Birker2020
Well-Known Member
I went on the above ride on Sunday, with my horse and o/h and the dog - it was brilliant! I'd never been before as I was under the impression it was only about six or seven miles but I reckon it was a good 10 so worthwhile. O/H walked the dog and I went off ahead and did my own thing. We had a lovely time, Bailey was full of running. At one stage we had to walk down a track next to a railway line and I could see a steam train coming so shouted to those behind me to warn them, one of the ladies had a youngster. Bailey stood like a rock when the locomotive horn went off - it was really loud , the others were dancing around all over the place! Everyone after said how good he was which made me smile, as he has a complete meltdown if he sees a big leaf blowing in the wind - dock leaves are his worst nightmare! It made me so proud of him though, he's such a special horse.
There was a lovely gallop track made of rubber and sand, and a group of riders in front pulled over to the side for me to pass so I had a lovely steady uphill canter on him.
We had to go through a wooded area at one stage and the canopy floor was really deep in places with leaf mulch and mud and I was a bit worried about how his suspensory branch would be as although fully healed, obviously deep going it detrimental to such a thing, but he seemed sound as a pound so I had a few canters, and jumped all the jumps, including a log pile which he was very suspicious of!
I had some lady steward kindly hold my horse for me as I needed a toilet break (lol) but I managed to climb onto a gate to get back on which was a relief. I even remembered to unlatch my air jacket lanyard so it didn't blow up when I jumped off!
At the end of the ride you could go in another field to have your photo taken by the photographer, this was the same field you started in but as he wasn't warmed up I didn't jump at the start. So I had the photographer take some photos of us jumping. After I'd done a few jumps and a couple of canter circles on the approach to the jumps I trotted back to the finish. My vets practice were present as they were the vets on call, and the husband and wife team both commented on how well my horse looked. I said thank you but I was worried as the forest had been deep in places, and in bending to go under low branches Bailey had took it that that meant faster so we ended up trotting down the slope - not my intention at all!
They both said that from what they had seen and him jumping and trotting towards them he was completely sound, so it was a huge relief and nice of them to say so. All thanks to them that my horse is well again, they said they'd pass on my best wishes to my vet who treats Bailey.
Such a lovely day, it only rained towards the end of the ride and it was nice as it was quite refreshing. The bacon rolls were lovely, and the car park manned really well by the marshalls.I'd like to say thank you to all the organisers, stewards/marshalls and everyone who contributed. It was really well organised and signposted and I will definetely be going next year.
As it was a charity ride Birmingham Childrens Hospital benefited from the proceeds this year.
There was a lovely gallop track made of rubber and sand, and a group of riders in front pulled over to the side for me to pass so I had a lovely steady uphill canter on him.
We had to go through a wooded area at one stage and the canopy floor was really deep in places with leaf mulch and mud and I was a bit worried about how his suspensory branch would be as although fully healed, obviously deep going it detrimental to such a thing, but he seemed sound as a pound so I had a few canters, and jumped all the jumps, including a log pile which he was very suspicious of!
I had some lady steward kindly hold my horse for me as I needed a toilet break (lol) but I managed to climb onto a gate to get back on which was a relief. I even remembered to unlatch my air jacket lanyard so it didn't blow up when I jumped off!
At the end of the ride you could go in another field to have your photo taken by the photographer, this was the same field you started in but as he wasn't warmed up I didn't jump at the start. So I had the photographer take some photos of us jumping. After I'd done a few jumps and a couple of canter circles on the approach to the jumps I trotted back to the finish. My vets practice were present as they were the vets on call, and the husband and wife team both commented on how well my horse looked. I said thank you but I was worried as the forest had been deep in places, and in bending to go under low branches Bailey had took it that that meant faster so we ended up trotting down the slope - not my intention at all!
They both said that from what they had seen and him jumping and trotting towards them he was completely sound, so it was a huge relief and nice of them to say so. All thanks to them that my horse is well again, they said they'd pass on my best wishes to my vet who treats Bailey.
Such a lovely day, it only rained towards the end of the ride and it was nice as it was quite refreshing. The bacon rolls were lovely, and the car park manned really well by the marshalls.I'd like to say thank you to all the organisers, stewards/marshalls and everyone who contributed. It was really well organised and signposted and I will definetely be going next year.
As it was a charity ride Birmingham Childrens Hospital benefited from the proceeds this year.
Last edited by a moderator:
