Surviving the Winter

A ride returning in the snow.

This winter has been remarkably mild and we had not really even had an overnight frost until January.  Consequently the horses are still finding some forage, and this, supplemented by good hay, is keeping them all looking round and well.  Dee is doing particularly well and has a beautifully glossy coat and has kept a good weight.  Her mane in particular is looking thicker and glossier than I have ever seen.

On Saturday the weather suddenly turned seasonal and we dashed up to Briwnant in case it would prove difficult to get there again for a few days.  Dee was in a stable having a feed of haylage, but was happy to accept a feed from us as well . . . of course.  We added an under-rug to her winter turn-out rug as it was so cold.

Red was also there and happy to be given treats.

Then surprisingly, the snow turned to rain later in the day and was all gone by the following morning.  Perhaps that is the sum total of our winter weather this year . . . or perhaps there is more to come.

Cuddles, carrots and country walking

I took Dee's rug off for a couple weeks because it went so mild but it's back on her again now.  It is still pretty mild but goes suddenly cold some nights and has been very wet.  She is looking really well.

As I travelled down the track to the yard today I could see that the horses were in the far fields near the motorway.  They are not usually allowed in these fields as they are kept for hay, but at this time of year they let the herd into them.  The grass there is still quite lush.  I knew it was unlikely that Dee would want to come in from there.  With so much good grass to eat she is not interested in any feed I bring her. 

She was pleased to see me and happy to come over for treats and cuddles, but I was correct that she was not interested in following me back to the yard.  That was fine by me.  I checked that she and her rugs (under-rug and waterproof sheet) were all okay and left her to it.  I'm quite happy not to be riding much at the moment.  I always enjoy just visiting the horses and it is a pleasant walk in the countryside.  I had to wade through two streams today and was pleased to discover that my wellington boots do not have any holes.

View from Briwnant

I still sometimes marvel at the recovery of my knees as I stride out with confidence across the uneven ground.  There is still the occasional twinge but mostly both knees are fine now.

Back at the yard I found Red who had just come in from an hour's ride and was enjoying some hay.  He was also happy to receive carrots and cuddles.  An enjoyable visit to Briwnant and good exercise as well.

Rug time

I decided to rug Dee today.  The weather forecast was for colder and wet weather starting this evening.  I don't know whether it is really a little early to start rugging, but I felt I left it a bit too late last year and didn't want to risk that mistake again.  Horses expend such a lot of their energy just on keeping warm and dry in the winter, and Dee is a senior citizen.

It does not seem to be so very cold this evening, but it is blowing a gale outside and the rain is hammering down, so I do not regret my decision.  It is nice to think of Dee tucked up in a waterproof rug and protected from the bite of the wind.

Riding in three seasons

The last two weekends we have had to work and so have been unable to ride together.  So yesterday 'ö-Dzin took a day off work and we went on a lovely ride together.

We decided to do the same ride as I had ridden with my friend TK a couple of weeks ago, as 'ö-Dzin had never been on the golf course bridleway.  This time we were going to do this circular route in the opposite direction however.

The Ganol

We set out in glorious sunshine.  The weather has been extraordinary in Wales for about a week – hotter than it has been at any time during the summer.  It was really too hot for riding but it seemed silly to waste this little glimpse of what summer could have been.  Unfortunately Red had already been out for an hour so he was a little reluctant.  As it was so hot and Red had already done some work, we decided to make this a slow ride.

The horses had a long drink when we crossed the stream in the Wenallt.  When we arrived at the Ganol quite a strong breeze had blown up.  All around us leaves were falling and it felt much more autumnal.  We had heard that the weather was due to break and had hoped that we would be lucky and it would hold out for the Monday.  We did not canter the horses at all on this ride.  We had a few trots.  We were content to plod and simply enjoy being out together.

Ridgeway golf course

At the end of the lane leading to Ridgeway livery, where the horses used to live, there are two gates to negotiate.  Red is not very good at gates.  He doesn't seem to understand what he needs to do – either that or I fail to ask him properly.  Dee is wonderfully intelligent with gates and so we usually ask her to take the lead and show Red what to do.  It turned out that the gates were easier to deal with in this direction as it was just a matter of pushing them open.  We succeeded in getting through them both without needing to dismount.

I love this photo of Dee

The track across the golf course was much more obvious in this direction.  Red was a bit unsure of a golfer on a green near the track.  There were two fluttering red flags and the golfer had a big bag lying on the green.  Red became very alert.  Then there was a large skip full of rubbish which he was not too keen on either and stepped sideways to give it a wide berth.  Then as we rounded the edge of the house there were two red mattresses and Red started on seeing them – but that was it: the totality of Red's concern.  He is such a steady lad.  Dee is always calm and reassured when she is with him and will follow him past anything.

Are there any more treats?

Red was completely relaxed again by the time we reached the road at the end of the bridleway.  Neither of them were bothered by facing the traffic.  It seemed more sensible to continue on the footpath to Wenallt Road facing the traffic rather than having to cross the road twice.  It is only a short distance.

Beginning the walk down Wenallt Road we could see cloud rolling in across the hills.  The top of the transmitter tower was lost in mist.  It became really cold and damp – winter seemed to have arrived!  We crossed the fields for the last part of the ride to avoid the very narrow part of Wenallt Road and soon we were home.  Dee and Red, Nor'dzin and 'ö-Dzin had all had a splendid time together.

Golf course bridleway

The trail from Briwnant yard

We've had a few lovely rides recently.  The weather is pretty changeable and we did get soaked on one ride, but then the sun came out and we were all dry again by the time we got back to the yard.

Last Thursday TK came over from Bristol again and we started on our mission to try out new rides.  This time we were aiming to find the bridleway that crosses the Ridgeway golf course.  I already knew how to access it from the Rhiwbina Hill side but did not know the way to it from Caerphilly Road  – so that was the task of the ride.

I was also trying out Red with a saddlebag with water bottles for the first time and he was fine.  It didn't bother him at all.

Across the stream from the Wenallt

We took the horses up the road to the end of Wenallt Road because we felt the trail that goes up there straight off the yard would be rather too muddy with all the rain we have had.  Red was so funny.  I was surprised at how well he was stepping out at the beginning of the ride, but when we got to the top I found out why.  He expected to turn into the track back down to the yard.  He was quite put out to be asked to carry on further.

Wenallt trail

Arriving at Caerphilly Road by The Travellers Rest we then walked the horses along the pavement by this busy road.  Fortunately there were no buses or noisy motorbikes.  In fact the entrance to the bridleway was clearly obvious.  We did miss one of the trail markers and went a little off course (well actually on course – the golf course, oops!!) but eventually arrived at the gate by the stream that marks the end of the golf course.  TK kindly dismounted and remounted to negotiate this gate and the second one near Ridgeway livery – Nell's place.  We think the horses remembered it as they used to live there.  Then it was back through the Ganol and a good canter, and home along the Wenallt trail.

Horse trail vandals

I was interested to read on White Horse Pilgrim recently about his displeasure at endurance riders marking the bridleway, because similar markings have appeared on the Wenallt trail.  I do not know whether this is from a fun ride or an endurance ride.  It definitely was NOT from the Briwnant fun ride.  The markers occur all along the horse trail so I am pretty sure they are related to horseriders.

These markers are sprayed on with bright orange fluorescent paint.  They are ugly and deface the trail.  This is horse trail vandalism.  These marks will not wash away and may be there for years.  They are not even necessary as the trail is pretty clearly marked anyway.

I hate this.  If you are a local reader and know which organisation or group did this, please ask them to stop.

Jumping on the cross country

Here are a few more photographs from the Briwnant fun ride on August bank holiday Monday.  There are a lot of jumps on the cross country course and Red was a good lad and jumped a fair number of them without any fuss.  He and his rider had a good time.

I rather wished I had taken Dee's saddle and bridle up with us.  She would have enjoyed the cross country part of the ride.  Never mind – the jumps will still be there and we can do them another time.  Nicky who leads many of the rides at Briwnant and led the fun ride, often takes people over the cross country.  She told me that sometimes Dee joins in and jumps some of the fences with them—without a rider or tack—just because she loves jumping.