Avebury to West Ilsley (The Ridgeway) 1st - 3rd June 09 by Janet Vaughan

I have always wanted to ride The Ridgeway, this year I have two horses fit enough to do it and (more difficult) a few spare days. I mentioned to Barbara one day out hacking that I thought I might do it - Barbara thought she would like to do it too. The ride we planned is about 45 miles in total.

So we arranged B+B for us and 3 horses, Barbara & Tilly (TB x Welsh Cob), Jess (who works with me) & Springer - (19 years young TB mare) and myself with Crosby - TB gelding who came for re-schooling and stayed as my horse as he is so gorgeous!

Transport to Avebury was arranged for 9am on the 1st June with Geoff Slatter, Pegasus Horse Transport, Dumbleton. Geoff was prompt as always, even the bad loader, Springer went on with with comparitive ease.

We arrived at Avebury by 11.30am un-loaded at Manor Farm, tacked up with help from Geoff holding horses while we climbed on with rucksacks and saddlebags. Ann & Stacey (Jess's mum & sister) arrived with packed lunches for us, they live locally so came to see us off.

We set off along the Ridgeway, it is well marked and has great views, we rode to Barbury Castle, which overlooks the P-t-P course, tried a canter up the hill which was good fun, stopped at the top for a lunch washed down with juice. Thank you Anne & Stacey for feeding us. 1/4 mile further up the track is a picnic area with a much needed loo!!

We rode on alongside the gallops at J. Olds Racing Stables, sheep and lambs grazing, so no gallops! Onwards, to Ogborne St. George and our B&B for the night. The horse accomodation was 'adequate' the human accomodation could have been better! Next morning I was up at 7am to feed the horses, we were given a good breakfast at 8am, and we set off at 9am.

From Ogborne St. George we planned to ride to Ashbury for lunch with some friends of mine, it was very hot, and was about 10 miles or so, we arrived about 12.30 - lunch of chicken rolls, ham sandwiches, salad, crisps & pizza, with melon, apples, tea and juice - just what we needed! Buckets of water for the horses and they had most of the apples! We set off again, riding to The White Horse Hill, we actually took the bridlepath to ride around the White Horse, amazing views in all directions, and a nice canter on grass back to join up with The Ridgeway, and a stiff breeze to cool us down. Riding on now towards our B&B, Down Barn Farm, Sparsholt Down, somehow we missed the turning and ended up having to retrace our steps for about a mile-seemed much further as we were leading the horses to give them a break as it was still very hot. We turned into Down Barn Farm's driveway to be confronted by some fat, wallowing pigs & piglets, the horses were not impressed but we got past the pigs after a lot of encouragement from us! We kept walking only to meet more pigs, and a Jersey cow on her way back (alone) to her field, the farms resident horses were very pleased to see our horses and this all added to the kefuffle of getting into the farm yard! then the dogs arrived, a bull mastiff and fox hound pups, being walked for The Old Berkshire Hunt. The rumpus alerted Mrs Reid who came out to meet us and showed us to a wash off area and to our large well bedded stables. Horses all comfy and eating, Mrs Reid supplied us with tea and biscuits in our sitting room and gave us three nice rooms, one en suite, and a large bathroom for the other two. A long soak and a shower and we were feeling much better. We had a really good four course meal with cider/wine prepared by Mrs Reid, coffee to follow and then to bed by 9pm.

Day 3, up again at 7am to feed and water the horses, legs all nice and cool, back to farmhouse for a huge breakfast, cereal, full english, toast, juice and coffee.

Muck out, groom and tack up - thanks & goodbye to Mrs Reid, try to lead the horses past the pigs, same performance but we got past and

re-joined the Ridgeway to ride the 8 or so miles to our lunchtime lorry pick up at West Ilsley in a Ridgeway car park on Bury Down. We arrive, no sign of Geoff so I phone him, he says he is at Bury Down car park waiting for us (?) what none of us knew is that Bury Down has a car park at each end! with directions from a local person, Geoff found us and we were soon on our way home.

This ride was very enjoyable, it was a little too hot for comfort at times, the horses coped well, Tilly seemed to have a built in instinct for trail rides and went along at a good walk, Springer retired from racing and now retired as a brood mare after 7 foals, coped well with everything, Crosby, my lovely boy, has gone from a racehorse to packhorse in less than a year! We may do another route next year.