Free to Members No. 29 Winter 2010/11 Straight from the horse’s mouth In This Issue Hello Everyone The Kernow Trailblazers A thousand apologies to you all, particularly those of you waiting for the new horse hike programme, for not sending out a newsletter until Horse Hike Reports now. A combination of having some all important time out from Bridleway Dedication Nancledra bridleway work, taking a bit of holiday away, family commitments and Carnyorth Common Update difficulties of an ageing Mum has taken their toll on our time. We Devon Trails hope you all had a good Summer. Although an age ago, I will hoof off with commenting that we had an and much more … excellent attendance at the AGM where we had an interesting presentation by Lindsay Setchell of Hoofing Marvellous on Barefoot riding. Although going barefoot is not for everyone she gave an insight into the possibilities and the appropriateness of youngstock starting out and continuing with barefoot. She also covered nutrition and passed around lots of little packages of various types of horse feeds from herbages to grains. Anyone who has an idea for a speaker for the next AGM or knows of someone who would like to come and give us a talk – horse related of course – please let me know. The Madron horse hike took place on a truly gloriously sunny and windless day in April. Anne took us on a lovely easy ride. The St Just charity horseride in aid of The Mermaid Centre also enjoyed equally good weather in May. The theme was continued in a big way with “The Kernow Trailblazers”who completed an epic ride of the Kernow Horse Trail from the Devon border to Lands End in June. Read about their intrepid journey. A ride on the Great Flat Lode took place on one of the hottest days of the year and a lovely picture in The Cornishman ensued and repeated in this Horse Around. More recently, Sue Knapman and crew from Trescrowan livery yard put together another “Ride 4 Life”charity ride raising over £1,000 for breast cancer campaign. Last September a total of £1,177.75 was raised – we will get the official figure for this September later on. Well done to everyone involved in making this event a success. We certainly enjoyed the 8 mile ride. Be Seen Be Safe The new austerity that will engulf us could mean that 30% of Cornwall Dawn, Lesley and Mike from St Ives Council’s budget is being cut. We just hope that Cornwall’s unique (Wearing Hi-Viz “buys”you the length of an arena in environment and access to it is recognised as being very important extra stopping distance for a car at 30 mph) for bringing in money to the county. We also hope that PAROW fits in with the government’s ‘Big Society’agenda – of volunteer organisations playing a key role in providing services – in our case clearing and improving our riding network. More on our sister Christmas Get Together organisation later. I hope you all enjoy this edition of Horse Around and find it Engine Inn informative. Written contributions and information is always welcome. See you out on a horse hike soon. Cripplesease, Nancledra Tuesday 16 December Margaret 7:30 pm onwards Christmas Cracker Festive Ride - 12 December Refreshments Available Decorate your horse and be of good cheer! A social ride with a few pub stops around St Just and Pendeen. ALL WELCOME WEST PENWITH BRIDLEWAYS ASSOCIATION Email: [email protected] Chairman: Adrian Bigg, Trevessa Farm, Trevega, Web: http://www.bhsaccesscornwall.org.uk/westpenwithbridleways Zennor, TR26 3BL Tel: 01736 795098 Treasurer: Beverley Jenkin, Secretary: Margaret Bigg, Winter 2010/11 - Horse Hike Programme Horse Hike on the Great Flat Lode In the searing heat of Sunday 27th June five riders gathered in the South Wheal Francis car park, drawing envious looks from Organiser someone with bikes on their roof – we had a key. We gathered at Please note these dates in your diary now or 10.15 and were pretty quick off the mark to beat the worst of the Contact heat. Armed with plenty of fly spray and water we set off through or under the low tunnel under the road to Four Lanes. The rider with Tehidy Woods 7 November M & A the tallest horse rode through!, everyone else dismounted and led their horses. Surprisingly there were few walkers and cyclists en Beverly/ route so we were able to have some good canters. The ground Polgigga 21 November was hard but with care the horses all remained sound. (Cornish Peta-Jane horses seem to have tougher feet than up-country ones!) We Xmas Cracker Ride 12 December Amanda always observed the 'walk only' rule past Wheal Buller Riding (St Just) Centre. From here we headed along the Tresevean Trail above Lanner. Only a small loop of the ride was on the road, which was Madron 9 January Anne quiet anyway, and gave us fabulous views over Stithians and Mining Trails 23 January Lorraine towards St Austell. The ride was planned to be short because of (Lanner)_ the heat but on the return journey, as we were all still going well and the horses still comfortable, we rode a loop taking in the Wheal Gwinear 6 February M & A Uny mine complex where we stopped for a photoshoot at the engine houses. As we found a kind young man to take the photo Morvah 20 February Chris H. for us, we were able to get us all in. This photo later appeared in the Cornishman. We completed a very pleasant 9 miles in or Marazion 27 February M & A surprisingly comfortable weather conditions with no mishaps. Thanks to Margaret and Adrian for arranging the ride. EGB Training Ride 6 March Amanda Emily Barraclough St Just Helston/Loe Pool 20 March M & A AGM (Penzance) 22 March Nancledra 3 April M & A Other rides may be organised according to demand. We always welcome suggestions for new rides. Always check with the organiser or ourselves a few days before. The exact date will be determined by the interest in the ride and/or weather. Contacts: Margaret and Adrian Tel: 01736 795098 Amanda Tel: 871876; Beverley 871151, Anne 330623, Chris Hichens 788729, Lorraine Barnfield 01209 214145 Horse Hikes are ridden at your own risk. BHS Affiliation covers our members for Public Liability Insurance on organised rides. BRIDLEWAY DEDICATION – BAKERS PIT NANCLEDRA Juniors on Horse Hikes All juniors must be accompanied by a responsible parent or guardian who can look We have good news on this is issue. We have been working after them and their safety on the ride, and can vouch for their riding competence. with Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall Council to get a If you have a good idea for a Horse Hike or wish to organise one, do proper definitive bridleway route from Georgia to the please let us know! bridleway around Castle-an-Dinas and down to Chysauster. Easy Ride Average Ride After much badgering from us, the legal process has now started and the Wildlife Trust has now removed the cattle grid and dangerous gate they had installed on the track past Membership Renewal the reserve. They are also going to modify the iron gate at We sent out renewal invitations last March for those due. the Castle-an-Dinas end which closes too fast and lethally. We thank all who have renewed. Some have undoubtedly However they have been much too slow in doing this. We ended at the bottom of your in-trays, If so we have sent have not seen any cattle grazing there yet either! another reminder with this newsletter. Progress is frustratingly slow on all these issues, BUT we persevere on. For those of you who find renewing by post tedious you may now renew (or join) online. (paypal credit/debit) Trencrom Hill –We note that grazing has never yet taken place there despite the installation of bridleway gates and RENEW ONLINE cattle grid by the NT a few years ago! www.bhsaccesscornwall.org.uk/westpenwithbridleways/JoinOnline.htm (address is case sensitive) 2 In Brief My first Lizard horse hike! It was Sunday morning, 11th July. The sun was shining and not many clouds in the sky. Horse Falls Asleep on top of Vet Liz Harris and myself parked up outside Mullion school with Straff and Gem in the horse box. Nice drive-in, drive-out parking, we like this , said Liz. A vet was rescued in Devon after becoming trapped under a sedated horse. The Crediton By 11am Adrian, Margaret, Alison and Val had arrived and we were all mounted and vet was called to a farm after the horse had ready to go. Alison led us away from the windmills which were quite a sight, and we become stuck in the fence. Devon and went along some weaving tracks with varying surfaces heading towards the coast. The Somerset fire Service was called out and found horse-flies were out in force unfortunately and the horses were getting a bit touchy. We a heavily sedated horse had fallen asleep on had ridden a good couple of miles before we actually felt the sea breeze over the cliffs , top of the vet trapping her. Fire fighters freed which all horses and riders welcomed. The tracks were in good condition on the whole the women from underneath the horse and but most had difficult gates into them. We all took turns to open and close them but they released the animal from the fence. The vet were a real challenge.