CUNETIO STABLES
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A WET BANK HOLIDAY A wet weekend always has its benefits; when followed by a sunny day your spirits lift, the horses’ heads go up and the birds sing louder. That was certainly the case this Bank Holiday (May 30th). Nine of us left the yard at 11.30 heading for Barbary Castle. There’s a bit of roadwork needed to get onto the Downs, but the roads are very quiet and as we clattered through the Ogbournes villagers looked up from their gardening to nod and smile. Then we were on the Ridgeway; well spaced, Magic in front with the clattering now a thud, thud, thud as we cantered along, all vigilant for an unexpected rut, a walker or biker, ready to pull up at a moments notice, but hoping we wouldn’t have to! Three hunting gates to go through – quite a feat managing the gate if we all stay mounted – but we manage it and then we’re off at a gallop, heels down, heads down with the horses just as competitive as the riders. It takes us 45 minutes to get to the castle and however many times we visit, it’s impossible not to draw breath at the fantastic views. The café at the top has a pony paddock so we untack and tie up the horses and sit in the sunshine with a cup of tea and homemade cake. It’s good to see walkers, bikers, cyclists and kite flyers all enjoying the sunshine and the bank holiday, then it’s off down the ridge and across Fyfield Down. Molly pulls with excitement, hoping for another run and there are muttered exclamations of "Walk now!" from behind as we settle down for Leg of Mutton woods and the home straight. We get back just before three and once the horses have been seen to we all collapse on the settees in the tack room. It’s been a brilliant ride and everyone wants to talk about their favourite bit, the scariest bit, the most exciting bit – and where we’re going next week. How lucky we are!
The Weekend Ride…. Saturday was a rotten day. It poured more or less all day, and returning home from the second ride the wind and rain were so strong that Molly had her head almost on the ground battling to carry me down the hill back to the summer yard. Mick made a quick decision; "we’ll turn round and take them back to the top yard, cancel the third ride and stable them for the night." It was the right decision; you could almost hear the sighs of relief as we untacked in the snug stables. Sunday was much better. Five of us rode through Savernake with the light dappling the gorgeous colours of the leaves. There were lots of families out walking and it was nice to stop and let the children stroke the horses. It’s a brilliant year for fungus this year. I wish we knew more about which were poisonous! We did pick quite a few mushrooms earlier in the week and made wild mushroom soup and some tartlets with smoked ham. Noticed a tree laden with sweet chestnuts and put a marker to come back during the week for a lunch-time pick.* Second ride of the day was shorter and faster. Lots of wonderful gallops punctuated only by the occasional hunting gate leading through to the next bridle path. Molly and I are hopeless at these. I’m sure she knows I dread doing them! Got back just before it started to rain, fed them and turned them out.
Saturday/Sunday October /23rd/24th *Mick and I managed a picnic later in the week and picked armfuls of beautiful sweet chestnuts. Made five jars of marrons glaces, and a delicious pud with roasted hazelnuts, chestnuts and cream!
THIS ‘N THAT – June 2006
Summer is here and we have babies bursting out all over! Our three bantam ladies have all produced babies and are proudly strutting their stuff around the garden followed by their off-spring. Last night we couldn’t find Gladys and her one remaining chick until a searchlight highlighted them half way up the cherry tree. Gladys looked most indignant at being spotted and her chick was obviously feeling insecure on the narrow branch and was hiding under her wing with his bum sticking out. They both had a safe landing this morning. Talking of heights, another surprise has been Dora the Muscovy duck. We have had a "To Let" sign up on our dovecote for a while. Mick built it one afternoon to house our white doves, but sods law said they preferred to live in his workshop so he put up with their droppings and cooings until they were picked off, one by one, by a local sparrow hawk. It was so sad and despite our best efforts, their two ugly babies died. But to get back to Dora, she arrived back in February with Dilys and their husband Fred. A friend had got fed up with them roosting on her chimney and asked if we could give them a home. Fred disappeared almost straight away but Doris and Dora made friends with the Calling Ducks and tolerated the hens and decided we would do as a new home. Sadly Doris was caught by the fox early one evening and it was round about then that Dora decided to investigate the dovecote. After two or three attempts to squeeze in through the entrance she prevailed upon Mick to enlarge the hole to take her rather portly figure (she insists on eating only out of the feed bowl when Mick is holding it…..) Once in, she discovered a family of rooks had left the place in a pigsty (sorry Flossie and Rosie) so out came all the straw and twigs and a week of nest building produced a beautiful downy soft bed for her eggs.
We fear that they may not be fertile, but haven’t the heart to persuade her to leave them long enough for us to check – and what will be will be.* Last night a little fluffy black ball rolled out of the bushes as I went down the garden to check the veggies and squish the slugs. As I paused, two more tiny moorhens joined him or her and then equally speedily rolled back under the bush to mum. It will be interesting to see how they are received by the chicks and ducks. Will they be morehen than duck?! Will they be pushed aside because of the colour of their feathers??! Horris the Tamworth boar joined Flossie and Rosie – our two gilts born on April 4th - a couple of months ago. He is a handsome boy and finds living with two assertive ladies quite a trial. We caught him doing the business with Flossie soon after he arrived. It was obvious that the whole episode was exhausting and as he flopped in front of the sty Rosie marched up and gave him a kick, for all the world saying "My turn, you lazy so and so." He didn’t move an inch so Rosie stood on him and bellowed….. We missed her turn (I expect she took him behind the sty for a little privacy) but both girls are looking distinctly comely and pregnant so fingers crossed for some lovely little pigglies. Gestation is three months, three weeks and three days which should bring us up to mid August. They love to have their tummies rubbed and will flop at your feet with expressions of complete happiness if you can spare a minute or two! Back at the yard life has not been so easy. Our much loved pony Tizzy who we bought as a two year old caught herself on a bit of wire. Within 24 hours she was very lame and in pain. We called out our vet, Edward de Beukalaer, who prescribed a course of treatment. She is no longer in pain, but is still quite lame. Edward has been out almost every day for three weeks and on Bank Holiday Monday arranged to have her x-rayed in case there was any evident damage. Her treatment has included conventional antibiotics and painkillers and also several homeopathic treatments including arnica, silicea and calendula. Interestingly, bathing with calendula with a few drops added to her food seemed to make a real improvement to the wound which is now clean and clear. Mick and I continue to massage her daily and encourage her to put weight on the leg once again. It is slow progress but we know from an injury she received two or three years ago, that she is a slow healer. We have lots of new people riding with us, in addition to our 50 or so regulars. We have added a couple of evening rides, one on a Wednesday and one on a Friday. These are good rides for those returning to riding after a break or who are not quite confident enough to join one of our faster weekend rides.
*STOP PRESS I got home from work yesterday to find Mick balanced precariously on a ladder up against the dovecote. He couldn’t bear to think of Doris sitting on infertile eggs so popped a warm hen’s egg in the nest while Doris was down having a drink…. We’ll let you know!
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