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Thursday, 2 July 2009

Problems with Ride Bare...

As we get closer to Ride Bare, and Sarah and I get more and more of the practicalities under control (where to stay, how to feed the boys, what to take, how to wash our undies etc), a few problems are starting to materialise...

In no particular order, here are the issues we are encountering:

  1. Horse flies swarming at plague proportions from 6am till at least 8pm - not leaving us much fly-free riding time(!)
  2. Kind, well-meaning people whom were are planning to stay with offering us lots of grass to turn out our horses on overnight :-0
  3. Concern from people who live in Wales because the land round them is VERY stony and we will never make it without shoes - in fact even horses WITH shoes apparently don't often make it(!)
  4. Generous, well-meaning people offering us fantastic rye-grass hay for our horses when they are stabled overnight...
  5. Concern from people who live in the Quantocks because the land round them is VERY stony and we will never make it without shoes...etc...
  6. Not being able (yet!) to find ANY effective repellent for aforemetioned horseflies (have tried 3 brands so far this week...suggestions welcome)
  7. Concern from people who live in Somerset because we will have to do lots of roadwork and we will never make it without shoes...etc...
  8. Sarah's mild panic at riding for 2 weeks with only 2 pairs of trousers - she is being very brave at the moment but will her nerve hold?
I am sure there will be more to follow... :-)

PS: Guess what? No flash floods today either...about 3 drops of rain - nearly enough to get us wet...Better luck tomorrow Met Office (they are still forecasting rain - I suppose if they persist long enough then one day they will get it right...)


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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous2 July 2009 at 17:49

    Hi Nic

    Just read blog about your problem with flies and a good repellent. I have used Coopers in the past, good but expensive, but now make my own up with a mix of witch hazel and white vinegar with citronella and eucalyptus oils say 20 drops of each in 400mls of base mix.The secret is to apply often as your horses will be working whatever you use will get evaporated off their bodies with their sweat. What may be of use is to soak strips of rag or towelling in repellent and let then hang off your saddles or plait into mane and tail!! Might look odd but who cares as long as it works!!

    Look forward to your visit next week, take care,

    Penny

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nic Barker2 July 2009 at 18:43

    Great, thanks Penny :-) Rasta ponies could be a great look ;-)

    ReplyDelete