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I
Irish Hunter
Breeding result of the crossing between a Draught mare and a thoroughbred
stallion. Robust, good-natured, receptive, fast and sure-footed
- these are the most important of the positive characteristics,
which make the Irish Hunter stand out. A really versatile horse
which is particularly well suited for trail riding. Most of the
horses at the riding schools and stables on our continent could
copy a great deal from these character traits.
Island
Dernish Isle situated directly opposite the farm can be easily
reached when the tide is out. You ride from the farm down to the
beach and then across the stony and rocky coastline for some kilometres
along the mud -flats. Do not be afraid of the slightly slippery
stone path, the horses are sure-footed and master this course
with style. Of course, you could not expect your school horseback
home, to walk on such a ground; it would probably break every
bone. On the way to the island deep tideway's force you to make
a considerable detour. You will probably think you have almost
reached Grange before you can actually cross the mud flats to
the island.
By the way: on sandbanks off the island you can often watch seal
families sunbathing there leisurely.
K
Knocknarea
A mountain very close to Sligo. The name refers to its legendary
past because Knocknarea means "execution hill". It is
almost 330 metres high. From the top you have a terrific view
of Sligo and the coastline with its bays, beaches and cliffs.
When visibility is good the view extends up to Connemara on the
one side and to Donegal in the opposite direction.
It is worthwhile climbing Knocknarea, especially because of Queen
Maeve's Grave, a megalithic burial chamber. A place inter-twined
with myth since Maeve, Queen of Connacht, is generally considered
as the first liberator in Irish legend. Her chase of the Brown
Bull of Cooley and the subsequent bloody wars between Ulster and
Connacht supplied the material for one of the most famous Irish
Legends: "The Tain". The stone hill on Mount Knocknarea,
which is said, by archaeologists, to be a burial place, consists
of some 40,000 loosely arranged pieces of rock. So far the secret
of the burial chamber has not been unearthed because it is feared
that an intrusive study would cause the rocks to collapse.
L
Lang's Pub
A place in Grange worth seeing. Apart from Barry's it is a good
recommendation for a rest. It is worth seeing because here a traditional
corner shop is combined with an original pub. At Lang.'s you can
get everything which is needed for daily use: meat, cheese, butter,
milk, tea, bread, eggs, vegetables, washing powder, candles, matches
and most essential pills and powders for sore throats, colds,
stomach-ache and many other ailments. Sometime or other a film
producer from Hollywood will probably come along and want to buy
the whole shop along with its entire inventory. You can do your
shopping here until the evening hours, and savour a pint on the
side. This is why even the men in Ireland volunteer to go shopping.
On the ceiling hooks are fastened which were used for the drying
of meat.
Leather boots
They may be very useful and fashionable in Germany for the dressage
rider but in Ireland - especially for trail riding - leather boots
have decisive disadvantages. Rubber boots are more practical,
and above all, tighter and better suited against moisture. This
can be put to the test on most of the soaking wet fields or on
the numerous moors. If required, a bootjack should be taken on
the trail because some stations unfortunately have not got the
right tools available for this liberation exercise.
The dampness in the boots should be combated with newspaper, which
you crumple into the shaft in the evening. In the morning the
boots have usually completely dried out as if by magic. Never
put rubber boots in front of the open fireplace or an oven. Sometimes,
they literally melt away after this favour. With leather boots,
too, extreme care is to be taken when exposing them to open fires
and excessive heat.
Anyone, who has problems slipping into the shaft in the morning
because the boot's shaft or the socks are still damp, can make
things easier using special talcum powder or simple body talcum
powder. And by the way, the powder moderates many an unpleasant
whiff arising from the boots! If even this household remedy fails,
you can also try your luck with a bin liner, which is put on like
a sock.
Lobster
Noble crustacean from the sea. Fresh lobster is served for dinner
at the farm upon request at an additional cost. A unique messing
about, a medieval feast. The lobsters from this area are a speciality
and are in international demand. Many of them are exported to
France, the country of gourmets. Nowhere else will you get them
so well prepared and so fresh and tasty, than here at the farm.
Lough Gill
A large, idyllically situated lake three kilometres east of Sligo.
Twenty islands, each one more idyllic than the other, mark the
picturesque scene. The poet William Butler Yeats chose Lough Gill
and especially the island Inishfree as his favourite place. Inishfree
has been immortalised in one of his poems. A business-minded Irishman
offers trips across the lakes with his little motorboat. On this
trip you will discover more details about the individual islands.
The Sligo Trail takes you past some beautiful places on the shores
of Lough Gill. In addition, the lake is a popular destination
even for the rest day.
Also within the rider's reach: "Parke's Castle" on the
northern shore of the lake, situated on the road from Sligo to
Dromahair. On the Sligo Trail this castle makes it worthwhile
to do a little detour. It has now been renovated to a large extent
and is worth seeing. Here you can find more details about the
cultural history of the country and about the life and customs
of the former knights.
M
Mane
The horse's
hair is less a decoration than a useful aid. Just as the tail
it is used above all to drive the insects away. At Horse Holiday
Farm its cleaning is restricted to brushing. A comb might get
stuck and would rip out more hair than necessary.
Moors
Certainly worth seeing, although in some places, they are still
scarred by rubbish and waste. Apparently, many Irish people have
not been properly convinced of the need for environmental protection,
although a pleasant change is slowly evolving and wild dumping
grounds are getting less.
The exploitative way in which the moors are utilised and deprived
of their peat also shows a lack of thought. Numerous peat fires
and open fireplaces are smoking away. The pungent smell hanging
over villages and even whole areas is unmistakable. This idyll
has its price. The cosy fire in the open fireplace cannot be enjoyed
without regrets. Since only little wood and little coal are available
in Ireland, peat is nowadays still the only inexpensive raw material,
which can be used for heating. On the other hand, the trail passages
over the moors are some of the most impressive parts of the holiday.
Swaying ground under the hooves. Soaking wet brown-green endlessness
all around. No sound except for the whistling of the wind. Only
a few birds find their way into this area. The impressions imparted
to the rider can hardly be put into words. The feeling produced
by the vista of the sparse vegetation is overwhelming. Nevertheless,
the vegetation is characterised by numerous surprising peculiarities.
Some of the plants are found only here.
It is a problem and sometimes an adventure for the rider if the
route is obstructed by potholes so that your way is blocked. In
these cases calm and level headedness, along with riding skills
are certainly required. The horses sense the difficulty and suddenly
refuse to go on. Not even biscuits or friendly persuasion will
help you to move forward. Sometimes this means dismounting and
leading the horse firmly, but sensitively across the difficult
obstacle. In other situations, the rider should remain in his
seat and direct his horse across pallets, narrow paths and unsafe
ground when it is not possible to be sure that the green on the
right and left of the pathway is without dangerous pot holes.
Potholes cause great problems for all trail riders. For skilled
and courageous people they offer challenge and adventure for panicking
and anxious people without self-confidence they can, no doubt,
be dangerous. However, confidence is given by the fact that up
to now the horses have always found a way out of all these pot
holes obstructing the way during a trail - no matter how deep
and dangerous they may have looked. It just looks a lot more dramatic
than it actually is. Riders who have passed the test can tell
you a thing or two about it all. Most of the reports belong into
the category: rider's yarns.
Mounting and dismounting
At the stables, the horse should be taken to the sand paddock
where the rider should swing himself into the saddle using a mounting
aid if necessary. Note: in the stable walkway the horses can easily
slip or skid and for the rider it is definitely more pleasant
to land gently in the sand than on hard concrete. This way, you
also avoid twisting your ankle as you dismount.
Mullaghmore
Small, nice seaside resort a few kilometres north of the farm.
At the weekend there is always something going on in Mullaghmore,
bands are playing in the bars and pubs or there are music sessions.
The bars of the Beach Hotel and the Pier Hotel are popular meeting
points.
Mullaghmore beach, just less than three kilometres long, is well
sheltered and entices you to go swimming. In the meantime, it
has been more or less closed for riders. People on the beach are
not too pleased about groups of riders going right through the
middle of their playing children's sandcastles.
From Mullaghmore you can be taken across to the island of Inishmurray
where an early 6th century Christian monastic settlement with
dwellings called beehive cells, can be visited. The crossing takes
more than an hour. The boat should be chartered a few days in
advance.
Muscular soreness
Unpleasant [and completely uncalled for] response of your own
flesh to unfamiliar strain. Mostly it appears in places where
you would hardly expect to have muscles at all. Untrained riders
are afflicted by it after one or two days of longer rides or during
the trails. It is not dramatic but is extremely annoying because
your freedom of movement is restricted. Except for heat [sauna]
and a little massage there is no remedy for this - unless you
prepare yourself at home for these strains beforehand. Gymnastics
and stretching are good exercises. One riding lesson per week
is hardly sufficient for preparation.
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