Hazel-Ann Willson's Friends

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A Bit About Me and my Horse(s): Having moved to Devon from the South East in 2006 I decided it was time to learn to ride properly (having enjoyed a number of pony-trekking holidays back in the '70s!) so last year I began taking lessons. Some 18 months later I am just beginning to understand how to ride and am loving every minute of it. Originally I just wanted to be safe hacking on the Moor but then I discovered how much I love learning in the arena and developing the partnership between horse and rider.

At 4:52pm on September 9, 2009, Hazel-Ann Willson said…: 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

At 11:00am on August 31, 2009, Eileen said…: 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

At 4:17pm on August 30, 2009, jenal said…: 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!

At 12:57pm on August 30, 2009, Eileen said…: Hey Hazel-Ann thank you for joining my "horsey friends group" lol ..guess what we all have in common???
Well I have ridden just about every area of N. America, as far south as SW Florida on up to and including Alaska. The only place I have not ventured on horses is the eastern coast of Canada. I would love to do it someday, but the West a and the Mountains seem to draw me there. I hope to go to the Mountains and ride again in 2010. Another horsey friend and I headed west in 2007 the first part of August and did not return till mid September....what a journey, we had no schedule except head west. but we stopped whenever we felt like it and rode till we thought that we had "seen those trails" then on west again. When we hit the mountains, forest fires put an abrupt halt on any more travelling west so he headed north into Canada and did the mountains there, then headed east and found a great area in Saskatchewan to ride and stayed a week instead of a couple of nights. I just love this retirement, it gives you lots of time to enjoy life. You would love it if you are into the trail riding, but of course these trails that we do are not alwlays groomed or trimmed or heck we have been known to bush whack and make our own trails. You should come cross the pond someday and try it out.

At 9:27am on August 30, 2009, Barnmice Admin said…: Welcome Hazel-Ann, so glad you found us! :)

At 8:10am on August 30, 2009, Eileen said…: Hazel-Ann don't worry about how long you have been riding, the object of the game is to enjoy ones self. Welcome to the board, you will find that there is a place for everyone here. Just jump in with both feet feel free to comment on anything, we can take it lol