Autumn has brought a feast of sunny bright days and we have enjoyed some brilliant rides, taking advantage of the kind local farmers who allow us to run in their fields for the few brief days between the harvest and ploughing ready for winter planting. 

Helen, who rides with us most weekends, has kindly written a bit about her take on our rides and we hope you enjoy sharing her description of an Autumn ride.....

We set off on a sunny September morning after catching, tacking and grooming the horses - it is lovely to have this opportunity to have this contact with the horses, grooming them (and slipping them a few polos!) me lagging behind as usual half asleep 'Hurry up with Libby' shouts Mick… then we are off, trotting up the lane this time - Mick and Heather have an encyclopaedic knowledge of all the paths and tracks and there are many wonderful views across the hills & the Ridgeway; we marvel at birds of prey circling and admire the change in the seasons, eyeing up the blackberries and sloes! We are out for a good 3 hours, always moving forward as a group, choose your slot where you and your horse feels comfortable, have chat at the walk, keep an eye out for those around you - it is your responsibility to sort yourself out and be considerate It’s like having your own horse for a few hours, no constant nagging on what to do - follow Mick and Heather who take it in turns to lead the ride and make them fun and exciting, they are always there for advice, encouragement and admonishment but only the latter if you are being unsafe/ stopping the fun.

Libby likes to be up with the forward group even if she gets over taken on the hills sometimes; the call for canter comes and we all skip off with gusto - fantastic to be on forward going horses who obviously love going out, have a mind of their own - haven't gone dead in the head like at some trekking places and want to go without being skittish or crazy. Lost count of the canters and the heavenly gallops where we spread out over stubble fields and have sped up near the race track wishing we could go on and on; trotting back through the lanes and hearing the clatter of hooves is great too, brings people out with their kids to wave & v. good for my thighs!

Back to house for tea, toast made on the Aga and a selection of delicious home made jams - Heather is a cracking cook as well as a good laugh & full of life. I have gained in confidence with this 'loose rein' riding approach, Mick has tons of experience and knows how to have an exhilarating time safely, have met some great people, had some wonderful days out & seen some beautiful countryside - all the stress and strain of the week and being 'the management' slips away and am happy & relaxed - just wish I could do it every day … hey ho … I think they should be available on the NHS, best tonic I can think of '

Take care, best wishes

Helen Barbrook

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20 November 2009

What a wet week...   Mid November and it hasn't stopped raining for days.   We moved the horses back to the winter yard and their snug stables a couple of weeks ago and although they love grazing in the fields, they all appreciate being able to step in out of the wind and rain.

No fairweather riders are we!  On Saturday nine stalwart riders turned up in the pouring rain to tack up and ride out.  We tacked up in the big barn and then sat on our horses saying "Are we mad or what!?"  We all decided that yes, we were all mad and trotted off up the lane.  And yes, it was wet, and yes, we got wet, but YES we had a great ride and every one of us agreed that we were glad we had ridden out.  Billy Connolly reckons there is  no such thing as bad weather - it's just  a matter of wearing the right clothes!

We decided an hour was long enough to be out and the horses were glad when they knew we had turned for home.  Once back we gave them all a bucket of food and thatched them off by rubbing them briskly all over with a handful of clean straw.  That done the girls went in individual stables and the boys went into their big open barn to dig into their hay.  Then it was back to the Cottage for tea and toast with Mick regaling us with  jokes and stories.  Life is good.

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