mile ride ahead of us. We nearly didn’t start, as I realised that I’d left my stirrups at home. Dressage riders and instructors will tell you that riding without stirrups, but nine miles over the Downs on a horse who doesn’t know where she is? Not really my idea of fun, but this little hitch wasn’t going to stop me. I fashioned some ‘stirrups’ out of baler twine – always worth carrying some spare string – and made do with them. It did mean that we had to keep to walk all day – not really safe to trot or canter with string round your feet!
We had beautiful views to both sides of us and wide grassy tracks. A few walkers past us as the black clouds started to catch up behind us and suddenly the heavens opened and we were soaking wet. It was the real wet rain that gets in, but we weren’t the only ones to suffer – quite a few walkers we met didn’t even have coats on.
The rain cleared and Barbary Castle rose above us on the Ridgeway – ancient ramparts built thousands of years ago, from where to watch the valleys below. We rode up through the ramparts – it would have made a lovely canter, if I’d had stirrups!
Soon we seemed to settle into a rhythm, eating sandwiches as we went along. I’m not sure I could have got back on if I got off, anyway. The wind was strong and we soon dried off, before getting wet again in the steady drizzle.
The Ridgeway is clearly marked, so the navigation is easy. Eventually we turned down the hill into the village of Ogbourne St George. With not far to go it was nice to get off and walk for half an hour, after three hours of riding. I think the horses enjoyed hading a stretch too.
We arrived at Fox Lynch, somewhere listed on the Ridegeway website, where we’d booked B&B for us and the horses. There were nice stables and plenty of hay for two tired horses, who seemed pleased to get out of the rain. A rather small and shabby bunk room with rosettes pinned to the ceiling for us. Photos of horses on the wall – obviously a family of riding and training. We put our saddles on the sofa as there wasn’t much room to move. I wonder when the sheets were last changed and I really didn’t like the look of the shower …
The local pub, The Inn with the Well, (where I would stay if I ever need to spend the night around here again) doesn’t do food on Sunday evenings. Luckily, we’d arranged to meet my parents, who took us to a lovely for supper. We got back to our ‘digs’ in time to see Nadal win Wimbledon, before settling down for the night ... or so we thought ...
The Ridgeway is clearly marked, so the navigation is easy. Eventually we turned down the hill into the village of Ogbourne St George. With not far to go it was nice to get off and walk for half an hour, after three hours of riding. I think the horses enjoyed hading a stretch too.
We arrived at Fox Lynch, somewhere listed on the Ridegeway website, where we’d booked B&B for us and the horses. There were nice stables and plenty of hay for two tired horses, who seemed pleased to get out of the rain. A rather small and shabby bunk room with rosettes pinned to the ceiling for us. Photos of horses on the wall – obviously a family of riding and training. We put our saddles on the sofa as there wasn’t much room to move. I wonder when the sheets were last changed and I really didn’t like the look of the shower …The local pub, The Inn with the Well, (where I would stay if I ever need to spend the night around here again) doesn’t do food on Sunday evenings. Luckily, we’d arranged to meet my parents, who took us to a lovely for supper. We got back to our ‘digs’ in time to see Nadal win Wimbledon, before settling down for the night ... or so we thought ...
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