A beautiful horseback ride through Bedford
The Sunday after Thanksgiving was a very beautiful day. In fact, it was perfect for a Bedford horseback ride. I invited my niece Kristina and my friends Muffin and Kathleen first to breakfast. I made light and airy popovers, farm-fresh scrambled eggs, homemade jams, and frothy cappuccinos. Then, we mounted our horses and went off to ride a great distance on the Beford Riding Lane Association trails. Please enjoy these photos taken on that spectacular ride!
1 Here I am atop Rutger and my niece, Kristina, getting comfortable on Rinze.
2 Three of my Friesians and two of Muffin's ponies participated. Here is Betsy on Ramon, Muffin on Bryan, and Kathleen on Biscuit.
3 Some of the fields we rode over were still verdant and tasty - all the horses took time to munch on the grass.
4 Bryan, Muffin's horse, was feisty and fun - a little Irish pony.
5 Rinze especially liked the 'Irish' garden field down Upper Hook Road.
6 The landscape was so beautiful and we all took time to stop and admire.
7 In the middle of nowhere is a beautiful walled garden - I've always wondered what was planted there in years gone by.
8 The stone walls, although a bit ramshackle, are still magnificent.
9 The walls are made of large lichen covered stones, so very carefully placed, long ago.
10 Hillocks of tall grasses have taken over whatever once was planted here - I can imagine great perennial borders, or perhaps a decorative vegetable garden? Nowadays very little would survive the voracious deer population.
11 The autumnal grasses and shrubs were colorful and striking.
12 Some areas of the woods were covered in bright green, velvety mosses, which I love.
13 We rode around the walled garden - a most romantic landscape.
14 Muffin and Kathleen ambling by
15 Ramon, Rinze, and Rutger ambling by
Looking at your beautiful photos riding through the beautiful trail, why I feel like I was with your group! Thanks for the nice ride.
You live life to the fullest, Martha.
Posted by: Nikki | December 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 am
What a beautiful day Martha! Lovely pictures - idyllic surroundings! Thanks for letting us all enjoy the day with you!
Posted by: Donna Olson | December 3rd, 2009 at 1:25 am
Fall is always the nicest part of the year for trail riding ; in my opinion - The air is clear (no mosquitos), sometimes crisp and when the sun warms the nature you can enjoy not only your eyes & ears also your nose. It`s a wonderful cocktail : wood, hay, grass, mushrooms , moss (irish !), pines .... and of course horses ! Beeing outside with your best friend and visit your favorite places in nature on top of a horseback change the point of view. Did you every hiked this trail ? It will be not as mystique !
Tomorrow our two recently bought Tennessee walkers will arrive ! I`m so exited !!!!!!!! Happy Trails to all of you !!!!!!
Posted by: Dani & cats | December 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 am
That's the closest thing I can think of to heaven. Beautiful.
Posted by: Rhonda Fleming Hayes | December 3rd, 2009 at 9:23 am
So enjoyed this ride. It would be lovely to do more photo trips on horseback. I did not want it to end. Thank you for working hard to share with us a world of beauty, creativity, and positive perspective. We stand taller and happier and wiser because of you.
Posted by: Vicki Dinsmore | December 3rd, 2009 at 10:23 am
Martha, first let me say that I've been a fan since your first magazine was printed. And I've always admired your sense of style and elegance, along with the bounty of information you provide. I've learned a lot over the many years.Your homes,each one more breath taking than the last,Your horses, magnificent creatures, Your gardens, works of art.And now,I've moved to the next generation of the "Stewart" family, Alexis.Her sense of humor brings tears to my eyes. Now when I look at an episode of yours, she takes my mind to places I never thought of when I first saw it with you.. I love it.I hope both you and daughter are around for a long time too come.....
Posted by: dolly grazionale | December 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
perfect day out! we too had a beautiful day here in georgia. surprised my mom & dad by going to stone mountain. my mom grew up in the south and could not believe she had never gone there. it was the best surprise ever. skies were as blue as they could be and i actually made it up the sky lift to the top of the mountain without having a panic attack!!!
Posted by: Sue | December 3rd, 2009 at 11:40 am
Hi Martha,
Always enjoy your pictures.
When you say old, do you know how old the stone wall would be? I have seen these in Europe as well.
I sure miss watching your show. I live in Vancouver BC and your show was always available to watch until this past season. I do hope it returns.
Have a great day All!
Susie
Posted by: Susie | December 3rd, 2009 at 11:40 am
I'm slightly envious...it's COLD here in Iowa today and I am not getting my horse out to ride.
But I will snuggle up for warmth with him when I feed him!
Posted by: IowaCowgirl | December 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
On this particular Sunday (just last Sunday), we here in Maryland had record-tieing temperatures (from 1990) of 69 degrees, so I took full advantage by doing a final lawn mowing for the season and flowerbed cleanup in the afternoon (church came first, of course [giggle] ).
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Your photos are absolutely glorious, Martha - a gorgeous day and the natural scenery, beautifulbeautiful animals and their own displays of contentment - the scenes captured through your eyes seriously made my heart go pitterpatter! For real!
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These are surely some of the very best good things in life!
~
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | December 3rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
what a lovely way to start the day: A delicious breakfast followed by a late fall ride with loved ones. You always seem to artfully combine being domestic and stylish. And, as I like to put it, make the most of it!
Shannon
Posted by: Shannon at Old World Charm | December 3rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
For Susie - I should think that the stone walls photographed date back to sometime in the 1700's. When early settlers plowed a field for planting crops, all the stones were removed from the soil and placed around the perimeter of the field. A wall could then be built, protecting the crops from grazing animals.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | December 3rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Thanks for sharing the photos of the horseride,
I enjoyed.
Posted by: Vivian Price | December 3rd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Hi Martha,
I viewed each lovely photograph on todays post with memories of my own rides of past days. I could almost feel the reins in my hands, hear the trudge on the earth below, feel the sway of the walk, and endulge in the snorts and the whinnys. Experience the occasional stop for a palatable graze, the flip of the tail, and the quick jerk of the head and the excitement it brought to see what caught the attention of the power beneath me . I felt as I was riding again, especially the view on frame 15 of 15.
The photos that you share with us range greatly in composition, and are so beautiful.
I wanted to comment on the spectacular photo on pages 190 and 191 of your December 2009 'Living' magazine. It is a breathtaking shot of your property, and reminded me of the beauty and stillness on my parents small farm on the prarie lands of Illinois as a child. Walking to the barn from the farmhouse early in the morning to visit the horses and before they disturbed the fresh fallen snow with their prancing antics.
Thank you so much for sharing your wealth of talents, and for many of us, awakening our own treasured memories through your photography work.
Posted by: Becky HK | December 3rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
My most favorite days are spent in nature either at the gulf coast beaches of Bradenton, FL lounging with friends amongst children playing about; or kayaking in this same area; or hiking in the Jemez Mountains outside my recent home of Albuquerque, NM; or horseback riding anywhere! Thanks for the ride. Your Fresians are exquisite.
Posted by: Barbara Phinney | December 3rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I love these pictures! I am wondering if you are talking about Bedford, KY. I am from Indiana and know that there are several wonderful horse farms down there. Fresians are my favorite horses! They are so elegant and beautiful (and expensive). I'm glad that you can enjoy them. (:
Posted by: Alesha | December 3rd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
i so enjoy & value the beauty & function of stone walls. given how the art of constructing them is a rare thing to find, they are indeed precious.
Posted by: jonquil | December 3rd, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I am like IowaCowgirl. It is cold here, the horses sure do not have the green that is shown in these pictures. They are cold and just want good food and fresh water.
Posted by: Margie | December 3rd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
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Horseback Thru Bedford
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Some of the fields and woods in Bedford bring mind to
The Emerald Isle, and are still a munchy healthy green hue.
T'was the Sunday after Thanksgiving at Martha's place,
Breakfast of popovers, eggs and cappuccino with mace;
A party of riders, with a feisty Irish pony leading the way
Set out to enjoy the landscape on a beautiful fall day.
Ramon, Rinze were there with Rutger and his veiled Lady,
Suddenly running down Upper Hook Road was Rosie O'Grady.
In the middle of nowhere is a beautiful walled garden,
They rode around envisioning the builders with Irish jargon,
Placing the lichen covered stones, thoughts of yesteryear.
Rutger stops and eyes the terrain; does he see a grazing deer?
The autumnal grasses and shrubs are colorful and striking,
In the woods the green velvety mosses, to everyone's liking.
A memorable horseback ride on such a romantic landscape;
It's not hard to have a love affair with Nature, when so ornate.
Ireland then, "peat bogs and patchworks of rolling pasture
Defined by neat stone walls and Reserves for Nature."
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The song in my heart - When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.
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Posted by: celia stock | December 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Wow Martha I felt like I was on the ride with you and your niece. What a beautiful day it was and the views were also wonderful. Getting out and exploring nature is a wonderful thing makes you glad to be alive. Your horses are just spectacular. Thanks for letting us view your pictures. Have a wonderful holiday season with your family.
Posted by: Gail Colantoni | December 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 pm
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Stonewall period and purpose true, Martha.
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Our 1765 stonewalls are latticed across fields in the same manner and for similar purpose. We also have an underground sheep pass made of stonewall material. It crosses under our road for safe passage of small farm animals.
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Have you ever ridden your horse across a lake? I have taken the swim across Lake Winnecunnet in Massachusetts. A surrey single is all that holds you to the horses body! Care for a challenge before the ice sets in!?
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Andr and Ws
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Posted by: andyjspencer.blogspot | December 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Looks cold there. But it always fun to ride on clear crisp day.
Coffee is on.
Posted by: peppylady (Dora) | December 3rd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Hi Martha, What a lovely day to take a horseback ride through Bedford with your niece Kristina and others. The weather looked so great. We have had nice sunny weather here in the Puget Sound area for several days now and I absolutely love it! After a very rainy November, it is nice and dry here. It is kind of cold, but the sunny weather is much better than all that rain. I had 12 inches in my rain gauge for the month and I think that is a record. Loved your show today. I missed the ones on Monday and Wednesday, but I watch them on your website and I sure appreciate the fact that you make them available that way. I would have to get up at 4AM on Sat. or Sun. to watch them on FLN. Thank you so much! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | December 3rd, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Oh my. These are such beautiful pictures. I can just smell the fresh air. I know that you all had a most joyous time in the country.
Posted by: Edna/HandmadeDiva | December 4th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Hi Martha,
Again, thank you for your great blogs. The information about the stone walls was appreciated.
You learn a lot from one another. Now I know where I can watch your show! Your website! It just did not dawn on me. Thanks again.
Susie
Posted by: Susie | December 5th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Absolutely admire your sharing this with us.
BTW, we had a Scandinavian heritage Festival here today with jule-kake, sanbakkelse, rosettes, and many delicacies. Think I did hear that man with the red hair singing an old Johnny Cash song 40 SHADES OF GREEN and I know why he was there!!
Posted by: ann | December 5th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
What fun and what a beautiful morning! Martha, can we trailer our horses over and ride the Bedford trails??? I'm wondering if any of the trails are open to the public.
Posted by: Joanne | December 6th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
These photos make me miss riding very much! Some of my favorite rides were in the cold and fog, bundled up with a quarter sheet.
Posted by: Rachael Rossman | December 8th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
thank you for taking us along. i just rescued a percheron/friesian he is beautiful and i hope to ride him here soon. we are surrounded by stones walls the ones we can clearly see and the ones i stumble upon on my daily walks. thank you for making me look forward to what is yet to come.
Posted by: nadia | December 8th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Hi, Martha, I am really enjoying your morning tv show that we get in Dayton, Oh on Channel 5 from Cincinnati, WLWT - really enjoying your plant and pet sections as I have horses and a dog and love my plants. Your Freesians are absolutely drop-dead gorgeous and I love Franchesca and Sharkey who seem so Buddha-like, knowing all and seeing all. Your program reflects life as we baby boomers remember it from the 60's and 70's when we were raising our kids. Great programming agsinst all the useless, wasteful use of time that most of general tv promotes.
Thanks a bunch!
Ann B., Dayton, Ohio
Posted by: Ann B | December 21st, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Thanks for sharing. I used to ride on these trails, those in South Salem, and at Waveny Manor in New Canaan all the time - brought back a lot of wonderful times on horseback. I miss it and hope one day to be back in the saddle again.
Posted by: Amanda R | January 10th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I loved the mystery of the walled garden... what a beautiful ride! Thanks for taking us along on it.
Posted by: Jaya | January 16th, 2010 at 3:40 am