Common rides - who's done one?

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Sologirl

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Got my first tomorrow and I'm excited/terrified! Anyone else been on one? If so what was it like? (if you have horror stories don't reply until after 8pm tomorrow LOL!!)
 
I did Langholm Common Riding a few years back, and the actual day itself involved a lot of standing around amongst a lot of horses, who are right next to the public so if yours kicks or does anything daft I may think twice...! They need to to be able to stand patiently and have manners.

There was only one fast bit of riding on the day, the rest was quite sedate walking and a bit of trotting, mostly throught the town.

Now the rideouts beforehand were something else altogether - I have never done anything so fast and crazy in my life! Lots of fun if you can trust your horse, but a lot of people seem to hire them for the day/rideouts - there were 100 plus combinations on some of the ones we did! I guess it isn't dissimilar from hunting.
 
I was Currie Ensign 2yrs ago and have done quite a few rides.

Which ride are you doing? Some are sedate and easy. Some are really harsh on the horses. You often end up going fast over ground you'd never normally even consider cantering on. Some push the horses really hard.

You'll find that a lot of people hire and therefore have no regard for their horse. I've taken mine on quite a few but selected carefully for suitability. I don't want him trotting and galloping for 8hrs over rubble tracks. Or cantering along tarmac roads :eek:

If your taking your own it needs to be fit and have decent speed of trot and walk (else you spend all day trying to keep up : rides are led by big hunter types) and be sensible enough in canter and gallop to not try and over take in silly places (tracks are often narrow)
 
Eek LOL :eek:

It's the Penicuik Hunter and Lass rideout (the evening shorter one, 2hrs-ish) so fingers crossed for me! :D My horse is pretty steady normally but I know most find an extra gear when in a big group, so better find my velcro seat!! :D
 
Yes done lots since I was about seven my mum and sister have both led the local one to us,we do a few during the summer.
You do have to watch the other horses riders but can keep yourself out of trouble easily.

You can set your own pace more or less just make sure your horse is fit and be aware some horses can get very excited I had one last year who really lost the plot we have found out he is not good in large groups bless him.

I often take the younger horses to the quieter rides as if you keep out of the way at the back it can be good experience for them.

It is good fun and everybody is really friendly and there is usually a good knees up in the evening after the ride.
 
Took my newly purchased ex racer out after 2 months of being out of racing wasn't sure whether it was going to undo all the good work id done of calming him or whether he would actually settle to enjoy the day - went with a really good friend who doesn't faf about tacked up before hand - got there, got on and went and he loved it - bit joggy to start with but tini tiny in comparison to what he did when i first got him and he loved every minute - you will be fine !!! if your horse is usually solid you will be absloutely fine - mine isn't dead quiet all the time normally and he was fine - just enjoy yourself and deal with things as they happen as i bet you will go and have a really good time and all will go without a hitch so don't worry until it happens.
 
Penicuik's one of the better rides. I might take Piper 2moro if i'm organised. It'll be nearer 4hrs by time you get back to trailer, not 2! Def taking him on Sat! We're not doing second part (the canter over ground I wouldn't, on the way home) so boxing over to Penicuik then riding home at Balerno.
 
Sorry I ignorant question,, what is a common ride?


We have two commons in Lincoln, which horses/ ponies graze, and riders ride, I am guessing that is not what you mean.

So want to know more :) x
 
mulledwhine said:
Sorry I ignorant question,, what is a common ride?


We have two commons in Lincoln, which horses/ ponies graze, and riders ride, I am guessing that is not what you mean.

So want to know more :) x
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Basically they are town boundary rides, and are mostly restricted to the Scottish Borders. They date back hundreds of years in some cases, and as well as doing the traditional check on key areas of the parish they commemorate the townsfolk killed in the past - our local ride is led by someone carrying a flag stolen from the English army at Flodden and returned to the town by the only townsman to survive the battle.

They are a HUGE thing here, the local children are more excited about the common ride than they are at Christmas! There is a huge build up to the ride day itself, and the 'important people' who are elected each year to represent their town carry out loads of official duties. Each town has its own colours (sashes/rosettes) and songs. There are concerts, gymkhanas, race meetings etc that all go alongside the common ridings, and the local children get the day off school :D

My local ride usually has over 400 riders turn out, it is quite a spectacle!
 
Few photos :)

Early start :eek:
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Mustering
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Riding the boundary
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Flag
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Fording the river
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Edinburgh ride

Arthur's seat
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Scottish Parliament
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Royal mile
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Castle
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Apologies for overload!
 
Wooooowwwwww
Never heard of these, but Rhino, your photos look fab!!!
I just need a scottish horse to borrow Lol! I think it would be too far to travel my horse

such fun!
 
Ive done a fair few,Just doing Flodden this year but its mostly just Kelso and Coldstream as its not too far to taxi home lol after a few in the pub afterwards :D I learned fairly quickly that its really important to remember to keep your distance from the horses infront (particullarly (sp) on twisty tracks where you cant see ahead ) as theres often a number of sudden stops from canter, and crashes have been known to happen resulting in jockeys on the floor and horses getting kicked.

this is me in 2004? i think lol, on the grey to the left, following the Kelso laddie into the square, was on the front page of the local newspaper lol.
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I did the one you're doing about two years ago! It's not too crazy, one gallop in a big sloping (!) field which was actually very controlled and then a long one along the railway line which seemed to go on for ever! Have fun! I'm v jealous!!
 
I lived in Galashiels for 4 years whilst i was a student... i watched the rideout go through to town every year.... itching to get on and have a go. I could never afford to hire a horse though being a poor student at the time

loving the pics too... seeing Selkirk town centre brings me back! always remember having to drive through the town to go home and seeing a sign on a shop "home of the Selkirk bannock"
 
Ah you have all the fun oop north. Us useless southerners don't do anything as exciting as that. Am now campaigning to turn the UK upside down.
 
rhino said:
The sign is still there, I pass it daily on the way to the yard!
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wow! i went to the scottish college of textiles 19 years ago!!! so glad its still there! we are all planning our 20yr reunion next year and im soooo exited about going back! those 4 years were the best of my life!
 
I did the Tuesday night Penicuik one a few years ago on a friends horse but she spent the whole time pulling like a train. We were lucky enough that we could hack to it pretty easily.
Would have popped down to tomorrow night but i'm working unfortunately.
And the Saturday one always clashes with driving events so we escape early lol
 
Well I'm back, survived and LOVED IT!!! Oh my goodness, what a fab evening! The weather was stunning, my horse was an angel (an excited angel!) and now I'm just buzzing!!

Few pics: (disclaimer - horsie does not belong to me!)

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I'm 6th from the right one this one!

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Halfway break point -scuse the stupid face on this one!!
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gillianfleming said:
I did the Tuesday night Penicuik one a few years ago on a friends horse but she spent the whole time pulling like a train. We were lucky enough that we could hack to it pretty easily.
Would have popped down to tomorrow night but i'm working unfortunately.
And the Saturday one always clashes with driving events so we escape early lol
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Is that the one that goes thru Roslin? I came across one once while out hacking - scariest few minutes while they passed!

Havign said that though, I went on a hireling to the Kelso one a few years ago - OMG, it was a BLAST - I still laugh thinking about it. Would I do it on my own horse?:eek: NO WAY! But it was fun.

Just remembered a funnyish story - the Kelso ride was about 3 hours one afternoon/evening. So had done the ride, survived it and had loads of laughs. However, at the end there was a gymkhana for the kids - but there was no where around after riding for three hours to go for a wee, which I was desperate for at this point. So I handed hireling over to my friend so she was stuck with two strange horses to hold while I tried to pick my way thru the bushes for a suitable and semi-private place to squat - and my choice was barbed wire or stinging nettle. I unwisely chose the stinging nettle. :eek: It was an interesting ride home!
 
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Yes i think it does go through Roslin PnP

Looks like you had a fab time, you certainly had good weather for it :-)

I keep thinking i should recognise the horse you were riding
 
PucciNPoni said:
Is that the one that goes thru Roslin? I came across one once while out hacking - scariest few minutes while they passed!

Havign said that though, I went on a hireling to the Kelso one a few years ago - OMG, it was a BLAST - I still laugh thinking about it. Would I do it on my own horse?:eek: NO WAY! But it was fun.

Just remembered a funnyish story - the Kelso ride was about 3 hours one afternoon/evening. So had done the ride, survived it and had loads of laughs. However, at the end there was a gymkhana for the kids - but there was no where around after riding for three hours to go for a wee, which I was desperate for at this point. So I handed hireling over to my friend so she was stuck with two strange horses to hold while I tried to pick my way thru the bushes for a suitable and semi-private place to squat - and my choice was barbed wire or stinging nettle. I unwisely chose the stinging nettle. :eek: It was an interesting ride home!
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lol i know this all too well :D
Im presuming if there was a gymkhana after it would have been the monday night ride to Heiton and Roxburgh? The last time i did that ride one of the local stables had a strangles breakout and they then hired in horses for the kids, big mistake, last field home there were 16 fallers and 2 needed an ambulance. No one was seriously hurt just a bit bumped.
The Tuesday night is the best one IMO, fast and straight to the point :) I' ve lost count how many times ive done it, and loved it each time :)
we always used the Monday night to test how the horses were feeling and if they were fit enough to do the whole week. Brings back memories of old friends lol
 
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