Horse Talk from Museum of the Horse

Day 3 on the Canterbury pilgrimage ... Smelly looking good

2010-09-25T16:50:00.000+01:00

Caroline checked Smelly this morning and he has returned to his normal self and is in terrific shape. He is in good spirits and Caroline is confident that he will do the eight miles from Cobham Manor Equestrian Centre into Canterbury.

Caroline was interviewed this morning on the Joe Talbot show on BBC Radio Surrey. She was not on too long but was able to explain about the Museum of the Horse (MOTH) initiative.

We have been asked why Caroline's horse is called Smelly. It is his nickname - he is actually called Melmott - sired by a race horse called Piccolo. His mother was called Time for Tea. Smelly is 10 years old and got his nickname from the time he became particularly fascinated with something squashed on the road which he kept smelling.

Caroline will be joined on the final leg by friends Meipe and Gill, so there will be three riders going into Canterbury on Sunday.

Day 2 on the Canterbury pilgrimage ... Smelly resting

2010-09-24T14:59:00.005+01:00

After giving Smelly a check-over, before embarking on the next leg of the Museum of the Horse trip to Canterbury, Caroline Baldock has decided to rest him.

Yesterday went really well, Smelly handled all the trip without any problems and was in good shape when he got to Turvins Farm for the overnight stay. However, the next leg of the trip means a lot more road riding and Caroline felt that it would be too much for him.

"We were all so excited about the journey and of course disappointed not to be doing the full trip, but the wellbeing of my horse is my priority," said Caroline.

The 'pilgrims' will definitely be riding into Canterbury from Chilham on Sunday 26 September.

We will update you all on Smelly's progress tomorrow.

Day 1 on the Canterbury Pilgrimage ... after lunch

2010-09-23T22:04:00.004+01:00

We were all hoping that the weather would improve in the afternoon, but despite a few brighter patches over lunch the weather deteriorated shortly after Caroline and Smelly set off for for the final leg. The heaven's opened and they got absolutely soaked - right through to Caroline's pants, I am told! The terrible weather, combined with a bridle way which was so overgrown it was virtually impassable, made the afternoon exhausting and also led to Caroline going a bit off course - by about two miles. But after checking the map and with a bit of help from Campbell, she and Smelly were back on course.

At Chevening, she was met by William, Carolyn and Amy, who was riding her pony Nutmeg and Amy's friend Suzanne. On her way to Turvins Farm, they cantered on the grass, which was a really magical moment. So, the first day Caroline experienced the worst day's riding she has ever had, as well as one of the best.

Smelly was brilliant all day - even negotiating motorway bridges without a fuss. He has settled down for the evening and we are all amazed at how chilled he seems.

Caroline was planning to stay in haybarns on the trip, but after the day she's had, the offer of a hot bath and a bed was too tempting. Thank you to Turvins Farm for the wonderful hospitality.

Day 1 on the Canterbury Pilgrimage

2010-09-23T12:55:00.009+01:00

Just made it to the lunch time stopping off point at Gravely Hill.

It has been raining almost since we left Epsom and we have had to meet up with Caroline to give her some weatherproof gear. I am travelling in the back-up car with Campbell, who is the team's Rider Support. The journey is going quicker than we thought it would when we planned it. Smelly looks relaxed and is taking the journey in his stride, walking slowly and stopping off for grass at regular intervals.

The day started at 7am at St Martin's Church in Epsom, where Simon, the Vicar, gave both Smelly and Caroline a blessing for the journey. Meipe and Gill joined us at the church, although they won't be able to do the ride with Caroline as both have horses that are not well enough to take part. Meipe plans to join Caroline for the last leg, riding a friend's horse - more of that later.

It was good to see Jim at the Church seeing us all off, one of the other Shadow Trustees. He is joining the party over the weekend. Coran, who has been planning the filming for weeks now, is too poorly to coming along today, so Alec has stepped-in. Thanks to Alec for the help and if Coran is reading this, we wish you better soon.

At Walton Common we met a woman who recognised Caroline and Smelly from some press coverage she had read about the journey and the Museum of the Horse initiative.

We chose this spot because of the views and the fact that we could get a few good photographs and some film footage - but sadly, the landscape is covered in grey cloud it is just bucketing down with rain. Hopefully we will be able to get a picture or two (as I am writing this, the cloud is lifting at bit and the rain easing, so we may get better pictures than we think, we will see).

The Hansom Carriage

2009-12-10T15:01:00.003Z

“What did you think about carrying Lady Godiva up Whitehall?”

“Well, apart from the fact that you are a bit old to reveal everything, it's just as well you took me.”

“Why?” enquired Lady Godiva?

“Well, I am so hansom everyone was looking at me.”

Falling Off

2009-05-22T15:54:00.000+01:00

“You threw me!” Said the rider

“No I didn’t.” said the horse. “You fell off.”

“I didn’t fall off.” Said the rider.

“Yes you did.” Said the horse.

“If I had thrown you, you would have landed miles away.”

Mathematics

2009-05-09T07:43:00.000+01:00

“I’ve got my maths GCSE.” Said the rider.

“I can do maths.” Said the horse.

“Don’t be silly, I bet you can’t even count.” Said the rider.

“Of course I can.” Said the horse.

“OK, what is 1 plus 1?” said the rider.

“11 of course.” Said the horse.

View Point

2009-05-02T11:18:00.001+01:00

A tractor pulling a set of harrows passed the horse and rider on the downs.

“Blue.” The horse said. “Nice colour.”

“Red tractor?” said the rider.

“Oh no.” said the horse. “I was looking at the harrows. Everyone has a different point of view.”

Hugs

2009-01-20T13:44:00.000Z

“Why did you head butt me? Said the rider.

“Well I can’t hug you.” Said the horse. “So I use my nose to say hello.”

“But you are bigger and stronger than me and you send me flying.”

“I’m sorry.” Said the horse, “I’ll try and be more gentle next time I want to hug you.”

Boring

2009-01-20T13:42:00.000Z

“I thought we were going for a gallop today?” Said the horse.

“Well we aren’t we are just going to walk.” Said the rider.

“Boring.” Said the horse.

“Yeah, sometimes we have to be boring.” Said the rider.

“That is so human.” Said the horse.

A Question of Love

2008-12-11T19:22:00.002Z

“I was talking to a young girl the other day who said that she did not believe that horses could love.” Said the rider.

“That is the very question we horses ask each other about humans. Are humans capable of love? Man’s inhumanity to man we find very puzzling. If you love you cannot kill.”

“I’ll have to go away and think about that.” Said the rider.

Goats

2008-12-10T17:06:00.003Z

Did you see my goat?” said the horse.

“It’s not your goat,” said the rider, “it belongs to the people who own the yard.”

“Oh no it is my goat” said the horse.

“How so? said the rider.

“When the goat is with me he is my goat.”

Wars

2008-12-10T17:05:00.003Z

“Why did you throw me off?” said the rider.

“I didn’t throw you” said the horse.

“You did” said the rider.

“You know this is how wars are started” said the horse.

Bees

2008-12-10T17:03:00.002Z

“What is so wonderful about a green field?” said the rider.

“Ah,” said the horse, “it is a place where I can hear the bees picking up the pollen.”

Need

2008-12-10T17:02:00.008Z

The rider asked, “What is you greatest need?”

The horse said, “to eat.”

“What is your next greatest need?”

“To be still.” said the horse.

Wisdom

2008-12-10T17:02:00.007Z

“What is the difference between youth and age?” asked the rider.

“In youth,” said the horse, “we cannot discriminate between knowledge and wisdom. In old age we can.”

“As I get older,” said the rider “I find I become less tolerant.”

“As I get older,” said the horse “I can distinguish between the things I should tolerate and the things I should not.”

The Three C's

2008-12-10T17:01:00.005Z

The rider said, “What is love?”

The horse answered, “ Love is commitment, consistency and confidence.”

Commitment

2008-12-10T17:01:00.004Z

The horse said, “Love me.”

And the rider said, “How do I show I love you?”

And the horse answered. “Through your commitment to me.”

Stillness

2008-12-10T17:00:00.004Z

“Why do you stand so still?” said the rider.

“Because I can feel the earth move,” said the horse.

Dreams

2008-12-10T16:59:00.003Z

The rider said, ”I have dreams of winning!”

And the horse said, “They are your dreams.”

And the rider said, “Will you help me realize my dreams?”

And the horse said, “That is why we came into the world.”

Jump

2008-12-10T16:44:00.002Z

“Why do you refuse to jump?” said the rider.

“Because unless I’m trapped it is not in my nature,” said the horse.

“Why do you jump then?” said the rider.

“Because I can,” said the horse.

Love

2008-12-10T16:42:00.001Z

The horse said, “Untie me.”

And the rider said, “But you will run away.”

And the horse said, “Why should I run away if you love me?”

Quiet

2008-12-10T16:39:00.002Z

The horse said, “Trust me.”

The rider said, “How can I learn to trust you?”

And the horse said, “By listening to me.”

And the rider said, “How can I learn to listen?”

And the horse said, ”By being quiet.”