Would I like to Gallop. !!!!!

[NoviceNic]

All my life I wanted a gallop on a sandy beach. When I read Raingod's post a couple of months ago about Murthwaite Green in the Lake District I knew this was my chance. I saw the photos of Jo and feel in love straight away. I emailed Cath the Proprieter of Murthwaite Green and she said that Jo would be perfect for me.

I arrived early and clapped eyes on the gorgeous Jo straight away. They tacked him up and asked me to do a quick rider assessment to make sure we were matched. Well did I feel silly or what. As usual I went to pot as I was riding a new horse and had an audience.

Then we all went out. I was placed behind the Ride Leader the lovely Linda.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/novicenic/horses/murthwaite8.jpg

It was a very windy blustery day. Unusually I didnt feel nervous at all about riding Jo. Jo is a 4 1/2 yr old 15hh piebald cob.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/novicenic/horses/murthwaite6.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/novicenic/horses/Photo-0061.jpg

As we sauntered onto the Beach the ride stopped. Linda asked if we would like a canter. Is the Pope Catholic????:rolleyes:

Had a wee canter and enjoyed it thoroughly until 2 other riders gallopped passed us and Jo and I ate sand. :o

As we went further up the beach we had a couple more canters and everytime we came back to walk he was a star.

Then the lovely Linda asked if we would like to gallop. **nods head and the grin is getting bigger at this point in time.***

Off we went my first ever gallop on the beach and it was quite??? Well, calm actually. I expected it to be more. Again the other 2 riders shot passed us and Jo and I ate more sand and water. :(

More walks, trots and another gallop. Now I decided not to eat sand anymore and that Jo was really going to gallop to his full potential. :p He seriously must of felt my vibes as he wouldnt stand still and was like a little bomb ready to explode under the saddle. **mini exageration but damn he felt good** Just as Lynda was asking me if we wanted to gallop Jo popped a mini dance on 2 legs. Lynda was gobsmacked he had even done it. She looked at me and said "Let him go just go". And my god did we go. YeeeeeHaaaa. Tears running down my eyes. My arms thrown forward, my legs squeezing for England. The wind in my face and the biggest grin you have ever seen and yes the others were eating our sand and water. :p In fact I am still smiling. Call me naughty but I was supposed to stay behind the Ride Leader at all times. Sorry Linda just couldnt resist a blast. As we calmly walked back to the trekking centre I passed Raingodz who was riding Tom on the next trek. I apologised for stealing the lovely Jo from him. Watch out Raingodz I may steal Tom next time. He sounds faster. ;) I have to say that I am a bit dissapointed that Linda wouldnt let me take Jo home. I could give him such a lovely home. :-)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/novicenic/horses/murthwaite5.jpg

[coblover26]

Aww how cute is JO :) Very pretty :)

Glad you had a good day :)

[Denbenj]

sounds like you and had lots of fun!! great piccys.... Murthwaite is my fave place to ride..is just something nice and different...with great neddys to!! I have Raingodz to thank to for introducing me!! Watch out 30th September the NR Northwest invasion!!

:D

[LizH]

What an experience , it looks and sounds fantastic , you'll be hooked now !!

[~ Simba ~]

"As usual I went to pot as I was riding a new horse and had an audience."

:D I went to Murthwaite Green on Saturday morning and that line made me laugh, because when I had the assessment I made a total fool of myself - I hate people watching me ride! I was on Fallon and couldn't get her to canter - instead we ended up JUMPING the trot poles! I felt such an idiot! Sadly I couldn't canter on the beach because the tide was in :( . We did have a little canter though on the grassy track. Looks like you had fun though!

[domane]

Oh wow, WOW BIIIIIG WOW!!!

That sounds so fantastic... I too am sitting here with a cheesey grin - just from reading it.... (although I don't like the idea of eating all that sand... the thought of all that grit in my teeth really puts them on edge ;) )

You are SOOOO lucky and the photos are brilliant and I am just sooo pleased that you have had a wonderful time...

Well done and thanks for sharing hun :D :D :D

[Sparklie]

That looks great NN :D
I think I'm just going to have to give it a go if I ever visit the lakes. Might have to get the OH to brush up his riding skills first though so that he could come along too.
Jo looks lovely...I see you have a thing for handsome piebald cobs :)

[Skib]

Fantastic. Thanks for posting those pics. But one must surely book to ride when the tide is out?

[Greentchr]

What a blast, what a dream! I know we shouldn't covet, but... you lucky girl!

[rowdent]

Wow.. what a fantastic day you had... :D :D I bet you're hooked now.. when are you going again..:D ?

[wanabe]

Wow! I'm envious!!

Now, I have 2 questions!

1) Did you sit or 2-point the gallop?

2) How long have you been riding? How many lessons?

I've long said that at 52 lessons I would go somewhere and have a gallop. I'm at 45 now and thinking I may not be ready. Not sure how hard it is to stay on! (?)

[Whatanejit]

Its not a proper beach gallop if you don't have tears running down your face and grinning from ear to ear.

Yee hah!

Delighted you had a great time.

xx

Dee

[raingodz]

Yes Tom is faster than Jo :D

Good to hear you had a great ride on the beach, if I lived closer, I'd probably be there every week :rolleyes:

And Linda is good fun as a ride leader, I had a riding lesson from her too when I went in June which was good fun as well :)

[Guest]

Fab...that is my next thing...beach riding.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

sounds great!

[NoviceNic]

Wow! I'm envious!!

Now, I have 2 questions!

1) Did you sit or 2-point the gallop?

2) How long have you been riding? How many lessons?

I've long said that at 52 lessons I would go somewhere and have a gallop. I'm at 45 now and thinking I may not be ready. Not sure how hard it is to stay on! (?)

Not sure what you mean in your first question but I will try and explain. We first made sure everyone was comfortable to canter and then tried the gallop away from the trekking centre. We would all be standing and then go from walk to trot to canter and then gallop. The horses know they are about to gallop and so to be honest can go through the gaits very quickly. :D As for how long you have been riding. No way would I leave it any longer. Get out there and book yourself a gallop ride right away. The horses look for each other for direction and stick together so no problem with no brakes. They have been doing it day in and day out for most of their life so they know the routine. Gallops are easy to stay on. Just a faster canter and you will need to lean out of the seat a little. Not too much though. Then when you come back down just sit back and do half halts asking them to steady. Of course it is more complicated than that but hey these guys know there job.

[NoviceNic]

I really do wish that I lived closer. 4 hr drive. :( I would be there every weekend. Of course I would take Captain as well. He would love it. (wus is scared of puddles)..:rolleyes:

Simba - Fallon is one of the beautiful ponies that was serving sand on a plate. Very nice coloured. :)

[Whatanejit]

Am I right in thinking that the two point position is the 'forward seat'?

xx

Dee

[NoviceNic]

You may be right Whatanejit. Sorry not technically done Gallops just got on and done them on hacks. So yes I did lean forward a little. ** Then right up his neck when we wasnt going fast enough.** :rolleyes:

[wanabe]

Yes, I guess 2-point = forward seat. My RI says she can sit the gallop as well as 2-point it.

[Little Dolphins]

Hey NN,you mad fiend:D ! What a rush, eh?

I was just musing whilst doing the washing up (yes, I did say that)-

You know those film extras who gallop horses in movies? You could sign up for that, and get paid for the tears in your eyes and big grin!

Seriously, tho' I wonder how you get into that? Gone are the cowboys and injuns pictures, but there's still plenty of scope! All those fantasy pics like Lord of the Rings, Merlin, etc. The horses look GORG. Surely they're not all stunt-men? They must need a lot of regular riders who can do the job and look cool doing it?

Ok Ok, it's the bump on the head. I'll go back to me washing up...:rolleyes:

[Soupdragon]

That looks like such FUN!! :D

Well done! As a horsemad teenager I had these visions of galloping along a sandy beach with hair blowing in the breeze ... not quite the same with hat, hat hair, sand in face and body protector BUT still looks absolutely fab!! :D I'm getting over my fear of going fast-ish in open spaces, so maybe one day ... :)

[vimto92]

Hey NN!:D

Bet you had a blast of a time! *pun intended!*;)

Really happy you enjoyed it, and nice pictured tooooooo:)

[NoviceNic]

LD that bump has really affected you hasnt it. Washing up!!!:eek: :p

Film extra. Hmm Do you think they will be re-making Robin Hood. I could be the lovely Maid Marion on a beautiful white horse, galloping through aforest with a handsome prince who owns loads of land. ***nudge NUDGE wake up Mum I need to be put out to graze. "What are you doing with all that hoay in your hair? Are you eating my breakfast again MUM?"*** :p

[Imp]

Awww, it sounds wonderful, you lucky girl :D

I've only every galloped once, by mistake because I was clinging on in an early canter lesson and horsey thought I wanted to go faster :eek: I ended up doing a circus style 45 degree angle on the side of the saddle only to be tipped back on when we cornered *phew* :rolleyes:

Cool Nic :cool:

[joey_olop]

AW fabby piccies, Im very jealous :D

[Sparkie]

Wow, go you!! I do quite a lot of galloping on hacks, usually to keep up with the bigger ones in fast canter on my ponies!! Must get a bigger one... :D :D I have done it on purpose a few times on a longer legged horsey, and really enjoyed it too!

[cazrider]

Sounds just fabby Nic.:D I have galloped Sennie a couple of times, on our infamous sponsored ride. It was fab fun, but I haven't done it on a beach since I was at uni, many moons ago. The pics were great.:D Disappointed not to see any taken at the gallop though.:rolleyes: ;)

[cath.wrigley]

Hi NN,

So glad you enjoyed your ride on Monday - sorry not to see you when you got back - had to dash off to take ponies to a fun day!!

Thanks for all the lovely comments about the horses etc. etc. Maybe you should think of a job in PR not stunt riding!! Between yourself, raingodz, denbenj and other NR members you do a fantastic job of promoting my centre!!:)

Joe will be here and waiting for your next visit - although, Raingodz is quite right - Tom is faster. In fact when I took the staff down to the beach last week for a mad gallop - Tom won every time!!! Although Joe did come close on the last one!!

Hope to see you back again soon.

Cath

[NoviceNic]

Having a family visit to the lakes every year used to be a drag. But not anymore. Will be up soon to visit my nan again!!! Blow that be up to see the lovely Joe. :p If you ever need a home for Joe I want to be first on the list.:D