Wild Welsh ponies and a lash of wet weather..

A surprising and magical meeting..a herd of wild ponies on the headland with views to Bardsey

I defiantly announced " I'm going camping this weekend come what may!" Brave but stupid words spoken as bravado in front of work colleagues who I knew would give the desired answer. " You must be bloody mad...have you seen the forecast?" Yes I'd seen the forecast and I was hoping and praying that something dramatic would happen to change it....after all they quite often get it wrong! Well for once it was very accurate..it rained...very much, but mostly from one direction. The rain was blown by the wind...which was far stronger than forecast. So strong that five miles away,in Abersoch, 45 small boats were smashed on the beach on the Monday evening.
Idyllic scene with Cilan and Bardsey top left with nothing but sea beyond

I was glad of Jos's company..for a while it looked like I was going to be "Billy no mates". I also delayed our travel a day because the forecast for Saturday was abysmal. So it was nice to arrive at Treheli in warm sunshine. I'm always uplifted by the view down across the wide bay, the sea and waves, which usually results in an excited, frenzied clatter of camping paraphernalia. So all pitched up..what next?
Cheesy grin can't deflect from the fact it's peeing it down...but it was fun and the chilli was great!

As the tide was in, a walk on the beach was out. I've been here so many times but have never been to the point or headland that lies South West of the campsite. Trwyn Talfarach. So we set out on the steep climb that takes the road up to Rhiw. The crags from which the village takes its name are notorious with us camp dwellers below as the "weather machine". At close to 200 meters above the sea, these crags are the first higher ground that the predominantly South Westerly wind hits, freshly ladden with moist sea air. The resulting lee-side is quite often misty and wet. So it was going to be nice to see the otherside of the "weather machine" and perhaps find an off switch!!
Morning after the storm..nice waves forming off "winkle pond"each one slightly different!

Beyond the craggs is the high point of Penarfynydd with a trigg point. The views here are far reaching and evocitively maritime. The land ends in points, past Aberdaron anchored safely in it's bay, pointing towards Bardsey, resting place of so many ancient saints and the Cetic Sea beyond. There's powerful peacefulness here that easily sells some of the faerie stories that almost make you hear a whisper on the wind.
Even in the depths of Winter have I ever seen so much water on this campsite..Aug 2008!

As though by magic, we stumbled on a herd of wild ponies! I counted ten and they let us approach just so far...before trotting off. All this time I never knew what was beyond the "weather machine", now I think I might just visit again. We didn't find a switch and things got very wet and very, very windy. The campsite was ravaged and the inhabitants dwindled, leaving only the hardy stalwarts to enjoy the morning after.This is a good place!

Lesson from a Lusitano Stallion..

I discovered Pen Llyn stables near Llaniestyn, about three years ago. Still very much a beginner horse-rider, I'd only just started cantering in the school and booked myself on effectively my first hack. I rode Tia, an unremarkable mare who looked after me well and I enjoyed every minute. Despite being the only rider in a large group to decline the invitation to canter. We rode the local lanes and through fields on the lower slopes of Carn Fadryn on a lovely warm Summer's day, in the heart of the beautiful Llyn Peninsula in North Wales.

Early first steps in walk

Pen Llyn is also located conveniently, only five miles or so from my favourite campsite, overlooking the wide open bay at Porth Neigwl. The beach here is a gold mine for beachcombers and the waves bring surfers from miles away. I had recently planned a camping trip and knew the weather forecast was poor. Previously I've found it all too easy to make excuses not to go, only to regret the decision later. So I made a reason to go. I booked an hour classical riding lesson for Monday lunchtime.

A wet and windy sleepless night in a cold, damp tent is not the ideal preparation for probably the most interesting and important riding lesson to date. However pulling on familiar boots, polished just for the occasion, soon settled me into a positive frame of mind. My camping comrade Jos came along with his camera and we arrived early!

Perhaps a little too early as we were shown to the indoor arena and watched a group lesson in progress. A mixed ride of horses were being ridden in more advanced moves than I've ever seen...let alone attempted. So I was starting to feel a little concerned that I'd taken on a little too much. Almost suddenly the arena emptied and before I knew it and with little time for introduction, I was up in the saddle on board the handsome Lusitano stallion Rez. I barely got time to look at him before..maybe just as well as I was feeling a bit intimidated by things by now anyway.
Leg Yielding

I need not have worried. My instructor, Lucy, put me at ease by starting off very slowly with nothing more than walking Rez into a contact on both reins. Then moving onto shoulder in at walk and trot. Followed by familiar circles and serpentines at trot, then some leg yielding with some invaluable tips from Lucy and some pointers on some of my weaknesses.
Flying Change

My "driving" seat is a problem and poor Rez thought I was asking for passage. So every now and then I was asked to extend him down the long side in trot. We cantered large, then circles, on both reins, before trying figure of eights with flying changes, which he gave with little more than a nudge. This whole ride was an experience I will remember for a long time. Rez is probably used to far more advanced riders than me but never made me feel out of place or took advantage. Lucy obviously knows him very well and had me weighed up quite quickly. Coming on close to an hour later I was ready to finish. Everything had gone so well, mentally I was switching off...full to overflowing with all the different movements and actions I was trying hard to coordinate, the concentration and emotion spent on riding such a beautifully talented horse.

I was invited to try some Spanish Walk and Passage, which Rez is obviously well versed in. However it was the more simple, familiar school figures, done well, that gave me most satisfaction. Possibly because I know where I might struggle sometimes, perhaps cantering on the right rein on a circle. Whilst I'm sure there was plenty of room for improvement on some points, in general I think my riding has come on very well and that I justified my ride on a Luso. I hope I'll return very soon for more...

One question that keeps coming up in many of my riding lessons. I understand the the concept of asking and needing impulsion from the horse. How exactly it is achieved is slightly more tricky. In my simple view I ask with my legs. The horse responds by going faster. If I am to keep a soft hand, how do I contain the speed and change it to impulsion? Am I approaching this wrong?

New Shoes..as promised!

A week has gone by without me running a yard! Which isn't to say I've done nothing at all. My work has me on my feet a good deal and I've been horse riding and swimming. I've started to take Glucosamine supplement in a slightly desperate hope of improving my knee trouble. Of course I'm fully aware that any effect will not be quickly noticeable...but I've got to do something!
Are these the shoes in which I'll run the 2008 Snowdonia Marathon..??

Each day through the week my knee has got better. I'm still having a 400mg Ibuprofen at breakfast but the effect of it lasts longer through each day. So I went and bought my new running shoes. Apparently I supinate, my feet have high arches and I run on the outside of my foot. This narrows the shoe choice right down. Anyway after some deliberation, mainly at the price...how much?? I got Asics Nimbus Gel. Far too fancy looking for my taste, but at least they're not dayglo green, like some! Tried them on a gentle three miler out along the river and today on a five mile uphill run on a treadmill. They feel good and though I have some reaction from my knee, it's not like previously. So fingers crossed for my marathon attempt!

Willing Horse...

The horses have been moved back to the bottom field. The advantages are that the field is on the yard and visible. However it is low lying, poor to drain and the grass has not had a chance to recover sufficiently. On the plus side again, some damaged bales of haylage have been left and the horses have constant access...so Heather has quickly chosen her own bale and started tunnelling through with gusto! On the downside, this means she doesn't have to forage and has well and truly parked herself...fat mare even sleeps next to it!
The worst of a few cuts and grazes on her hind legs, which caused some lame-ness.

Bordering the bottom field to the left is a golf course. The contrast between the horses scrapping for food in the mud and the immaculate fairways and greens next door could not be more stark! So perhaps it's really no surprise to find Heather with an number of cuts and grazes from the barbed wire fence separating. The temptation must be immense because the grass definitely is greener next door! She managed to cut both hind legs and the minor infection filled both legs and she was lame to some degree. In the general scheme of things a minor annoyance....
Astonishing new hoof growth, can it all be down to Cornucrescine?

Heather's poor feet have been a constant battle for me. Before I knew her, she'd obviously suffered some neglect here. However I've picked out, cleaned, dressed and nourished her feet for more than two years....daily! That with regular attention from the farrier, I think I was starting to become resigned to her feet being a conformational fault. I had being using Effol a hoof moisturiser for quite a while, without any real difference. So last visit from the farrier, I asked his opinion. So for the last six weeks, I've been using Cornucrescine. Perhaps it's a coincidence with increased Summer growth from the brief spell of good grass. But since I've been regularly massaging Cornucrescine into her feet, particularly into the Coronet band, where hoof meets flesh, the results have been astonishing. The new growth is all too apparent...hope this continues!
This horse appears to be developing a round back end..!! At last...

When I first met Heather, she'd not long returned from a long stint living out. She's never really slotted into the riding school and had no tack or saddle. She is an odd shape and it was difficult trying to borrow a saddle from another horse who might need it for a lesson...let alone it fitting her. So I searched and found an old, beautiful English GP saddle, that fitted her...but it's very heavy. I've been told it is a copy of an old Police or Military saddle. An amazing piece of work and so comfortable to ride in. For a while though I suspected the deep knee rolls might be interfering with her shoulders. Possibly compounding her long standing canter lead problems. So I'd been looking around for something different.
Measuring up for a new saddle..

Didn't take long for me to narrow my search down to the Thorowgood T4 Hi-Wither. This is a synthetic saddle with changeable gullets to alter width and removable fish to adjust height. I'd decided another second hand leather saddle might take ages to locate. So splashed out at Robinsons! I followed the fitting guide carefully. That with plenty of reading up elsewhere and I think we ended up with a reasonable, well, good fit.
Part of the saddle fitting guide, which s easy to follow and use.

It's comfortable to ride in and best of all I'm sure Heather really appreciates it. Since her injury, on the few times I've asked, she's picked up correct canter lead on her stiff right side. The new saddle seems to help and she's not put a foot wrong so far. In fact left unchecked she willingly continues into a gallop! With all this recent improvement, I'm also wondering if the Top Spec Feed Balancer is helping things along, she's been fed this now since February. I'm sure she's gradually muscling up and her hind quarters no longer look flat and weak! She's developing a rounded full back-end!
Initial fit looks promising...

So now she's sound and with a new saddle that she likes. Time to step up the work and try and get her fit and more difficult, supple. As usual I'm up for the challenge and to be perfectly honest I enjoy every moment in this horses company..

Fitted and ready to go..!!

Excuse not to run...

Only a week after entering the Snowdonia Marathon, I'm starting to wonder if it's going to be possible. About this time, a year ago, I started having trouble with my left knee. So much so, that I mentioned it to my Doctor, on an occasion when I'd accumulated enough ailments to feel a visit was warranted! So I was sent for an MRI scan. This revealed a tear in the Medial Meniscus. All this took so long, that by the time I had the results, my knee felt much better.
Faithful old trainers may need replacing if I'm to make a serious attempt.

So I knew there might be a problem. During the last week I've done three five mile runs. One of which was at a good pace. This is when I felt the old injury. Yesterday I decided to put things to a real test, and ran twelve miles on a treadmill in the gym...taking just about 1 hour 37 mins. My knee hurt all the way through and was very stiff this morning. So realistically the marathon attempt seems out of reach. I did take one 400mg Ibuprofen at lunchtime, then went for a mile swim. I've since been riding too and the knee is not painful. So I'll take it easy with the running this week and see how I go. No matter what, I think I deserve a new pair of trainers!