So we rode over to Hindhead (a new tunnel where the A3 used to bisect the common has transformed this area from a traffic blackspot to a breathtaking place of beauty and silence) which on reflection wasnt the best of ideas on a sunny weekend. The Greensand Way was mobbed, it was like riding through the Canterbury Pilgrims. With kids. And bikes. And mental barky dogs. And some of the most ridiculous hats I've ever seen. Comedy Cob rolled his eyes suspiciously at everyone but powered manfully through the crowd, The Blonde probably hadnt noticed them as she was planning her lunch when she got back to the yard, Bulldog amused himself by smiling at the gundogs and terriers and watching their owners freak out.
Finally we arrived at the Punchbowl Cafe, which is like a Motorway Service Station from the 70's marooned in a sea of green, weaved through the packed car park and I left Riding Pal in charge of both ponies and the dog to go and buy us both a well-earned cuppa. As this is Surrey this inevitably took twice as long as strictly necessary and involved my having practically to grab a member of staff by the throat in order to get served. By the time I came out the ponies had drawn a small crowd- this happens every time I go to Hindhead, but I am always rather surprised that people who live in the country find horses a novelty, my equines are the main reason why I moved here, if I didnt have too many horses and dogs I'd still be swigging Lattes on the Northcote Rd thank you very much. So we had small kids being reluctantly held up by their parents to pat soft noses and young girls running their fingers through The Blonde's amazing two-tone mane. Those in the know about horses also came and talked to us out of curiosity as The Blonde is a Norweigian Fjord Horse and quite a distinctive rarity, plus I am very much into the Alternative Horse scene, both ponies are ridden in bitless bridles, funky treeless saddles and are ridden unshod. By the time we had finished our teas we were on first name terms with most of the Cafe's customers.
Time to go- I collected Bulldog from his crowd of adoring children who were feeding him flapjack and tickling his belly and led The Blonde over to a raised bank on the side of the carpark ( I like to mount from a height as it's kinder to the horse's back and I'm no spring chicken any more) my horses know the drill, I lead them to a raised bank or log, they stand downhill and I get on from the higher ground. I mounted The Blonde and called over to Riding Pal, indicating the handy earthy bank that I had stood on, perfect for her to use to get on Comedy Cob. Some of the kids were waving goodbye to us and hey I love playing celeb as much as the next person, I pull off a perfect Parade Wave as The Blonde and I cruise out of the carpark (I was taught htis while riding in Colorado, you extend your arm dead straight at 45degrees, flex the wrist so the fingers point at the sky and make like you are cleaning a small window).
