The Lone Ranger

Horse Trails & Horse Tails

A Tribute to Jewel

by Jenni Miller
written in 1998

I have owned Jewel, my Welsh Cob,
since 28th November 1996. I remember the date because that is the day
I bought her in a local Welsh Pony and Cob sale. Owing my own horse has
been a childhood dream and I finally realised it at the age of forty-two.
I struck lucky with her. I admire amd respect her all the more now.

I have had no previous experience of caring for horses, but with common sense and a lot of selective reading I feel I am coping well. Jews has taught me a lot, being fifteen when we met.

The problem has been recently that we have become bored with our local area and I have been searching for something different we could both enjoy. I believe in a non-strenuous approach so anything competitive is out. I'm also not competitive! Jews likes walking best and keeps going endlessly. She likes exploring although she spooks at silly things.

I bought a video last Christmas called Trail Riding with Dylan Winter
(whom I'd never heard of before and have since learnt he is a journalist)
and was hooked. Since then I have planned a route from my home in
Llangwm to Lake Vrynwy via Bala and returning by Llandrillo, Sarnau,
Soar and Cwm Main. I live in North Wales if you haven't guessed already!
I must mention I do not have horse transport of my own.

On the morning of 4th May 1998 we set off at seven o'clock loaded with camping gear, travelling to Bala over the mountain track joining the B4501 main road at Nant-gau. We continued till we came to the next junction and, to avoid the busy traffic, followed the the lane to Rhiwlas and Bala which we reached at about 11.45. I don't know if Jews had seen so much traffic before. She was bred in the mountains at Deniolen in Snowdon.. She stopped to examine it. I eventually dismounted and led her through the High Street as I needed to go to the cash machine at the bank. She spooked a bit at the Pelican lights but she soon calmed down and we walked on. A lot of heads turned! Jews took it in her stride. At the Bank she stood, well behaved and waited patiently whilst an aquaintance went and bought some milk for me in Kwiksave. Anyone would think this was a common day occurrence for her! We passed on the the Lake Cafe where I had to tie her to the railings. She made a lot of verbal fuss when I went out of sight into the cafe. Comments like 'Ah!' and laughter at the unusual situation came from the clientele.

I had decided to have lunch at the lake and allow Jews a proper
refuel. The best thing I have done so far is to change to nose bridle.
She is happy to have the occasional mouthful of grass as we journey
in return for her company and being ridden. There is no messy bit
to cope with. She understands what I want from her with the
gentlest of rein control as well as verbal comunication. I tethered
her and removed her burdens and set to eat my lunch. People came
up to me and her. I never saw the coming or going of a Polo Mint I
was asked if she could have! A lady came to ask directions to a water
fall shown on her map, so using the Ordinance Survey map I had I
did the best I could to guide her in the right direction and we had
a nice conversation after. Without Jewel this wouldn't have happened.

Eventually one of the Snowdonia National Park Wardens came and asked me to move on. He seemed to be shaking with nerves probably expecting me to be obstructive and abusive which was not the case. We travelled on through Rhosgwaliau. The lane has passing places and was very busy that day. Jews was excellent at standing whenever a vehicle came, learning that she got praised as a reward. I must mention that I walked myself sometimes and allowed some time for grasside grazing. Just before a house called Plas Aberhirnant I met a young man with a backpack walking in the opposite direction. He said he lived in Wrexham but was aiming for Glyndyfrydwy on the A5. At the house was someone I had met in Bala before and, judging by his manner, thought I was totally mad!

I was aiming to camp if possible at a property in the clearing in the
Penllyn Forest if the owners were I residence and agreeable. It was about
four o'clock. Unfortunately they weren't at home so I was forced to camp
outside their gate on the side of the track. Not a bad position since
water was readily available and sufficient grass to keep Jewel occupied.

I had a sixty foot rope to tether Jews with. I had practiced tying at home with a shorter rope and she'd learnt fast. She enjoyed the extra freedom with an element of surprise, seeing how far she could go. Was looking forward to a cup of tea after I'd set the tent up, but could't find the matches to light the Meths stove with. I was sure I'd packed them, but convinced myself I hadn't. I was feeling exhausted so had a nap of about an hour. In the back of my mind I was worried that Jews would tie herself in knots, so the sleep wasn't very deep. After that I found the matches and managed a cup of soup as well as tea, a flap jack and some dried fruit. During the evening, at different times, two Landrovers came along. I thought they may ask me to move on, but they left us in peace not even stopping to talk to me. It would have been an impracital request!

Flies, midges mostly, became a nuisance to Jews so I
used some Citronella oil which is supposed to repel them.
I kept her company before dusk, standing impassively beside
her. She had managed to get the rope completely round a
leg during the evening and this was a worry I had during
the night. It had been raining fine drizzle during the day
and windy in different degrees during the evening. Now it
was getting much colder, not helped by the streams close
by. I retired to bed about 10.45pm staying fully clothed and
keeping my long anorak on. The ground was cold but I had
Jews' wool blanket folded in four under the sleeping bag.
Sleep was nowhere like the deep sleep I'm used to. I eventually
had to cover myself, head as well with the space blanket I had
with me.

The birds had finished their evening chorus and the Owls started theirs. At about 2am Jews woke me up with a series of upset snorts. I found her standing on the track un-tethered. The rope was not broken. Somehow the quick release hook had released and was lying on the ground. I re-tethered her and went back to bed. I did hear another bit of commotion later, but, I feel guilty enough to admit, did not investigate apart from glancing out of the tent door!

At 5 o'clock in the morning I again found the rope unhooked and saw that
Jews had rolled partially. Her hind right Fetlock joint looked swollen.
I didn't know whether she had fallen having got tied with the rope round
her legs or if she had found she could get released from the rope by rolling
somehow. One thing I admire her for is for sticking around and not running
off which she could have done easily. I now have reasonable confidence
in her liking for for my company. In fact I have noticed an antisocial
behaviour towards other horses before.

Now I had to make a decision to either abort the mission or to carry on.There was a place we had passed the previous day where they had horses and a horse box trailer. The other choice was to walk alongside her up the pass and see if itworsened. It was seeable but not drastic and she wasn't lame with it. I decided to go for the second choice. My mobile phone was usless in that area. Once we got going at about 7am Jews forged on as if there wasn't any problem at all. I had decided to reach the visitor centre at Lake Vyrnwy and try to get horse transport back home. I had a headache from being cold and lack of sleep. Going up the pass Jews just kept soldiering on, not allowing me stop to catch my breath. The pass is long and steep and dramatic at the top. I think she could also sense I was not feeling too good. The swelling did not worsen so I decided to ride her for short periods. She was not good at standing for me to mount her. I had to abandon a hot drink that morning because the matches got damp. A mistake that will never be repeated!

When we got to the junction at the end of the lake my intention was to turn left, but Jews decided turning right was better and, since this is a partnership, I allowed her the choice. It made no difference to the destination. Normally at home she just plods on, now she was quite bouncy with ears pricked and interested. The problem was this made riding her choppy and was not helping my headache! I walked most of the length of the lake with short spells in the saddle. It was also wet and walking helped keep me dry and warm. I had had problems with the balanced loading of the saddle so frequent mounting from the ground (instead of an elevated mount) coupled with Jews recognition of me feeling under the weather (pardon the pun!) made this decision all the easier. She was curious at the sound of a chain saw and the noise of a tractor out of sight in the woods at one point. She stopped, listening to unrecognised bird sounds confusing them with whistles for sheep dogs. The waves lapping on the shore became a new experience as well as boats floating at their moorings. Whenever we came in sight of stone bridges she was wary, probably thinking buildings and potential surprises. She was not so co-operative at stopping for passing cars maybe knowing the balance in the boss departent was shifted! Lit headlights on oncoming cars had her alert.

We eventually reached the visitor centre at about 12.15 where I phoned a number I had been given for horse transport. I was cold,tired and the headache persisted. Thankfully Mr Bradshaw was available to transport us back and arrangements were made for the meeting place and pick up for 2 o'clock.. We went to the little courtyard of shops where I could get a cup of tea. On a recent visit by car I had been in conversation with the lady in the craft shop. I popped my head round her door and invited her to meet Jewel. She had owned horses herself before. She held Jews reins and made a fuss of her whilst I got my tea. I couldn't eat. Someone treated her to a spearmint and she scoffed most of an apple offered to her. She was admired by a gentleman with camera equipment who said 'Hello' to her by blowing at her nose. He also commented at her having a bitless bridle and we got into conversation about horses and photography. It turned out he was a Christian on an extended visit from South Africa visiting relatives and friends. I am not reigious at all. He ended up blessing and Jews in prayer!

Jews by this time was totally relaxed, drooping head, half closed eyes
and a hind leg resting as they do. I sat on a pile of stacked chairs and
found myself dropping off to sleep too. I saw somone with some soup
and a roll and decided to try and have some myself. I'd found a hook
on the post Jews was standing by and hung the reins on it, going in
the cafe to order. Since she was so calm I had the soup inside keeping
an eye on her through the window. It was warmer and I needed to warm
up. I had as much as I could and rejoined her outside. The gentleman
I talked to earlier said she was very well behaved and I had comments
on how pretty she was. When you are priviledged in knowing an animal
you do not see and appreciate what is obvious to others. You get used
to them, but it's like having a good looking well mannered child. You
forget or do not appreciate these things because you are so wrapped up
in day to day care. I took one mental step back and thought 'I do have a
jewel here and she's a gem!'

At 1.45pm I walked Jewel to the meeting point by the dam allowing her to eat grass. Another reason for aborting the journey was that she had started to scour with all the grass she'd eaten. When we spotted the horse trailer coming over the dam she went midly ballistic, though she loaded fairly quickly with me taking her up the ramp. She is not used to this mode of transport and past experiences, I sense, have not been pleasant. For example, rattling around tethered in a cattle truck and in a darkened horse trailer. This time I felt was good because he had a window at the front and did not close the upper rear doors. She also had some feed as a reward for loading. Perhaps next time she will remember the pleasant ride. It cost me an arm and aleg, but was well worth it at such short notice to be home to recover. She travelled well, not sweating profusely as she had done before. The towing vehicle was an Izuzu Trooper (long wheel base) Petrol engined 3 litre model. The trailer an Ivor Willaims Hunter class two horse box with front loading.

The original intention was for us to trail back home via a track half
way along the other side of the lake past Hafotty Cerrig. Following this
along the valley floor till it came out on the B4391, dog legging to
a track the other side. The view from there is fantastic down
towards Llandrillo. This was the part I was really looking forward to.
This track leads to Llandrillo. From there the plan was cross the river
at Pont Cilcain and continue towards Bethel. There is a track from
Sarnau which goes past Llyn Caer-Euni and through forestry eventually
coming out near Soar (a place where if you blink you miss it) which
would get us back to Llangwm through Cwm Main. We would have
passed over the top as a short cut by Llwyn Saint.

What have I learnt? My trusty steed is truly a pal. She did not run
off when she could have - we have 'joined up'. She is a trooper. My
instincts were correct - we both like variety. Also it has re-affirmed
and made stronger our relationship. The intention to change my
car so I can tow a trailer as soon as finances allow has grown. Will
I do it again? Maybe, but when possible I am more likely to take a
days outing somewhere. Tethering I am doubtful about and do not
wish to repeat at the moment unless I am around to keep an eye on
her. Lack of sleep due to this is no help and there is nothing to
compare with home comforts!

I regret having to come home earlier than planned but feel it was the right choice. The weather got worse: cold, windy, and wet.. During the summer the flies do become a problem so at least we avoided that and gained an achievement in reaching the visitor centre at Lake Vrynwy.

Sadly she died in November 2006 shortly after returning from summer grazing. When this photo was taken I had taken her for a short ride in Llandrillo.

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