A (brief) window of opportunity with the weather, so we went for a shortish hack. Normally the boys go hacking as a pair. I can't imagine why people don't seem to want to join us.... Today was an exception, three whole people wanted to come too. We thought it would be a useful experience for them, although we did wonder if Paddy might think he was out hunting. It's ages since Ryscheyed has been out in company, so he was also a bit of an unknown quantity. In the event both of them behaved immaculately (more than could be said for some of the others). As we had a novice rider with us we took it gently, and amazingly nothing went wrong. A complete absence of spooking, bucking, bolting. Paddy lost a shoe (at the furthest point from home of course), but he didn't want to let it slow him down.... not when he could be showing off in front of a mare. Luckily the farrier was due any minute (see below).
If there's anyone out there who would like to join us for a section of the Ridgeway, you are more than welcome.
Our dates are as follows:
Sun 15th July, Overton Hill to Ogbourne St George (departing around 2pm)
Mon 16th July, Ogbourne St George to Sparsholt Down (early start)
Tues 17th July. Sparsholt Down to (early start)
Weds 18th July. Streatley to Watlington (early start)
Thurs 19th July. Watlington to Wendover
Fri 20th July. Wendover to Aldbury (the bridleway ends here, so we intend to carry on to Ivinghoe Beacon on foot, but in costume!)
Our ride was nearly over before it started today. A different set of dresses had an outing. Despite the aesthetic disadvantages of the other ones, the skirts are at least wide enough to allow sufficient movement. These ones didn't! Shell's skirt got caught in an interesting way on the back of the saddle, trapping her leg (as you can see from the pic). We spent several minutes helpless with laughter before she rectified the situation and got underway.
Today, as promised I made a pillock of myself. Hanging around a horse trials dressed in a ballgown does absolutely nothing for one's self esteem. I spent three or four hours there trying to maintain an expression of interested approachability. I suspect that what I actually achieved was an expression of near psychotic boredom. On the positive side it didn't rain (much) and managed to collect £22. I did feel (while begging and whining for a lorry) that the time should have been spent on the horses.
HOWEVER a lovely lovely kind lady called Sue Crane phoned after I had given up and gone home AND OFFERED US A LORRY ! THANK YOU SUE! Apparently it's called 'The Turd' (due to it's colour).... It sounds like the Ritz though, luxury living for the horse owner on the road! Our gratitude and relief knows no bounds.
