The Big One!

The Hawick Common-Riding is the first of the Border festivals and celebrates both the capture of an English Flag in 1514 by the youth of Hawick at a place called Hornshole and the ancient custom of riding the marches or boundaries of the common land.

The Cornet for the year is elected at the beginning of May, well in advance of the festival proper, when the Provost's Council, on the recommendation of the two previous Cornets (called the Right and Left-Hand Men) invites a young man to act as Cornet. The Halberdier, accompanied by the Drum and Fife Band, carries an official letter of invitation to the nominated Cornet.

In the weeks preceding the actual Common-Riding, on each Saturday and Tuesday, the Cornet and his supporters are out on their ride-outs in the course of which they visit surrounding villages and farms.  Last Tuesday the 'ride out' went to Priesthaugh Farm but the main ride-out, usually two weeks before the Common-Riding weekend, is the twenty-four mile ride to Mosspaul and back.  This is a big ride...over rough terrain..up hills, down valleys and through forests out into the Borderland hills where the weather usually does it's worst....the weather forecast was not good and after last weeks drenching it was a tough decision weather to ride or not as the weather at home that morning was a little rough to say the least!

But we got everything ready and made the decision at 10.45 to load up the horses and off we all went...

Here they are ready to go muster at Backdamgate for a 12.00 start......

Here's Kyle and his Granda heading off up The Loan...ten minutes later there was a really rough hailstone storm.....agghhhh!

This is the first gallop of this ride at Pilmuir...can be a bit tricky but luckily there were only two fallers....hopefully no serious injuries....horse riding is a very high risk sport especially when riding small ponies in among these big horses...Kyle is lucky to have the support of his Dad and Granda!

At the Binks....photo by Fieron

Kyle arriving with his Dad at Mosspaul......photo by Fieron

Kyle was lucky to have a hauder (holder) booked for his pony.....

We picked a good place for a snack....

Time to go back to Hawick.....

What a great photo!

This one photograph makes all of the worry worthwhile!

Sorry didn't mean to leave anyone out...flat battery!

Arriving back in Hawick at 8.15 pm...it's been a long hard day...


I'd like to thank everyone for viewing my photos, videos and blog over the past few weeks and for all of the emails and comments...it's great that everyone can share in this momentous occasion.....In previous years I have ridden this and the other Saturday rides.....it isn't always easy and the riders can hit many obstacles along the way..... Kyle has come so far over the past few weeks in his riding ability and confidence....Kyle you are our 'Hero'!

Remember this Doodle?

I was trying out different marking pens, fabrics, thread types and colours....
This is silk on the top and cotton satteen on the back....a mixture of glide, bottomline and silk threads....

Which turned into this....sixteen inch square wholecloth...some of the teeny tiny feathers were a little too small for a longarm really...but sometimes you just have to try it to find out?

And then I tried a different colour thread.....

I had a practice of some spineless feathers too just because I had some free batting still on the frame.....

When I'm practicing or experimenting I don't frog/unpick any mistakes/variations....I think you loose momentum that way and once your interest is lost then it's lost so I just 'carry on regardless'!

Then, because I can't throw away my test pieces...they turned into this!

Front and Back

I think I like the darker thread although you do need to be more careful to follow your design when using it!

It turn out fowl????

The first half of Saturday's Ride Out was not too bad.....wind in their faces but on the whole dry weather

Here is the Cornet with his Right and Left Hand Men and the Acting Father just behind.....leaving Hawick at 12.30.

On the way to the next vantage point Fieron and I stopped by to take a photo of Echo and her foal Hailey.

We next saw the horses on the very top of our own hill at The Heights at Alemoor...then on to Philhope Bridge.

 

It was blustery arriving at Philhope Bridge at 3.30.....Photo by Fieron

But by the time the riders left it was a different matter.

But Kyle kept on smiling!

Arriving back in town at around 8pm ...still raining!

That was a hard ride of around 24 miles...it rained all the way home, less than half of the riders arrived back in Hawick....so well done Kyle!

Following the Cornet!

The Cornet and his followers rode to Lilliesleaf on Tuesday but Thursday evening was the Junior Ride Out for the Primary School aged children...this will be the last year that Kyle can take part as he goes to High School this year, he was accompanied by his Sister Fieron today who will be able to ride around the park with the Cornet for another three years.....Don't they look smart?

Fieron and Rosie......

As I've said previously....I will be buying these photos from Lesley and then will upload from the CD.

...

Fieron having a bit of a trot....Well done Fi....

The ponies behaved really well and we all got a bit of exercise including Kyle and Layla who are now ready for their next 'ride out' on Saturday!

More Ride Outs!

So during the lead  up to the main day of the Common Riding (in June)  there are 'ride outs' on a Tuesday and a Saturday...last Tuesday's ride went to Cosgmill...the horses are riding out to check the town boundaries to make sure everything is in order!

This Saturday's Ride Out was to Roberton....it's was a lovely day although there was a chill in the air at times, during the picnic however, the sun came out and there was a warm breeze.....

An estimated 249 horses leaving the Auld Grey Town....

Taking off on the first gallop... great riding position Kyle!

Here are our three men......right in the middle.....

Arriving at Roberton for the picnic

Family and friends are waiting and there are picnics at nearly every car......

There had been a lot of rain during the week but the horses could still cross the river although they had to choose the right path as there were big boulders under the water...you could count them and let me know how many horses there are.....well you could if you had a moment.....

Kyle crosses somewhere around the seven minute mark....

Part 1.....

Part 2.....

Graham riding my horse Dibbly.....Photo taken by Fieron

Robin riding Bess and Kyle riding Layla....Photo taken by Fieron

Back in town....Kyle had been riding so fast that his hat cover blew off....Well Done Kyle!

Blogger's Quilt Festival....

Have you ever visited the 'Blogger's Quilt Festival' if not you are in for a treat.....grab yourself a cuppa and settle down for a fantastic show and tell.....


I am entering my most recent quilt....I know many of you have just seen it but life is just a little hectic around here at the moment and I am still in love with this quilt.....well until the next quilt is finished!

Did I say I love this quilt......it's a top that I bought to practice on, when I received it I knew it was special and waited until I felt experienced enough with my new longarm so that I could do the top justice....I live in a cold and draughty farmhouse here in Scotland so I used a double batting I love the dimension that it gives.

This quilt has taken up residence in my guest bedroom!
 

There are more photos and information in my previous post here  

 

Thank you Amy for generously giving your time to entertain us all again!

If you've got an itch????

Our Man of the Moment!

Our Man of the Moment….

Saturday was the first ‘Ride Out' of the Hawick Common Riding Season….it was a momentous occasion for our Grandson Kyle….his first proper ride out, he's eleven years old..….very nerve racking for us adults but everything went very well…Layla, his pony, behave so well and after the first canter on open ground we all started to relax a little….so I’m afraid there will be lots of photos of horses and Kyle for the next five or six weeks as the ride outs progress….

Here they are leaving town at 1.00pm.....Granda, Dad and Kyle.....

The count was 218 horses leaving Hawick.....

Time for a pitstop....it's thirsty work....

Today they rode out to Bonchester Bridge and back..it's about 15 miles in all, Fieron and I were the support crew and photographers, we followed by car....

Here is a video of some of the 'ride' at Hawthornside Hill.....

Back into town safe and sound at 8.15pm
Well Done Kyle...we are so proud of you!