Organising my first pleasure ride tomorrow

[dalesnfellfan]

It seemed like a good idea when I was asked to run a ride in my area for Anglian Distance Riders last year and it seemed a long way off. I sorted out a venue and a route of 10 miles with a water crossing and 8 miles avoiding the water, mostly on grassy field margins and old green lanes with just a few short stretches of quite lane to connect.

I have spent the last few weeks worrying about everything that could go wrong, hazards on route, riders falling off/getting lost, horses/riders getting hurt etc. etc.

2 weeks ago I wondered if I would have to cancel as I had just 6 entries, Vikki our chairman said not to worry the entries always come in at the last minute ( I like to get my entry in weeks in advance for rides) and she was right, I'm still getting late entries in now and  have 30 entries plus I have had several who wish to enter on the day.

Last Sunday I rode part of the route with a friend and the going was perfect giving lots of opportunities for long canters along wide grassy headlands, it was drier but still reasonable when I marked the route Thursday/Friday however we have ridden another section this morning and the ground is now quite firm again.

I think I have all the paperwork done, stewards lunches organised and just sat down with a cup of tea and it's started to rain, not sure whether to hope it continues so the going is softer or to worry in case it gets really heavy and washes away the spray arrows marking the ride and everyone will get lost.

Mandy is coming on Musk so there will be one Dales, would have been 2 but Mandy's friend had to cancel due to ill health, shame I can't ride it on Connie.

All that remains now is to pray for good weather tomorrow and no mishaps.

Fingers crossed!!!!

[Debbie]

Keeping everything tightly crossed that everyone has fun and that the weather behaves it's so much more stressful when you're the one in charge of running a ride.

[mikea]

Best wishes for tommorrow

[Fi]

Well done for organising something. I sometimes think people don't realise how much work goes into doing it.

Hope all goes well.

[harveydales]

Well done organising it. Looks like the weather will be perfect for you and I'm sure every one will have a good time.

I know from personal experience just what a worry it is running events like this. Fi is right, people don't realise how much goes into organising these events. You seem to have everything under control so just enjoy the day. Wish it was near enough for me to join in.

[NFK Dumpling]

We had great fun, thanks Andrea

I thought I would be on my own with Musk but thanks to me taking a "diversion" on the way and arriving later than intended just after I pulled up to park Lindsay & Charlie arrived - neither of us knew the other was going!

So there was a mini Norfolk Dales invasion of Suffolk

I'm please to report that the ford wasn't an issue for Musk - thanks to the Cross-country training day we had with Pam last year. He likes to stick his nose in the water and wave it from side to side.....at least he's not like James who soaks everyone with his splashing.

The little wooden bridges weren't an issue either, I'm glad I listened to a friend and took him over all sorts of surfaces as a youngster as I think this is now paying off as we don't have anything like that about here.

I managed a different "detour" on the way home and did a complete circuit of Botesdale & Rickinghall - Doh! A certain party showed his disapproval by kicking the back ramp so I guess my driving isn't as smooth when I'm trying to work out where on earth I am at the same time as driving. That'll teach me to take a road atlas with me.

That area of Suffolk is beautiful so I saw places I would otherwise have missed if I hadn't got lost, every cloud and all that

[jaycee]

Sounds like all went well, you can relax now

[dalesnfellfan]

Well it all went very well, we had over 30 riders who all seemed to enjoy themselves and most commented on the lovely route, I am very lucky to have this on my doorstep, it's my normal hacking.

We ended up with quite a turn out of rare breeds, 2 Dales, 2 Fells, a Suffolk Punch, yes ridden!, and a Fiord, sadly didn't get a photo of Albert the Suffolk Punch but he was lovely.

The weather stayed sunny for us and no one fell off or got lost.

A couple of photos of Mandy and Musk and Lindsey and Charlie, the mini Dales invasion from over the border, and one of the Fiord Harle who's rider got wet up to her knees as he refused to go through the water and she got off and led him through.

DSCN1194 by Andrea Tyrrell, on Flickr
DSCN1196 by Andrea Tyrrell, on Flickr

DSCN1200 by Andrea Tyrrell, on Flickr

LOL at you getting lost on the way home as well Mandy, you'll have to come again and we can do some more of our lovely byways together now you know where you're going!!

[Debbie]

LOL, sounds like Musk wanted to drive. Men

What lovely pics! I'm so glad everyone had fun. Now you can breathe again since no one got lost or fell off

That's a very good idea about having youngsters go across different surfaces. Dundee had qualms about crossing the wooden bridge on our lane. To be honest, so do I, but I assured him double loaded gravel trucks travers it constantly and it holds, so surely it will hold his weight too. We still aim for the very middle of the bridge though.

[jap]

how lovely to see charlie again. Pleased you all had a good time.

[ikklecob]

Pleased it went well. I would love to do another one but those they organise around here are often carnage so have been put off the idea.

[dalesnfellfan]

There are some more photos of Mandy and Lindsey with Musk and Charlie at a road crossing on route on the Anglian Distance Riders Facebook page if any one wants to have a look, I don't know how to copy them from Facebook or how to post a link, bit of a technophobe I'm afraid.

I love the one of Albert the Suffolk Punch, just proves these heavy horses can have another job.

[NFK Dumpling]

Facebook ADR