6 minute read
From the horses mouth
by John Denyer
THERE is a community in Probus that while not large, is very noticeable and arguably, an intrinsic part of village life. The community I'm referring to is the equestrians, the owners and riders of horses.
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There are paddocks, stables and liveries scattered all around Probus. In fact, there are more horses in the vicinity than you may imagine. Over the past few weeks, I met up and interviewed some of the horse owners and riders at various locations around the village.
The intent was to get a better understanding of who these people are, and what motivates them to own and ride horses. It turned out to be a delight, a real education for a townie like me.
First up was Michelle Way, aged 24, a newly qualified paediatric nurse who works at RCH Treliske. Michelle has owned Bayden, a 24-year-old since she was a child. Michelle usually goes to the stable twice every day, depending upon her shifts. In the summer her horses live in the paddock overnight and are put into the stables during the day. This reverses in the winter. Her routine is to feed the horses, groom them, check them over, muck out the stables (or pick up the poo from the paddock) and walk them either in the paddock or the stable.
Michelle says that horses are intelligent animals who thrive on attention and human contact. Each has its own personality. Bayden hasn't had the best of health recently, and Michelle can no longer ride him herself. Instead, you may spot him being ridden around the village by Olivia, the 11-year old daughter of Darren and Andrea from Cuskayne Farm where he stables.
Olivia and Amanda in Probus Square.
Michelle with Bayden and Toffee
Michelle recently purchased Toffee, a three-year- old who is currently too young to be ridden, so Michelle is gradually training her and hopes to be able to ride her for the first time next year. From Michelle's perspective, owning a horse is a lifestyle choice. It's a significant commitment in time and expense, but also a way of life, it's part of who she is. Michelle says she finds it hard to imagine life without her horses.
Sophia and Wenna enjoying the puddles in Trewithen Estate,
Sophia Best, age 24, purchased her horse Jack four years ago after graduating. It's the first horse that she's owned having learned to ride at an early age. Jack is 11 years old, 15.2 hands and palominoskewbald in colour. Like Michelle, Sophia believes owning a horse is a big commitment, but predominantly a lifestyle choice.
Wenna Albury, also 24, bought Rosie three years ago. Rosie is 11 years old, and similar size and marking to Jack. Sophia and Wenna enjoy going to horseriding camps, events and competitions together as the image below shows. Like their owners, Jack and Rosie are friends, living most of the year outdoors in adjacent paddocks and enjoy each other's company.
Sophia and Jack
Wenna and Rosie
When asked, 'Do you have to be wealthy to own a horse?', the consensus from all those that I spoke to was that indeed, some people do own horses just because they are wealthy. Some opt for full livery, never have to muck out and simply sit on their horses for weekend rides. However, the vast majority of horse owners are ordinary people, with regular jobs and regular incomes. Sophia said that many owners she knows are in fact 'not at all well off, they just prioritise their horses over other things, making them just about affordable’.
Pictured below passing through Lamelyn, twelve-year-old Elowyn is riding Honey, while seven-year-old Delia is riding Storm. They enjoy hacking out and going through the bridleways before riding through Probus Square down to their green paddocks behind College Close.
One Sunday morning, in Tresowga Lane, I met Hannah and her daughter Millie from Treverbyn Farm (pictured below). They are regularly to be seen exercising their horses on one of the loops through or around the village. Hannah was riding Cally while Millie was riding Jilly.
Nick James, a nurse at Penrice Hospital owns Doris and Poacher both 16.5 hands and 9-year olds. Nick has owned horses for 40 years and can’t remember ever not having had a horse. He is at the stables two or three times every day looking after his horses and is often seen riding in and around the village. Nick is pictured below on the right with Harry on a Sunday morning hack.
Early morning tranquil view from Cuskayne Farm
Michelle Way
Sam Duff, from Tresowga Farm (pictured below), is another keen equestrian in the community. Like several others I met, she started at the riding school at the top of Grampound Road at a young age. As a young dental nurse, she spends pretty much all of her wages and most of her spare time with her three horses, Lottie, Dottie and Dora. Lottie is seven years old while Dottie and Dora are old girls at 22 and 21 years old respectively. When asked about what drives this passion in horses, Sam said that her horses are her best friends, they have a bond which is hard to describe. Clearly, it’s a way of life, a lifestyle choice, and a significant commitment, but also an honourable activity in that it’s an honour when a horse allows you to ride them.
Trust is another word often used by horse owners and riders to describe the relationship. Horses are not pets in the same respect as dogs or cats, a horse has to build up enough trust in its rider to keep it safe, while the rider has to trust the horse to do the same.
Pictured below in blue, Samantha Faull has been riding all of her life and likes to go out for weekend hacks around the village on her pony 19-year-old Ariel, along with neighbour Sam Duff.
Over at the paddock behind Lelissick Barn, I met Sam Bray an Agricultural and Compliance Supervisor with her two large horses. Sam owns 12-year-old Stone who may be a Bretton Cob breed and his larger stable mate 9 year old Ellie, a full shire horse who belongs to Sam’s 17 year old daughter Becky.
Both are large, sturdy animals bred as dray or working horses and Ellie has been trained in logging and ploughing. The horses have only recently moved to the village, and Ellie and Stone are not yet ready to go out and about, but they will in time. So look out for them, as they are magnificent animals. When I asked Sam how much time she spends with her horses, Sam gave me a very interesting response. She said ‘I’m not sure, the clock stops when I’m with the horses, sometimes I come up here for half an hour and before I know it, four hours have passed’.
Perhaps that sums up what it’s like to own a horse - you enter another world. Yes, of course, there is the mud, dust and mucking out, but it’s much more than that. It’s a world of devotion, of trust, of honour, friendship and love. Wow - I wasn’t expecting that!
Sincere thanks to the many contributors to this article.
