A fun afternoon's trekking on Cannock Chase

Kirstd33 said:
Originally we first commented on a few of the horses being on the leaner side but as Lisa explained they were just being moved from their winter grazing to their lush summer grass and would look very different in a few short weeks. but then after riding for 2 hrs at a fast pace all over the chase and both ours horses barely sweating we decided that they looked exactly what fit horses look like and that we are conditioned to seeing fat unfit cobs!
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I knew one of the Sec D's who went from the trekking centre to a quieter life. He definitely chunked out in his new home!

They're just very fit and we're not used to seeing cobs and welshies in a proper level of work sadly.
 
SEL said:
I knew one of the Sec D's who went from the trekking centre to a quieter life. He definitely chunked out in his new home!

They're just very fit and we're not used to seeing cobs and welshies in a proper level of work sadly.
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You're 100% right, I'm on a yard full of semi retired fatties and it seems to be endemic
 
Another lovely but very warm 2 hour morning ride out on the Chase today.

The staff pre warned us that due to the hot weather (temps expected up to 28°C) that the ride would be very steady for the horses’ sake. Quite right, too.

Two of us HHOers were out 🙂.

I was riding Baby, a diamond of a gentle giant, a looong 17hh Knabstrupper who dials the ride he gives according to the capabilities and inclination of his rider.

We mounted in the indoor school so that the horses were out of the sun for as long as possible. We had a lovely ride, a few short canters, much of the route in the shade, with a pause for the horses to drink mid way round.

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Still over six miles covered in the two hours.

And afterwards, we two HHOers sat down to a properly scrumptious lunch in the Bistro, yum 😋.

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Oooh that lunch looks lovely and it's nice to have the woody bits to ride in. I know I've said it before but I do miss the Chase - all roads down here.

I knew Baby as a yearling when he was with Lisa's cousin. Never guessed he'd get that big!!
 
Tiddlypom said:
Operation 'get me fit enough to book on a multi day trail riding holiday' has now entered the third phase, after getting rather waylaid over the last year by post double covid fatigue.

First phase was this time last year, returner riding lessons in the arena at an excellent local riding school on the lovely Tulip.

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Second stage was biomechanics training on Rocky the riding simulator.

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Third stage started today, riding out for 2 hours with a group in all 3 paces in open spaces. My mount was the lovely Buttons, a kind leg at each corner cob who apparently has a side line in barrel racing. I can thoroughly recommend the establishment that I rode at if you are ever around Cannock Chase. It was great fun and the ride was very well organised. I was questioned as to my experience levels, and in response to me stating that while I am very experienced I would like a very steddy neddy, thank you, I was given the choice of two, of which I chose the steadiest 🤣. Whizzier mounts are available for those who want them.

He gave me a lovely ride.

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Managed the two hours in the saddle pretty well, and managed to dismount at the end without buckling over! So getting closer to my aim of a multi day trail riding break.
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Sounds great fun, we'll done!
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Perhaps.... just perhaps, I might feel a need to trek up and join in sometime when weather more cool. Group hho hack?
Recco for overnight accom pse 😊
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A group HHO hack sounds ace 🙂.

I will enquire re recommendations for decent accommodation. Being not far off the M6/A5 there are number of budget options like Travelodge and Premier Inn around, along with posher/more niche options.

I’ve done both the morning and the afternoon 2 hour rides (9.30am and 1.30pm) on the same day before, and @2ndtimearound was doing just that on Wednesday 🙂. The Bistro is a very pleasant place to chill in the 2 hour gap between the rides, it’s a destination in its own right.


It’s a 48 mile easy each way drive for me, I set off at 7.30am to be there in plenty of time for the morning ride.
 
Count me in! and eldest daughter who at 16.5 yrs is practically adult and great company. we're an hours drive away on the shropshire/welsh border and need no excuse for a return visit.
 
Sounds fun! 😁

Are you all thinking of just doing the morning ride or the afternoon too? The mornings are the experienced rides, and the afternoons are mixed ability. If you are thinking both, just to warn you that the afternoon rides at a weekend in the summer, particularly in the school holidays, are a) very busy and b) can be quite slow depending on how many beginners/novices there are. Still fun, but forewarned is forearmed and all that! I’m assuming it would need to be a weekend for those of us who work weekdays.
 
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