on 16 October as a crew member.
He was part of the crew at the inaugural Rocket Horse Race The Wild Coast two years ago and ended up as photographer.
“What an amazing experience that was. I got to gallop down the beach taking photos with my huge chunky DSLR camera.”
The event did not take place last year.
According to Mr Haggerty, crewing for such a race is not all fun and games.
“It is an adventure and a pretty hectic one at that. If you are not where you are supposed to be with the correct equipment, it can have a very negative effect on the whole race.
Everything is planned for, down to a very fine detail.
“Start camp is very rudimentary. Showers are a vacuum pump in a drum of water with a fire lit under it. Toilets are basic camping toilets. Food is cooked over an open fire,” explained Mr Haggerty.
The crew sets up all the tents and ensures everyone is fed. Before the race starts, crews are already setting up camps along the coast line of the wild coast for all the vets checks, horse exchanges and overnight stops.
Mr Haggerty said down time was very minimal this year, as the crew was a lot smaller.
“In 2016 we had all the horses at base camp in order to get them used to swimming. A big contingent of overseas people came over to do this. Hired vehicles were used to get the equipment to where it needs to be.”
He said the roads are bad and can be travelled at a top speed of only about 30km/hr in some places.
As a crew member, Mr Haggerty experienced some of South Africa’s wildest and most beautiful coast line. He also met some of the most amazing people on this journey. “All the hard work, sleepless nights and early starts are all worth it in the end.”
A helicopter was used to move the vets, farrier and film crew around and was also used in emergencies.
“Each rider had three horses to use during this 350km race and each rider and horse were fitted with trackers.”
Mr Haggerty said the horses’ welfare were always placed first. This year, the SPCA also joined the race to keep an eye on the animals.
“These horses are bred in the mountainous area of the Free State and are pretty much trained from birth to handle the conditions the Wild Coast will throw at them.”
This animal activist explained that some of South Africa’s top vets were present during the race to ensure that the horses’ welfare is paramount.
“There were no horses injured, but a fair few rider were.”
Mr Haggerty took some extraordinary photographs during this event, but longs for the day that he will also be able to compete in this race as a rider and not as crew.
“This is a race that I would love to be able to do. The price tag is however understandably large. If I could find a few sponsors, I would take up this challenge in a heartbeat.”
