Northumberland and Scottish Borders holiday 26 July 2010

Day One: Beamish
Stephen and I were very impressed with Beamish, Victorian depicted town, built on the site of an old coal mine. The mine was still there and you could go down the shaft (we didn't!). Areas to visit, farm [two lovely horses there - Lion and Prince] piggies, chickens, geese, sheep.
Village - school, miners homes, showing how they lived. Demonstrations in here of rug making and bread making.
Old Town - shops etc. You can buy Victorian sweets [but not Victorian prices], pub, stables [more horses]
Manor house - nice gardens
You could travel around [at no extra cost] in the trams and buses, or walk the circular route. [we did the trams].
Good day out and got a souvenir pencil!
Stayed overnight at a lovely farmhouse guest house, Low Fotherley Farm. Had a nice meal at the Black Bull in Corbridge, and were entertained by the Hexham Morris and Hexhamshire Lasses. Great breakfast in the morning!

Day two: Alnwick Castle and Gardens via the Angel of the North!
Very impressed with the Anthony Gormley commission. We took the usual pictures from the viewing area, us at the feet, arms spread
Off to the castle and gardens.... the castle showed us the places were Harry Potter was filmed, with plaques on the wall. The gardens were great, my 2nd visit to them. Stephen and I had a competition whilst we were awy to take the most quirkiest photos! [see next blog]

Overnight stay outside Rothbury, at Burnside Farm B&B - we christened this the Bates' Motel, as the lady running it was a little odd, and we were the only guests. However, 2 horses in the paddock, so I was entertained ! Breakfast good, but not as good as day before. This horse is called Holly !!!




Day three: Bamburgh Castle - it was raining! The view of the beach from the castle [with filter]
Enjoyed it here, and walking on the great expance of unspoilt beach below. Not many people around, some walking with dogs. Peaceful! On to cousin Margaret's for the next two nights - we were spoilted rotten!!

Day four: a rest day with a visit to Mellerstain House

Day five: Edinburgh. We drove to the park and ride in Edinburgh - park and TRAIN!!!! travelled into the city and took the open topped tour bus to save our legs! Was great! Went to the castle, hopped off the bus and did the castle, hopped back on an hour later after a cup of hot chocolate etc, listening to the americans, japanese, spanish etc etc. Hopped back on and travelled around seeing the sights of the city. Decided to go the Royal Mile, and then walked back to the station via M&S [well you have to, don't you!] and then travelled to our last B&B 5 miles out of Peebles. A lovely farmhouse again, he bred pheasant, and rescues labradors [from nasty cruel horrid bullies] to use them as his gun dogs. There were 2 pups form the same litter, one yellow one blackm about 14 weeks, they were adorable! Stephen said No!
Lovely to have a bath at this place, wash away the aches and pains. Breakfast super!

Day six: homeward bound.

The further adventures of Holly the Horse

I have started schooling Holly. We have discovered that if she has someone new on her back - she will try and get away will all sorts of naughty things - like turning in circles, heading for the gate, barging the fence, all the things to put an inexperienced rider off from ever wanting to bond with Holly ever again !
She still tries it on with me of course, but each day I am getting more confident with her, and now can anticipate her thoughts!. We practice moves in the school until we get it right. She needs a few minutes to settle down - this is normally just walking and talking, discussing the view and talking about the other horses grazing in the field. There is a new calf at the farm, so this has been discussed too! Yesterday there was a fisherman by the river, on the bank opposite the menage, so he was discussed. All this helps Holly to settle, she is listening to me, and we are bonding.
I try to have a plan of attack for each session [a lesson plan - just like work eh!] and some days we just stay in walk, practicing turns, Holly responding to leg aids as well as voice and rein.
She is very light in the mouth and need little leg. If I were to kick her on, she would go exactly that, and gallop up the school......'you asked me to go fast....' [lots of riding school horses need kicking just to keep them in walk - they are so bored and programmed].
Schooling has been interrupted by our trip to Northumberland [see next installment!].

Holly settles into Baswich Farm

Holly has had a very eventful few weeks at Baswich Farm. Baswich farm is owned by Frank and Kim Betts - Kim was a Gladiator, [Lightning] so we are hob nobbing with celebs!
Week one, Holly had no tack, so took us a week to fit her with a saddle. She needed her feet trimming, so we engaged the services of Ben, the Barefoot Specialist - Holly does not wear shoes. Ben noticed an old injury to one of Holly's hooves, so now feet trimming every four weeks to allow the hoof to grow properly.
Week 2, visit from the vet for injections [no record of her every having any] teeth check up and wolf tooth removal!. This was under sedation, and not bridle to be worn for 7-10 days. We trying lungeing......hmmmmm bit of a disaster - Holly is SO STRONG!!!.....
So, asked Sian to help us. This is going to take a lot of practice, but I need to learn to be the boss with her.
Back to riding, and we had a silly horse always wanting to bolt to the gate!!!
Back to Sian for a lesson, and Holly is now behaving herself. [I am the boss!!]

Gypsy Cobs are bred for power. They are similar to Shire Horses, but smaller, traditionally ised to pull gypsy caravans. They have very placid natures, and Holly certainly is placid and kind.
She is also very scruffy, like a child you get ready for a day out only to find five minutes later they are all dishevelled again !. She has a soft pink nuzzle, and in the recent hot temperatures, needed factor 50 [I kid you not].
This is us troptting in the menage - if you look closley you will see her diamante browband!!
Oh Yes!! The horse does bling!

Holly's first few days

I purchased Holly on 11th June 2010.
Holly is a 6 year old piebald Gypsy Cob mare. Not really sure about her history, but have been told there was no room left at her previous stables for her, her foal, and her friend Ivy [see next pic for Ivy].
Apparently a traumatic parting of mother and filly foal, who was then 18 months [not sure, but that what i was led to believe.]
Holly had been kept by Debbie, a local rescue and dealer for five months, but space was needed for more rescues and Holly was up for sale!
My friend Kate told me about Holly, and I went to Debbie's yard to investigate.
Stephen and I saw her in the stables, looking very smart, shining white legs and stunningly clean feathers. Someone had booked to come for a viewing! Got chatting with the girls from the yard, and left them asking them to contact should the prospective buyer not be interested.
Two hours later, the phone rang - would I like to come and ride Holly? The lady in question was had not impressed Debbie and the girls at all 'we want her to go to the other lady - she was nice :-)'...the rest, they say, is history.