A Fine Horse in New Country

19 February 2009

It's Bugging Me


Hasn't it been fantastic to see the sun the last couple of days? I'm not enough of an optimist to think that spring is here - after all, the snow is still lying behind the dykes here in the East of Scotland, evoking doom-sayings from the old farmers hereabouts (accompanied by lots of grim teeth-sucking) but a welcome change all the same. Even if it does show up the grimy windows in MY house...

The promise, however distant, of warmer weather to come has set me thinking about dealing with insects on the big ride, especially those pesky midges. As we do a lot of camping, I like to control them as much as possible by trying to pitch my tent and corral the horses on higher ground, away from trees and still water.

It's important that the boys can graze in peace in the evenings - it's horrible to see them pacing round pestered by midges, when they've already covered a lot of ground during the day. If midges are out, the horses wear full face masks which definitely make them more comfortable. You can ride in them too, if the midges are really terrible (though I wouldn't care to jump, perhaps).

In the past I have used DEET-based repellents, which do work, but I question how environmentally-friendly they are. They're certainly not friendly to plastic or nylon, and the last repellent I used "ate" the horse's face mask. Yikes! The famous Avon Skin So Soft definitely helps against midges, but it's not a total solution.

So I'm trialling Stop-it-All, an eco-friendly preparation from www.karenruggles.co.uk. I have been using the product on minor scrapes and itching, a horse with mud fever and a terrier with a skin condition and have been really impressed with the results so far - conditions clearing up within a few days. Karen tells me that it works well against midges too when used according to the instructions, so will definitely try it out when the time comes. It's certainly safe to soak the horses' masks in, she promises! Hopefully this will be all I need but...

...my pincer movement against the dreaded midges may also include a portable Vape - a small version of the ones people have on their patios on the west coast (and swear by). They're supposed to clear an area of 35 cubic metres, so could be really handy in camp. The batteries apparently last a couple of months, and since they're about a tenner, I'm definitely tempted! More tempted than by the sovereign remedy suggested by a rider in Dumfries and Galloway, which was to smother myself and the horses in used chip fat. Apparently it really works...

19 Feb 2009
A Date for your Diary

The forthcoming trip is in aid of a very deserving charity - World Horse Welfare. As well as looking after horses in need in the UK and campaigning vigorously against the transporting of live horses across Europe for slaughter in their Make a Noise campaign, they also do tremendous work in developing countries. They organise and run training courses for the owners of working horses, ponies, mules and donkeys, teaching them how to carry out farriery, harness-making and fitting, and general welfare.

On Saturday May 30th at the Riding for the Disabled Centre, South Bottmyre Farm, Inverarity, by Forfar, we are holding an evening event to showcase the work that World Horse Welfare do abroad, with presentations by a farrier and a master saddler who have made many such trips. Many thanks to the Angus RDA for their enthusiastic support.

In addition, you will (hopefully) be entertained by a talk about the forthcoming Hoofprints Over Scotland ride, and have the opportunity to meet the ponies, see the gear we use and hear about some of the routes we intend to follow. Plus - first class catering!

It would be excellent to see you there. I will post more details, times, directions etc a bit nearer the time - but meanwhile, stick it in your diary...

12 Feb 09
The Land of the Forests

This weekend was a very snowy recce (almost wreck-y in a specially blizzardy bit) to check out some of the tracks in Dumfriess and Galloway. Well, mostly sitting by enthusiastic riders' firesides looking at maps, rather than actually trudging through the drifts, you understand...

What an utterly fabulous riding country - miles and miles of tracks with great access. Can't wait to ride past Clatteringshaws Loch (right) in August (hopefully the snow has melted by then). Lots of help from locals to plan routes and overnight accommodation.

It was a long drive from Perthshire though - I kept thinking "I'm going to ride this?" I keep expecting to catch the ponies checking this website out on their Blackberry...and refusing to be caught ever again...

Snow Bother

Great to see the weanlings out enjoying today's snowfall though - cavorting, rolling and cantering through it, as well as some very agile airs above the ground. Highly amusing to watch, especially Amy, the five year old 'nanny'. She takes her duties very seriously, and was bustling about trying to get her hyper squealing charges back into some sort of order.

Weaning was painless (we wean at about eight months). A few pitiful nickers from the foals, but the mums scurried back to the haylage in their field with indecent haste, visibly sighing with relief.

Horse Packing - A Manual of Pack Transportation

Originally published in 1914, Charles Johnson Post's book still makes fascinating reading, with much of interest for today's horse traveller. The ideal pack mule, should:
"be of sound body, chunky and solid in build, and at a walk or trot with a firm, free and springy action.
Eyes clear and large and NOT inclined to show the white.
Teeth sound, tongue good and clear, mouth and muzzle well formed and firm; avoid a hanging under lip.
Chest, broad holding therefore legs well apart and indicating good capacity of lungs.
Back, straight and short showing a strong back over kidneys.
Hocks, well apart and strong; pasterns short and strong, without scratches, cuts or bruises.
Hoofs, broad sound and full with the frog well developed, elastic and healthy."

Not much to argue with there, is there...especially as 'on a road or trail in ordinary country a pack mule with a load of 250 pounds can make twenty five miles a day without difficulty. This is the ordinary military load and march.'

A useful wee book, with instructions on caring for pack animals, how to make your own aparejo (pack saddle) if you're of a Blue Peter frame of mind, and a very comprehensive description of knots and hitches. It's available as a reprint.

For more February news, click here.