Spring seems to have arrived at last, the winter coupled with the recession has left us a little bruised and battered, but the bluebells are out now and will make a wonderful sight for the next couple of weeks. A good excuse to book a ride and bring your camera. I recently went to the New forest for three days riding with my friend Laurel, I was suffering from withdrawal symptoms not having ridden there since October 2009, I thought the 9thand 10th of April
would be too early for the crab flies, but the beautiful weather encouraged some of the little rascals to come out early and harass the horses. I was riding Hearty who had only been once before in quite cold weather, if they landed on his hind quarters he tried to buck them off. As we were flying through the air it brought back memories of the same weekend last year when I watched the Grand National in A&E having been dumped upside down in a ditch by my friend Amadour, fortunately I stayed on this time. (last year I was accused of creating an elaborate plot to get out of going to a murder and mystery night!) April the 9th is also my horse Earl’s birthday and that of my daughter
Catherine. This autumn we will re start our New Forest breaks, it’s a fabulous place to ride, to try and make it accessible to more riders we will offer a weekend break, we will have a long ride on Saturday and approximately 3 hours on Sunday, this will enable riders to just stay on Saturday night, with the option of extra nights if required, there are some great pubs down there. Watch our website for prices, dates etc. Re the website we hope to have our new one up and running in the next couple of weeks, www.hopefulearl.co.uk, why the change? When I took sole charge of the stables last autumn I had to start a new company and decided to call it after my horse, he is the best horse I have ever ridden and has given me endless pleasure over the last 10 years. He is in lighter work now after an injury. (unlike his owner!) My daughter Alex gave birth to her second child (Sophie) on April 2nd just missing April fools day by a few hour. 2 weeks later she is back to riding 3 horses a day. She has 3 ex racehorses she is bringing on to event this season, and with the help of our Glen, 1 who will be shown in racehorse to riding horse classes (should just about make Windsor in May). Alex will bring lots of improvements to the
stables in the future, she is a similar age to my star right hand lady Carrie, Glen who has been around since he was 12 is now an accomplished rider, the firm needed some younger blood, think I will just get on my old horse, head off for the pub and let them get on with it! We can do more cross country lessons with Alex, as well as Stilemans we are negotiating to use Heath farm which is about 500 yards from Stilemans. Dates available soon. If anyone is interested in watching Alex compete, email me and I will keep you informed with dates and venues. Now the weather is a bit more friendly we are starting day rides again, we have got one on May 22nd but if you have any other dates in mind, send me an email. The tides aren’t much good for beach rides at the weekend for a few months, but we can do some midweek, meeting down at Middleton
(near Bognor) circa 4.00pm, with the lighter evenings we can also do evening rides again, usually one and a half hours starting 6.00/6.30 The main reason we don’t ride in the New Forest in the summer months is because the horses hate the crab flies, but not being a quitter I am looking for an alternative venue for short breaks. My first possible is the Eastbourne end of the south downs, I have had a couple of horses from Anna Newton Smith who trains at Jevington, being too proud to be out of work I spent a summer working in
Eastbourne cemetery many years ago, I was very highly regarded as I was the only person who could drive the JCB! I have also ridden with the East Sussex and Romney Marsh at another period in my life, I don’t like jumping ditches very much, and we were qualifying point to pointers, a bit scary for me, caused me to consume quite a lot of Harvey’s best. I used to walk on the downs, great area for pubs. I hope to do a trial ride near Eastbourne soon.
Whilst looking into other venues for short breaks, they need to be within a 2 hour drive in the horsebox, any suggestions? I hope Peter will have the full HopefulEarl fleet of vehicles on the road soon, there is some great riding within a 30 minute drive from the stables, Blackheath, Elstead, Holmbury hill, Leith hill etc; more easy to organise midweek if you are having a day off. We of course have lovely riding around the stables too and we have many riders returning on a weekly basis to partake thereof.
I hope to see you soon and wish you all Happy Easter and long weekend.
