The return of Aussie blog
G'day everyone
Sorry about lack of blogging so far internet access hasn't been as easy this time as previously. We're about a week into vacation and have already riden twice - the first time in the Hunter Valley was really a walk round one guy's patch of land with a failed attempt at cantering on my part (the Aussie saddles are a cross between the western and English one and you sit a lot deeper into them hence you rise less and I ended up losing stirups and being pitched forward). I also feel off when trying to let horsey have a munch at the side of a watering hole I didn't fall in the creek it would have been funnier if I had. We saw some kangaroos on that first ride so not complaining. I rode a horse called Abbey who was pretty much like Abbey at Trent Park - gorgeous bay horse who tried to eat all the time. Mark had an Arabian mare called Bonnie. We've also had a ride through a rainforest near Coffs Harbour which was great, lady taking the ride was very nice and finally got to do some cantering there. I rode a piebald grey called Penny who was lovely apart from being a bit lazy. Rita the lady leading the ride got a twig for me to use as a stick which seemed to do the trick of getting her into canter. Mark had thoroughbred called Bambi who was quite forward going intially until he got behind Penny. We got to hose the horses down after the ride which was fun although Penny didn't like it very much.
On the other non-riding front we've seen a lot of pretty beaches, went to a place yesterday morning in which we got to be pecked by seals and dolphins and watch a quite cheesy but fun dolphin and seal show. We re-visited the bats when in Sydney and was reminded that I really do love the place, being back there felt like re-visiting an old friend. We had a wine tasting in the Hunter Valley and still have a couple of bottles in the back of the car from there. I got a bit overwhelmed by the heat and copious amounts of sunburn I've got already which was a shame because where we are now Bryon Bay is lovely and has a bit of feel of Brighton if it was run by surfer dudes. Sadly have to move on to Surfer's Paradise which will probably be more commercial. Will try and blog again soon until then I hope everyone in Blightly is well.
Sorry about lack of blogging so far internet access hasn't been as easy this time as previously. We're about a week into vacation and have already riden twice - the first time in the Hunter Valley was really a walk round one guy's patch of land with a failed attempt at cantering on my part (the Aussie saddles are a cross between the western and English one and you sit a lot deeper into them hence you rise less and I ended up losing stirups and being pitched forward). I also feel off when trying to let horsey have a munch at the side of a watering hole I didn't fall in the creek it would have been funnier if I had. We saw some kangaroos on that first ride so not complaining. I rode a horse called Abbey who was pretty much like Abbey at Trent Park - gorgeous bay horse who tried to eat all the time. Mark had an Arabian mare called Bonnie. We've also had a ride through a rainforest near Coffs Harbour which was great, lady taking the ride was very nice and finally got to do some cantering there. I rode a piebald grey called Penny who was lovely apart from being a bit lazy. Rita the lady leading the ride got a twig for me to use as a stick which seemed to do the trick of getting her into canter. Mark had thoroughbred called Bambi who was quite forward going intially until he got behind Penny. We got to hose the horses down after the ride which was fun although Penny didn't like it very much.
On the other non-riding front we've seen a lot of pretty beaches, went to a place yesterday morning in which we got to be pecked by seals and dolphins and watch a quite cheesy but fun dolphin and seal show. We re-visited the bats when in Sydney and was reminded that I really do love the place, being back there felt like re-visiting an old friend. We had a wine tasting in the Hunter Valley and still have a couple of bottles in the back of the car from there. I got a bit overwhelmed by the heat and copious amounts of sunburn I've got already which was a shame because where we are now Bryon Bay is lovely and has a bit of feel of Brighton if it was run by surfer dudes. Sadly have to move on to Surfer's Paradise which will probably be more commercial. Will try and blog again soon until then I hope everyone in Blightly is well.