Preparing for Horse Boating

Article from the Winter 2024 newsletter by David Ray

Flower striding towards Ellesmere Port - photo by Elizabeth Ray

We’ve got the horse and the boat, but what really goes into making it happen?

We keep Flower in work all year round as Elizabeth enjoys riding her multiple times each week. This keeps her nice and fit ready to go horse boating whenever the opportunities arise.

Firstly, when we are planning to go horse boating, we look at a suitable location and a member of the team that we have developed usually walks the section first, looking for anything that may impede our progress. Potholes, bank erosion, bankside vegetation and lines of moored boats are things that we must consider along with access on and off the towpath and somewhere to park the trailer. Once this has been done, I contact Canal and River Trust (CRT) to notify them of our intention. I have created a risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) which has now been adopted by CRT themselves and we modify it for the areas that we plan to work in.

We’ve built up a good team since we first started horse boating with Flower back in the summer of 2023. Roger Fuller normally takes the lead by being “in-charge”. This is a wide and varied role, but Roger basically assigns tasks to specific individuals, runs through our RAMS and ensures the safety of not only people and the horse but also the boat. Paul Tickle is our number one “line-lifter” meaning that he lifts the tow line over any moored boats, vegetation or anything that the line may get caught up on. Then there is Sarah, Elizabeth and me, collectively we look after the safety and welfare of Flower. Of course there are numerous other key people “steerer, lock wheeler, crowd control and not forgetting the fundraiser…”.

Flower is shod every five weeks, which means that the Farrier visits the yard that we keep her on, removes her existing set of shoes and checks for suitability of refitting (namely wear), trims her hooves as they grow much the same as finger nails and then refits the shoes (either existing or new). This costs around £90 each visit.

Elizabeth grooms Flower regularly, ideally once a day but there are days that time simply runs out. We always make sure that her tangly bits (tail and mane) are groomed to avoid knots. This ensures that her coat remains healthy to keep her warm in the colder months and to prevent excess bacteria or fungus building up on the skin, which if left untreated could cause skin complaints such as mud fever or rain scald. She really enjoys it too and treats it like a massage!

Elizabeth keeps Flower well groomed - Photo by Teresa Fuller

For transporting Flower, we have an Ifor Williams horse trailer which I tow behind my Ford Ranger, which I carry out regular maintenance on. We clean it and wash it out after each use meaning that it is always ready to go. Flower doesn’t mind travelling; in fact, I think she quiet enjoys the surprise of where she is going to end up when we stop and open the door.

Flower’s harness for horse boating lives in our office at home. This keeps it dry and away from little creatures which could damage it by nibbling on it. When Terry Davies, who made Flower’s harness, handed me her new collar, he said to keep it away from the three M’s; Mice, Mould and Moths – which I follow religiously! After each use I tend to clean the harness with saddle soap to remove any debris or sweat that if left would rot the leather and stitching and I give it a coat of Kocholine which is a thick grease that protects and revives leather. A few days prior to using it I give it another clean and polish the brass buckles and clean the painted hames, bobbins and swingletree.

That’s Flower, transport and harness all ready, but what happens on the day? Find out next time.

Sarah and Flower at Ellesmere Port - Photo by Teresa Fuller