Post by racaille on Apr 19, 2011 8:00:41 GMT
Back from our two-day rando camp and I'm afraid I am a bit beaten up. Paco did not behave well 
It even started off oddly. I arrived at the campsite to find almost no one there - it seemed that most people had gone straight to the president (B) of the group's house but they were going to come past the campsite. The few people who were there then set off to B as they were ready, leaving me with a very anxious P, left all alone. Imagine my relief when eventually another trailer arrived with a companion for P. Imagine my despair on realising the rider was Mr Women Are Rubbish Riders As they Don't Know how to Punish A Horse. So I had another half an hour of him and his views.
The group finally arrived, about 40 in total and we set off in chaos. P was wildly overexcited and it was not helped by two young girls who kept cantering around the main group, up and down, through the line, in and out, back again ..... It was hairy getting through a couple of gates out of the campsite. P was getting so very cross he tucked his chin onto his chest. I should have listened to him more, but I don't know what I could have done ....
Anyway, eventually the two cantering girls went flashing past the president, whose horse flipped. I'm not entirely sure what happened but his mare started to spin round and B eventually was flung out the side door, landing just in front of P. One woman realised the cantering girls had taken her young son with them so she set off at a canter to save him. I wanted P to say with the main group.
But it was all too much for him. He reared, right up. We were on a slope and when I realised he was vertical, I just let go, sure he was going to come over on me. In truth I didn't have much choice, I was going anyway.
Luckily P went back down onto his feet and did not take off after the gallopers. I hit the ground first on my bum, then toppled backwards, hitting my head. And there, children, is the perfect example of why you should always wear a helmet - unlike the rest of the group. No bones broken but a bad jolt to my neck and back. My face was also bleeding quite spectacularly as I managed to scrape past a branch on the way down.
I got back on and we set off again, B had angry words with the gallopers and things calmed down. Then we had a pleasant but hard day. We wound up to the top of the Luberon, through some beautiful valleys full of spring flowers, then went along the crest with fantastic views to north and south.
This is us getting back on after the lunch break among scented cedars.
The descent was hard over very large boulders and then we came to some hard stony tracks where everyone went hell for leather. Had another hairy moment when the guy in front of me stopped dead
collecting the woman behind him. P did an emergency stop and swerve so we just avoided the pile-up but managed to get in the way of the person behind us. Don't see what else we could have done.
We got back to the campsite (after 7 hours in the saddle) where about 70 of us were having dinner in a big tent. First it was apero, then meshoui - whole roast lamb cooked over burning vines.
The horses were 'a l'attache' - tied to high rope, cowboy stye. P is on the left.
I had a bit of a row with one guy at dinner about the lack of discipline amongst the riders and he told me that randos were not for novices. Bloody cheek!
I turned in early as the disco fired up, which went on until about 3am. I slept Ok in the dormitory, a bit cold, and we banished the snoring men to the room below.
Next day I was not sure whether to abandon or go on but B said it was a nice easy three hour ride on easier ground so I thought, well, I'm here ....
P was fine and calmer so we settled near the back as I realised that he was more wound up by being overtaken than by his fear of being left behind. We had a brilliant canter (well, gallop) along a 2km soft springy turf track and then things settled into a nicer rhythm. I chatted to a few people and we went through some truly gorgeous countryside, with lots of canters. We also had to cross a biggish river which was nice.
We passed through the very lovely village of Oppede le Vieux, tramping through a municipal garden
up to the top when I managed a quick pic of some of the group
We got back safely but I decided not to stay for lunch but to head off home straight away. But I was so tired that when I was opening up the trailer I kind of fell out of it and hurt myself quite badly, lots of scrapes and bruises. Not sure what happened really.
I got home safely and P is fine. But I walked in to an almighty row at home. My OH had 'mislaid' his phone charger (it was where he'd put it all along of course) and was also furious that he'd had to get up at 4.30am to take the Teenager to a SJ competition and the son had been naughty. I got it in the neck both from the OH and from my mother. I have ABSOLUTELY no idea why this was all my fault. But as soon as I walked in - before anyone found out if I was OK or not or had eaten anything (I hadn't, not all day) - I got the full attack. I had been gone all of 32 hours.
So. Not a fantastic success. I will have to think long and hard about what I do in the future. And obviously, if I leave the family sh!ts again I shall have to leave them a micro-managed timetable.
I haven't spoke to the OH or my mother since and am hoping for two apologies that don't appear to be on the cards. I am at a loss and very very angry.
PS here is a pic of Paco on the morning of the second day. It was the ONLY time he had his ears forward during the whole two days.
It even started off oddly. I arrived at the campsite to find almost no one there - it seemed that most people had gone straight to the president (B) of the group's house but they were going to come past the campsite. The few people who were there then set off to B as they were ready, leaving me with a very anxious P, left all alone. Imagine my relief when eventually another trailer arrived with a companion for P. Imagine my despair on realising the rider was Mr Women Are Rubbish Riders As they Don't Know how to Punish A Horse. So I had another half an hour of him and his views.
The group finally arrived, about 40 in total and we set off in chaos. P was wildly overexcited and it was not helped by two young girls who kept cantering around the main group, up and down, through the line, in and out, back again ..... It was hairy getting through a couple of gates out of the campsite. P was getting so very cross he tucked his chin onto his chest. I should have listened to him more, but I don't know what I could have done ....
Anyway, eventually the two cantering girls went flashing past the president, whose horse flipped. I'm not entirely sure what happened but his mare started to spin round and B eventually was flung out the side door, landing just in front of P. One woman realised the cantering girls had taken her young son with them so she set off at a canter to save him. I wanted P to say with the main group.
But it was all too much for him. He reared, right up. We were on a slope and when I realised he was vertical, I just let go, sure he was going to come over on me. In truth I didn't have much choice, I was going anyway.
Luckily P went back down onto his feet and did not take off after the gallopers. I hit the ground first on my bum, then toppled backwards, hitting my head. And there, children, is the perfect example of why you should always wear a helmet - unlike the rest of the group. No bones broken but a bad jolt to my neck and back. My face was also bleeding quite spectacularly as I managed to scrape past a branch on the way down.
I got back on and we set off again, B had angry words with the gallopers and things calmed down. Then we had a pleasant but hard day. We wound up to the top of the Luberon, through some beautiful valleys full of spring flowers, then went along the crest with fantastic views to north and south.
This is us getting back on after the lunch break among scented cedars.
The descent was hard over very large boulders and then we came to some hard stony tracks where everyone went hell for leather. Had another hairy moment when the guy in front of me stopped dead
collecting the woman behind him. P did an emergency stop and swerve so we just avoided the pile-up but managed to get in the way of the person behind us. Don't see what else we could have done.We got back to the campsite (after 7 hours in the saddle) where about 70 of us were having dinner in a big tent. First it was apero, then meshoui - whole roast lamb cooked over burning vines.
The horses were 'a l'attache' - tied to high rope, cowboy stye. P is on the left.
I had a bit of a row with one guy at dinner about the lack of discipline amongst the riders and he told me that randos were not for novices. Bloody cheek!
I turned in early as the disco fired up, which went on until about 3am. I slept Ok in the dormitory, a bit cold, and we banished the snoring men to the room below.
Next day I was not sure whether to abandon or go on but B said it was a nice easy three hour ride on easier ground so I thought, well, I'm here ....
P was fine and calmer so we settled near the back as I realised that he was more wound up by being overtaken than by his fear of being left behind. We had a brilliant canter (well, gallop) along a 2km soft springy turf track and then things settled into a nicer rhythm. I chatted to a few people and we went through some truly gorgeous countryside, with lots of canters. We also had to cross a biggish river which was nice.
We passed through the very lovely village of Oppede le Vieux, tramping through a municipal garden
up to the top when I managed a quick pic of some of the groupWe got back safely but I decided not to stay for lunch but to head off home straight away. But I was so tired that when I was opening up the trailer I kind of fell out of it and hurt myself quite badly, lots of scrapes and bruises. Not sure what happened really.
I got home safely and P is fine. But I walked in to an almighty row at home. My OH had 'mislaid' his phone charger (it was where he'd put it all along of course) and was also furious that he'd had to get up at 4.30am to take the Teenager to a SJ competition and the son had been naughty. I got it in the neck both from the OH and from my mother. I have ABSOLUTELY no idea why this was all my fault.
But as soon as I walked in - before anyone found out if I was OK or not or had eaten anything (I hadn't, not all day) - I got the full attack. I had been gone all of 32 hours. So. Not a fantastic success. I will have to think long and hard about what I do in the future. And obviously, if I leave the family sh!ts again I shall have to leave them a micro-managed timetable.
I haven't spoke to the OH or my mother since and am hoping for two apologies that don't appear to be on the cards. I am at a loss and very very angry.
PS here is a pic of Paco on the morning of the second day. It was the ONLY time he had his ears forward during the whole two days.
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
It doesn't bear thinking about it - thank God you had yours on. 
You'd probably find you'd get on better if you went again, as you'd know whats happening and what to expect. You need to find some nice people to hang out with and leave the meanies to be bitter on their own.
