New loan horse and hacking on Dartmoor today

Spot_the_Risk

Spot_the_Risk

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Joined
10 May 2007
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Location
Devon
www.animalcrackersdevon.co.uk
We've been looking for a new horse for my husband for a while, and as so often happens one just kind of appeared... Finlay belongs to a customer of ours and is coming to us on a 'as long as you need him' loan. He hasn't done a lot in his life, he's about ten years old and occasionally gets jumped on bareback to go and check the sheep, he lives out on a Dartmoor hill farm, he has about 800 acres to roam on! These are pics of my husband on Finlay, with Finlays owner on her mare, enjoy Dartmoor!

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Yes they are both spotted, they have the same sire but the mare had a TB dam and Finlay had a Vanner for a mother! This was near Grimspound which is between Moretonhampstead and Princetown on the eastern side of Dartmoor, although we live on the far eastern edge in the Teign Valley, not as open as the pictures. The owner of Finlay organises a pleasure ride each summer in aid of The Brooke, I doubt she has a date set yet though, this goes all over the moor and through forestry too, well worth the trip!

Victoria, where are you? Mijods I know vaguely where you are!
 
My Trad-Lad (one in the picture!) actually came from Dartmoor, I had him on winter loan from a trekking centre at Sticklepath and ended up keeping the blighter :) - so he'd know his way around up there; bet he'd find his way "home" to where he used to live....... he's a wiley old monkey.

We're near the new A30, in fact we hack along the BP right next to it, between Exeter Airport and Ottery St Mary turn-off; we CAN get up to Woodbury Common but its a three-hour round trip, but possible on a nice day with a piccie lunch.
 
He was from Skaigh Stables wasn't he? Nice riding up around there. I thought you were closer to Woodbury, three hours would put me off! We deliver to Canterbury House Farm and I always wonder where they hack from there, my boys are good in traffic but it's the drivers that frighten me a bit!
 
OP, you are making feel very unsettled by posting these photographs! I am a Devonian in exile (born in Exeter, lived in Kenn then Chudleigh). I have ridden on Southern Dartmoor many times but not for many years. You are making me yearn to go back (and not just for a holiday!).

Chants to self 'I love living where I am now, I love living where I am now'.

It's only partly working......
 
Spot_the_Risk said:
Paddy555, spot on, they've been felling timber in Soussons and the last tor is Heltor!
Click to expand...

I bet N took you up around the mines and back through HW. Lovely day for it.
So many happy week ends spent boxing to Blackingstone and riding down Burnicombe to the cafe for coffee. I really miss the smell of the wild garlic. Is it still there.
 
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