Post by brigadier on Jul 20, 2009 21:17:57 GMT
Just got back from a lovely long weekend in the East Yorks Wolds with Basil and some friends. We had three nights in an B and B and housed the horses at a local farm.
Friday-
braved the torrential rain to travel to our venue, as we drove up into the Wolds the clouds parted and the sun shone through. We quickly settled in and saddled up. The first ride started with a two mile canter along a lovely grassy track- wide and inviting Basil thought he was on the race track again and I had a lot of horse under me! We managed a fairly controlled canter that did sometimes get a bit lary, especially when my friends saddle slipped and we tried to wait for her to straighten it- poor Basil was not for waiting!
Settled down to some road work on the meandering grassy fringed lanes, met the occasional car and cyclist but most of the time we had the whole world to ourselves!
Turned onto a track alongside some wheat crops- staged at intervals on the boundary were some bizarre looking scarecrows which had the horses on their toes- by the time we passed the fifth one Basil decided he would investigate (totally unprompted by me) he walked confidently towards it but just as his nose was about to touch its large plastic covered head a pheasant flew out from underfoot and he literally jumped a mile. I couldn’t stop laughing as I managed by a whisker not to fly out of the side door and my two companions were having hysterics!
Another canter/gallop on a rolling track along a hedge and then a good trot home- then disaster!!!!!!!!! A week before setting off my farrier had got over zealous when trimming Basils feet and he took a bit much off- I ended up having to buy new hoof boots as Basil was a touch sore but as we trotted one of them flew off and the wire broke. I was gutted- I wasn’t sure if he would cope with another whole day of hacking with no boots!
Anyhow that was a problem for tomorrow- we sponged our tired horses- fed them and retired to the cosy B and B for some food,beverage or two and some horsey gossip!
Saturday. Basil is sound and we have planned a hill top ride with lots of grassy tracks. Progress is slower than the day before- we have some tack problems- my saddle bags are rubbing so I switch them to the front but they are cumbersome and Basil isn’t happy with the weight of them clanging about his shoulders, so we walk and trot only. One track is badly described and we end up on a sheer slope with the width of a sheep track to pick our way along! Basil is wonderful- very obedient, picking his way carefully along. The sheep scamper before us distracting the horses and we are silent as we concentrate on our task. Our route takes us down the slope and then we have a very steep climb to our next track. With a whoop I pretend to be a cowboy and attack the slope at a gallop! Basil plunges upward and we nearly make the top, my saddle slips and Basil grunts so I throw myself off and we manage the last few strides side by side, both of us panting heavily. Both my buddies follow with a shout of “You are bloody crazy!” and with whoops of joy they reach the top!!!! We continue along the side of some fields, through a cow field with a grumpy looking bull! And onto our stop point, a little café that has homemade cakes that taste simply delicious! We unsaddle our horses and they bring us buckets of water, we rest for about thirty mins, Basil eating grass as though starved but the other two horses just dozing in the sun! Then its homeward bound and the longest canter I've ever done, a track that must roll onwards for three plus miles. The horses know they are on the last leg, they set a steady pace- not racing- just loping along enjoying the feel of the springy grass underfoot. The last stretch is a quiet country lane and we dismount and walk home. Im in love with Basil- I feel we have an understanding and he has really tried for me today, he nudges me occasionally as we walk and I know he is relaxing like never before!
Sunday
All the horses are a little stiff and we set off on a shorter ride with a longer lunch stop planned. Five of us are on this ride with one of our party cycling. The first leg is a four mile walk along a lane towards a small village café. Its gloriously sunny with short bursts of rain- the skies are wonderful with bright light streaming through the grey and clothing the Wold in ribbons of colour. Highland cattle with little furry calves at foot stare at us from under fluffy top knots. I can see why David Hockney has taken residence in East Yorkshire to paint the Wold- it is truly awe inspiring!
We reach our destination and again indulge in tea and cake. We deserve it! Then we spilt company- I decide to enjoy my new relaxed horse and buckle end it on the roads back to the stables, some of the party go for the more exciting gallop track across the tops! I chat with my companion who has also got a young horse and doesn’t want to end her holiday by exciting her too much! The last stretch is again done on foot leading our horses and although bone tired we laugh and joke.
Monday (today) No one else wants to ride before travelling back home- but I want to ease Basil’s mild stiffness before he travels so I get up early and saddle up- it’s a lovely bright morning and we do a circuit of the village, greeting early morning commuters as we pass. He is a touch footsore but nothing serious and he is so relaxed and happy he is a joy to ride. Where has my anxious, jumpy horse gone? Even the journey home is a joy- normally he gets a bit worked up by travelling and will pass runny droppings several times in worry. After an hours journey there was one pile and it was solid. I have CCTV in my trailer and we chomped and snorted happily for the entire journey.
I can recommend a horsey holiday with your own horse, the Wolds are lovely and it seems we had the best weather of anywhere in Yorkshire- if anyone wants details of where I stayed etc do PM me- it was relatively cheap and very very enjoyable!
Friday-
braved the torrential rain to travel to our venue, as we drove up into the Wolds the clouds parted and the sun shone through. We quickly settled in and saddled up. The first ride started with a two mile canter along a lovely grassy track- wide and inviting Basil thought he was on the race track again and I had a lot of horse under me! We managed a fairly controlled canter that did sometimes get a bit lary, especially when my friends saddle slipped and we tried to wait for her to straighten it- poor Basil was not for waiting!
Settled down to some road work on the meandering grassy fringed lanes, met the occasional car and cyclist but most of the time we had the whole world to ourselves!
Turned onto a track alongside some wheat crops- staged at intervals on the boundary were some bizarre looking scarecrows which had the horses on their toes- by the time we passed the fifth one Basil decided he would investigate (totally unprompted by me) he walked confidently towards it but just as his nose was about to touch its large plastic covered head a pheasant flew out from underfoot and he literally jumped a mile. I couldn’t stop laughing as I managed by a whisker not to fly out of the side door and my two companions were having hysterics!
Another canter/gallop on a rolling track along a hedge and then a good trot home- then disaster!!!!!!!!! A week before setting off my farrier had got over zealous when trimming Basils feet and he took a bit much off- I ended up having to buy new hoof boots as Basil was a touch sore but as we trotted one of them flew off and the wire broke. I was gutted- I wasn’t sure if he would cope with another whole day of hacking with no boots!
Anyhow that was a problem for tomorrow- we sponged our tired horses- fed them and retired to the cosy B and B for some food,beverage or two and some horsey gossip!
Saturday. Basil is sound and we have planned a hill top ride with lots of grassy tracks. Progress is slower than the day before- we have some tack problems- my saddle bags are rubbing so I switch them to the front but they are cumbersome and Basil isn’t happy with the weight of them clanging about his shoulders, so we walk and trot only. One track is badly described and we end up on a sheer slope with the width of a sheep track to pick our way along! Basil is wonderful- very obedient, picking his way carefully along. The sheep scamper before us distracting the horses and we are silent as we concentrate on our task. Our route takes us down the slope and then we have a very steep climb to our next track. With a whoop I pretend to be a cowboy and attack the slope at a gallop! Basil plunges upward and we nearly make the top, my saddle slips and Basil grunts so I throw myself off and we manage the last few strides side by side, both of us panting heavily. Both my buddies follow with a shout of “You are bloody crazy!” and with whoops of joy they reach the top!!!! We continue along the side of some fields, through a cow field with a grumpy looking bull! And onto our stop point, a little café that has homemade cakes that taste simply delicious! We unsaddle our horses and they bring us buckets of water, we rest for about thirty mins, Basil eating grass as though starved but the other two horses just dozing in the sun! Then its homeward bound and the longest canter I've ever done, a track that must roll onwards for three plus miles. The horses know they are on the last leg, they set a steady pace- not racing- just loping along enjoying the feel of the springy grass underfoot. The last stretch is a quiet country lane and we dismount and walk home. Im in love with Basil- I feel we have an understanding and he has really tried for me today, he nudges me occasionally as we walk and I know he is relaxing like never before!
Sunday
All the horses are a little stiff and we set off on a shorter ride with a longer lunch stop planned. Five of us are on this ride with one of our party cycling. The first leg is a four mile walk along a lane towards a small village café. Its gloriously sunny with short bursts of rain- the skies are wonderful with bright light streaming through the grey and clothing the Wold in ribbons of colour. Highland cattle with little furry calves at foot stare at us from under fluffy top knots. I can see why David Hockney has taken residence in East Yorkshire to paint the Wold- it is truly awe inspiring!
We reach our destination and again indulge in tea and cake. We deserve it! Then we spilt company- I decide to enjoy my new relaxed horse and buckle end it on the roads back to the stables, some of the party go for the more exciting gallop track across the tops! I chat with my companion who has also got a young horse and doesn’t want to end her holiday by exciting her too much! The last stretch is again done on foot leading our horses and although bone tired we laugh and joke.
Monday (today) No one else wants to ride before travelling back home- but I want to ease Basil’s mild stiffness before he travels so I get up early and saddle up- it’s a lovely bright morning and we do a circuit of the village, greeting early morning commuters as we pass. He is a touch footsore but nothing serious and he is so relaxed and happy he is a joy to ride. Where has my anxious, jumpy horse gone? Even the journey home is a joy- normally he gets a bit worked up by travelling and will pass runny droppings several times in worry. After an hours journey there was one pile and it was solid. I have CCTV in my trailer and we chomped and snorted happily for the entire journey.
I can recommend a horsey holiday with your own horse, the Wolds are lovely and it seems we had the best weather of anywhere in Yorkshire- if anyone wants details of where I stayed etc do PM me- it was relatively cheap and very very enjoyable!
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
