| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kelly |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 1:37:36 PM
So, as some of you know, I planned to do the Mary Towneley Loop. Unfortunately, Mrs DJ who had planned to do it with me, was unable to make it at the very last minute, which was upsetting for both of us, but unavoidable.
So, I managed to rearrange it for the next week, and another friend came with me.
I realised when I was researching it that there wasn't a report that gave me the information I wanted, so I've now written one. It's below, and it's long!
If you want the short version, here it is:
Summary
A five day ridei n Yorkshire/Lancashire, covering between 12 and 20 miles a day over every terrain you can think of, total of 77 miles.
We set off from home as we're on a feeder route, and stopped over an B & B's on the way, with accomdation for horses on site. All accomodation was lovely, and the horses settled well even though they're not used to it. The terrain was more challenging that I'd imagined, and to top it all off, one of the hoofboots broke on the first day. We went barefoot in April, and have done well so far, but I'd planned to do the entire ride with a boot on each foot. In the end, one hind foot had done 37 miles bare, and the other 51 miles. Scroll to the bottom to see the state his feet were in.
Both horses have done us proud and we couldn't be more pleased. They took everything we threw at them with no tantrums, and just kept going - the arabian spirit at it's best. I don't have enough words to express how pleased I am with my little horse - I adore him and couldn't ask for more.
So, the long version:
Day 1 – Calder-Aire Link, a feeder route from Cullingworth, West Yorkshire, to the Packhorse Inn, Widdop – 15 miles
Today didn’t feel like it would be very long, as about half of it is ground we’d covered before already. Plus, I knew exactly where we were going and didn’t need a map. We set off with four hoofboots on (Easyboot Gloves, each with a power strap). After 3 miles, one of the power straps came half off – somewhere a bit further along, it came entirely off! That didn’t matter much, they’re only there to make it a little bit more secure and jazz the plain black boots up with some fancy colour.
We stopped about half way for lunch, and Jack tucked into a grass verge. Kaneesko tried to eat Becky’s Kendal Mint cake (I’d brought it for emergencies, but she didn’t have any lunch, so to me, that constitutes an emergency)!
We passed a dozen or so shooters and dogs on Haworth Old Road at the top of Oxenhope Moor – all very friendly men and well behaved dogs.
Just after Grainwater Bridge, one of Jacks hind boots broke – I’m not sure if he caught it on a gate or stood on it with his other hind hoof, but it ripper gaiter from boot and rendered it useless. So I stuffed it in my pocket and on we went with 3 boots, about 5 miles to our first stop.
About 2 miles away, the clouds became very threatening. We hoped that they would move on and just miss us, but they didn’t. When you’re 350m above sea level on bleak moorland, thunder and lightening looks a lot more impressive…… The horses weren’t bothered by that, but none of us liked the rain that came shortly after. We were all soaked to the skin, and we trotted up to the Packhorse Inn thinking that the horses would appreciate the shelter of the stables.
They proved us wrong. The rain was making so much noise on the roof that it, combined with the fact that neither boy is used to staying anywhere but home, caused both of them to panic. Kaneesko rushed out, breaking Becky’s saddlebags on the way. Jack came out a little more refined, but stood outside for longer. In what was by now hail. We went in and out a few more times, so that he knew he wasn’t trapped, and did a few exercises he knows to divert his attention and bring his adrenalin down. Within 20 minutes both boys where relatively happily munching hay and looking over their doors.
The Packhorse Inn was lovely and warm, with great food, and as there is no mobile signal, our hosts let us use the pub phone to call home.
I spent the night not sleeping well for worrying if the horses were calm – paranoid horse mother….
Day 2 – Packhorse Inn, Widdop, to Towneley Trail Bed and Box, Walsden, 12 miles
Today dawned very misty, but it burned off a bit by the time we set off. I’d decided not to put hind boots on Jack at all, but see how he went. He went fine apart from up stony hills, where I got off and led for a little while.
We passed Gorple Reservoir and the waterboard house, then headed over the moor in the direction of Blackshawhead. There were some lovely houses on the way, and the weather continued to improve.
We stopped for lunch about half way,
and then headed down to our first descent down the Calder Valley. If you look closely at the photo, on the horizon slightly to the right of centre, you can see 'Stoodley Pike' monument. That's where we were riding to.
I thought we had steep hills near home, but not compared to this! It was a case of sit back and trust your horse. So we did, and made it to the bottom safely.
There, by the A, we went under a railway bridge only 30 seconds before a train rattled overhead – eek! There was no need to ride along the road, as a fenced off bridleway has been provided that runs parallel for about 200m until you reach a Pegasus Crossing.
We went up the other side of the valley through Callis Wood – a long climb, but more winding and pleasant, and by the time we came out the other side, the sun was out and the coats came off! We had our first canter up here, and neither boy batted an eyelid cantering for the first time with their saddle bags (and in Jacks case, bottles).
We passed under Stoodley Pike while travelling on an old packhorse route. The boys decided to forego water troughs for puddles and streams.
We finally arrived at Towneley Trail Bed and Box, and could not have been made more welcome. Sue provided us with sponges and hosepipes for the horses, and then cold drinks for us. We turned the boys out in the paddock for a while, and they immediately moved 3 feet and stopped to graze.
We unpacked and I got in the swimming pool – outdoor, but heated, and with my own choice of music from the summer house, the perfect place to unwind.
Then the boys started playing and exploring, so I got out and got my camera.
When we went to bring the boys into the stables before going to the pub for tea, we found that Kan had half pulled off a hind shoe. As we couldn’t remove it, we taped it up with vet wrap and duct tape, and Sue very kindly got her farrier, Ray Kay, to come at 8.30 the next morning – he really pulled out all the stops to help us out.
The boys settled in their stables extremely well, so no worries there.
Then to the Top Brink Inn for tea. I used to go here with my dad every week for a long time, so it was something in the order of a trip down memory lane, an homage if you like. We had a lovely time, and then our lift came to take us back to ‘home’.
Day 3 – Towneley Trail Bed and Box, Walsden, to Peers Clough Farm, Lumb – 20 miles
After the farrier had replaced both Kan’s hind shoes, we had a lovely breakfast – full English, cereal and fruit – we were stuffed! We then set off late, for our longest day!
We started with another very steep descent back down the valley, on stone setts that Jack really didn’t like. Then back up the other side to Reddyshore Scout. The maps warn about a sheer drop from very high up, giving you the impression that you’re clinging to the edge of the cliff like a mountain goat. You’re not, it’s a farm track, and it’s fenced off, so perfectly fine. It is high though!
Just to add a little challenge, they were resurfacing it, and had left a dumper truck and a 360 excavator parked on the track. There was 18” to get passed, so both boys climbed the banking (a whole 2 foot wide), and scooted past.
On this day, we met a working building site, where all the men were very helpful and turned their machines off til we got passed. We passed Watergrove reservoir and saw Raikewood viaduct in the distance, and then turned our back on Rochdale to take Rooley Moor Road over the moor. It’s a long climb, and hard when one of your back hooves doesn’t have a boot on! We got to the top, and surveyed the wind turbines, then had a few canters. What seemed like hours later, we passed a scary section – I read fantasy books, and they always travel on horseback – this section was just the sort of place that bandits would hide, and I was very glad I wasn’t alone! Even more hours later, we were bored of that road, and pleased when we started to descend into Waterfoot.
After 7 ½ hours, we arrived at our stop, Peers Clough Farm, to be greeted by a smiling Chris asking if we’d be ready for tea in 15 minutes! We were! We turned the horses out as she brought us a cuppa, and then went in for a lovely three course meal followed by coffee. The ‘riders kitchen’ was very welcoming, and the boys were happy in their secure field with lots of grass (having been ‘starved’ for hours!)
Jack at least was not impressed when we brought them into the stunning stables – internal ones in a big barn, that was maybe just a little too echoey for Jack. The dogs belonging to some other visitors were in another stable, and creating a din, so that didn’t help. Never the less, both horses settled, and ate a reasonable amount (Jack hadn’t been eating as much as I’d like and was quite tucked up by this point).
Day 4 – Peers Clough Farm, Lumb to the Packhorse Inn, Widdop, 13 miles
After a good nights sleep, and a breakfast that would’ve been lovely, but by now I had an upset stomach from stress (I’m a nervous nelly – I was perfectly calm once we got on the horses, but stressed when off!) we set off.
This section warns about lots of gates – to be honest, there didn’t seem to be many more than on the other sections, but both horses have now improved their gate opening skills! Kan is rather more scared of gates, and today decided to try and remove Becky’s left leg.
During our first canter, Jack started to look rather nervously behind him – I pulled him up to find that the hoofboot had come off his hoof, but was still attached round his pastern by the gaiter. I’d worried about if he’d freak out if that ever happened, but told myself I was being stupid because it wouldn’t……well, it did. But luckily, he didn’t freak out. So I took it off, and put it in my pocket.
Today was very misty, miserable and dreary, so the only photos we took were of us at the monument to Mary Towneley. Shortly after, we slipped and slid down a very steep field, then made a dash for it alongside a railway track (5m away, for a 200m stretch). Luckily, we didn’t meet a train.
There was some interesting scenery on this day, including a section of lime spoil heap.
By the time we got to Widdop reservoir, the detour that’s currently in place, that I’d previously worried about, didn’t seem very scary. Ok, so it was very steep and loose stones – just like other sections we’d already survived!
The workmen doing the civil works couldn’t have been better. The first one turned off his excavator and then walked along the dam top, shouting to the others to do the same. They all waited while we slipped down the hill past the scary fences and machinery and holes where monsters could hide, then over the enclosed bridge at the bottom with the trolls under it. Big pats for both horses.
From then it was a short ride to the Packhorse again, which both boys recognised, and we left them to it and went for a rest.
Checking on them two hours later, Jack was very tucked up and had developed strange sweat patches on his lower abdomen and legs and neck. Then he pawed the ground, then kicked up at his stomach…….oh no….. I spent half an hour watching him while Becky went for a shower, during which time he stopped eating, but dozed and twitched. Then I went to ring the vet for advice, who agreed with me that if he was going to colic, he would’ve progressed with symptoms in that time.
Obviously I didn’t eat much tea, but Jack was fine, and ate plenty of his! They do like to test us.
Day 5 – Packhorse Inn, Widdop, to Cullingworth, 15 miles.
Today dawned miserable again, and as soon as I got on, I found that I’d somehow pulled a muscle in my inner thigh. On a joggy, bouncy arab, that wasn’t fun, and several times it went into spasm. I managed though. Kan once again tried to remove Becky’s leg on a gate, having not managed it the first time. Also broke the saddle bags.
So, after patching up saddle bags and convincing Kan that the gate wasn’t going to eat him, we carried on, for a fairly uneventful ride home. We got wet at one point, and Jack yelled once when we went our separate ways, but no real problems.
I arrived home with a thinner, tucked up and tired, but happy horse, who was completely sound despite one of his hind hooves being bare for 37 miles, and one for 51 miles. We only went barefoot in April this year.
Off hind, 37 miles bare, sorry about the strange photo angle!
Near hind, 51 miles bare
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| 24 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Djinn |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 12:42:56 PM
Great report Kelly - sounds like you had a great experience! MTL is defo on my 'To Ride' list for next year! |
| Arachnid |
Posted - 20 Sep 2010 : 08:09:43 AM
I think taking them on holiday increases the horse's trust in us too dont you? Makes me a little bit less precious about horse care too - ie horse might not actually die if hes inside or outside for an hour longer than normal or if the feed is slightly different. |
| Kelly |
Posted - 19 Sep 2010 : 7:31:17 PM
Thank you all again for your comments.
I've realised something. The fact that Jack and I have managed to do this, with no real problems, has improved my confidence greatly. Silly things, like deciding not to give him any Sedalin gel for the dentist - AND not being worried about it. I feel like we could conquer the world now!
Except maybe the travelling thing Alison! |
| Nut |
Posted - 19 Sep 2010 : 1:22:33 PM
wow, what a fantastic thing to do! |
| CrazyEnglish |
Posted - 19 Sep 2010 : 12:34:42 PM
Hi Karon the one in the stable block I think he's waiting for his tea so being very impatient something Kaneesko is not very good at! He was bred by Linda Lyall and his dam is Spring Kantata and sire is Grando. I think he looks more like his mum, though bay.
Becky x |
| Honeyb060674 |
Posted - 19 Sep 2010 : 12:28:12 PM
Wow what an fantastic report Kelly, well done to all of you! If I'd known you were over our way I would have popped over to say hi on your way round 
This is something I'd like to do with Sunny in the future, it looks like you had a great time, lovely pics
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| impy |
Posted - 19 Sep 2010 : 12:09:38 PM
Brilliant report. One of the rides I've been planning to do but never got round to it.
CrazyEnglish what breeding lines is Kaneesko, it's just in the report photo's he looks just like my boy (especially the one in the stable block)and I'm wondering if they are related.
Rushka's sire was Kerim Bey (Shahir/Ermine Shadow)and dame Ashah (Crystal Orion/Shurinda).
Karon |
| CrazyEnglish |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 6:15:01 PM
Very good report there Kelly! I love all the little obstacles included that we had to overcome. I was suprised at how fit Kaneesko is. I don't even think he was that tired. They were both such good boys and I don't even think we ached too much either!
Becky x x |
| DIZZY MIZZY |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 12:32:10 PM
Glad you had a good time,your report brought back some brilliant memories my friend used to keep her endurance horses at Mary Townleys old stables and I used to help exercise them.The riding in that area is superb and the views from the momument are fantastic we always had a pause there to remember Mary.I know the section of railway track you are talking about it is definately scary stuff when you meet a train there.
I can't wait to be able to get my own horse and start riding around that fab area again.
Andrea.x |
| Callisto |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 10:35:44 AM
So glad you did it Kelly, sounds like you had a great time, excellent write up and well done Jack! And your friend for stepping into the breech at the last minute |
| mogwai |
Posted - 16 Sep 2010 : 08:24:01 AM
What a brilliant write up, lovely pics too! It's really inspired me to get off my bum and get ruby going and do a similar thing in a few years. His feet look brilliant, and i'm sure he could have done the whole thing without boots.
Fantastic
xxx |
| geegee |
Posted - 15 Sep 2010 : 5:09:52 PM
Brilliant write up and pics. Well done! How lovely to have access to all that riding.
I would love to do something like that. One day...... |
| ella |
Posted - 15 Sep 2010 : 1:35:10 PM
Yay! Well done Kelly & Jack 
Little Pleasure Rides will be a walk in the park now |
| Arachnid |
Posted - 14 Sep 2010 : 4:13:16 PM
Lovely report Kelly - love the photos. Glad he was so good. I think they do get a bit tucked up away from home dont they? You must have a great sense of achievement. I would love to do that ride - though I'm not very waterproof I wonder if its drier in the spring? |
| Kelly |
Posted - 14 Sep 2010 : 11:03:56 AM
Thank you all for your congratulations
They belong to Jack really, he was such a star 
Suzanne, your words mean a lot. Though, to be fair, if you hadn't given him such a good start, thinks would undoubtedly have been a lot different You know you're always welcome here to visit.
Bev, pick away - I really enjoyed it, and would love to share!
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| Bebely |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 10:17:15 PM
Oh well done Kelly. I'm so glad you managed to complete your big ride and you should be really proud of yourself - and of Jack.
The Mary Townley loop didn't open until I had moved down here so I have never ridden the loop although I have done some ajoining sections. I would love to do it and will probably be picking your brains.
Well done and thanks for the write up and for the photos. |
| suneanarab |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 9:42:32 PM
hey hey kelly and jack,
thanks for the link babe. just had to login after reading through this to say well done. i must admit that it has made me rather tearful still missing odin so much but i am so proud of you both! there will always be a small regret that i didn't keep jack as i had planned, especially now odin has gone, but i have never once regretted letting YOU have him. as a breeder that is something that means alot. it does please me so much to see him doing so well with you and i couldn't wish for more. he looks amazing is a great credit to you.
what a view you had, truely beautiful!
much love to you both!!
suzanne xx |
| Cinnypony |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 9:13:16 PM
Wow - one great adventure to do with your horse! |
| xsara |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 8:35:18 PM
It looks like a real adventure well done for completing it and jacks feet look really good |
| bensulaman |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 8:28:42 PM
Awwww Kelly thats brought so many good memories of when i did the Loop a couple of years ago on Ben. I did it in Three days and we started at Walsden and stayed at Peers clough on our first stop, then onto The pack horse for the second night, Both places where so welcoming and could'nt do enough to help us. The Farm at Reddyshore is where i kept Ben for ten years so i know just what your saying about being a mountain goat., I only live down the road from there near the church at the bottom of the hill, If i'd have realised i could have popped up and met you as you came down the hill, , The weather was much the same as when we did it i know what you mean about very steep hills!!!! But fantastic views,I really want to do it again maybe next year. I'm glad you enjoyed it and both horses came back in one piece. |
| MinHe |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 4:40:50 PM
Well done you! Thanks for this report - and for showing just how well a barefoot (albeit accidentally!) horse can do
Keren |
| sab2 |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 3:41:18 PM
Sounds fantastic,enjoyed reading about it, i am so pleased that you enjoyed yourselves and his feet look fab  |
| loosefur |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 2:34:48 PM
Great report Kelly! Well done horses and riders. His feet look great |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 13 Sep 2010 : 1:53:35 PM
Wow Kelly that is amazing... Well done to you both for completing the journey.
Jack's feet look in really good shape after doing so many miles, you must be very proud of him. |
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