My First Trail Ride

This year for one reason and another, I have not managed my normal holiday in the sun; instead, I have been Pony Trekking in the Brecon Beacons culminating in a 2 day trail riding holiday in the Black Mountains.  After spending the week anxiously watching the weather and hoping the rain would stop, before my trail ride, my prayers were answered and the sun came out Friday afternoon.  Arriving at the farm first thing Saturday morning, it was with some relief I was able to head up to the camping field and pitch my tent in daylight with whilst the rain held off. Then it was up to the farm house for to see if they needed any help tacking up before the ride.  Luckily, all the horses were ready so there was time for a cup of tea, while we waited for everyone to arrive.  It was a popular weekend and we had twenty five riders including the guides.  A great turnout.

Me riding Apollo, a lovely welsh cob.

Finally after some debate, everyone finally had a horse they were happy with.  I was a little disconcerted by  the last minute change to my horse.  Having been promised a nice bombproof horse called Rose, who I had ridden a number of times, I was assigned Apollo, a lovely horse but not one who I was familiar with riding.  However, it turned out to be a excellent swap as Apollo was a fantastic horse except for the odd kick if someone got too close behind.  Finally, it was time for the trail ride to set off.

Beautiful views on the trail.

The horses taking a short break on the steep ascent.

After riding out of the farm,  through the bridle path  and down the lane to Llanthony, we left the road and headed up.  The initial ascent was a steep one and the horses worked very hard.  We climbed up the first mountain, pausing at intervals to give the horses a break and through the moorland covering the top of the mountain and back down the other side before we commenced the hard slog up the next slope.

Unfortunately, due to the boggy ground, cantering on top of the mountain was not possible in many places because the ground was too wet and slippery.  The terrain continuously changed; from the mountain grass, as we crossed the lower slopes, scaring the odd sheep out of the way as we went, to the higher ground covered with  tall bracken, which dragged on our feet as we made our way through the narrow paths.

Then as we came down the next mountain, we came to a large evergreen, forest.  The paths were dark and shady but slightly more substantial, as we made our way through the forestry with the first canter of the day.  Then we followed the path along the river for a while before leaving the forest.

Into the forestry

Leaving the forestry.

As we reached the final ridge heading south west, the wind picked up and it suddenly turned cold. Hard gusts of wind meant it was difficult to talk to each other.  At last we started the downward climb, then we picked up the bridle path and we had a lovely canter, before joining the country lanes.  After three hours of riding, we finally reached Llanbedr, a small hamlet on the edge of Powys, home of the Red Lion, our stop for lunch.


After ensuring our horses were happy and comfortable we retired to the pub for some liquid refreshment, and baguettes with chips all round, it was time for some more horse riding.

Arriving in Llanbedr

We set off again retracing our steps a short way and then setting off south towards the Sugar Loaf mountain, as we skirted along the lower slopes.  The ground was covered with purple heather, and bilberries were everywhere.  We had a few good canters through the heather where the ground was firmer and less boggy than earlier in the trek.  After a few hours ride, the horses reached their destination for the night.  They all received a much needed wash down before being fed and turned out in the field for the night and we headed off back to Trevelog farm where our tents were pitched to change before going down the pub for dinner.

Our second day, we arrived at the farm to pick up our horses and set off back towards the Sugar Loaf.  Unfortunately, the rain had started and it was a rather wet ride.  The horses were all excited to be on their way, and keen to go.  We managed a few nice long canters as the terrain sloped gently upwards before slowing down to a walk as the terrain steepened again.

Sugar Loaf summit

Today, we ventured about higher, following the mountain path half way to the top and continuing once again through the heather.  Finally, having gone up and round the Sugar Loaf mountain, we set off towards Cymyoy across country.  A couple of hours after we left the farm, we joined the valley road, and trotted the last half a mile to the Queens Head, a favourite pub with the pony trekkers in the area and back in familiar territory.

After lunch, the sun came out again which was a pleasant surprise.  We headed up the steep lane opposite the Queens Head til we joined the forestry track, an ideal place for some fast canters.  Coming to the end of the forestry track, we picked our way down to the road through the trees and the bracken before trotting back along the valley road, slowing several times to let cars and other pony trekkers pass by.  Passing Llanthony Priory, we were nearly home. Once on the bridle path, we had one last canter before the horses walked the last ten minutes home to the trekking centre.

The trek returns home.

Pony Trekking in the Brecon Beacons.

View of the Llanthony Valley

After returning from Mexico, I set out to find somewhere more local to go pony trekking.  Living in Cardiff, the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains are only an hour’s drive and the perfect place for a day out.  I discovered Trevelog Trekking Centre; an absolutely fabulous family run centre situated in the Llanthony Valley at the edge of the Brecon Beacons.  It is a wonderful place to go trekking with a friendly atmosphere, breathtaking scenery and beautiful horses too - all sturdy Welsh Cobs, perfect for the steep mountainous terrain. 

Although, I did some pony trekking that summer, this was curtailed when I got pregnant later that year. At the start of this year, I decided I wanted to try pony trekking again. Two children later, my boys are finally at an age where, I have a little free time again.  I booked on to the first trek of the season, at the end of March.  After an impatient couple of weeks wait, it finally arrived.  I was delighted to find Vicky, who runs the trekking centre remembered me from my brief foray into pony trekking eight years earlier. 

My friend and I set off on our first trek.  Being either mad or optimistic, we booked in for a full day’s trek which consisted of four hours riding with a stop at the pub for lunch.  I was riding a lovely placid but responsive pony called Bounty and my friend had an equally reliable horse called Rose.  I believe the correct term is bombproof pony, just what we needed, as virtually complete beginners.  As we headed out of the farm and down the lane to the bridle path, I felt surprisingly calm and confident.  Within ten to fifteen minutes, the trek leaders had us rising to the trot, albeit while holding tightly to the saddle. Although not perhaps the most accomplished or elegant rising trot you have seen, it was sufficient for us to make the most of the day. 

Me riding Bounty

After stopping, in the river for the horses to take a drink, we set off up the side of the hill to the forestry path.  The path up was quite steep, almost like big steps in part.  As the horses graciously plodded up the rocky path, we were left relieved that it was they and not us doing the hard work.  We passed large numbers of sheep and their newborn lambs as we rode through the fields and saw clusters of wild bluebells.  Onto the forestry track and we had a few good long trots, whilst some of the more experienced riders hung back for a canter before starting our descent down a narrow lane.  Halfway down, we dismounted and walked the horses the rest of the way as the path became so steep and slippery.  This was a welcome opportunity to stretch our now aching muscles, before lunch.  We tied the horses up in the pub car park and by now starving hungry; we decamped to the pub for refreshments and a bite to eat.

The Queens Head Inn Cwmyoy Abergavenny 

After lunch, we set off down the country lane that follows the bottom of the valley for the eight mile return trip.  Trotting most of the way home, we arrived back at the farm at four o’clock, tired but exhilarated.

After that first day, I was hooked.  I have managed to go pony trekking virtually every week since then and my riding has progressed considerably.  Although in all honesty, I could not call myself anything other than a beginner, I can now comfortably rise to the trot without holding on, and enjoy a canter.  That said if my horse is feeling lazy and does not automatically follow the horse in front into a canter, my efforts to kick him into a canter are not always successful and sometimes we don’t quite get out of trot.  However, I must have improved as I have been told I am sufficiently competent to join the rest of the regulars on the annual trail ride next week.  I am looking forward to it with much excitement and just a tiny bit of nerves at being the least experienced rider going.  

Horsepower - Part One The Animal ITV 1 Sunday 22 August 2010

Martin Clune, the award winning actor, better known for his comedy roles in Men Behaving Badly and Doc Martin, narrates a superb new two part documentary investigating man's relationship with horses.

Martin Clunes on a horse : photo ITV

We hear about his family's seven horses that they keep on their family farm in Dorset: his horse Chester, his wife's horse Bea and his daughter's horse Saracen as well as their four miniature Shetland ponies.  He confesses that he is a terrible rider but has a horse mad wife and daughter.  It is through them his fascination with horses developed.

The documentary sees him interview a host of the great and the good from the equine world: the jockey Frankie Dettori, the horse whisperer Monty Roberts, an extraordinary horse trainer Jean Francois Pignon and Laura Lee, a Nevada resident who campaigns to save the Wild American Mustangs, to mention a few.

Clunes also manages to cover an amazing amount of ground in his quest to understand the horse.  This takes from the ancient to the modern and from Europe to Asia to America. He visits the grand opening of the £1.7billion Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, a rehab clinic in Arizona to undergo equine assisted therapy, the desserts of Nevada to witness the herds of wild mustang, the Niaux cave in the Pyrenees mountains to study cave drawings of horses, the Glasgow Wieper Centre for Equine Welfare - Europe's most hi-tech horse hospital and the open plains of Mongolia to trace the evolutionary roots of the horse by observing the takhi, the last remaining truly wild horse.

This was a truly absorbing and entertaining hour which gave a fascinating insight into man's relationship with horses.  I am looking forward to the second part which looks at the jobs which horses do and have done in the past.

Pony Trekking in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

My pony trekking trip in Puerto Vallarta is a day I remember clearly even though it is nearly ten years ago now.  Having never ridden before, other than a couple of pony rides on a lead rein as a very small child, this is when I discovered the joys of pony trekking and horse riding.

I delighted to discover that the horseback trip into the mountains offered by the tour operator was open to all, regardless of riding experience or more importantly lack of it, so eagerly signed myself up.

The day started early because of the hot weather and we arrived at the ranch where we were given hats and allocated horses before a brief session on the basics of riding.  We were riding Western style and the horses were neck reined rather than using a bit, a subtly that was lost on me at the time having never ridden a horse with a bit.  I was more interested in the saddle horn.  I thought it was there for me to hold onto to stop me falling off, although I understand the true function is somewhere to put your lasso.  Unlike the holidaymakers, our guides were wearing cowboy hats and holsters with a gun and looked like the real McCoy.  When I asked what the guns were for, wondering if there was any dangerous wildlife up in the mountains to worry about, they replied it was just in case we met any bandits in the mountains.  I thought they were joking but in hindsight I’m sure they weren’t.

As I set off near the back of the trek, my horse had other ideas and decided to break into a run and over take the other horses to get nearer the front.  I actually think it was probably only a trot but cue a scream from me and a swift change of horse to a more placid mount which suited me fine.

The highlight of the trip was when we reached the river and they took the saddle off one of the horses so we could have a go at bare back riding in the river.  Following this, we swum across the river to sit and soak in the natural hot springs which felt glorious despite the awful smell of sulphur.

Sadly it was then time to return to the ranch but before they sent us packing we all sat down to a well deserved meal of Steak and Chips.  I left the ranch determined that this was not going to be a one off experience.