The Slower Road

Since I posted a video with horses from the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art (one of the places we’ll be visiting on our upcoming CAA trip to Spain), it’s only fair that I post a video of the English Royal Mews … since the CAA will also have a trip to the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.

I admit this first video is slightly misleading, as it features the official (and open-to-the-public) Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace in London and not the private Royal Mews at Windsor Castle. But, still, it will give you a good idea of the “feel of the place” at Windsor … and a glimpse of the royal pomp that is also on display at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

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In this second video, the Crown Equerry describes preparations for the official Opening of Parliament.

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To learn more about joining us for our annual trip to Windsor, click here to download the PDF brochure: http://www.caaonline.com/pdfs/2011%20Windsor%20brochure%20for%20web.pdf

… and then we’re finished with this year’s Windsor trip, I promise! We don’t usually let our trips “linger” quite this long on the blog, but people keep sending great photos, and I can’t resist posting them.

So here are a few from Marie Wood (a friend of Jill’s and mine and the CAA’s), who lives in Windsor and went on the add-on trip to Norfolk to visit John Parker and Susan Townsend.

the coach getting ready to leave Swingletree on its run -- you've already seen a slightly different version of this scene in a photo by Jill; that's her on the right (photo by Marie Wood)

another (full) view of the 11th-century house that served as the change spot for the coaching run (photo by Marie Wood)

the CAA group visited a stunning collection of gypsy wagons; that's the owner of the wagons, Jimmy Lawes, on the left and John Parker on the right (photo by Marie Wood)

... another in the stunning collection of painted wagons (photo by Marie Wood)

and, finally, one of the amazingly fancy wagon interiors (photo by Marie Wood)

Two more images from the marathon phase of the recently completed Royal Windsor Horse Show and (for something a little different) two views of a startlingly beautiful meadow of bluebells in Wiltshire. All four photos were sent to us by the RWHS (and WEG) driving course designer, Richard Nicoll.

the winner of the four-in-hand (horses) class in RWHS's FEI driving event: Boyd Exell (photo by Richard Nicoll)

Tucker Johnson (USA) finished the FEI driving event in second place behind Boyd (photo by Richard Nicoll)

wouldn't you love to walk down this forest path, and be surrounded by wild bluebells? (photo by Richard Nicoll)

today's moment of zen: bluebell close-up (photo by Richard Nicoll)

the change-over stop for the group's coaching run was in front of a house built in 1077 (that is not a misprint!); the owner, John Leader, was delighted with his visitors and invited everyone into the house for a glass of wine (photo by Jill Ryder)

For the title of this post to make sense, I had to lead off with THAT photo (above). Gorgeous, isn’t it?

Jill’s report on the group’s final full day (Tuesday) in Norfolk:

The group enjoyed a hearty breakfast (there seems to be a theme here – good food!) and then departed by our motorcoach for Swingletree. Two members of the group had driving lessons. and then we all watched as the horses were harnessed and put to the coach. Then the task of loading the group began.

Elizabeth Ashbridge enjoyed an early-morning lesson with John Parker (photo by Jill Ryder)

Elizabeth Atkinson of Arizona returning to the stable after her driving lesson with Susan Townsend (photo by Jill Ryder)

 I had an idea that the only fair way to solve the issue of who sits where, was to put numbers on some pieces of paper and throw them in a hat. We quickly divided the group in two (one to drive out and one to return), then asked each person to draw their own number. Then each could select their own seat in order of what number they drew. It seemed to work well and no one seemed too disappointed.

climbing on the coach ... Erik Greisen of Denmark was lucky enough to pick number "1" and he chose the box seat alongside John Parker; seen here at the start of the coaching run on Tuesday morning, the coach is the N205 Royal Mail Coach, whose history can be traced back to 1870, but it is believed to be considerably older; the horses are four Hungarian part-breds, all over 16 hands (photo by Jill Ryder)

The sun was shining and it was a perfect day for a trot down some lovely country roads on our way to the change-over stop: not a pub, as it had been the last time we came, but rather a private home.

the first coaching group, enjoying a trot through the countryside (photo by Jill Ryder)

The owner of this Elizabethian house (in the first photo), built in 1077 (incredible), told us that his mother was from Maryland. When told that most of the group was American, he hung the U.S. flag on the flag pole! He invited us all in his wonderful home and showed us around with great pride. He then offered a glass of wine, before it was time for the second group to get on the coach and enjoy their ride.

the second group, up on the coach, headed away from the change-over stop (photo by Jill Ryder)

It was a perfect day.

Once back at Swingletree, we had a superb coaching lunch prepared by Jenny and Tess. Then several people were showed the harness room while Linda Freeman had a private driving lesson with a four-in-hand.
 
We could hardly take more in and at 5 p.m. returned to our hotel for a short rest before all meeting again at 8 p.m. for dinner, with John and Susan joining us.

Jill is still in England for a few more days, and she sent this report from Monday:

Fourteen of the CAA group joined me on a trip to Norfolk for two days. We all left our hotel around 9:30 a.m. and made the three-hour drive by private motorcoach. The sun was shining and the countrside looked green and very pretty. Once in Norfolk we met a short rain storm and then the balance of the day was just fine.

We arrived at Swingletree in the village of Wingfield around 1 p.m. and enjoyed a wonderful “ploughman’s lunch.” Then John Parker took everyone through the carriage house, explaining each vehicle and describing where he found it and also regaled the group with some fun stories!

Several of the group were signed up for driving lessons, and in order to fit them all in we began the lessons in the afternoon. Two of the group shared a four-in-hand lesson with John and both were able to drive the four (for the first time!) down the local country lanes. Others enjoyed an hour’s lesson with a pair and a single.

Then it was time to check in to our country hotel (formerly a large private house). After time to unpack, many met up in the bar before enjoying a superb dinner.