A Fine Horse in New Country

Our New Blog!

Because it's impossible to update this website while we're away, the news is now on afinehorse.blogspot.com.

I will try and keep it up to date via my iphone (little bit of quality time one on one with the instructions required first methinks) so you will be able to follow our progress : the drama, the tears, the pain, the sweat, the bruises, the blisters...and once I've got the iphone working, we can set off!


Why not come and join us in cyberspace? It'll be fun (for you, maybe.)

More technology...

Anyone who's ever worked with me knows how I feel about technology...something I try to avoid, mostly! However, I was contacted by the manufacturers of TRAKKiT - a GPS tracking device - to see if it's something I would like to trial on the trip.

Originally designed for locating stolen horseboxes and other valuable items, they have been working on it for other uses: eg locating a person or indeed an animal. Basically it's a GPS tracking device.

If you're not sure what this is (and I was a bit vague), this is from their website: "GPS Tracking is the term used to describe how the location of an object can be determined using GPS. A GPS receiver is used to talk to the GPS satellites at regular intervals and the location of the object is recorded within the GPS receiver. The GPS receiver can also send the location to a central computer using the mobile phone GSM/GPRS networks, satellite modem technology or radio waves, where it is stored and can be accessed over the internet with the use of a computer or mobile phone. Usually most GPS tracking systems can be viewed in real time and have a map in the background to easily display the current location of the person or object."

I've always been a little sceptical of technology in the hills, having passed many walkers who were so glued to their GPS screens they don't notice the view. However - I can see some real practical applications for this device.

It can be fitted to a headcollar, so if Doogs and Yeoman were to stray or get nicked, thoeretically I could track them down (or at least track down the headcollar!) Other practical uses include other nominated people being able to see where I am ( hmm, need to have a clear agreement about how long the 'dot' doesn't move before they send out a rescue party) AND I'm told I can have a printout of everywhere I've been (now that would be interesting).

Tim Young at TRAKKiT tells me that it will work even where I'm not getting a mobile signal (that will be lots of places I expect). He also confirmed any fool can use it...now where have I heard that before?
If you'd like to know more (the device is available to hire as well as buy) their website is here. No, you're not allowed to track your spouse or children without their consent! Luckily Doogs just said "Whatever..."

Can we get across here?

I have mentioned elsewhere on the site that I have found the Geograph website handy when planning routes. The website is dedicated to photographing every grid square in the UK - and kind people often upload pictures of where they have been - a good reference to have a look at what lies ahead!

Here is an example, on the track leading through Glen Kinglass to Bridge of Orchy. I can see from the OS map that there is a bridge. Now a bridge can mean anything, from a sturdy stone effort to a much less well-constructed bridge unlikely to be suitable for the ponies. Entering the grid reference on Geograph brought up this picture (left) by Andrew Smith. Hmm, probably best avoided - as well as being a suspension bridge, it also looks pretty rickety!

Luckily the same Andrew Smith also submitted a photo of a much more reasonable looking ford about 400m downstream. This should be passable in anything except spate conditions. Thanks Andrew (and Geograph).

With less than a month to go before we finally set off (we depart on 7 July) - all those little matters I was going to deal with 'later' are claiming my attention. Eek - 'later' is here!

This includes sorting out route wrinkles and sorting out places to stay in the latter part of the trip, making sure my gear is all ready, and dealing with the dreaded technology...

I want to keep a blog en route. Updating this website is not really feasible, so the afinehorse blog will be on blogger. com. (I will post the link once we're 'live'). I can't rely on getting access to the internet (not where we're going) and also, on the occasions when we do have a roof over our heads, I don't want to hog my hosts' internet connection all night long and not speak to them. It would be like having a teenager to stay!

On the advice of my son Mark (who does the cartoons on this website), I now have an iphone. I quote him: "any fool can use it". Ahem - I drove to Kirriemuir (about 6 miles away) and emailed Bill on the iphone to test the system. It works - it only took me TWO HOURS! Hopefully I'll get better at it with practice.

Water, water everywhere...

On previous camping trips with horses, I have drunk water out of many burns with no ill effects. However, given the complexity and length of this trip, I have been looking at alternatives, with the aim of keeping my insides in good order!

Carrying a lot of water on horseback is not very feasible, given how heavy it is. Many water purification systems are complex and time consuming, or leave the water with an unpleasant aftertaste. In my research I was pleased to come across the Travel Tap from Drinksafe systems.

Looking (and weighing) similar to an ordinary sports drink bottle, it contains a cunning water purifier and filter which means that water is instantly available for use. The manufacturers say that it can be used from any freshwater source in the world: river, lake, stream or tap (in countries where tap water may not be of high quality).

As well as a permanent source of instant clean drinking water, it also means clean water for irrigating wounds (not too many of those I hope) or for washing fruit and veg. Widely tested internationally, it instantly removes chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, purification chemicals and taste, sediments and trace metals and waterborne diseases.

Just what I was looking for - more details available from the manufacturers here. I think we're alll becoming more aware of the necessity of staying well hydrated these days, especially as a 'barbeque summer' is being predicted! (By the manufacturers of barbeques, at any rate...)

Open Evening for Hoofprints Over Scotland Ride
***Update***

We had a great night! AND we raised over £600 for our campaign funds for World Horse Welfare, with pledges of several hundred more. Lots of sponsorship and entries for the 'How much Weight will we Gain/Lose' sweepstake...although to the person who thought we would put on 40 kgs - I do hope we prove you wrong on that one.

Lots of thanks for making it such a successful night: to the Angus RDA for providing such a great venue (Doogs and Yeoman were very miffed at having to leave those luxurious boxes); to Ian Hunter MRCVS for chairing the evening so charmingly and efficiently; to Jim and Kevin Balfour, Donald Nicoll and Cider Perrin for fantastic slides and information about the tremendous work they do worldwide to benefit horses and their owners; to all the helpers (Pam Hunter, Marjory Norrie, Marie Graham, Vyv Wood-Gee, Diane Knox, Chic Nicoll, Karen Everett Thomson, Sue and Maurice Taylor - who just nipped up from WARWICKSHIRE to help! - Elinor and Joanne from the RDA, and of course, Bill) and huge thanks to all those people who turned up and gave so generously.

If you couldn't make it but would still like to donate - that couldn't be easier...you can donate here safely online.

Happy birthday Chic!

This weekend saw the celebration of a significant birthday for Chic Nicoll, Grand Wizard of Caenlochan Highland Ponies. (Clue: it wasn't 21, or even 40, or...)

We had an excellent celebratory dinner at the weekend with some dear Highland pony friends. But how to mark this special occasion? We'd need a cake of course!

Enter my friend Sarah, who reproduced this amazing Highland pony out of butter and sugar and chocolate. The model was 'Sorrel', senior doyenne of the herd who is now 34 (and still has all her teeth, which is more than I can say).

Sorrel's not a home-bred: I was 'given' her by a man on Skye many years ago, the only stipulation being I could catch her! Not as easy as it might sound, given that she'd been running wild on a mountain for 17 years, had never been haltered (or even touched). It took me three weeks (on and off) and needless to say I was booted pretty soundly for my trouble when I finally got hold of her. Since then she has become a much-loved member of the clan, although can still be pretty crabbit* when she likes (quite often).

* For afinehorse's international followers, 'crabbit' means grumpy, bad-tempered.

For earlier news, click here.