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Mary Towneley Loop ride report

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Kelly
Platinum Member

England

1571 Posts

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 � 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!