HACK 1000 MILES
Clydesdales, Suffolks and Shires — what superstars! Three riders share their tales of owning and riding these remarkable gentle giants (or sometimes not so gentle) with Mel Beale
CRACKING CLYDESDALES
Owner: Helen Chester
Horses: Chester, a 22-year-old, 15hh Shire x cob; Harrison, a seven-year-old, 18.2hh Clydesdale; Clementine, a five-year-old, 17hh Clydesdale
“I grew up around heavy horses as my granddad worked the land with Shires before he moved onto machinery. I was always drawn to them, and I’d say that my granddad steered me that way, too. He always said thatIshould have a heavy horse.
“My first heavy horse was a Clydesdale called Maverick, but I sadly lost him to colic when he was just two-and-a-half years old. He left a hole in my heart that I knew only a heavy horse could fill, but at the time I couldn’t afford to buy another one. “I found Chester,aShire cross, and then later on when I was in a position to get two Clydesdales, Harrison came along, and Clementine not long afterwards. “I had never really intended to own three horses, but I liked the idea of having two heavies and driving them as a pair. I’ve since found that Harrison isn’t keen on the harness, so he’s purely a riding horse for now and he loves it. “I initially started with the #Hack1000Miles challenge with Chester, but now all three horses are hacking.
Harrison does the majority of the miles, but it keeps Chester ticking over in his older age, and it helps to build up Clementine’s fitness. “A lot of people think that heavies are very laid back and quiet, but mine all have very different personalities. Harrison is a gentle giant—we do some volunteering and he’s really good at working with people with special needs and disabilities. However, he really loves to hack. Put him on grass and he will bounce on the spot until you unleash him! He can be quite on his toes, and I think that surprises a lot of people. He can also be a worrier; he takes a lot of reassurance from me.
“Clementine, on the other hand, is rather mischievous and fiery. She can be a handful and we have to negotiate with one another at times, but she’s wonderful. “I feel really safe riding my horses, and they are so sure-footed out and about. I’ve got arthritis in my knees, hips, ankles and spine and so I struggle to walk and enjoy the countryside on foot now. My horses are my legs. They keep me mobile and moving, and they’re so comfortable. Their width suits me as it makes me feel more secure. “They cover so much ground with each stride, and the thunder of their galloping hooves is like nothing else.
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