Harry in the western saddle- what a smart chappie!

Western saddles!

Having first learnt to ride with Rhia Tapper at Zara Stud, Sidlesham (www.zarastud.co.uk) it is a logical choice for me to choose a western saddle for a long distance ride, not only are they more comfortable over long distances for both horse and rider, they are also easier to load equipment on to. So I thought I'd try my mums western saddle on harry last night and he looked fab, as far as I know he hasn't ever had a western saddle in before, so I was slow to put it on him, letting him look at and smell each but if equipment first and putting the big pad on and off several times before putting the saddle on. Harry was completely unfazed and look great! We only went for a short hack in walk, but hopefully I'll give him another go today- if the black ice in the roads ever melts, or the school un- freezes!

Katrina Littlechild

Harry haffy having a spruce up- looking rather trim(mer!)

How far can you get on one set of shoes?

So on Friday our farrier came and fitted cognac with a shiny new set of shoes. Because if the distances I will travel along my ride I wil need to arrange t get the horses shoes redone several times and I need to arrange this in advance. So with the help of endomondo I'm going to try to record just how many riding miles I get from cognacs new pair within the next 6weeks- my estimate is 120 miles!

Katrina Littlechild

Me after completing Land's end to John O' Groats on my mountain bike.

Updated route plan

I've now spent over £100 on maps!! I still would benefit from help, so if anyone knows Scotland/ Cumbria/ Bristol area/s please do not hesitate to contact me.
So far the route plan is as follows:
Set out from John O'Groats on 1st July, head towards Inverness (slightly vague! Not sure if heading west first then dropping down or heading down east coast- awaiting yet MORE maps) ride along great glen way( loch mess and loch lochy) to fort William, west highland way down to Glasgow, shadow Pennine wat until it joins Pennine bridleway at Hebdon bridge, follow trail to great barrington. Along Sabrina way, Cotswolds, cheddar gorge, Somerset, Dorset, devon (dartmoor), finish along the kernow horse trail in cornwall to Land's end- the home! Simple.
Katrina Littlechild

Training rides

Im in the process of planning a 'like real' training ride. My plan is to take both horses, ride one and lead the other and ride east along the South Downs Way to the National Trust Gumber Bothy on the Slindon Estate, this is about 15 miles from the yard, so a nice easy day to start with. The next day we are going to ride 25 miles to Pyecombe ( and head down to the fantastic pub!) from here we may continue along the SDW to Alfriston or turn around and head home, I will decide nearer the time, depending on how we fit the ponies are. We are setting out on the 9th April, it'll be a great trial run to try out the distances and new equipment and also a good training exercise for the horses. We will also be accompanied by a friend.

What a crazy week!

I have been so busy this week, I feel as if the ride is starting to come together now- all of a sudden it feels very real. Last night and work I got the go ahead to have six weeks off, I just need to let them know the dates. I have decided to start the ride as near to the 1st July as possible, to utilise the long daylight hours and to get home before september, when the weeks can be a bit hit and miss. I have just emailed a transport company that regularly does trips up and down the country with horses. i am just about the email a B&B in Caithness, at the top of Scotland about me and the horses staying there the night prior to the beginning of the ride, giving the horses chill out time after a long and tiring journey up the country, allowing me time to get my gear together and hopefully a big breakfast in the morning before I set off!

Since I bit the bullet and started to buy maps the route is starting to take shape, at the minute I am looking at the Great Glen Way and West Highland Way, both in Scotland and trying to get help with planning a route through Devon and Dorset.

I've been walking Cognac up some steep hills, which he has easily taken in his stride and I have also increased his schooling sessions to 30 min sessions, while asking for tighter turns and more uphill paces from him. I am also including lots of lateral work. Harry has been doing lots of trotting and cantering in the school in an effort to tire his mind out after he threw me out hacking at the beginning of the week- turning for home and running back with out me! and then a couple of days late, while hacking with two other horses he tanked off with me down a track. After break failure I am going to hack him out in a pelham bit with two reins, so I can ride him on the snaffle rein and if I find I need more control I can pick up my curb rein. I will continue to school in a loose ring snaffle as he is fab to ride in the school and very light in the mouth.

I have also been practising riding one horse and leading the other in the school ( with the gate closed!) I have only tried riding Harry and leading Cognac in a headcollar so far- we can stop, turn and even trot with little hassle, now I need to try them the other way round, which I think will be more difficult because of Harry being quite strong to lead at times. So far I've lead Cognac in a bridle , but will use a bridle with a lead rope for Harry.

Hopefully next week we can progress to short hacks out with company.

Tired after all those training rides!

Cognac chilling in the field