Riding through the Irish fields of Bedford
Last Sunday, Betsy, my stable manager, saddled up the horses and we went for a really great ride along with our friend, Monique. As I mentioned in previous blogs, the Bedford Riding Lane Association maintains gorgeous riding trails throughout this entire area - approximately 130 miles of trails. Interestingly, Betsy and Monique's husband created the latest map for the BRLA. On Sunday, Betsy guided us along trails I had never been on before and we came across a beautiful parcel of land that reminded me so much of fields I have seen in Ireland. Tell me what you think.
Ireland is a LOT greener then these fields maybe in a month of so it will look like the fields of Ireland which are deep dark shades of green from tons of rainfall.
It does look peaceful and quiet.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | March 25th, 2009 at 1:32 am
Oh wow, of all the wonderful things you get up to Martha, this has got to be the one of which I am most jealous. I love horses, I love the outdoors, I love quiet woods and streams and trails and I love the quietness. I look at your lovely photos and transport myself to where you are. My reality in Egypt is just so much the opposite,
Regards
Robyn in Port Said, Egypt
Posted by: Robyn Kadis | March 25th, 2009 at 4:14 am
Abosolutely beautiful! What a relaxing way to see the countryside while exercising the horses. You are very fortunate to have those trails so close to home. Good job and keep up the great work Betsy!
Brian
Posted by: Brian | March 25th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Yes the small fields and rock fences are interesting. What must they use the ground for, hay, sheep or something that doesn't climb on or over such low fences?
Posted by: Margie | March 25th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hi Martha,
It is always amazing to see Nature's beautiful reclimation of man-made objects. Great photos as usual!
Posted by: Jon | March 25th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Dear Martha,
Thank you for sharing those 20 picture. The horses look so attentive, almost in a whisper mood, I'd say. Many greetings from Europe. Beautiful weather here, 20 degrees!
Luc Raes
Posted by: Luc Raes | March 25th, 2009 at 8:59 am
What a great place to ride Martha! I love the rock formations and the open fields and yes, I can imagine the green fields of Ireland in the summertime. In northern Michigan I would take long walks deep into the woods just to see what I could find such as what you came upon; the cold frame and the old farm equipment in the brambles. It’s intriguing to wonder who left it there and why. Maybe you could take us through there again later on when the trees have their leaves and there might even be some wildflowers growing about. Thanks for the ride! Trish
Posted by: Trish | March 25th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Nice!! I'm inspired to get my equine out even though it's disgusting and raining and cold here in Iowa.
What exactly is a "cold frame"?
Posted by: IowaCowgirl | March 25th, 2009 at 9:31 am
.
Hi Martha,
Glad to see you in slow and easy mode!
I've posted an update on the perpetual RECOVERY CARD FOR TIMOTHY. It's on UNLEASHED MOUTH. I apologize for the slow time it will take me to administer this project. At this time of year many of our animal cancer patients succumb. The toil through winter seems to weaken their systems and we are very busy with loss and understanding issues.
However, THE "HERO OF DOGS" CARD GOES ON!
A and Weims
UNLEASHED MOUTH (andyjspencer.blogspot)
.
Posted by: andrea and the weimaraners & unleashed mouth | March 25th, 2009 at 10:46 am
This is just wonderful! I love the whole concept! I know too, Martha, that you were just enamored with exploring new territory! This not only looked fun, but exhilarating and refreshing, being out amongst nature. Can you imagine how beautiful everything will become in just a couple weeks?!! - greener fields, the understory coming alive with maybe a redbud or wild dogwood blooming, sending out a springtime welcome underneath a towering oak, or maybe a maple or sycamore with the same goal in mind. We can't forget the enjoyment of the horses, either - their sounds and smells, and their individual personalities - the very tho't makes my heart pitterpatter!
In my native Washington County in Maryland, limestone is v-e-r-y abundant, and, like the riding trails, manymany farm fields throughout the county are outlined with stone 'fencing' (walls). It's pretty fascinating, especially if one stops to realize how they came about. In order to successfully plough/plant a field, the farmer would rid the field by hand-carrying (or by horse-power [on foot/hoof]) these nuisances to the edge. He then dry-laid the stone, thus creating fence-line, perhaps as a property boundary, or simply to keep livestock in/out. Some of these fence lines are so vast throughout the county - many are still in good shape while others have begun to tumble and crumble, just like the breach you show in your picture. Our stone walls tend to be waist/chest-high and not low to the ground.
I'm sure I'm going to enjoy today's show segment about bunnyrabbits. They're pretty little creatures, too! Since Edgar =^..^= is the old boy that he is, me-thinks we can watch your show in peace and harmony...my little boy's verve is diminishing more and more - I can just see it...[teary eyes]
=^..^=
mrrrow
(I have mused at today's garden message time and time again. [I've known many-a-farmer, and this is so true!]...read it, and have a chuckle alongside me:)
"As soon as a farmer can afford to do so, he moves to the city, and then, as soon as he can afford it, he gets himself a country place."--Unknown
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | March 25th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I enjoyed the photos of the riding trail, and
I'm sure it was a pleasure riding through the
fields.
My dog, Raleigh and I walk the Fletcher Park
trails not too far from my home, and always
enjoying seeing what the different seasons bring.
Vivian
Posted by: Vivian Price | March 25th, 2009 at 11:33 am
You lucky girl Martha! You get to ride those awesome horses through fields that have no snow! We still have snow out here in Moose Jaw Sask, and it's snowing again today. I have a draft cross mare who is quite well upholstered, and with luck will be harnessed to the red cutter after work today. Come on out here, and I'll let you drive - if you let me ride one of yours one day at your place!
Posted by: Kim Reynolds | March 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Thanks for the lovely photos. From the look of the bullet holes in the signs it appears that not everyone likes to ride out.
Posted by: sally baker | March 25th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
In Bedford,"fields of Ireland",bordered by field stone,
Like the stone walled fields of Ireland, set the tone.
Rutger,Meindert and Martyn, out to play.
Cold frame that has seen a better day,
Thousands of roots that must have giggled there,
Old farm equipment - hidden from the glare.
An outcrop of rocks make a fine wind break.
Young trees stand quietly, noting all who take.
Lots of rocks around to rebuild that crumbling wall.
Hidden in the brambles, is there something there at all?
Stone gate post with rusty hanger,stones with lichen clinging.
Surely in such atmosphere,church bells must be ringing?
Ireland has a rare beauty, not too often seen,
After all, it is the land of "40 shades of green."
But beauty is where you see it,over here,over there.
Better still,its best when everyone can share.
Still in tune. Keep smiling.
Posted by: celia stock | March 25th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
the fields are lovely, but the Friesians much more so! i will not be envious, i will not be envious...
Posted by: sara baldwin | March 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hi Martha, What a wonderful trip through the Bedford Riding Lane to areas where you had never been before. Did you feel kind of like a pioneer exploring new territory? I love doing that and discovering new things! The area does resemble the low hills and pastures of Ireland and it's just as beautiful. One of the best parts of doing a ride like this is how serene it is compared to the hustle and bustle of any large city. Thanks for taking us along. I thought you, S.&F. were going to be on the Today show this morning. Maybe the TV guide and Comcast got it all wrong. Will you be on next week? Sure hope so. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 25th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
ok this is my 6th attempt to post a comment...
the photos are great, they actually brought me to tears because the place in the photos looks just like where I used to ride...in a few weeks it will be a year since I lost my last horse name Ibn, he was 29 and the pain is still fresh...but wishing I was on that ride.
Posted by: delia | March 25th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
The pictures just engulfed me in peace. It must have been so peaceful to be there. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Linda Butts | March 25th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
.
Nice poem, Celia.
AJS and Dogs
.
Posted by: andrea and the weimaraners & unleashed mouth | March 26th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Nice pics...I work in a green house in the summer an I love all your pics of your gardens..We would love to have you vist our green house..We are in Maryland..Ocean Pines great place come see us...I enjoy your show as well...Have a good day!!
Posted by: Sharon | March 26th, 2009 at 7:17 am
We love the way you take care of your pets. We feel the same way. Saw your mini donkeys last week. Very adorable. Our two boys Lucas and Babe(L&B) would have fun with them. The guys reallllly love to be hugged. I have an excellent photo of both being hugged at the same time.
Posted by: Bob Keller | March 26th, 2009 at 11:40 am
It is beautiful in Bedford New York and thank you for sharing. It only reminds me of the open space part of Ireland. The green color is lacking. The green in Ireland is like no other.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | March 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
How intereating! It will be nice to see what it looks like in the spring!
Posted by: Tina in Boston | March 29th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Martha -
Your riding trail through the Bedford countryside makes me a homesick for my childhood home not far from Bedford -- right down Peekskill Hollow road! in Kent Cliffs, NY. where I rode horses. Your pictures and notes about fertilizing the garden makes me hopeful that spring may eventually arrive! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Karen | March 30th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
How literal-minded people are! Surely all the grass in Ireland isn't perpetually green?
The scenery reminds me of Hudson River School paintings. Those stone outcroppings and all. So romantic to one whose weather seems to skip springs and falls as it does here in Los Angeles. And what other reference do we here have for those stone walls than that by Robert Frost? Having only seen that terrain a few times in person I'm quite jealous of the early Americana gestalt.
Your horses are so ideally pretty and statuesque. I think the length of their tails makes them appear a little too fancy for the trail. If even one wanted to shorten them which I'm sure you and Betsy don't, how would one accomplish that? Are the hairs to be pulled out by brush in the field and lacking that, grow longer and longer? I heard many years ago that one doesn't cut the tail. I would want the tail length to be about the distance to the hock. That seems ideal to me.
Posted by: jw | March 31st, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Hi Martha what beautiful horses and land you have.To me its like looking in a fairy tale book.My 7 year old son claimes that you were at his school in Eatonrapids MI cooking. He knows how much I love watching your show and getting your recipes.Im glad the kids at school loved your lunch ha ha. My husband laughed to.bye Mrs Jamie Esman Eaton Rapids Mi.
Posted by: Jamie Esman | April 30th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Hi Martha!!! You are soooo lucky to be able to ride a horse!!!!
Posted by: Jenna | May 1st, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Martha,
You love horses, you love people and you have a big heart! I was at your show and I saw it in person because anybody that could eat hot dogs at 10 in morning and smile is a great person!
Please view this video and think about helping the kids with cancer and the carriage riding program "Driving for Surviving": http://sharingvillage.org/
Thank you,
Dawn Sandomeno
Posted by: Dawn Sandomeno | May 15th, 2009 at 2:18 pm