when you spend 3 days on a turbo cob

[ester]

And realise that your horse hole was much bigger than you realised.
your back issues are much improved by spending 6 hours x 3 days riding.
and you spend the next weekend googling your riding options closer to home and putting out sharer feelers ?

Mum, sis and I spent 3 days at freerein, it was epic, I'm lobbying for a lone self guided option ?. Our guide suggested a self guide next time and mum was predictably no, no, no, nope never (she has no sense of direction so finds even someone else following a map very stressful ?).
It was lovely to see her on a sassy drama mare again though since we lost the blonde one, and they did a fab job of horse picking for me and my more nervous sister - who had already worked out how long it would take her to get there from bristol once she starts her new job.
I just want another to disappear into the wildenerss with - unfortunately we are rather missing that in cambridge!

It was also a particularly fab way to celebrate the 27kg weight loss, still going with that but this time last year I wasn't sure I would be able to sort it to ride again and was trying to make my peace with that but last weekend was worth every protein shake ?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Sounds great, I’m stuck on the 27kg weight loss!! That’s absolutely amazing, such a massive amount! Well done. ?

 

[palo1]

And realise that your horse hole was much bigger than you realised.
your back issues are much improved by spending 6 hours x 3 days riding.
and you spend the next weekend googling your riding options closer to home and putting out sharer feelers ?

Mum, sis and I spent 3 days at freerein, it was epic, I'm lobbying for a lone self guided option ?. Our guide suggested a self guide next time and mum was predictably no, no, no, nope never (she has no sense of direction so finds even someone else following a map very stressful ?).
It was lovely to see her on a sassy drama mare again though since we lost the blonde one, and they did a fab job of horse picking for me and my more nervous sister - who had already worked out how long it would take her to get there from bristol once she starts her new job.
I just want another to disappear into the wildenerss with - unfortunately we are rather missing that in cambridge!

It was also a particularly fab way to celebrate the 27kg weight loss, still going with that but this time last year I wasn't sure I would be able to sort it to ride again and was trying to make my peace with that but last weekend was worth every protein shake ?

Fabulous stuff - congratulations on the weight loss (blooming well done) and so glad you had a wonderful time in 'my' bit of the world!! Tis magic up on the hills on a horse....

 

[Roxylola]

There is a _lot_ to be said for a turbo cob. Glad you had a fab time

 

[TheMule]

I looked at their website- looks amazing!

 

[ester]

She was only 14.3ish but with horse-sized canter strides, and she walked, if Frank had a fault it was his total lack of walk ? by which I mean he'd go the slowest he thought he could possibly get away with, to the point that a passerby once commented on it to his sharer ?

 

[GoldenWillow]

That sounds like a magic three days, in many ways.

 

[ester]

I looked at their website- looks amazing!

Our guide was brilliant, we didn't have to take ourselves too seriously (which kind of sums me up on horses tbh) all the horses felt like they would be totally 100% safe but with enough about them to go on and they were all happy to be out. Mostly cob types but fit.

I also took my own kit, having been riding other people's I realised how much I like my own kit so took my own stirrups and reins ?- which I particularly appreciated when it was raining.

 

[ester]

That sounds like a magic three days, in many ways.

I've not seen my sister since Christmas 2019 as she's been stuck in Malaysia, it was her idea Mum said she's glad we did it before she got too much older.

I was pleased that it seemed that my other fitness crossed over well, and that cycling seatbones work just as well on a saddle.

 

[milliepops]

So pleased you had a fab time ?

 

[DabDab]

Sounds amazing. And wow, massive congratulations on the weight loss, that's incredible

 

[teapot]

Sounds great L! Fantastic way to celebrate the weight loss too, congrats!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

That looks a fab break to do! ?

 

[ycbm]

It was also a particularly fab way to celebrate the 27kg weight loss,

I was just thinking you were looking trim, congratulations on that.
.

 

[ester]

I was so worried I wouldn't be able to do anything about it, having previously failed and with the meds I'm on- it feels a bit silly now but it was very real at the time.

 

[SEL]

That's an awesome weight loss - well done!

I went to freerein with a friend many years ago and we did 3 days self guided and survived. Horses were great and they matched us well. I've always wanted to do their really long ride at some point, but I'd need less broken horses and more money!

 

[Keith_Beef]

That sounds wonderful, Ester.

The scenery looks stunning, and after a quick look at the website I think it's somewhere I'd enjoy.

After all the Brexit and Covid nonsense is over and done with, maybe you'd like to come over for Equirando...

Congratulations on the 27 kg, too.

 

[Tiddlypom]

That looks completely brilliant, ester. All that open country to enjoy in good company and on good mounts. Definitely putting a trip to Free Rein on my bucket list!

I know that they take great care to buy the right sort of horse for the job, and they move any on that turn out not be fully suitable.

What happens to the neds at the stopovers? Do they all get turned out together?

ETA. It's encouraging to hear that your cycling fitness transferred over to the riding, that's how I'll need to get fit enough to go, too.

 

[julesjoy]

That sounds wonderful and congratulations on the weight loss, inspiration!

 

[Reacher]

Sounds fantastic- glad you had such a great time. Congrats on the weight loss - what determination

 

[Goldenstar]

Well done you on the weight loss , it sounds like a great trip .

 

[Archangel]

Fantastic, congratulations all round. I feel quite inspired by your post.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

You can't beat a Turbo-cob!!

I had Supersonic-Cob on Friday when I boxed my little girly up to the local common; it was blowing a hooley up there and we had a fantastic hoon-around - all on our own!!

You can't do better than a decent cob!

 

[southerncomfort]

Fantastic to see you on board a horse again! ?

Sounds like great fun.

 

[ester]

The horses all get turned out together in a nearby field at each stop , there was another group already in the first one so that was a bit entertaining when it was time for their supper but all were polite enough or caught if not. Fields were walking distance though they had arranged transport for the guided group for the first one as it was a bit of a walk. I did ask how did you tell it was the right field if you were on your own but they have a blue flag next to them.

SEL the guide did say that she doesn't enjoy the border to coast as much as its more stoney tracks whereas she can run the loop rides round the best canters. I convinced sister 3 days would be plenty given that none of us are really riding regularly, I was suprised how good I felt but I was tired by the last afternoon, and then it started raining so it didn't help.

Everything is for sale (hence the ribbing of my sister to buy hers though she does fall in love quite easily ?) but also yes they don't keep them if they don't suit- if a horse won't ride in a snaffle it doesn't stay and they try to sell them to quieter lives once they hit teens. My girl really was ideal for the job, and slightly like riding a sofa. They only got her this year.
It's an ideal life for the cobs really as lots of work, you can see that they might struggle with weight on some of the finer ones towards the end of the season.
It was really good that they were all keen and happy to go out every morning (I'm not sure Frank would have!), all were quite keen to lead given the opportunity.
I also liked that they had good saddles which is always a bit of a concern when you are doing long days and get very uncomfortable in a wintec ?. They are all in thorowgood T8 endurance.

I would totally go back preferably with a map and rara or my sister just not mum lol

 

[HashRouge]

Oh I would really like to do this! I was planning on it this year actually, but just never go round to organising. I'll have to see if my sister is up for it next year!
You look great btw ester, well done on the weight loss!!

 

[Haniki]

That sounds a fabulous holiday, I'm very envious! Congratulations on your amazing weight loss.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

That’s fabulous and what an incredible achievement

 

[Tiddlypom]

Your turbo cob mare looks like a real cracker. Are the growing out leg warmers and the hogging because she is new to them, perhaps? The others (pics on the website) are more 'au naturale' with their long manes and feather, etc.

 

[ester]

Yup, they are a work in progress everything else was natural I think! She did look a bit ridiculous with her poofy legs.

We were quite lucky with the weather I think if it had done Monday afternoon for all of the 3 days we might not have been quite so chirpy about it, though wouldn't want it too hot either.

HashRouge, just saying but they have september availability