Riding in all kinds of ways

July 8, 2011

Okay all, we are trying the blog again-with photos.......er, maybe.

So it's Tuesday a.m. and I'm up at 5 am (yes, you non-believers, I can do it, I really can...besides, it's light at 4:30 a.m until 10:30 p.m. these days). So anyway, up with the birds and out the door by 6 a.m. - ON TIME! The drive from Yearsley to Upper Lambourn, where Libby's new horse lives and trains, is a combination of motorways (freeway), secondary roads and winding country lanes. We pass through York, Sheffield, Nottingham (yes, there was a sign for Robin Hood World), Derby, Leicester, Coventry and finally, Oxford as we traversed a good part of the country from north to south. Leaving the larger roads at Oxford, we began to see the gentle rolling hills of the thoroughbred district, very reminiscent of the Kentucky bluegrass country.


There are scores of stables and horse farms here, and Libby's is run by an ex-jockey who has won the national Sweepstakes - equivalent to our Triple Crown. Brendan greets us and soon we are being introduced to Uncle Keef (which I suggest we nickname UK). He's a large, beautiful horse who shows great potential. We drive up to the hilly fields to watch UK do his first ever "gallops" along the rails that run for miles through these lovely hills.

Well worth the early rising to see this! And the look on my usually very reserved British friend's face can only be described as intense joy, enormous pride and great relief. UK is a winner already.

As the "crazy American", I am entitled to ask a zillion questions about every aspect of training and racing; the other horses, whom I meet and am nuzzled by; the various kinds of competition - flats, jumps, dressage, show, and everything else I can think of. We have tea, then watch UK play for the very first time in the paddock yard. He's like a little child, showing wonder and curiosity at everything - including the drain, the neighboring horse and the dirt which he tries to roll in but isn't sure what to do when he gets himself down, so he pops back up again looking mystified.

On left, Jack, one of the stable boys, Libby, UK, Brendan and I. Hope to see more of these shots with Brendan, Libby and a big trophy sitting where I am. We bid a reluctant farewell and head north, with a stop for lunch and some high-end shopping near Bicester (pronounced Bisster). It began to rain about halfway home, so the weather was certainly on our side.

Charlie, in the meantime, was doing a leisurely 26 mile ride with Pete and his riding friends near Weatherby, which included some good hills and a mid morning stop for tea or coffee and cake, an early afternoon stop for a pub lunch of a pint and a pie, and a mid afternoon stop for tea. Certainly NOT his usual hard charging bike ride. But enjoyable and beautiful. He stayed with Pete & Val and they went for a fish & chips dinner. I do believe the calories out did not wipe out the calories in on this particular day.

The next day though, he made up for it by riding from Pete's to Libby's - about 35 miles in and out of rain showers. We met him for tea about halfway, then watched him pedal away past pastures full of sheep and sleepy English villages.

On Wednesday, we had a tour of St. Peter's, Oliver's boarding school - not quite Hogwarts, but not too far from the images we Yanks have of English boarding schools. All the students properly dressed in blazers and school ties but racing around like mad as it was the next to last day of the term.

We're back at Robyn's now until we leave for Majorca on Monday. Tonight we're out to an Indian Curry House, where I'm sure their version of mild will still be way hotter than I can tolerate.

Hope this arrives with photos....it took longer than expected to do, but at least I know how now....I think. Hope I don't forget by next time!

With hugs to all,
Lari & Charlie