The family had a fantastic 3 days trekking in the spectacular countryside of the Kaueranga Valley. It is a weekend organised by the Thames Pony Club. What a fantastic camp site they have built over the 20 years of the Trams existence and is due to the wonderful generosity of landowners and parents with their time.
On day one we arrived at 10am unloaded the horses and set off on a trek of a couple of hours with a group of PC members and parents. The childrens ages ranged from 9yo to 14yo and they were on a range of ponies and hacks. I was riding Minbarra Lord Nelson- 10 yo Welsh cob, Steve rode B. Sally Gap, 5yo tb X Welsh cob, Conor rode B. Centurion,5 yo Welsh cob, and Niamh was on Glynmawr Image 9yo Welsh pony.
We started by crossing the river over a vehicle ford, the horses eyes were on stalks but they still went through the water, it was quite weird with the water rushing over the concrete. We rode through fields and back over the river at glorious boulder strewn crossings. Niamh and I walked up a long hill so the others galloped up to us. Sophie on a Tb from the track was way out in front. What a mover that Leroy is.
On another river crossing Steves mare tried to go over some titree, she became entangled and tried another route which would have resutled in Steve being wiped off her back, but she stopped, listened to Steve, backed up despite that not really being something she actually knows how to do and then they proceeded safely. Steve was really stoked by her awesome care of him.
I was lead reining Niamh from Nelson, Nelson was very very good, at one point we had to weave through several titree with a fallen seven wire fence on the ground, Nelson and Image handled it all with ease!
The next day we did a 12km (4 hour) ride over the farmland to the Kopu Hikuai Road. We climbed steeply for about an hour and ahalf with spectacular views over the Firth of Thames, and then dropped down to the road itself. The descent was incredibly steep and was perhaps the steepest i have ever ridden. Niamh did this whole day off the lead rein and she handled it all very very well. The ascent was through a glorious forest witha great track and was very lovely though tiring for my podgy cob.
The next day Conor didnt want to ride as he had made friends with Keenan and his brother and he went off to play at their house. So Sally was left in the paddock to keep Ronnie company and Steve rode Nelson keeping Niamh company. They had a glorious hour and a half ride in the rain but were so dry in the long riding coats! The photo is of them returning over the Kaueranga River, Sophie Arnoux is in front on Ty Gwyn Quicksilver, 10yo Welsh pony, Steve is next on Minbarra Lord Nelson and Niamh is at the rear on Glynmawr Image.
Crossing the River