Sheriff's Ride 2006

[FRED]

Sheriff's Ride 2006

I have entered for my 3rd Sheriff's ride on Saturday 9th September, this year I will be riding the very beautiful Megan from Cannock Chase.
The historic ride dates back to 1553 where Queen Mary's Charter commanded the City of Lichfield Sheriff to perambulate the City boundary each September,a tradition that has been upheld since 1553 and never missed.
17 horses from Cannock Chase Trekking Centre will take part { five will be marshals} ,71 horses in total have entered.Show or hunt dress code.
It has been a pleasure getting Megan ready{she is a very fast horse too,so lots of riding practise amongst my other horsey work with Dakota }
Its taken me ages to get her sparkling{greys!}.
I will also be riding treeless this year using a Barefoot saddle, which I like very much.{no kee rolls either and no worries}.

The farrier Karl has had a busy day too working very hard to make sure every horse shoe is sound and secure for our 20 mile adventure.
The horses love this ride and the riders too.
Last year the weather was atrocious, I have met somewonderfull people along my path in the past six years of riding and remember every horse I have met. Fingers crossed maybe some photos of this years event.

ps:Sophie xxx the most wonderful confidence giver has been on a long rest and maybe will retire ,a very special horse for all of us who needed a confidence giver in the earlier years.Last year I rode Brodie who will be the Sheriff's guide horse this year:)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/Frederickjames/Megan.jpg

[Whatanejit]

Sounds fantastic Fred.

Do you do re-enactment stuff or is this more like a fun ride on a historic route.

Stunning girl Megan.

Looks like you are going to have perfect weather for the occasion.

Look forward to the pics.

xx

Dee

[Ginger Thing]

Have fun Fred!

I rode Megan once - she was lovely, and squealed (but no bucks!) before every canter :D

[FRED]

:) :D
Its was a long day, perfect weather.Riders can wear Show, Hunt or Traditional of the period dress.
There are the Sheriff's race's at the long dinner break,but understandable few take part.
Megan was fantastic,we had only one moment amongst the 70 plus horse.One horse that made a Clydesdale seem small barged us across the road as we were about to turn right.Megan who is a sensitive horse remained composed with some very thoughtful thinking on my part.
Not a good moment to happen so soon after the start because I'm not used to riding in such a large group!,it wasn't long before the large horse and his rider were ordered to stop,they were causing bedlam and lost the plot completely in the second canter, upsetting many horses!.I think this horse would have defeated the Romans and Vikings all on his own! although power always defeats itself in time.

Anyway,so after that I could relax more and we had a great day.
My verdict on the Barefoot saddle,fantastic and I think Megan's verdict too, I didn't use my HM seat saver, but took it just incase.
Megan,she never squealed today, the last time she did that with me on board I fell off {my one and only fall in six years.}
Hope you like the photos and that history will continue for the Sheriff's Ride of Lichfield.

Megan chills after her journey to Lichfield with a itch before I tack her up.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/Frederickjames/1September9th002.jpg

Just about to set off,she is very alert!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/Frederickjames/2September9th004.jpg

We return to the City and Lichfield's Cathedral.We share a welcome toast with the Dean.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/Frederickjames/3September9th015.jpg

The City's Mayor greats us to the close of this years ride.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/Frederickjames/4September9th019.jpg

The Marshal's and organiser's did a Fantastic job, its not easy to prevent 70 plus horses thinking the gallops are a race,no riders fell and only one horse excluded.
The Sheriff, well times have changed for the better because a inscription in Latin says on the Sheriff's Shield 'its is hoped the Sheriff's wife looks after him after the ride with a good meal'
Well indeed it will be the Sheriff's Husbands chore this year:D
I forgot to mention, in the earlier years hundreds of horses and riders took part!

[Little Dolphins]

What a great day, Fred! Fantastic pictures; the one of the cathedral beyond Megan's ears is breathtaking!
How wonderful to have a historic event to take part in on horseback:D

[FRED]

:)
Ok, here is a photo from my 1st Sheriff's ride with Sophie in 2004, a horse that has given so many people confidence in their ability to ride.
This photo maybe to 'arty' for some, its not edited in anyway, just how I see things in my life and try to capture the moment.
{My favourite NR photo is hopefully still in the NR archives of a NR member jumping with her horse.}

anyway,Sophie troting past the Cathedral and the most wonderfull mane flowing in the wind.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/Frederickjames/williamlitchfiedl033.jpg

I wish I could have captured photos on this years ride of our meeting with three donkeys,but most of us riders had our hands full so to speak and then we went past a field with four Lamas in it!.the horses didn't hang about at these moments;) .

[Little Dolphins]

That photo is superb!!!!:D

[Whatanejit]

Sounds like a fabulous occasion and what fantastic weather you got!

Megan is really pretty all plaited up isn't she - thanks for the pics and the story.

xx

Dee

[FRED]

:D I thought the rider looked a little nervous and tense and has his stirrups two holes shorter than normal:eek:
Can't blame him really,glad you liked the photos,was a great day out for all and Megan is fine after the adventure too:)

[Miriam]

Gald you had a good time and good to hear from you Fred. Was wondering how you were doing

[dancerinthecorn]

FRED,

The Sheriffs ride is fab isn't it!? :D I rode it nearly every year between 1991 and 2000. Sometimes just the morning as I couldn't always face the mayhem in the afternoons LOL! Don't live in Lich with the parents anymore though, and don't have a horsebox/ transport, so I have not beenm for a while.

[FRED]

:) Thanks Miriam, its been a very busy year after such a disaster last,I'm much better now and have bounced back.

Ginger Thing, there is a new horse at the centre. Billy, he is a wonderful colured cob and ooozes character! I had asked if I could ride him for this year's,maybe next year.

That's good to read about members here doing the Sheriff's ride, we seem so shy of culture and tradition here in England unless its pomp and ceremony.

The guy on the heavy hunter has done 40 Sheriff's rides,it must have been disappointing to be excluded, but the riding was horrendous, his horse constantly running backwards. I have never seen a horse so big! and what a bruiser.I thought about this horse entering the City to the sound of Jimi Hendrix's version of the Star Bangle Banner,what a combination and entrance! .

The ride now starts outside the City, after 450 years,a victim of risk assesment.The Cathedral being a highlight when we return.
Its quiet something hearing 70 horses trot through the narrow streets.

I wonder did you do the same gallop around a field towards the end of the ride,its a large circle with the course marked out, we have to stop because there is a fearsome drop towards the end.Last year we went round twice because many of the gallops were unsafe due to very bad weather..
Its a lot of fun and different.
Sandi who used to post here is from Lichfield too,she watched the ride for many years before emigrating to the USA.

[MoeWalker]

My friend and l also did the Sheriff's ride for the first time, me 56 and my friend 60 so not spring chickens, but it has been an ambition of mine for a long time (1 thing i wanted to do before l die)
It was truly wonderful.
I was very impressed by the organisation of it all. Horse ambulance and vet in attendance, police cars controlling the roads.
I was amazed by all of the places we saw, the Hamlets, the "i would love to live here" houses and cottages which l'm sure we wouldn't have known about if we hadn't done the ride. The donkeys, the shetland and the Llama's.
The gallops were great and all of the horses were so well behaved.
The only drawback was towards the end (about 3 miles before the end) our knees started to really ache and at every trot it was "oh no not again".
Next year l will be fit and padded up properly.

[FRED]

Brilliant, good to see you both got round to it:) .
I have a friend who videoed sections of the ride and has all the riders on it,I will see if I can get you copies,it would be about two weeks or so time.
Well done,the scenery and those hamlets were something very special,how the other half live:eek:

And what about the trot back to the lorry park, the horses still had so much energy.I was humbled by their grace,power and energy after such a long day.Didn't they behave so good.
Fingers crossed for next year.

[dancerinthecorn]

Hi Fred,
Yes we did the gallop round the field, though not each time as we mostly rode the morning and then spent the rest of the day drinking LOL!!

England is not really lacking in cultural celebrations, it's just that they're not as publicised or popularised as say St Paddy's day etc. For years I participated in Bower day in Lichfield, and the shovetide fair. I also spent 6days a year, mid winter and mid summer, traipsing round Chester city dressed as a devil and playing my drum as loud as possible in aid of the Mid summer/ Winter watch parade, a spectacle that dates back centuries and is linked to the Deva mummers.

I love pomp and ceremony :D

[Miriam]

[QUOTE=FRED]:) Thanks Miriam, its been a very busy year after such a disaster last,I'm much better now and have bounced back.

QUOTE]


Thats really good news Fred. Hope to see you around more

[teabiscuit]

WOW that looks fantastic!
bet you had a :D big grin from ear to ear :D after that ride, it looks bloomin superb