13 May 2016

Horses for Courses


A cowboy just rode through my garden.



No, I’ve not been on the red wine, it's only 10.00 in the morning.  About eight horses and riders have just trotted through my garden.  The guy leading them was dressed as a cowboy, Stetson and all.



There is a chemin rural (a public right of way) through our property. It is rarely used, maybe one tractor a year and the occasional hiker.  It always catches me by surprise when someone passes through. During the summer there is an equestrian cross country endurance event in the local area.  Over the weekend about a hundred and fifty horses and riders will pass through.  The first ones to arrive are the keen, competitive guys, galloping through at high speed.  Then there are the Pony Club girlies.  You can hear them chattering miles away before they trot through looking chic in their knee high boots and their pony tails switching away in tempo with the horses’ tails.  



Some riders are just out for a pleasant day’s ride.  They stop to admire the garden or have a chat about the house. Later in the day the family groups plod through, Papa leading on his old grey mare, followed by the kids on an assortment of ponies, and Maman wearily bringing up the rear on a hairy old cob.



I love watching this spectacle.  Just keep my fingers crossed that the ground is dry so that they don’t turn my garden into a quagmire.

9 comments:

  1. You are very 'laid back' about your visitors passing through. Was this something that was made clear to you prior to purchase? If we see No 224 there could have been close to a 1000 hooves.

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    1. The track is so rarely used it really isn't a problem. I love watching the horses go through.

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  2. We shall be having a million walkers, and two million riders passing behind our house tomorrow! Any suggestions? We have thought of selling ice creams and water at outrageous prices.

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  3. I was just thinking I hope none of them go a little too far to the left and end up galloping through Haddocks on the way from yours Sue. But it looks like a route is heading Haddocks way in any case.

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    1. Yup, all part of the same circuit.

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    2. I shall be there with my bucket and spade.

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