Stories in the Land: Pony Adventures in the Highlands

Shela Ryan’s enthusiasm for horses is incredible – she has five! - that’s probably why the DofE Co-ordinator at Caol Youth Centre in Fort William has taken up the reins on a DofE project with both hands.

Shela is helping Bronze and Silver DofE groups to take part in an expedition on horseback, but the excitement doesn’t stop there. She’s working with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society as part of the Stories in the Land Project. The aim of the project is to get local people collecting, telling and creating stories inspired by the epic journeys of the Scottish drovers. Shela realised that this could be a creative expedition aim for her group and so the groups have jumped in to take on the challenge of a pony expedition that followed in the tracks of the Highland Drovers.

The group are doing their expedition with the help of Abernethy Ardgour - Shela said, “we took these horses completely out of their comfort zone but with the expert help from the 'technical advisor' Claire Cameron of Ardgour Riding Centre, we have spent many months getting them ready for the expeditions.” It seems like it’s not just a learning experience for the participants – the horses are learning from this partnership as well!

As part of the Stories in the Land project, the Caol Groups will be hosting a Meet the Drovers Event on 1st August - come down and see them, or check out their blog to follow their progress and get more information about events.

Shela’s happy to provide other groups with more information about doing pony expeditions. Just give her a call at 01397 700 113, or email her at Shela.Ryan@highlifehighland.com

Travel Writer Hilary Bradt Describes Her Pony Ride around West Ireland.

Hilary Bradt is a publisher, award-winning writer, lecturer and co-founder of Bradt Travel Guides. She’ll share the story of her long distance pony ride around West Ireland in Dumfries, Peebles, Ayr and Helensburgh on the 28th to 31st January 2013.
 
Since her pony-obsessed childhood, explorer-publisher Hilary Bradt had dreamed of tackling a long-distance ride. Short treks in Ethiopia and the Peruvian Andes proved to be mere dress rehearsals for the real thing – a thousand-mile journey on horseback, solo, through the west of Ireland in 1984.

Hilary Bradt MBE, is a travel writer and co-founder of Bradt Travel Guides.

Nearly three decades later, Hilary will retrace her steps, kindling the poignant memories of her relationship with Mollie, her Connemara pony.

Set against the vivid backdrop of rural Ireland, this is a witty and ultimately moving tale of the growing bond between horse and rider, the challenges they face and the people who shelter them during their colourful wanderings together.

These lectures are part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People talks programme. The talk in Ayr has been kindly sponsored by Hillhouse Quarry Group.

Born in 1941, Hilary was brought up in Buckinghamshire and worked as an occupational therapist in the USA and South Africa before returning to Bucks in 1980 to concentrate on publishing and tour-leading. In 2008 she was awarded an MBE for services to the tourist industry and to charity, and in 2009 received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Guild of Travel Writers. She now lives in Devon.

Hilary built a great friendship with Mollie, her Connemara pony.

Hilary’s talks:

Dumfries: Monday 28th January, 7:30pm.

Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TA

Borders (Peebles): Tuesday 29th January, 7:30pm.

The Eastgate Theatre, Eastgate, Peebles, EH43 8AD.

Ayr: Wednesday 30th January, 7.30pm. 

Council Chambers, Ayr Town Hall, New Bridge Street, Ayr, KA7 1JX.

Helensburgh: Thursday 31st January, 7.30pm.

Victoria Halls, Sinclair Street, Helensburgh, G84 8TU

£8 for adults, (redeemable if buying membership) and free students, under 18s and for RSGS members. Tickets are available on the day from the venue. For more information about any of our talks this season please visit www.rsgs.org/events/