We were a bit gobsmacked when we looked at Paddy standing next to George today, We've been thinking of Pads as being a bit on the lardy side. His girth pales in comparison to George's though! Yes, George is definitely a boy (as you will see if you look closely), so he can't possibly be in foal. In fairness to the poor old lard bucket, he has been off work for nearly a year.
We are still well chuffed with how Pads looks in comparison.
The weather today was just perfect, sunshine with a light breeze. We are praying to the weather gods that it holds for the ride.
Due to time constraints it was a short hack around the river wall. We were expecting a swamp, which is what we got, although great care was taken not to let them sink and damage anything.
Of course we had forgotten about the field of cattle which we had to pass...
There was a VERY tempting newly cut hayfield on the other side, the gate was open and everything. We restrained ourselves though (mainly because the tractor had just moved to the adjoining field). This meant that the boys had to pass the cattle, who obligingly rustled, snorted and crashed about on the other side of the hedge.
Rash was a big brave (quivering) boy and minced down the track snorting (and pooing).
Paddy just wasn't having it. Cows are his pet hate. He planted himself and would go no further. Shell had to dismount and drag him! Once he had started there was no stopping him though, and he dragged Shell the rest of the way past the field, barging up Rash's bum.
Once past all that we resumed our steady, peaceful hack. We had to, the going was so deep.
Nice views today, with a merciful absence of stormclouds.
Apart from that, I did a radio interview with Radio Wiltshire this morning. I have a feeling that I just gibbered.... did anyone hear it?
Due to time constraints it was a short hack around the river wall. We were expecting a swamp, which is what we got, although great care was taken not to let them sink and damage anything.
Rash was a big brave (quivering) boy and minced down the track snorting (and pooing).
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.
The reason Rash is looking a little cheesed off might have something to do with where we took himself and Pads today. Thinking a little roadwork would not be out of order we headed for the cut through onto the road. It is an official bridleway, signposts and all. The start was less than auspicious with nettles up to their shoulders, but it's usually ok that way, so we persevered. Unfortunately we persevered past the point of no return. Having ploughed our way through ever higher nettles, we found we could go no further, so we had to ride through a potato field. Paddy was not a happy boy as he sank up to his hocks several times. We finally found a footpath, which although not ideal, was definitely the lesser of two evils.
This pic of Ryscheyed says it all really. Mud with extra mud. The plan for today had been to hack to a few of the local pubs (in full regalia). Naturally enough the weather conspired against us, the sunny weather as too good to last. The thunder and lightning and downpour started just as we got the boys in. We reckoned that not many people would be inclined to sit outside a pub in these condtions so we dashed out for a quick canter down by the river between showers. Despite the ominous looking clouds and hefty gusts the boys were bordering on the sonnambulistic. The herd of cattle failed to catch their attention at all. The steps up the river wall on the other hand earned a good snorting from Paddy. Ryscheyed was bowling along beautifully, until he was brought to an abrupt standstill..... by a clump of grass! The whole track is extremely overgrown, so God knows what was special about this one.
On my way West and to Ireland last week I stopped off in Streatley and Goring to have a look at what awaits us. Having read the description of Goring as a 'Market town' we were a little concerned that it might be a bit of a teeming metropolis. Fortunately this is not the case, although it's not short of traffic as you can see from the pics below. Actually it's quite picturesque, I just hope the boys think so too and don't attempt a reprise of Beechers Brook as we cross the bridge. This is where the Ridgeway stops being a bridleway and becomes a footpath. 
We will need to go onto Swans Way and then the Icknield way. I hunted for signs for Swans Way, but found only the Ridgeway and the Thames Path. I asked a few people, including the lock keeper.... nobody seemed to know. Confused? We will be!
This is Paddy at work doing an RDA session. He and Amy are an established combination and understand each other very well.
