Welcome to Barnmice Hazel-Ann!

I love taking lessons too, even though I have no plans to ever show, I just love learning that amazing partnership that one can have with a horse as well!

Hey Hazel-Ann, you are so lucky to have the riding areas so close to where your horse is stabled. Mine are stabled right here on my own farm but not a lot of trails to ride on due to farm land and crops etc. Having been brought up on the farm that I live on, I do know where I can ride and know all of the oder farmers and the wooded areas and back lanes that I can ride on. It does fine for just an aft quiet ride on my own. However when I am eager to get out and do some real trail riding I have to load up and head out. Northern Ontario is a fountain of woods, trails rocks, water crossings etc etc. The further north you go in Ontario, the more crown land you come across, and of course one can park of the road and ride out till the cows come home if they wish...also camping is ok to. But we have to remember that the bugs allknow about northern Ont as well, and they own the area untill at leas August. and into September...Once September is over, the hunters come out loaded for bear or anything else that gets in their way, so it is not really safe out there on a saddle when the guns are pointed in your direction. Better to take your chances with the mosquitoes. EEEk so you see we have our challenges here too. Happy trails

I don't envy you those bugs, Eileen! I'm not sure about bears either for that matter!! The worst we get on Exmoor are wild boar and they keep themselves pretty much to themselves. I do envy you your farm and horse though - I have to rely on riding school ponies which can be a mixed bunch. Still, it's better than when I lived in London - not much opportunity to ride there, although I did once manage to fall off in Hyde Park! Happy trails