An Interesting Day!

We were very well looked after by Ros and Edward Tate who came to the rescue when we discovered during then morning trot up which tests the fitness of the horses that two were unfit to ride. Sore backs!! Ros allowed us to borrow two horses from their yard. How very kind of them. Not only that but Edward also drove 3 horses to our start point. I just hope that he did not lose his name by being late for the dressage!! Talking of which none of us on this trip have much clue about such technicalities.

The day started with Arthur being taken off at sparrows to a radio car so he could be interviewed by the lovely Sarah Montague about the Military Covenant. The boy did well and a hearty breakfast ensued. Ros wanted to see the men clean their own tack so here is a photo to prove it!!
The sore backs caused some delay in the proceedings but a contingency plan was put into action and a spare horse of Jim Arkell's and my daughter's horse Spot were enlisted to help us. Their movements were fixed and Tina was on her way!

Our late start was a bonus allowing us to re group and organise ourselves. Our RV after a short drive was in Kemberton where Alison Kwiatkowski looked after us and provided us with coffee and a lovely welcome. At the same time Anna and Peter arrived with a wonderful lunch.

It is interesting to see the complete change in scenery from the totally pasture fields of Wales to the more crop based agriculture in England. But we alos saw on our trip to day some lovely red bricked Georgian farm houses that all of us would love to live in.

We were less in then open country amd more on roads and tracks but these were light in traffic and the pleasant company of Alison and her friend from the village more than made up for that. Mickey Cork was our competent guide and how grateful we are to not worry about map reading. This has proved to be a big area of contention over the last week.

On our way to Chillington Hall we visited White Ladies Priory where Richard gave us an impromptu lecture from the saddle on the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the details of "hanging drawing and quartering". And then onto Boscobel House where in 1651 after the Battle of Worcester Charles II took refuge in the house hid in a tree. Thus a famous and popular legend was born.

To day Emma rode Mr Stitch to whom she has become attached. I think she enjoyed her day driving what must be like a sports car. Mr Stitch enjoyed the lighter load!
We arrived at our destination in good time. Chillington Hall is an interesting house having been in the Gifford Family since the Norman Conquest. John and his wife were incredibly kind to us and so once more we enjoyed the kindness and hospitality that we enjoyed throughout our travels .

Doughnut, 10 years old, one of our King's Troop horses, is a sweet and good natured mare. She is ,like Penny, a wheeler in D Sub Section and is therefore more used to pulling than carrying. Nick Hamilton would not be surprised! She was bought in Ireland in about 2003 to match the colour of horse for that Sub section. She is the typical type of King's Troop horse, strong limbed and keen but no beauty. She has the most lovely mahogany coat. Sadly she now has a sore back and will not be ridden before the end of our trip.

Jo is Jim's horse , 7 years old, and named after the man who sold the horse to him, Jo Colingbourn of the VWH. The original Irish name was so unpronounceable that it had to be changed. By chance Jo's wife, Ro, is descended from the original Parry family who were closely connected (maybe too intimately connected!!) to Henry Tudor. Ro came to our event in Cardiff last week. Jo,the horse is a good solid sort whom I have seen in action in the hunting field. He has also raced in the Yeomanry Race only just being beaten by Wogan see yesterdays post. About 17 hands, he is well set for this trip showing no sign of fatigue or bad temper. He is definitely a "Chairman's horse".







Here we are pausing at the Grecian Temple in Chillington where we were so well and generously looked after. Late in the evening we were joined by many new arrivals, on the human side there was Maggy Denaro and Virginia Cunningham who ride with us to morrow. On the horse side we have the famous Spot and Mozart(!!!!) ( I look forward to seeing what tune she plays). After note on Friday morning---- I am pained to see that Spot has rolled and we have two very large stable stains!! Oh well. The day is dull again but the clouds are high as are our spirits.