Bissell Wood Ride 2009

Bissell Wood certainly turned out to be a complicated ride, as the ride was scheduled for Saturday, but the weather forecast was bleak and after a few phone calls almost all the riders preffered to ride on Sunday as the weather forecast was looking good for that day.

After reminding everyone about the clocks going back, who was the one who arrived an hour early, thankfully I had not taken my horse this time, just myself and my Jack Russell dog, Sally. After spending a night coughing and sneezing the last thing i wanted or felt like doing was riding my rather spooky horse. So with dog in car I set off to meet the other riders and pass on directions and maps.

Penny agreed to be substitute ride leader on her horse Buster. As everyone arrived near 10am we all had a brief chat and the girls tacked up and made ready for thier ride.. I knew Barbaras husband would be donning camera and video, so my plan was to divert John from his usual bacon and eggs in the lorry whilst he waits for his beloved wife to finish exploring the countryside and drive him around the route and get some really good pictures that capture what the escorted rides are all about.

I must point out at this point, that on the video you will see a short canter section, this was in agreement with all riders as all of them are now used to each other and thier horses. If we have nervous/novice people-horses then we only walk. some rides now in the future will be for riders that wish for a slightly quicker pace when convenient.

Back to the ride: As the girls all set off along the sandy track John started his campaign of artistic licence. Once the girls started to go out of sight we jumped into my car and drove around to where i knew they would be imerging, we only had to wait a few minutes and Penny & Buster came into shot and we welcomed the girls up the first stretch of their ride. Having turned the corner and proceeding on up the lane we again jumped into my car and drove to where I would see them across the road and John walking on ahead picked a nice spot to video them coming down the lane.

As the girls hacked along the lanes and bridleways, John and myself drove round to meet them coming out from the tracks and bridleways, The weather was holding off and evryone seemed to be enjoying themselves, as well as the horses. The riders seemed to be making good time and when they approached a stretch of track that climbed gently uphill they decided that a sedate canter would do the horses good, although Alison Partridge's horse Tig found it most exciting and had some wee little bucks along the way.

There are a 3 major roads along this route, two of which you have to cross straight over and one that has to be hacked along for about 3/400 yards, however the visability is good and hi-vis will ensure that you are seen by oncoming traffic. Once off these roads the tracks and bridleways are a delight, with good going under hoof too.

John and I continued to drive around catching the girls up to whereever we thought we could get some nice pictures and john also took a video which you can view below, hopefully this will give any riders who would like to come on an escorted ride the feel of what we do. We hope that this encourages riders to come along and take part as we have so much fun on the escorted rides and such a lot of friends have been made too. I must point out though that all but a few of our rides are at walk only, we will advise on rides that may contain a few trots or a quiet canter, so please do not be worried to join us.

Thanks again go to John Stones, who jumped out the car at every turn to take pictures, and if there are any of the riders who attended the Bissell Wood ride who would like a copy of the video then John can make one for you at a small charge of £2 which will be donated to the wbra.