Helmsley Ride

[brigadier]

Today I did the Helmsley- Yorkshire Dales ride on the gallant Alfie my friends 14.2 piebald cob.
It was a truly beautiful day, hot and still, lots of cloud and sunshine which seems to bathe the Dales in the most glorious light. At one point we were riding through the edge of some woods on a steep slope, the trees were all silver birches in contrast against a backdrop of the dark hillside beyond, it was so reminiscent of a description Elayne Mitchell once wrote in 'Silver Brumby' of the outback and the ghost gum trees. I began daydreaming and half fancied I saw a ghostly silvery horse weaving through the trees beyond us!

Alfie was stalwart and lovey as ever and this time I had the treat of riding in a new Barefoot Cherokee saddle which was very very comfortable. there was one problem, poor Alfie lives on fresh air and despite his prep for the ride- he had put on weight!!!!!
And as anyone knows the Dales is a hilly place- poor Alfie's tummy got in the way up the hills and poor me had to get off and walk up them!
It got so hot, that two thirds of the way round I decided he simply was not fit enough to complete the ride and we took a short cut back. We were disappointed not to complete but welfare is paramount and once he was sponged off and drinking sugar beet water he was back to his usual perky,cheeky self!
We had a good lunch sat on the ramp of the horsebox and a leisurely drive home so it was a great day!

[fleabitten]

Sounds like a dream ride but what a pity you couldnt complete it! How long was the ride?

[dannyboy]

This just sounds fantastic - to me this is what horse riding is all about and I hope I get to do this kinda thing some day! One wee question, what is sugar beet water? Sounds like it done the trick.

[duckles]

It sounds wonderful I have always heard that the yorkshire dales are beautiful. Poor Alfie - I can just see his little tum catching in the hills!!

[brigadier]

It was only twelve miles Flea and we did about nine. But it was very up and down and it was the steep hills that finished him!

Sugar beet soaked very sloppily- helps horses who wont drink much take on water.

[fimacg]

I can imagine the ride Brig, and I remember those yorkshire hills, all the horses on the yard used to have really, really well muscled bums from all the hills they had to do!

[scattymare]

Sounds like a perfect trip out. The joys of four legged travel. Pure bliss.

[racaille]

Sounds very beautiful - but poor you having to walk up all those hills!!!! At least Alfie didn't tank off with you this time!

I shall be starting the boys' fitness programme as soon as they come home as we have the Chevauchée des Blasons in September and Paco is a bit of a porker at the moment. Lots of hill work for us ....

[solomon]

Fantastic how nice the weather being great too! It's what it is all about-pleasure.

[haffyfan]

Glad you had a good day and don't take this the wrong way as it may sound but isn't intended to be patronising but well done for knowing when to call it day. So many horses are pushed beyond their limits, especially at lower levels, so it's lovely to hear when welfare is paramount.
Even at top flight it's surprising how many horses you see vetted out when it's clear they were not in my opinion even fit to consider presenting for inspection.
One of the most harrowing sights I have ever seen was a horse colicing at the side of the main road on one of our local rides, i know this can just occur in unfortunate circumstances but it brought home the importance to me that day of welfare and listening to your horse and knowing how it's feeling.

[brigadier]

Haffy- not patronising at all, I was really concious that he was simply too fat but because my friend sees him everyday she cannot see it, so I was really 'listening' to what he was telling me and it was more about having a hack in a nice location than a training/endurance event. Fortunately she has now realised and he is on a serious diet and a fittening/weight loss programme.

I shall probably be taking Basil from now on though so its not an issue for me- he's fit to busting and needs some serious distance!

Mind you at one point when we were at a checkpoint, two of the 'serious' riders came through, barged past me and my buddy to get to the water and then disappeared off in a flurry of hooves, not a 'scuse me, or a 'thankyou' to be heard. Now I know the importance of timing etc etc for these competitors but it doesnt stop manners does it?
What is the matter with folk?

[racaille]

Couldn't agree more: I see bad manners all the time and horses pushed beyond their limits. The worst I ever saw was a horse dying of azoturia (there could have been no other outcome by that time). The vet was giving the poor thing drips by the bucket-load and I thought he was going to punch the rider. He should have!

Even without going to that extreme, there are very many horses at the end of the first day of the Chevauchée who literally collapse in their boxes, too tired to eat or drink. And I've even seen people argue with the vet the next day when said nags fail their vetting.

Some people can be such jerks.