Its a lonely walk. Your horse has buggered off, and the tide is comin` in. Everyone has gone home and the usherette kicks you out! Thats me there, lookin` at the sand, carryin` a flag, not just any ol` flag mind you! No Sir! The Annan Borough Flag. We had been out to the Alter Stane, on the Solway Marshes. We didnt find it, in fact for sometime now, no one has seen it! The Solway, is notoriously bad for its shifting sands.
I thought I`d post this, as it tells many stories by just lookin` at it.
Lovely pictures. Those sands look kind of desolate (bit like you must have felt without your horse) but they're desolate in a beautiful way.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have long stretches of sand to ride across.........I can almost smell the sea and hear the galloping hooves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these. That long shot of 20-some horses on the sand looks like a scene from a John Ford movie.
ReplyDeleteOh how my husband would have loved be out there with you galloping across the sand with a flag!
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day! Fresh sea air, the salty spay, and the flying hooves kicking up sand and water!
ReplyDeleteIt was an experience, I carried that Flag non stop for 6 hours as we rode the Marche Boundaries, a120 horses stared out on the day, at the half way point some 2 thirds retired, and later re joined for the final parade.
I`ll add that for you all.
What a beautiful area to ride your horse on. One of my dreams is to ride Flash across a beach like that, carrying a guideon at a gallop.
ReplyDeleteLooks like great fun!
ReplyDeleteDid you find your horse?
ReplyDeleteFunder, Lisa & Brett, ..No the horse wasnt really lost, I was chunterin` about lookin for the top of the Ancient Alter Stane.
ReplyDeleteBrett? It is great fun! This happens yearly here, we ride the Ancient Marche Boundaries, of the Royal Borough. To check to see if the English are coming!!
Its not easy riding with a flag that weighs about 10 lbs, wind blowing and wrapping itself around your face and the horses face! But the cold Beers at the end.....they help!
Funder, Lisa & Brett, ..No the horse wasnt really lost, I was chunterin` about lookin for the top of the Ancient Alter Stane.
ReplyDeleteBrett? It is great fun! This happens yearly here, we ride the Ancient Marche Boundaries, of the Royal Borough. To check to see if the English are coming!!
Its not easy riding with a flag that weighs about 10 lbs, wind blowing and wrapping itself around your face and the horses face! But the cold Beers at the end.....they help!
This looks fantastic. You'd better watch out, the english might be coming after seeing how fab that looks! I'd love to have a go at riding with a flag as I don't think Barnaby would be frightened by it. I have ridden on the beach a few times and absolutely love it.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all...I just Beam with delight, seeing those glorious hills(header) upon arrival here. I would so love tp traverse them with you and Gracie!
ReplyDeleteI Loved This!!!
I adore the riding history of things-done in the past, sometimes never to be reenacted again...due to energies lacking or more smarts!
By the look of this outing, and I assume it was one days ride, you were on the way or coming hither from a parade in the town or so over. I see"huntsmen"with red coats.
What steed for you? And did you get dumped or were you scouting?
In the 4 th pic down...it could be me and Wa aside you...high headed, pushing to be front!
Really wanting more...the"time for a gallop"long shot of the group is AWESOME!
Thats very kind of you my friend! I will post more pictures, just for you!
ReplyDeleteThey were all taken in 2006 as I was the Standard Bearer for the Annual celebrations. Google "Riding the Marches" We are Annan Town.
I've been doing a bit of catching up, going backwards, so here I am commenting on the end closer to the beginning or is it at the begining closer to the end, aaah my tired brain. I found the phrase about wellies and going faster interesting, here it's "putting the boots to her." I love visiting your site. I dream of riding with you (maybe a little closer to Wales but it can't look too much different can it?). Something stirs in my heart seeing the country there. I love that you ride in your western saddle in the parade, like a real cowboy, but in Scotland. Kindred spirits, I'd say (except on the whiskey thing).
ReplyDeleteCCC, C`mon over, if you do, I`ll show you around, and Wales too. I have some good friends in Wales, who would love to ride too.
ReplyDeleteIt would be oh so cool!
That looks like sooo much fun...and I love the history.
ReplyDeleteThen all the photos on the next post...great job riding all those miles and hours in the saddle...you didn't miss a beat! Great times were had~