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Report from Laura Middlemiss - May 2009 IN late 2008 several of us from the Intelligent Horsemanship Discussion Group Forum decided we would like to do a sponsored ride this May to help raised much needed funds for the two charities being supported this year. In the past thousands of pounds have been raised for other equine charities but this year we need to do even more because like all of us charities are being hit by the recession…. and because some horse owners are of necessity giving up their horses it is putting even more pressure on places like Lluest Horse and Pony Sanctuary near Brecon. http://www.lluesthorseandponytrust.co.uk/about-the-trust I originally thought I’d like to ride most of the Three Rivers Ride that goes though our county with another IH member but she had to pull out. Several friends wanted to join me on the sponsored ride but could not for various reasons do such a long distance ….. so we changed plans and eventually decided on doing a group pub ride on at least a small part of the three rivers ride toward Pencomb on the Saturday and I would ride south into Hereford to visit a friend on Sunday. I would still do the amount I had told my sponsors of 40 miles ( did 12 on Thursday as well) and we could still do things together.
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Of the group doing the pub ride the star of the show just had to be Dee (pictured right) …... a beautiful 14 year old dun highland mare who in 2007 was going to be shot due to pedal bone rotation ! After a last minute reprieve and loads support from her wonderful owner Menna over the years monitoring and treating the slightest hint of laminitis she has not only survived she wanted to do 16 miles on Saturday ........ quite a feat I am sure you will agree. :-) After several changes of plans our little entourage consisted of Menna on Dee, her daughter Bethany on Harry, ( a lovely big grey gelding loaned to her by Jackie from Galloping Gourmet for the day), Jenny on Brooke ( a beautiful eventer ) and myself (Laura) on my ex rescue welsh cob called Taz. We set off from Litmarsh in cloudy weather and prepared for all eventualities …... my saddlebag had everything I could think of we might possibly need but hoped we wouldn’t !
The bridleways around Marden and in good order and in places there are fields to canter …..not signed but the locals know), it was not till we got to the Crozen end of a lovely long bridlepath that it was spoilt by deep rutting from a wheeled vehicle. We then had an adventurous time around Ullingswick with part of the bridlepath running beside a field with mares, foals and yearlings that got through broken fencing and hedging to follow us along very cut up bridlepath till we got to a gate where we had to shoo them away in order to get through. That was rather nerve racking as we were worried about all the horses at that point hoping no one would get injured. |
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Almost immediately then we encountered a jcb type digger digging up a gravel driveway the bridlepath goes along through a “garden” area ……. Thankfully the driver kindly moved it or we would then have been rather stuck ! Fields with lovely views followed and once the gates were negotiated we reached our destination ….. . the Pub. The aptly names Three Horseshoes was hospitable and had a tie ring on the trees .... we were also offered use of the field (loads grass so only Brooke had that treat ! ) Taz had to be segregated at that point as she had some into season and was pestering poor Harry to do things he just was far to gentlemanly to do ! She settled quite happily then with her own hay under the tree ) mmmmmm just how clever are horses again ? lol |
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| After lovely lunch we wended our way along some quiet(ish) lanes back towards Bodenham and were treated to some stunning views out over the Herefordshire countryside and toward the welsh mountains. Despite even all that roadwork back Dee was still eager to go on .. and more importantly completely sound. She had against all odds and expectations done a 16 mile ride. Menna was beaming ear to ear and should indeed be very proud of their achievement. We must have enjoyed it because everyone wants to do it again … soon ! | ||||||||
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On Sunday I rode with Taz from Litmarsh into Tupsley in Hereford to visit a friend who helped us years ago when Taz needed to change from a frightened bolshy “tank into a relaxed family pone ! Distance 10 miles there ……. 10 miles back. We set of at a reasonable pace and the bridlepaths were in much better condition overall……the ones around Sutton were the best with some beautiful orchards to pass and fields over which to look towards Wales. The Drovers Way from the Sutton can involve a nice circular route along part of it although in bits one needs to duck even on a 14.1 welshie ! The spur off down towards the Worcester Road varies from lovely tracks where one can up the pace for a fair bit …. to places with bad rutting and at one place I found a deep rabbit hole right on the narrow track almost hidden by the grass. I had walked this part first some weeks ago but ideally one should not need to……. Its is a pity it’s not looked after and that bit used because it will be lost otherwise and can be a useful link up to really beautiful bridlepaths like the Lugg Meadows. That was wonderful …. We trotted it alongside the river but its safe to canter the whole 1 ½ miles if there are no walkers / children on the path. The main issue I had, however, was with gates … on the Drovers way and on the Lugg meadows. The ones crossing the railway line were hunters gates but very narrow with little room for manoeuvring… my stirrup got caught up in the mechanism and it could have been a disaster. The self closing gates on Lugg Meadow were ok at the Worcester end but at the other the gate is limited by a post as to how far it can open and it shut on us before I was really clear. My knee argued with the post on the other side when Taz moved a little as the gate hit her……if a horse spooked at that one would end up on a VERY busy main road . All of the information about these and other bridleways I have walked or ridden is being sent to the local BHS bridleways officer so info can be updated … I had discussed this beforehand with her and she asked me to let her know about signage as well. This trip therefore had multiple aims ! |
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| On into Tupsley and a few bemused looks ………. One man came out to see if he was going senile when he heard hoof beats ! The local community support officer on her bike stopped to say hello in bemusement saying she’d never seen a horse on her beat before! . We stopped for lunch at friends ( I had taken a hay net down earlier but she found little plot of lawn and trimmed it !) then we gave quite a few of the local kids a ride around the block, most of whom have never even touched a horse before. Taz and I both liked that part of our journey and my fast striding cob turned into plod mode for the children ! |
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I thought Taz might be tired by now so when we set off back I thought we might be slower … but no … we were even faster and she strode out all the way doing 10 miles in 2 ½ hours. ….. not bad when we had a few gates to do ! Thanks to my lush endurance saddle nothing of me hurt then or after ( just the bruise to my knee to show for the adventure) and Taz was certainly still going strong too. It looks like the total raised will be over £300 just from out little group for the charities involved so not only have we all had a great time this weekend the charities will struggle a little less. A huge thanks to all who sponsored us and thanks to Sally for publicising it for me. |
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Note from Sally: Well done Laura and thanks for your entertaining report and useful notes on the state of the bridleways you used. Right - who's next?! Could you do something similar and which charities will you support? Let me know, I will help publicise it and then upload your report. So get thinking! |
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