As I languish here in abject fear of the sun not being hot enough, I find myself yearning for horse time.
Sad to say, but I prefer horses to doing nothing but sun bathe. The wife lives it, as she feels she gets some attention, ok I can live with that.
Our house sitter hasn’t been in the phone, which is great news, and there has been no other messages from home .
With three days in and four to go, I’m bored, and in need of horse time!….Did I say that already?
Sunday 14th May 2023, I awoke to a sun bright day. Stunning start, my friend and I travelled to Kershope Forest, and without much ado, we were off.
The dogs were in fine firm, scurrying here and there, sniffing and snorting in every bush, grass tussock and beck.
The horses felt the spring, and responded by being agile and full of go, it was great to feel the response.
We covered a good 15 miles, the temperature rose to a delightful 72 degrees, warmest it’s been since last year.
I for one thoroughly enjoyed our ride, Lynne smiled the whole way round, we finished with hot coffee and sandwiches. Freshly brewed coffee!
Great day.
Many times I have rode the hills around my country, sometimes it’s good weather, sometimes bad.
But never has it disappointed me. Although I’m slowing down, I feel like I’m just a boy, sadly that is no longer so, it’s such a shame that Youth, is wasted on the young!
By the time you learn to appreciate your life, it’s almost too late, older, without the strength and physicality to do more. So I do what I can, when I can.
I was invited to take part in a film back in September of 2019, the end result was a great film.
Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, various issues arose, mainly due to personalities. Eventually it was shelved. However, some fine shots of myself(?) and my horse Gracie were taken, and I was lucky enough to get permission to use them.
Then in 2022, another bite at the industry??
So off we toddled to Scotland again, it was rehash of the first film, with different characters. Anyway, we’ll see what the end results will be. As yet, I believe the film is still in the editing stage.
No doubt I’ll end up on the cutting room floor.
It was a good ride. 6am saddle up, and it was just getting light. Cold, but not too bad, horses nostrils pushing breath into the air.
Rachel, Lynne and myself, good horses and great company set the scene. Helvellyn sits behind the sharks fin shaped hill in the shot above. Hidden in the cloud. Our route follows the ridge line to the right of the same shot.
By the time we had gotten to 3000 feet, the temperature was way down, hence the odd shaped hat! Then the clouds rolled in,and the strong winds roared around us like Banshees.
Sometimes doing the right thing is hard, especially since this was Lynne’s first go round. But it was getting a bit unsafe for us and the horses. So down we came. Still a great day.
This was a good day. An early start, and a ride over Caldbeck Common in the Lake District. Here we are on High Pike, looking towards the Northern Fells. A bitterly cold ride, high winds, but it cleaned the mind.
I’m riding Toby, and Lynne is riding Casey.
Nothing has changed much. Rain, wind, rain, wind…….and so on.
The realm of mud has become larger, grass more scarce, and costs risen
It’s to be expected I suppose, however, it takes its toll mentally. I absolutely hate, winter. But especially wet winters. So damn depressing.
The weather has finally broken. So it was Boots and Saddles, and off to begin again, the fittening of both horses. It’s quite shocking what three weeks standing in a field, will do.
Despite the previous months of rain, now that we have an Easy wind, the ground will soon dry.
Just eight miles, dogs an’all, a fantastic rude, loads of hills and dales.
Just love these horses.
The weather has been decidedly crap! For winter, it’s been mild wet and windy, the fields are a mess, and everything is just mud forever. Then we get this!
Overnight it froze, -10c and four days later it thawed.
Then it froze again, and now we’ve got snow again. Never know what it’s gonna do!
On a lighter side, Christmas has come and gone, phew!
Winter is here. Well, it’s supposed to be here, but our average temperature is above the normal. It has rained a lot, in fact as I write, it is a deluge.
Long gone are the pleasant days and evenings of our summer. I still ride out, trying to dodge the showers, and soft ground.
It’s a time to reflect and clean leather, some of which is long over due. Vaquero Cream for the Bosal, and saddle butter for the leather. Beautiful smells, a quiet Tack room and the smell of clean leather, dogs laying by the stove, and coffee brewing. Age, I find has its advantages, one of which is the ability to appreciate that which has been ignored before
Old Man and a Horse 