Camp and garrocha poles

[Jessey]

We've had a very relaxed and chilled weekend just a quick run down as I've just walked in having left home at 7 Friday morning.

I was invited to this weekend camp at friends nh yard which is in a fab location and only about 20 minutes away. They were about to help us with anything we wanted, or we could explore the forest (straight out of their back gate.

We did a 7 mile ride Friday afternoon with T and hung out with some old friends and new we had a blast, it was so nice to catch up with people and there be no pressure to do anything. The June bugs come out about 8.30 so we piled into a friends lorry and talked till 1am.

Saturday I was awake at 4.30 so read my book until pony breakfast time at 6 then T and I had a pretty lazy morning before going out with a couple who recently came to one of the rides i organise, another 5 mile bimble, then went back and nattered a lot and got a horseless intro to gorrocha poles before a bbq in the evening (plagued by June bugs but it ended up being pretty amusing )

This morning we played with the poles on horseback before a quick hack and more pole time, then broke camp and came home to another bbq Ts hubby organised

 

[Jessey]

 

[chunky monkey]

Oh how lovely. Looks great fun.

 

[Jessey]

Jess was a superstar with the pole, a bit wary for about 10 seconds but after that totally chilled and very tolerant, even when she got clipped on the bum or ears with the pole (she learnt not to toss her head pretty quickly). I'm hoping to get a pole to tinker with, it gives a new focus to going in boring circles and really tests how well you ride a circle or can turn from the leg, it was great fun

 

[Trewsers]

Looked ace!
Sounds like a great weekend.

 

[Feawen]

What lovely hacking! Looks like you had a great weekend.

How heavy/ maneuverable is the pole? I'm not sure I would have the upper body strength to manipulate it, but it looks great fun.

 

[Jessey]

How heavy/ maneuverable is the pole? I'm not sure I would have the upper body strength to manipulate it, but it looks great fun.

It wasn't that heavy as you are only supporting one end of it for the most part, maybe like holding a bag of sugar. That said my shoulder hurt a little for 2 days as it moved in some directions it wasn't used to on the turns

 

[Feawen]

@Jessey That's good - not too heavy if I accidentally bopped myself on the head in a malcoordinated moment. It does look fun

 

[Trewsers]

That looked a nice arena surface was it silica sand and mixed fibre?

 

[Jessey]

That looked a nice arena surface was it silica sand and mixed fibre?

Sand and rubber I think, it was lovely to ride on, jess got all springy

 

[KP nut]

I've never heard of garrocha poles. Got intrigued and googled them. They look great!
Love the pictures. Sounds like you had a lovely weekend.