Fun Ride

September 21st 2008

Unfortunately the fun ride had to be cancelled due to poor ground conditions.  The ride was due to start at Stonebow Farm, Ashleworth and run along the banks of the River Severn for the first four miles.  During the first two weeks of September it rained most of the time and the river burst its banks.  Although we did have a nice week prior to the 21st September the flooding remained on the road until Thursday 20th Sept and in some of the fields until the following week.

The decision to postpone the ride was not taken lightly and there were a lot of things to consider.  Our main consideration was for the Farmers who were allowing us to cross their ground, followed closely by the Health and Safety of Riders and Horses.  Over some of the ride the ground conditions were very good, but, for the first few miles the ground was either flooded or so wet that the horses would have been up to their hocks in thick deep mud, there was a wood to go through that again was knee deep in mud and a bank to come down that had been a “raging river” the weekend before. So for the sake of our Farmers fields and the Health and Safety of all concerned the decision was taken to postpone on Monday 15th Sept. 

Many people phoned to see if the fun ride was going to run; the answer phone message was changed. All the internet sites that had advertised the fun ride were informed including the Ledbury Hunt site and they altered the information posted and signs were put on all the major routes to Ashleworth.  Unfortunately with all this information “out there” there were still a few people who had not heard and set out on a wasted journey, we would like to offer our apologies to these people.

At the time of writing this report it is unlikely that the Fun Ride will be run this year but we hope to be able to run it next year.