It is 10.15am and I am the first to arrive at Hoppy's yard and Maxine arrives a few minutes after me with Bryan and Marie, short followed by everyone else.
There is Myself, Maxine, Bryan (on the bike) Mags, Ulrike, Marie, Hoppy's (non Parelli) friend, Catherine on foot though she did share some of the riding and Hoppy and her hubby Peter in the car, whom did a great task of manning the traffic and checking crossings.

What was the wind like? The wind was threatening but soon died down but not before we got this photo of Mother like daughter . (Hoppy and Catherine) but as you can see from the photos everyone is in high spirits, chatting and laughing and totally relaxed.

While we waited for Ulrike who was waiting for permission to mount a few photo's were taken but I can't get em all on here so posted a couple instead. Everyone was great, being patient and in no hurry to get started as after 40min Casey still didn't want to be ridden. No worries. Ulrike walked for a bit and then asked Casey once again if she could get on her and Casey said "Sure mum, and thanks for listening" and Ulrike then got to ride.

So eventually we set off at a steady walk and anticipated it would take around 3 hours to complete longer if we stop for lunch. 4 ½ hrs . yes 4 ½ hrs later we were out there and I think Bryan did a fantastic job doing the entire ride on his bike, how he managed to ride his bike through the long grass and uneven ground is amazing. Catherine though, she did do some riding completed most of the ride on foot, ooh sore tootsies.What a hoot we had, going through Bad Saddle Forest (why is it called Bad Saddle?), the Haunted Forest (did anyone get spooked). What about when we were casually walking along a track in a field and suddenly, our horses leapt? What is it? What's spooked the horses? Then, there we see them, three cute little calves lying down next to the fence that became even scarier when they decided to stand up.

After getting lost (which we did three times) we back tracked only to find we had to pass an enormous Combined Harvester. Oh err!!! Luckily Kyle though the smallest was the brave little lad who led the way past and then the other horse quietly followed. Ha! That monster was no match for us.Phew! But now what? The bridle path took us through a gate through a paddock with a huge beast in it. Pounding up and down the field with its huge feet you could near on feel the ground shake beneath you. Okay the huge beast was actually a Clydesdale Horse but boy could it move and its companion, a little coloured pony that snorted and pranced behind followed suit.A bloke called his horses over and that was enough for us to get safely out the other side with just a few vocal "Shoo's" needed if the horses sauntered over to us.

So how many times did we get lost. 3 times wasn't it, Luckily Bryan and Max soon got us back on track and only once did we need to phone Hoppy. Good thing I wasn't trying to map read, I'm hopeless and would have had everyone miles from home.The ride went really well apart from at one point when the horses had to endure huge horse flies but luckily not for long. The bridges, yep we had to cross over two really narrow wooden bridges that really tested your squeeze game and your savvy should your horse not want to cross over. Ulrike realised Casey was unsure and decided to back Casey over the bridge which worked very well. Squeeze game and back up together.Cool.

Soon the end of the ride was near and with a sore bum and tired legs we ambled back to the yard. Little Kyle was feeling the ground and so I kept to all the grass verges even if it meant me having my legs dragged through the bushes.A great day, brilliant weather and to Dawn (Hoppy) and Peter.. A huge THANK YOU for organising the route, for manning the roads, keeping us going in the right direction and handing out drinks when we met up.What a great day it was, the last hour was tiresome and it was good to see the yard. Though walking like John Wayne it was still good to have my feet back on the ground.

Thanks to Catherine who took photos for me (without falling over as she ran backwards, mmm! would have made a good photo though) and manned gates and also to Max and Bryan for help with the gates and the map reading. And to everyone else for joining in the ride.

To see more photos click on this link

SAVVY RIDE PHOTOS