Post by racaille on Apr 4, 2011 11:06:28 GMT
And we're back safely. Phew.
It was a long day and very hard but the weather was hot and sunny - some thin clouds drifted over during the afternoon but we still managed to get sunburnt
. Paco was an angel, I was soooo proud of him.
I didn't take any pix of the morning as it was all a bit frantic. I nearly didn't make it as my son had a sleepover party on Friday night (obviously no sleeping went on, especially not for me) and then I spent all Saturday afternoon in A&E with the teenager who turns out to have measles (despite being vaccinated )
So Sunday I woke far too early and exhausted but luckily evrything went very smoothly. P loaded like a dream and I arrived at the village with plenty of time to spare. There were 32 riders, all parked up behind the village hall with rigs varying from very smart (ME I thought ;D) to very surprising: I was stunned to see a rangy Spanish horse getting out of a miniscule Renault Trafic van. Yes, it was in the van, like a dog.
Obviously quite usual as another guy turned up with his horse in the back of a Renault Master.
Paco showed off a lot as we left the village, obviously thrilled to be with a big bunch of horses, but straight away we started climbing up the mountains on sharp stony paths interspersed with sheets of slippery limestone. The French ride like they drive: without discipline and allow their horses to crowd one another, often using the horse in front's bum as brakes. Paco does not like this so I put a red ribbon in his tail which mostly did the trick and bought me a bit of space. One bloke told me I should clout P round the head if he kicked to make him stop it but I'm afraid I am entirely with a horse who does not like having his heels stepped on by a strange horse ... and I said so.
The scenery was very strange and beautiful but it was best to look up at the fantastic cliffs than down at the swooping ravines and the miniscule path we were often on ...
We had to go through the touristy village of Fontaine de Vaucluse, crossing the bridge next to a large and quite noisy waterwheel. Many of the horses freaked but the tourist cars still kept on coming at us and I seriously thought one horse was going to sit on the bonnet of the lead car. Prats. We eventually got across in a mad panicky dash, scattering tourists in the square beyond
Back on the stony path, I was perplexed to see the lead horses suddenly shoot off. I did for a second wonder if I could hold P in trot but when I heard thunder behind me I knew it was a lost cause and let him go. I would not normally choose to canter on stones but there you go. P was having fun and streaked past some of the others but when he heard fast hooves behind him the turbo came on and he powered away. Luckily by then the path had become soft earth so I let him gallop flat out and just enjoyed it.
However, we had to do an emergency stop as we arrived in our picnic spot and it seemed that I was the only person walking their horse to let them catch their breath.
I untacked P and he had a good roll before munching on some carrots from my saddlebags, where I found that the two lightly boiled eggs I'd packed were in fact very soft and had exploded over everything .
So we had apero
Then we all flopped on the grass for lunch and the old boys I was next to were very sniffy about my egg-drenched sandwich and made me try their treats (and have more rosé
) I had home made wild boar paté, leek flan (MUCH nicer than it sounds) boudin blanc and home made goats' cheese . Absolute heaven!
We set off again (and I raided a bit of water from the intendance van for P thanks to my very handy collapsible bucket. The paths were very very hard work and all up and down but P managed fine. The other riders were on all sorts of horses, riding in all sorts of styles. I was vaguely fascinated by one quite stocky woman on the tiniest, unshod Camarguais I have ever seen but it seemed fine if a bit footy.
One Arab lost a shoe at the top of the mountains and even with her rider walking alongside she soon became lame. Then I did something ignoble: I had a Shoof with me that I could have offered but I didn't in case P needed it as he was in due to be shod today and therefore in 7-week shoes (but better that than in new shoes). It would have been much too big for the mare but it might have helped. I feel very guilty.
And later she fell over and cut her knee.
Anyhow, enough chatting, here are a few pix. This little lad was about 8/9 and very brave - it was long day, seven hours actual riding, but he didn't complain.
Some fellow randonneurs (although the lady on the haffy annoyed me because he was allowed to stop and eat whenever/wherever he pleased which was tiresome if you were behind him which was most of the morning as he was allowed to barge through to the front all the time.
Coming down from the mountains with the Luberon range in the distance - from the top we could see the Luberon, les Alpilles, Mont Ventoux and the mountains of the Lure. Stupendous. It was a relief to finally be on a flat tarmaced road.
Homecoming
Scrum around the water fountain. Discipline? What discipline? I remembered there was another fountain further into the village so P and I slipped off in relative peace.
P was a dream to load again and we got home safe and sound, which is always a relief.
Today P (having been shod, poor sausage) is very tired. He was lying flat out with Mr T cuddled up beside him (obviously similarly exhausted from a strenuous day pottering around the garden nibbling shoots of grass) but P turned his head when he heard my 'stealthy' approach.
Then Mr T had a good stretch and kept guard.
Sorry for such a long post ... more of Rac's Ramblings (in both senses!) ;D
It was a long day and very hard but the weather was hot and sunny - some thin clouds drifted over during the afternoon but we still managed to get sunburnt
. Paco was an angel, I was soooo proud of him.I didn't take any pix of the morning as it was all a bit frantic. I nearly didn't make it as my son had a sleepover party on Friday night (obviously no sleeping went on, especially not for me
) and then I spent all Saturday afternoon in A&E with the teenager who turns out to have measles (despite being vaccinated )So Sunday I woke far too early and exhausted but luckily evrything went very smoothly. P loaded like a dream and I arrived at the village with plenty of time to spare. There were 32 riders, all parked up behind the village hall with rigs varying from very smart (ME I thought ;D) to very surprising: I was stunned to see a rangy Spanish horse getting out of a miniscule Renault Trafic van. Yes, it was in the van, like a dog.
Obviously quite usual as another guy turned up with his horse in the back of a Renault Master. Paco showed off a lot as we left the village, obviously thrilled to be with a big bunch of horses, but straight away we started climbing up the mountains on sharp stony paths interspersed with sheets of slippery limestone. The French ride like they drive: without discipline and allow their horses to crowd one another, often using the horse in front's bum as brakes. Paco does not like this so I put a red ribbon in his tail which mostly did the trick and bought me a bit of space. One bloke told me I should clout P round the head if he kicked to make him stop it but I'm afraid I am entirely with a horse who does not like having his heels stepped on by a strange horse ... and I said so.
The scenery was very strange and beautiful but it was best to look up at the fantastic cliffs than down at the swooping ravines and the miniscule path we were often on ...
We had to go through the touristy village of Fontaine de Vaucluse, crossing the bridge next to a large and quite noisy waterwheel. Many of the horses freaked but the tourist cars still kept on coming at us and I seriously thought one horse was going to sit on the bonnet of the lead car. Prats. We eventually got across in a mad panicky dash, scattering tourists in the square beyond
Back on the stony path, I was perplexed to see the lead horses suddenly shoot off. I did for a second wonder if I could hold P in trot but when I heard thunder behind me I knew it was a lost cause and let him go. I would not normally choose to canter on stones but there you go. P was having fun and streaked past some of the others but when he heard fast hooves behind him the turbo came on and he powered away. Luckily by then the path had become soft earth so I let him gallop flat out and just enjoyed it.
However, we had to do an emergency stop as we arrived in our picnic spot and it seemed that I was the only person walking their horse to let them catch their breath.
I untacked P and he had a good roll before munching on some carrots from my saddlebags, where I found that the two lightly boiled eggs I'd packed were in fact very soft and had exploded over everything .So we had apero
Then we all flopped on the grass for lunch and the old boys I was next to were very sniffy about my egg-drenched sandwich and made me try their treats (and have more rosé
) I had home made wild boar paté, leek flan (MUCH nicer than it sounds) boudin blanc and home made goats' cheese . Absolute heaven!We set off again (and I raided a bit of water from the intendance van for P thanks to my very handy collapsible bucket. The paths were very very hard work and all up and down but P managed fine. The other riders were on all sorts of horses, riding in all sorts of styles. I was vaguely fascinated by one quite stocky woman on the tiniest, unshod Camarguais I have ever seen but it seemed fine if a bit footy.
One Arab lost a shoe at the top of the mountains and even with her rider walking alongside she soon became lame. Then I did something ignoble: I had a Shoof with me that I could have offered but I didn't in case P needed it as he was in due to be shod today and therefore in 7-week shoes (but better that than in new shoes). It would have been much too big for the mare but it might have helped. I feel very guilty.
And later she fell over and cut her knee.Anyhow, enough chatting, here are a few pix. This little lad was about 8/9 and very brave - it was long day, seven hours actual riding, but he didn't complain.
Some fellow randonneurs (although the lady on the haffy annoyed me because he was allowed to stop and eat whenever/wherever he pleased which was tiresome if you were behind him which was most of the morning as he was allowed to barge through to the front all the time.
Coming down from the mountains with the Luberon range in the distance - from the top we could see the Luberon, les Alpilles, Mont Ventoux and the mountains of the Lure. Stupendous. It was a relief to finally be on a flat tarmaced road.
Homecoming
Scrum around the water fountain. Discipline? What discipline? I remembered there was another fountain further into the village so P and I slipped off in relative peace.
P was a dream to load again and we got home safe and sound, which is always a relief.
Today P (having been shod, poor sausage) is very tired. He was lying flat out with Mr T cuddled up beside him (obviously similarly exhausted from a strenuous day pottering around the garden nibbling shoots of grass) but P turned his head when he heard my 'stealthy' approach.
Then Mr T had a good stretch and kept guard.
Sorry for such a long post ... more of Rac's Ramblings (in both senses!) ;D
However how much I wish differently, as you can probably tell, fast isn't really my cup of tea 
Everything is so quaint and beautiful in Provence. I love the idea of the drinking fountains in the villages, im sure there used to be some here as well. Everyone looks like they are really enjoying themselves. Interesting that a lot of them arent wearing riding hats though! 
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
