Jack Mytton 2 - Jenni's version

Horse Trails & Horse Tails

by Jenni Miller 2007

The booking.

Tina and I....

decided we wanted to ride the Jack Mytton Way this year. We set a date for the 15th May at Christmas and enlisted our partners' help so the Landrover and trailer could be left at our last stop. The Jack Mytton Way had been extended an extra thirty miles last year to a total of one hundred miles. Having got the route pack from the Shropshire County Council we decided ten miles of it into Cleobury Mortimer and back was avoidable. Thus we set our mileage at ninety for the trip and the days riding to five with one days rest.

Using the computer....

mapping system to mark the route out I worked out possible overnight stops about twenty miles apart, with the exception of the first day which was about eight miles starting from Llanfair Waterdine to allow us travelling time to get there. We booked early and were lucky to find all the B&Bs had grazing with their properties. The 15th was a Tuesday and we were due to return on the morning of the following Monday. Our plans changed slightly in the meantime so that we intended to return on the Sunday evening due to Tina's workload.

D-day

The day....

arrived and we loaded Reef in first and Sharnina second. Reef went in relatively well this time. Last year he took ages as he wasn't used to the trailer. I was a little apprehensive as I'd recently changed from a 505 Ivor Williams to a 510 and was unsure with its new smell, but all went well and we were on our way! Tina and Tim followed in their 4X4 and David travelled with me as director of route! We approached Llanfair Waterdine via Newtown and the A483 which turned out to be a very twisted and bumpy route, but the horses seemed unaffected. We arrived and parked near the pub to unload and tack up. We said out farewells to our partners and started our adventure.

It was dry....

and cloudy and we set a leisurely pace. We made a wrong turn at one point and had to retrace our steps to pick up the Offa's Dyke Path. We arrived at our first B&B at about 5.30 pm, having passed right by it and had to phone them for directions! The horses had some wonderful grazing corralled in electric fencing in a field close to the house. The house was old and beautiful having undergone renovation. Our hosts were very welcoming. The rooms quaint and comfortable. An excellent first stop. We had a really nice pub meal a walk away.

Day 2

Our breakfast....

was really nice. We put the horses in the stable to dry off after the rain overnight. We left about 9.30am. Some of the sign posting on the Jack Mytton Way at this point wasn't very good and we took a few wrong turns again. Our horses are barefooted and a fair bit of the route we found we could find turf to ride on. The tarmac roads aren't a problem so much as chunky stony surfaces. The Long Mynd was stunning. The horses caught sight of a para glider and had their eyes pinned and ears pricked for some time. We had two ford crossings. The first of which was partially obstructed by Willow branches that Tina managed to bend out of the way. Reef refused to enter it and Sharnina was only going to go if Reef went! It was fairly silted. Tina was on the ground trying to persuade him to go through but he was having none of it, so she eventually very bravely went in herself, getting her feet well soaked pulling Reef in behind. Sharnina then followed.

We stopped....

for lunch about 12.30 and had three quarters of an hour for the horses to replenish. Later going through Church Stretton was easier than we imagined and crossing the A49 a relative doddle. Having driven lorries on delivery into the Co-op in the past, I knew the junction well. I'm usually braver but I was worrying for Tina since this is such a busy place. We arrived at The Orchards at Ticklerton where our trailer had been parked about 6.30pm. The Jack Mytton is a lolly pop route lying on its side and we had started at the stick end going in an anti clockwise route round the loop, finishing back at The Orchards. We couldn't find the B&B at first and asked at a lovely old estate like farm. They were very helpful and directed us the short distance into the village. Most of the scenery we had passed through so far was of gentle, rolling hills and really pretty unspoilt hamlets. The Orchards (Please contact Equine Ramblers UK for contact telephone number) in a relatively new build, but not disappointing in standard of décor. We had en-suite bathroom and a view of the horses grazing in their field from the bedroom. Ann very kindly ferried us to and from the restaurant/pub her brother runs just off the A49 . We had a really nice meal there.

Day 3

We left....

rather late leaving at 9.50am. I'd hoped to have left by nine but we were lethargic in attitude and busy chatting with the other guests over breakfast! We thought we'd got lost near Hungerford house. We approached a lorry driver local/resident about directions and he tried to redirect us back the way we had come. I was fairly sure we were on the right route but the signposting had let us down again! He suggested we went down a byway that turned out to be the correct route! The ground was wet and muddy most of the way on this day. We went down a bridle path that was really overgrown and met about twenty walkers further down. They didn't hear us approaching and we had to announce our presence to them. There was also a bird scarer going off which at first upset Sharnina till she accepted the regular noise. I'd hate to live near that going off all day.

Sharnina punished....

me today and banged my left leg on a post. I'd opened a big right- hinged gate from her back but didn't notice the muddy puddle near the post on the left. She is not a fan of these and took evasive action to the left catching the stirrup leather on the catch, and my half chaps, breaking the D ring they are attached to! We did an emergency repair by threading the stirrup leather through the horn on the treeless saddle. After that she drove through some low branches nearly knocking me off. I know what you'll say, and I agree I shall have to do some work with her to improve her obedience! We had a flat refusal a bit later on over a motorbike preventer. Reef had already gone over it and disappeared up the lane. I thought she would be enticed into following but she stood there like a lemon for about five - ten minutes! I just refused to dismount. She'd stepped over wooden ones before without any problem. This was like a gate in metal. (see Tina's pictures)

We stopped for lunch....

in Cleo St Margaret after passing through a cobbled ford. It's a very pretty unspoilt hamlet. I was very impressed with it. As you come across the ford you come to a T- junction and there's a bench to sit on with the red telephone kiosk next to it with enough grazing on the verge. Really pastoral! Sharnina nodded off resting her chin on my head as I sat on the bench! We had to go along some really boggy bridleways today and it was hard going. We went wrong after Silvington Common and it must have been about 8pm when we arrived at Cox's Barn. Dina was really nice, making us feel welcome and had kept our evening meal back for us. It's a barn conversion from her family farm next door. Again fantastic grazing on site and our accommodation was an excellent the loft conversion above the garage with en-suite. We had booked to stay here for two nights and decided to visit Ludlow the next day. Dina very kindly took us into Cleobury Mortimer for the bus and met us back there on the return journey. We'd seen some really good panoramas and rolling hills with unspoiled hamlets and villages.

Day 4

We chose....

this as our rest day. Tina was originally for not having a rest day, but I was concerned about the fitness of the horses and felt they needed to chill out. As it worked out Tina wasn't able to ride that much to get Reef fit before the ride, so it was just as well we had made provision for the rest day! Both horses were doing well so far. We'd had loads of grass and soft ground to ride on. The tarmac roads don't cause a problem.

After a tasty....

breakfast we headed for Ludlow. This is a very old Market town with lots of old architecture. The church was very impressive with its stained glass windows and carved woodwork. The organ pipes stand in a prominent position, but the keyboard was nowhere to be seen near it! After a bit of ferreting I found it in the middle of the church locked in a glass case. Outside it was market day and we strolled round out of curiosity. We couldn't buy anything serious because of travelling on horseback. We found a nice Vegetarian Café to eat in for lunch. I wonder why vegetarian cafés haven't caught on! We managed to get two round split rings for temporary replacement for the D-ring that had broken on my saddle.

We returned back....

to the Cleobury Mortimer where we met Dina to take us the rest of the way. The horses were well rested and much admired by Dina and her daughter. Dina is a brilliant cook and we enjoyed the evening meal very much. The split rings were fitted and we replaced the stirrup leather to its rightful position.

Day 5

The day started.... dry. Dina did breakfast for 7.45 so we could go early. Breakfast was good as usual setting us up for the day and we left about 9am. We made good time and rested at Chelmarsh Reservoir at 12.30 where we had a generous shower of rain. The countryside was more of the same rolling hills and unspoilt villages. The flies became active after the rain! Both horses behaved well although Sharnina was beginning to suffer on really stony ground, seeking out the grass verges and there were lots of grass tracks too.

We had another....

heavy downpour near Uplands and Sharnina was adamant that her and Reef would stand with their backs to the prevailing wind by circling round him to block his way! Further on Janet from Hurst Farm met us on her cob at a cross roads nearby the A458 arriving at the farm about 5pm. Again we'd struck lucky with accommodation and grazing and Janet drove us to the pub nearby for our evening meal.

Day 6

Started dry again.

We had breakfast,

tacked up and left about 9.30am. We had been going about an hour and had cantered across a couple of fields....our first canter! We were approaching Wyke near Much Wenlock. I opened a new five foot gate from Sharnina's back and with Reef behind she started through. Unfortunately she was too close to the gate post on the left and I couldn't lift my leg out of the way at the speed she was moving or persuade her to stop or move to the right. I was wearing Dickie's Toetector trainers, which, as my foot was dragged round the post, must got caught in the catch. I have since discovered the metal toe is damaged. I fell off landing with the post behind my legs and could see there was something seriously wrong with my left leg....it was out of line! We were lucky that we had mobile reception. I phoned my husband to let him know what had happened and Tina dialled 999. Within about fifteen minutes was being airlifted into Princess Royal Hospital A&E in Telford with a very dishy paramedic! You never stop appreciating the nicer things in life!

My leg....

was badly broken above the knee and two days later they operated to put a plate and pins in instead of a plaster cast. I was in traction till then. I came home nine days later. I am determined I'll ride the Wenlock Edge and lay a ghost at that gate!

I'd recommend the ride. We achieved the 20 miles each day fairly easily mostly a walking pace and the countryside is very pretty with much of it out of the way of traffic. Our hosts all were of good standard, very helpful and had good grazing adjoining their properties. Click on the names in my Trail Story and it will lead you their advert so your accommodation, should you decide to embark on it, is already mapped for you.

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