My Favourite Horse

Some weeks ago, one of the trek leaders where I ride mentionned perhaps I should find a horse I like and stick with it because this year I have been riding lots of different horses, some of which I have got on better with than others.  Whilst this idea held a certain appeal, I have enjoyed trying different horses and because I ride at the same place most of the time, I was a little worried about getting in a rut and being scared to try new horses if I get used to riding the same one all the time.  At the moment, I am looking forward to my riding holiday in Spain so this wouldn't be good as I am going to have to ride a different horse there.  Also, of the horses I like, there are various reasons why I can't ride the same one all the time. 

Black Sam is lovely and although he can be a bit of a plodder, since my riding has improved and I borrowed him over the winter, he goes very well for me.  He will even canter quite fast when the opportunity arises unlike last year when I struggled to get him out of trot on some of the canters.  However, when they are busy and have lots of first timers, he is one of their stalwarts and is needed by the riders with less experience.

Jewel is another favourite and she is very nice too- a bit more forward going.  But she is used as a guide horse some of the time, which means she is not always available.

However last weekend I got to ride Penny again.  I have ridden her once before but on for a walk and a trot and she has a reputation for being one of the faster horses.  It has taken a while before I have been allowed on one of the faster horses again after my unplanned and uncontrolled gallop across the side of the mountain hanging on desperately for dear life the other month but finally had another chance to ride her this time, when we were going to do some cantering.  She is a beautiful bay horse, unusually though with blue eyes.

We had a lovely ride in the morning with a nice steady canter behind the trail guide and I enjoyed riding her very much.  She didn't put a foot out of place all morning.  Then in the afternoon, we had a smaller group.  Myself, the trek leader, two first timers and a french exchange student.  This meant I was closing the gates as there was only one trek leader and I love the chance to practise.  Penny was superb.  My control is not always the best and sometimes not sure the best way to approach the gates but she was great and didn't hesitate to go back to the gate to latch it etc. unlike some of the horses who don't really co-operate.  Then towards the end of the trek, I got to lead a couple of canters with the french student as the others were not up to cantering.  It was fantastic.  I turned her round to wait for the others to get ahead a bit so we could canter to catch up and literally all I had to do was turn her round and we went from stationery to a lovely fast canter.  I think I even hit a gallop briefly at one point.  I have to admit I did have a good handful of mane and found it quite difficult turning round to check on the other girl behind whose horse wasn't so fast but it was such a buzz.

I have definitely found my favourite horse.  The only blip was when I tried to put my coat back on towards the end when the rain started and she really didn't like it!  Nearly took me down a vertical slope.  It was strange because she wasn't bothered by me taking it off but they all have their quirks and I know flapping coats is quite a common one.

Beach Riding

Our group cantering on Newgale beach

I've just come back from the most fabulous riding ever.  A bit sore and achy but was worth every bit of it.  I went off to Nolton in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.  There were beautiful beaches, which were huge and the riding was fantastic.  I went with some people I met through trekking and a minibus of 13 of us arrived in Pembrokeshire Friday evening where we stayed in a lovely house with eight ensuite bedrooms and a vast living room and kitchen.  The weekend started with a trip to the local pub for dinner and drinks.  It was convieniently located about 2 minutes from the pub which was ideal.  The guy from the stables came down the pub to chat to us and allocate horses for the next day.  I was a little bit apprehensive to be assigned a horse called Thunder although I shouldnt have worried he was lovely.

Me and Thunder cantering on Newgale beach

Due to the tides, we had an early start the next morning 9am at the stables.  We collected our horses and set off for Newgale Beach, about a twenty minute walk on horseback, where we spent two hours cantering up and down the beach.  I was advised my my riding friends to be honest and to make sure I asked for a quiet horse.  At first, having been initially put in the slow group with another relative beginner, I was worried I had played it down too much after a very very short and steady first canter.  However, once they saw we were comfortable with that, we joined another group although still slower than some of the others (thankfully) and had some lovely canters.  My horse was great and although I was worried I would either end up with a horse that was so slow I struggled to keep up or one that was too fast and strong for me to handle, they seemed to have found the perfect horse for me.  The sun was shining and it was absolutely superb.  I have never had the opportunity to do so much cantering, even on the few hacks I have done.  The beach was fantastic and it was so flat and the canter on the sand was a lovely and smooth motion.  It really gave me the opportunity to concentrate on my position, rather than worrying about the horse stumbling on uneven ground and holding onto the mane, just in case.  I didn't actually manage a canter in the water the first day as we were advised that sometimes the horses spook at a wave so we would be better off stayin


Thunder and I paddling in the sea

 g on the sand unlike the more advanced groups.

After we returned to the stables, we went off for a pub lunch before the afternoon ride which would take us into the woodland and the valley where there were some bridle paths and through some fields.  Talk at lunch turned to the cross country jumps in the valley - a narrow bride path with six low jumps.  The rest of my group persuaded me that I should give these a try even though i had never jumped before as they were very small, but when we went back to the stables they said they wouldn't let me try the jumps.  I was happy to take their advice but at least because they told me no I felt I was being sensible rather than chickening out of something I might have loved.  I ended up in a very small group with one other trekker and two guides which was great although I did feel like we had a big label on our backs saying crap rider: needs 1:1 supervision.  I was surprised, I found the afternoon a bit more challenging as it was more the type of riding I am used to although not quite as many canters normally. Going into the field from the road, my horse spooked momentarily, at some ballons someone had tied to the fence by the road.  After he had calmed down we rode through some fields, where we cantered around the edge, splitting up into small groups to ensure we all got a decent canter.  If the group is too big, you don't seem to get much of a canter at the back so this was definitely a good move.   Then in the valley, the groups diverged in different directions as some people went off to jump and the rest of us cantered round the various woodland bridlepaths before going into some big fields for a canter up and across the fields. canter felt very bouncy after riding on the sand and the cantering in the field was very different to the bridle path through the woods but after a canter or two in each I quickly got used to it, although my horse was being a bit lazy and I could have done with a crop.  This was soon remedied in the wood, where the guide found the perfect stick.  Just holding it seemed to make all the difference, although I used it a few times.

After returning from the stables, we drank champagne and ate strawberries before heading off to shower before dinner at another pub.

Sunday morning, we awoke to persistent and heavy rain but this didnt deter us from our last ride of the weekend. Off to Druidstone Beach and some more time in the valley.  Today. we split up into groups of four of our choice with a guide.  Druidstone Beach was slightly smaller partly but only due to the tide of the day and rockier than Newgale Beach.  We had lots more canters across the beach and tried my first canter in the sea, although it didnt last very long as my horse wasn't keen and ended up on the sand eight foot wide of the  the rest of my group rather than directly behind as I was meant to be.  It was great fun despite the wind and rain although I didnt relish the sand blowing in my eyes and mouth as we cantered into the wind.  Having got thoroughly soaked, despite our waterproofs, we headed off to the valley to find some shelter.  We had a few more canters through the valley before a quick trip down to the beach opposite our accomodation to wash the horses feet in the sea.  The rest of the group then headed off for a last canter through the fields.  I was told by the guide, I should skip the last bit as the fields were pretty slippery and along with a couple of others who were fed up of the rain we trotted back to the stables quarter of an hour or so before the rest.  Whilst I was a little disappointed to miss the last canter, I was soaking wet and could feel the water squelching in my boots despite having a pair of chaps over the top and my ankles were killing me.  I decided,against arguing, because I had managed the whole weekend without falling off and didnt want to tempt fate in the last ten minutes.

Cantering in the rain at Druidstone Beach

Back at the house, we all stripped off our soaking wet gear.  Even my underwear was soaking despite several layers of clothes under my waterproof jacket.  The showers were luckily very hot and very powerful and after a quick change, we headed off for a three course sunday roast to debrief the weekend before the journey home.  Without doubt, it was a fabulous weekend and I was chuffed to hear the stables had told our group leader they were impressed with my riding after having only been riding a year with no lessons.

Pony Trekking this year.

I have been meaning to post since the pony trekking season started again having done lots of riding since April but have had some temporary work and just been incredibly busy.  Season started well.  The weather in April was fantastic and we were riding in vest tops, it was so hot.  I have been having a go at actually opening and shutting some gates on horseback which was new for me although now it is busier there are more guides so not done much of that recently. 

I have also been trying out some different horses this season.  Sam, who I struggled with over the winter, goes like a dream for me on the treks now and can get a lovely canter out of him and feel like I am in control much more so than on some of the other horses but risk being a bit complacent when I am riding him. 

However, I have had a few "moments" too.  I rode one horse who the guides normally ride and was warned he only needed a squeeze not a kick.  Being used to the beginners horses though I have got into the habit of having to give a good kick to get the horse to canter.  He went beautifully on the trek, until we got to the canter.  Most of the trek were youngsters who hadnt ridden before so the guides said I could have a little canter on the bottom track whilst the main trek went on the top track but under no circumstances to overtake the back of the trek above, in case the other horses wanted to canter too.  I forgot to squeeze not kick and overtook the guide who was leading the canter on the third stride, nearly fell off several times when I ended up nose on the mane and panicked and completely forgot about the correct riding position until I heard the guide yelling sit back!!  By the time, I got back in control I had not only overtaken the back of the trek but the front of the trek 26 horses later and then some - a canter of nearly quarter of a mile by my guess when I looked where I had been the following week.  On the plus side, I stayed on.

The following week, I rode a new mare who had only been broken in about three weeks before although I definitely didnt risk a canter on her.  In the first half hour, she spooked and charged about six metres straight into a fence although she didnt actually hit the fence.  To be fair, some guy chucked a feed bag over a stable door just as we were passing and I think most horses would have spooked a bit.  Then we passed some horses coming the other way and she didnt like it went I made her go on instead of stopping and bucked a few times.  Was pretty nervous by the time, we got out in the open on the side of the mountain, where I had my long "canter" the week before but got home with no mishaps.  She wasn't actually a fast horse just a bit sharp cos she was a young horse and new and inexperienced.

The riding bug has still got me though and I booked a weekend Beach riding in Pembrokeshire which was last weekend and a weeks riding holiday in Spain in Andulucia in August which I am really excited about.

First Weekend back Pony Trekking

After what seems like a long winter the pony trekking season has finally started.  I celebrated with a marathon weekend of two full day treks.  Although it was actually only four hours the first day and four and a half the second day, it felt like a lot after not getting on a horse for over a month.  I was riding Black Sam again this weekend but am hoping to try out some new horses this year now the season is starting again.

On Saturday, there were two half day treks so we went up the Grange and onto the mountain which was nice because didn't manage to get up the top over the winter.  The views never fail to amaze me and I feel very lucky to ride in such a beautiful place.  Having become such a regular, I've been asked to close the gates as I always seem to end up at the back of the trek, my favourite place.  I didn't get off to the best start, by completely forgetting to keep my hands down when I pulled him to a stop just before we left the yard and got a nagging reminder to look like I actually knew how to ride if I was going to be helping on the trek.  I had varying degrees of success with the gates in the morning and ended up dismounting quite a few times rather than risking leaning to far over and falling off.  By the afternoon, I was starting to get the hang of it and getting to know the which gates shut easily and which had required a certain knack.  I managed to shut virtually all of them on horse back that time.  We also had a couple of canters which was nice as there was limited opportunity over the winter, as the ground was a bit hard and we spent a lot of time on the road.  It is lovely at the moment up there now that Spring has well and truly arrived and there are cute little lambs everywhere and daffodils and other flowers starting to appear too.

Having stayed over at the farm last night, it was an early start to get all the horses fed and those who were riding tacked up before the other trekkers arrived.  There must have been twenty horses coming in for food this morning, now that most have arrived back from their winter holidays.  Today, I did a full day trek up to the Queens Head.  I made a bit of a faff of the first few gates.  I think I need to have a think about how to approach them before I get to them so that I can concentrate on controlling the horse instead of having to experiment with the best way to approach each gate and confusing the poor horse who hasnt got a clue what I want him to do because I wasn't sure myself.  After a slow start with one beginner rider who struggled a little in the morning, we made fairly slow progress.  The horses are a bit slower than at the end of the season as they need to get their fitness back after their long winter holiday. Whilst the beginner went on a head with the trek leader, her friend and I managed managed a lovely long fast canter before lunch.  The four of us finally arrived at the pub for lunch at 1.30 and had a quick sandwich and drink before heading back.  The ground is still quite boggy in places but we managed another short canter before the day was out (even the beginner managed to join in this time).  Finally, we got back to the stables at about 4.30 where I had to untack quickly and rush home to collect my kids and open my mothers day card.  Roll on next Saturday, another day's pony trekking already booked.

A Canter on the Beach



Me riding Monty



Haven't been blogging much for a variety of reasons.  Few things going on at home which included once again the breakdown of my computer and I managed very little horse riding this year disappointingly.  Have been feeling a bit down recently and so the weekend before last, I decided that it was time I went riding again as it always lifts my spirits and I feel much better physically and emotionally.  I decided to try a different trekking centre that I have been meaning to try for the last year.  Various reasons why I haven't, not least a feeling of loyalty to Trevelog where I love riding and have made lots of friends.  However, I decided time for a change and decided to try out the trekking at Ogmore on Sea in South Wales. It is very different scenary from the mountains where I normally ride but it was fantastic for a change.  I was a little bit nervous trying somewhere new, where they didn't know me or my riding abilities but I had a lovely time.



The view from the top of the dunes.

They offer two hour treks to the beach or one hour treks in the countryside so I opted for the trek along the beach.  It was a beautiful route with no road work at all.  We set off across the river and then followed the river down to the beach, where there is a large open sandy bay - cue time for a canter across the bay.  I couldnt believe how different it felt riding on sand but it was a lovely experience.  As instructed, I had been given a nice slow horse coloured gelding by the name of Monty.  Unlike my previous experiences of cantering on a trek where everyone stayed strictly in line one behind the other, the horses lined up in a row across the beach next to the sea and then we just took off across the bay.  I did get a good canter along with some fast trotting which suited me fine.  I managed to nearly lose my reins but recovered myself just in time to avoid any major problems.  It was very exhiliarating and I thoroughly enjoyed.  On the way home, we went up onto the sand dunes along a path, with the opportunity for another canter.  When I asked for a slow horse though, they definitely took me at my word.  No amounting of kicking or tapping him with the crop could get him out of a fast trot and into a canter.  As the rider in front increased the gap and went out of sight around a corner, I was convinced this would be his cue to canter as I have so often found on a trek before but still no joy.  That said,  I was not too disappointed as this was the first canter I had had since I fell off in November and was still a little nervous.

 At the end of the ride, I was a little achy but amazed to find myself still aching after four days.  Trekking at Trevelog starts back next weekend but I have unfortunately got no childcare so won't be joining them til the following weekend where I am planning to do two full day treks.  I guess I better plan on an easy week the following week as I will be walking like John Wayne if last time was anything to go by.

Down at the Farm

Unfortunately my blog posts have been fewer and far between this winter than I would have liked.  This is due to a combination of things including less opportunities for me to ride and therefore less to write about, partly due to the weather and partly due to my lack of experience meaning that even though I had a horse available to ride, I have found him difficult to cope with outside the organised pony trekking season because he prefers a big group and my riding skills are far from good and I just don't have the confidence or ability to make him do what he doesn't want to do. Added to this the bad weather and snow in December and the start of January has made it even more difficult.  If that wasn't enough, there have been various personal issues like redundancy and job hunting to contend with.

This weekend, I was hoping to go horseriding but the weather was horrible and the rain came down all day.  I would have braved it but no-one else wanted to brave it with me so contented myself with hanging out at the farm feeding the horses, checking out the new foals that have just been brought down off the mountain and ooohing and aaahing over the first baby goats and lambs of the year.

I even had a go at bottle feeding one of the baby goats which was great fun and reminded me a little of when my boistrous noisy boys were tiny babies on the bottle.  I am kicking myself because I forgot my camera and so have no cute photos to share with you.

On the upside, trekking starts again in six weeks on 1 April 2011 when Trevelog opens for business again so i am looking forward to some decent treks again.  Anyone who lives in the West of England or Wales and fancies some pony trekking in the beautiful scenery of the Brecon Beacons or who is planning a holiday in the area, prices are £25 for a half day and £40 for a full day.  Incredible value and highly recommended by me.  I wouldnt trek anywhere else.  If you are interested in booking check out the link to the website.

No Riding this weekend

I didn't manage to go riding this weekend as I had nobody to come with me although I did get down to the farm Saturday afternoon anyway. Instead of riding, I spent the afternoon running around after a lot of goats.  I've actually been just waiting for the opportunity to spend a bit of time with the goats as I think they are really cute.



My youngest son with the goats, last summer.



When I arrived they were just about to start vaccinating them so joined in herding the goats up so the farmer could grab hold of them and vaccinate them.  There were a lot of them so this took some time and they weren't overly keen but to be fair they made less fuss than my children or possibly even myself when faced with the prospect of being jabbed with a needle.  Then,  I watched whilst the ones that were a bit lame had their feet trimmed.



Last order of the day was milking.  I think there are about seven hundred goats to be milked twice a day which takes sometime.  The milking parlour can milk about forty goats at a time so more rounding up goats and then attaching them to the milking machine.  I actually got to have a go at this.  Brought back some memories of breastfeeding my two kids which I am glad to say they are too old for now.  Spraying the teats with antiseptic after milking to avoid mastitis and then sending them out and getting the next lot in. 

I was surprised at how much fun I had and it certainly cleared away the hangover.  I'm not sure the novelty wouldnt wear off if I had to get up at six every morning to do it but I enjoyed the novelty.  However, I think the smell of goats is even worse than the smell of horses and the first thing I had to do when I got home was strip my clothes off and put them in the washing machine before jumping in the bath for a nice long soak.