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                              HOW TO ENJOY A SHOWER – WITH A HORSE  !

What do you do when the forecast WAS for heavy rain, the morning HAS heavy rain and the June day is looking

like November?   In the case of the local branch of the Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC), the answer is

- get up and go for a ride.

On Sunday, a dozen hardy souls started from Tillylair farm, courtesy of Mr Grant, for a 12-mile ride around

Blackhall forest.   Not only were there 10 members from Grampian branch, but two riders had come up from

Dundee to sample our Deeside forest tracks as well as the Deeside weather. 

These short rides are called ‘Pleasure Rides’ in the Endurance Club, (others can be up to 50 miles in a day).  

But club stalwart Roger Searle of Ballater said,  “After getting wet coming here, a little wetter getting my horse

ready and very wet during the ride, I really did wonder whether ‘pleasure’ is the right word, though the ‘endurance’

bit seems appropriate today !”

However, Lynda Keeler of Netherley, another long-time member, was having none of it.  “True, but how many other

marvellous occasions have we had, with the sun shining, a breeze in your face and the chance to enjoy some lovely

riding through wonderful countryside, often with incredible views over Donside, Deeside, around Bennachie and so

on  ?”

Intrepid local amateur photographer George Booth was canny enough to arrive to record the scene in the only dry

half-hour of the morning, hence the smiling faces in the accompanying picture.  (George sends his pictures of Deeside events to local artist Sheila Ferres*1 for possible use in her watercolours, sold for charity.)

In the end though, even Jillian Grant – all the way from Tayside – was heard to say, “Well, it may have been good

old Scottish summer weather but what a lovely spot.   The rain didn’t bother me, I enjoyed the route, and the mist

over the hills added something to the scene”.

Co-Organiser Marlene Arthur of Aberdeen agreed, “It’s actually very rare to have such a dreich old day as this

for our rides and if we do, it just seems to make the rest of the year’s schedule even more enjoyable.  Just look

around, I don’t see any long faces, do you?”

She obviously wasn’t looking at the horses!

*1 Further Information:  Sheila is well know for her paintings of local scenes many of which are used in cards and

calendars which are sold in about 40 outlets in and around Banchory.  All proceeds go to 3 local charities – The

Forget-Me-Not Club, which supports people with dementia and their carers; the Glen o’ Dee Hospital; and the

Thursday Club, which helps people with MS, rheumatoid arthritis or Parkinsons.  If anyone is interested, Sheila can

be contacted on 01330 822833.  She is always delighted to hear from anyone interested in purchasing her works.