Welcome to Finn's Blog

Well it's BHS Borders Festival of the Horse time again and me, Finn, a cheeky, gorgeous (everyone tells me so) black and white irish piebald cob is going to give you the lowdown on why we horses have a great time at the guided rides along with our Mums and Dads. Firstly I have been going with my mum, Fi (yes I know, Finn and Fi) to the Borders Festival of the Horse for the last 3 years now. I really look forward to it more than my mum knows ha ha. I get to meet up with my friends Hamish, Farah and James and we all get to meet new friends. Mum thinks it's for her benefit but really it's for us, it's a big party. So I'm going to tell you about some of the rides to let you see what you're missing, or should I keep it a secret? Hmmmmm.

Cheviot Foothills guided ride 18 May 2009
Well we're here on the guided ride. Mum wasn't sure which coat to put on as the weather was being a little indecisive so for once she's taken the sensible option of putting on her long jack murphy. I don't know how many times I've listened to I wish I had put my coat on, when she gets a soaking, I just give a bit of a snort as much to say I told you so.

There were approx 20 of us today, a good turnout, and I have to say there was a large contingency of coloureds yahoo, 6 of us to boot. We set off from Cliftoncote Farm nr Yetholm and headed out on fields and tracks through the foothills of the Cheviot hills. We had the odd wee shower but nothing really major but mum was dead chuffed with herself for not getting wet on a ride . . . .

I have to say the countryside we rode in was stunning, as far as the eye could see it was beautiful fields and hills full of sheep and lambs awww, I quite like them. The ground underfoot was perfect not too hard and not too soft either. You really feel in a world of your own on these rides. I love them we all go at a nice pace and enjoy the scenery around us and the tasting sessions too are amazing, the grass here is so tasty . . .

We went up a large rise where we got to have a canter, we put the novice and nervous horses in the first group. I wasn't allowed in this group mum wouldn't let me as I have a tendency to be a bit naughty and show off to the young horses, how to take charge of your rider and my favourite party piece how to try and get mum to come off forwards over my head by putting my head down between my legs at speed. It usually works but it didn't today but I'll keep trying through the week! Mind you at the top of the hill we were all puffing a bit but the view at the top was brill you could see for miles all around and over towards the hills on the outskirts of Edinburgh and westwards along the pennine way, amazing.

You've heard the saying "God's country" well the Borders is horse country. Everywhere you look there is something beautiful to see whilst on my back, I love looking around too. Following the track we dropped down into Hownam village and after another wee shower the sun came out and it was glorious and we had a bit of a trot along the road and back onto another track which joined back onto the hill rise that we had a canter up. Once we got here I knew where I was again and took charge and went in front I like being in front except when I come across a big scary stone or boulder, well you just don't know what they might do!!

The journey back again was nice and relaxed and everyone was talking about the ride and I was busy getting annoyed at the flies, I hate flies they make me headshake but mum says I have to stop being daft but she forgot to put my eyemask on so it was her fault. We came back into the Bowmont Valley and walked along the road by the side of the stream and headed back to the farm. Everyone really had enjoyed themselves and I have to say I did too, and I gave mum a big shove when she got off to show her how much I had enjoyed myself, then tried to drag her off to the grass . . .

We got washed and watered and put on the lorry for a well earned munch of our haynets whilst mum and her friends got treated to a sit down lunch along at the farm. They had soup, rolls, cakes, all sorts of lovely delicious home cooked food provided by the ride. What about me?? Then they came back with Festival goody bags full of things for them but I had a rummage and found some foody treats for me so I'm well chuffed.

Anyway I had a great time today and went and told my field buddies about it when I got home. I can't wait for my next ride on Wed which is at Heriot.

Heriot Ride 20 May 2009
Hi folks its me again Finn, with my BHS Borders festival of the horse ride blog.

Today i was taken to Brothershiels farm, Heriot. Apparently it's only 15miles to Edinburgh and 17 miles to Galashiels from here i heard a lady telling mum today. The weather again had mum on the hop as there were some rather black clouds that came rolling over us as we were in the lorryat brothershiels farm, we had got there early. However after a big outburst the sun shone and it was really nice so everyone jumped out their lorries and cars and starting getting all of us lot ready to go on the ride. Today i made 16 new friends and Hamish my best friend was with me again. I was the only big coloured but we had 3 icelandic horses today they are such cool little guys but so strong. Did you know that they can carry an 18 stone man, wow thats a lotta weight, mind you mums enough for me she keeps saying she's going on a diet...... i'm still waiting !!

We set off along a track from the farm the fields up there are like billiard tables i sooo wanted to go and have a nibble. Heading along the track we then went across a soft field a bit boggy but not bottomless boggy if you know what i mean, and i'm an expert after having been stuck in one (but that's another story )There was a wee stream to cross, well actually Hamish was a bit of a jessie there and decided that he just couldn't do it so i went in front of him to show him it was okay and then he came after me. We continued to head up the hill until the soft boggy land cleared and we were on a lovely grass track. We all got to have a yeehaa up the track as there were some of us who were just so excited to be out that if we didn't get a canter we were going to protest. At the top of this hill, i think it wasGilston hill the views weregreat mum again and her friends were all oohing and ahhing at how far they could see over towards Edinburgh, Arthurs seat, Pencaitland hills, ships in the Firth of Forth and the wind turbines down below at Soutra. However there was more to come.....

After a wee spell of what's that over there and where is that in the distance we headed off again dropping down through a nice wooded track that wentonto a quiet road. We trotted along the road a short distance when i heard mum go awww look, it was a mare and foal in the field quite a new foal by the looks of it, i remember that gangly running around after your horse mum and showing off then either crashing into her bottom or sliding with all your legs askew to a not so elegant stop..... Anyway everyone had a look at her before we went off the road and onto a forestry track which would take us up again higher than the lasthill. We trotted up that one, it was a nice trot i was full of beans today so i was at the front and i enjoyed it i have to say trotting along with the bigger horses, it didn't take us long until we were at the top of this track and turned right onto a track that headed for a tv mast. When we got there Suzy then said walk over the edge a bit and look, WOW. It was amazing you could see even further again this time and we were looking over the new wind turbines being built and we were still higher than them and again this time mum could see even more things she knew in the distance like Knockhill,and Cockenzie power station and more ofEdinburgh. The other way was beautiful green fields, countryside and valleys of the Borders i have never seen a view like that one before. Both Hamish and i even managed to refrain from our usual wer'e bored by this lets eat and we were looking too......then we did have an eat. Hamish has quite eclectic tastes and likes a bit of heather when he can get it so started on that, me i don't like it i stick to plain grass.

We then headed downwards and i usually don't like going down i'm really slow at it, however today i found the ground underfoot really nice, maybe my new shoes had something to do with that (thank you Stuart, my farrier ) and i was not too far behind Hamish who seems to be able to float down hills. Even mum enjoyed this part of the ride for a change and just relaxed and leant back and let me get on with the work. We joined onto a track than followed the hillside down to the bottom of the valley where we crossed a wee ford, well i had a drink stop first then i crossed the ford. Then it was up another track through a small farm and over a road into the most amazing green field i have ever seen and we got to have a lovely canter/gallop through it. I thought i was going fast til i saw one of the wee icelandics shooting past me, boy can they go....

As we crossed this field we were all heading a bit in the wrong direction so suzy told us to follow the wall and we let rip again up the side of the field this time i wasn't letting anything get past me, well only a couple of the big ones and off i went. I did try to see if mum wanted to be catapaulted out the front but again she resisited my offer.Damn. We then walked through the next field as it was a maternity unit of lambs and ewes so us being polite well mannered( ahem ) horses we behaved even though the urge to run again was there. This time at the gate mum said she would get off and open it for everyone and she broke it...so she had to hold it open for everyone and then dragged it back into place and shut it, and then came the fun of her trying to get back on. Unless there is a stone or something she can't get back up, stiffy. We now had the most glorious spell of sunshine for the rest of the ride home and again everyone was talking about how this had to be the most scenic ride they had been on. The last few fields were walked through and we were back again at the start at Brothershiels farm. Mum was dead chuffed again at outwitting the rain showers and not getting wet.

I have to say that todays ride had everything new friends and their riders,tracks, fields, forestry tracks,woodland, canters, gallops and views to die for now thats what i call a good days riding.

Oh and iv'e got another goody bag, more foody treats brill....... Finn

Jedburgh Riding Club ride - 22 May 2009
Hi there i'm just back from tonights ride, it is one of my favorites of the festival of the horse Jedburgh Riding club guided ride. Mum and me headed off early at 4pm to get to Jedburgh so she could get my trailer parked in the car park. Mind you she ended up giving up reversing and just putting it sideways tonight,in her defence she is a good at reversing my trailer she mustv'e been having an off night.   Hamish, Farah and Hugo came along in Hamishs dad's lorry and we all met up at Jedburgh so i had my posse with me tonight. There was around 50 horses on tonights ride it always gets a good turnout and again we coloureds were in vogue, there was loads of us. I was the cool dude with my shades on tonight, mum remembered to put my eyemask on.

We set off through the town centre and there was quite a crowd of people who had gathered to watch us off, which was nice a bit like being on a common ride. We headed up the hill that takes you past Jedburgh jail and out away into the countryside. A nice trot up the road here always gets you raring to go and we then followed the grass track to the start of the fields. I love this field as i always get the better of mum in the first field, so while the leader of the ride was whistling at the sheep to get them out of the way, i started revving my engine ready for the off.....And then i let rip and we were off galloping across this field and not even the big horses could catch me, on the flat i'm a little pocket rocket and i thought better of trying to fling mum off over my head here (plenty opportunities later ).  

We headed through the little wooded avenue that joins on to the next stretch of fields where we had a nice trot and i missed having my teeth kicked by a rather feisty steel grey mare, ooh she was a fiery thing so i decided to keep well away from her. At the bottom of the field there is a small old stone bridge that we cross and head onto the track along some softer moorland. Hugo was with me tonight and i thought i was clumsy but Hugo takes the biscuit for not trying to lift his legs and spent a lot of the time tripping or maybe he's more clever than i thought i could use that as a ploy to get mum off over my head, innocently !! At the end of this track we headed for more fields and again i heard the ride leader whistling at the sheep so took this as my cue to get ready for blast off, up the hill. Farah had come to join me and she's not been out this week so when it came time to let rip she was off and away in front of me, mind you i did give chase and was doing rather well till about half way up the hill when my batteries started to go a bit. Meanwhile all the bigger horses were cantering nicely past up the hill, well thats probably their jobs so they'll be used to it....Then i got my second wind and off i went again and made it up to the top. Here you get a lovely view of the valley  looking over towards the Cheviot hills, mind you there was a big black cloud looming but again mum was pleased she had put her jack murphy on so she wasn't worried.

We went into the next field which had some cows in it, and the ride leader started whistling to them too, he's a clever bloke he's bilingual and speaks sheep and cow, i'm impressed. Whilst we were waiting for the others to get through the gate the rain came in a big shower and mum was rather pleased that she thought i was doing an amazing reinback but it was only until she realised i was turning my bottom towards the rain.   Once everyone was through the gate the shower passed away and the sun came out again and we had a beautiful rainbow with it's end down in the valley below us again the views on this hill are lovely as you start to see into the next valley over too, over towards Denholm way i think it is. This field mum always say's is like an obstacle course as there is a deep gorge that we cross over it's quite fun as when you get to the other side i like to give a bit jump just to try and unseat her, which didn't work, she's getting wise. Then there was a small boggy bit not too deep but enough to make me want to jump over it, which she wasn't expecting but again i failed my mission to unseat her so i gave up. Then the grub stop was in sight with Fulton castle below us. It is such a nice view coming down the hill with Fulton castle in the valley in front of you. It is a ruin now but it has seen some of the most bloody goings on in history from the times of the Border Reivers and Raiders.

Fulton castle was the Turnbull seat i think, a notorious reiving family. At the stop we had a man called Billy give us a wee talk about the history of the area and where we had ridden.  I have ridden down the field where Rubstick, the famous Grand National winner used to be trained.... ...uphill,  and Mary Queen of Scots also rode down that field too on her way to Hermitage Castle, we had ridden some of what is known as The queens ride. This made mums day as she is very interested in Mary Queen of Scots so she was a happy bunny. The food provided by Jedburgh riding club on this ride is mouthwatering, all home baked Raspberry and white chocolate muffins ( i never got any ) chocolate and cherry traybake (i never got any ) sausage rolls ( i never got any ) and sausages, cheese and pineapple on a stick (i never got any ) NOT FAIR... mind you Hamish and i did give the field  a good tasting Hamish even wanted the grass from under my mums feet, literally.  

So with riders and horses all refreshed after our wee stop, we had the gallop up the hill right to the top. I have to do this one in stages, i do it so mum has a chance to enjoy the view or at least that what she thinks.....When you are at the top here again the valleys of the Borders stretch before you and in the late evening sunlight look pretty spectacular. We then headed down from the top of the hill through nice soft moorland, and through a small wooded bit at the bottom. Then we headed along a track which joined back up to the one we came along earlier. As i knew where i was going again i started to make my way towards the front and we had a nice trot along the track back over the stone bridge and then when we got to the field it was a canter back up it this time, just a nice one tho not a silly one and we all behaved ourselves except for a big black horse which was having an argument with his dad and winning.... Then back through the wooded avenue and we walked through the sheep field this time, mind you i was ready to start and wind down thats three days rides i have done now but i'm really enjoying them. The sun was starting to get lower and was that really intense orange/yellow before it drops and was making everything look really pretty in the fields. When we started coming back down into Jedburgh again people were coming out of their houses to see us go past which is nice, they are very horsey people in Jedburgh and love to see the rideouts when it is their Callant festival. I did one last year the Ancrum ride it was brill, mind you all the common rides in the Borders are brill as the scenery is amazing and everyone is having a good time.   We got back just before 9pm so mum was pleased that would giver her time to get me back home and into my field before it got too dark for her to see. After a nice sponge off and my rug on it was time to head for home. Iv'e had another great ride out i like this one as there are a few gallops and canters in it but everyone is safe and sensible it's good fun.   Oh and guess what iv'e got another goody bag, more sweeties.......that'll make up for missing out on the homebaking then !!                                                                                                                                                          Finn