Apr12_DAYBORO TRAILRIDERS
The club’s last ride, despite very wet weather, attracted 19 riders. We left the showgrounds via Tullamore park, and onto Mt Mee Road, Williams Street, Hay Road, Dayboro Road, Rush Creek, Bradley’s, Dayboro Road, Fingerboard Road, Mt Mee Road and back to the showgrounds. Our ride was shorter so we returned in time for the advertised club sign-on and sausage sizzle. (The advert for this event featured our club’s Person of the Year, Mike Barclay.)
All enjoyed the lunch, as always, and we were pleased to welcome 2 new members with 5 more taking membership forms away. We are looking forward to seeing them all on the next ride.
Yarraman
Dayboro Trail Riders represented the Yarraman ride proudly with our 22 riders making up one third of the numbers. There were 2 rides: a long ride and a (slightly!) shorter ride. After arriving at different times during the Friday, we went for a short ride late in the day and then gathered at Peter Rudd’s camp for a very sociable Happy ‘Hour’, which set the mood for the weekend.
Long Ride report by Bob Ebert
The long ride left at 7:30am with 18 riders. Every time we ride here we seem to follow a different trail; parts of State Forest with deer tracks everywhere; some road work; private properties with amazing scenery. The view from the highest point looks ‘down’ on the top of the Toowoomba Range, which can just be seen. After lunch, we followed the power lines until we were about 2 kilometres from the showgrounds.
Short Ride Report by Graham Bailey
The short ride left just after the long ride with 56 riders and some very excited horses. Unfortunately, it began with a little too much excitement, as I will explain. After riding along the road for a short time, we ventured into paddocks of long grass, then through two gates. Denise was having trouble with her Arab grey mare and decided to turn back when, from nowhere, a chestnut horse came cantering through the horses way out of control. It humped and bucked and swung around into Ken’s horse, Lacei. Thank goodness for Ken’s good seat and a well behaved horse. It managed to spook 2 more horses with their riders falling. The horse then reared up to its full extent, the lady rider pulled on the reins and the horse fell backwards. The lady hit a large grey gum, which caused two broken bones in her leg. She was wearing a helmet and had no head injuries. There were 3 riderless horses tearing around and upsetting the other horses. An ambulance was called, the horses caught, and soon we were on our way.
We rode on the new Rail Trail towards Blackbutt and then turned right, under a bridge, through a gate and onto a trail that took us though a pine forest. The weather was beginning to heat up and the sky was very blue with wispy clouds being whipped about by a wind. The riders were now strung out over a kilometer, everyone was settled and having a ball. Some old stockyards appeared followed by a truck with a billy boiling with hot tea, coffee and biscuits for morning tea, a very welcome sight. A girl squealed, a rabbit ran around the fence line and under some horse’s legs. They didn’t even notice, just pricked their ears. On we rode over some magnificent hills, water crossings and along creek beds, then some bush bashing.
Lunch was at the Fishing Club on the banks of the river. The back up crew were in full swing with a BBQ of steaks and onions cooking, billy tea and a cold beer waiting for us. It is one of the best lunch stops I have ever seen. They used a long line to tie the horses to, which was a bit of a learning curve for the city folk. A few horses startled and caused the horses to try to scatter; it was amusing to watch 40 odd horses all trying to break free. After lunch, we rode along the river’s edge for about 2 kms. This was a new trail with breathtaking views. We headed back towards Yarraman up a big hill, (some thought it was huge but not us Dayboro riders!). We arrived back in camp about 5 minutes before the long ride.
Many great stories of the day were shared between rides, then it was time for a shower and over to dinner; fish ‘n’ chips, a few drinks and good entertainment. Ken won the trophy, a clock with a horse on it, for the oldest rider. A great time was had by all.
All enjoyed the lunch, as always, and we were pleased to welcome 2 new members with 5 more taking membership forms away. We are looking forward to seeing them all on the next ride.
Yarraman
Dayboro Trail Riders represented the Yarraman ride proudly with our 22 riders making up one third of the numbers. There were 2 rides: a long ride and a (slightly!) shorter ride. After arriving at different times during the Friday, we went for a short ride late in the day and then gathered at Peter Rudd’s camp for a very sociable Happy ‘Hour’, which set the mood for the weekend.
Long Ride report by Bob Ebert
The long ride left at 7:30am with 18 riders. Every time we ride here we seem to follow a different trail; parts of State Forest with deer tracks everywhere; some road work; private properties with amazing scenery. The view from the highest point looks ‘down’ on the top of the Toowoomba Range, which can just be seen. After lunch, we followed the power lines until we were about 2 kilometres from the showgrounds.
Short Ride Report by Graham Bailey
The short ride left just after the long ride with 56 riders and some very excited horses. Unfortunately, it began with a little too much excitement, as I will explain. After riding along the road for a short time, we ventured into paddocks of long grass, then through two gates. Denise was having trouble with her Arab grey mare and decided to turn back when, from nowhere, a chestnut horse came cantering through the horses way out of control. It humped and bucked and swung around into Ken’s horse, Lacei. Thank goodness for Ken’s good seat and a well behaved horse. It managed to spook 2 more horses with their riders falling. The horse then reared up to its full extent, the lady rider pulled on the reins and the horse fell backwards. The lady hit a large grey gum, which caused two broken bones in her leg. She was wearing a helmet and had no head injuries. There were 3 riderless horses tearing around and upsetting the other horses. An ambulance was called, the horses caught, and soon we were on our way.
We rode on the new Rail Trail towards Blackbutt and then turned right, under a bridge, through a gate and onto a trail that took us though a pine forest. The weather was beginning to heat up and the sky was very blue with wispy clouds being whipped about by a wind. The riders were now strung out over a kilometer, everyone was settled and having a ball. Some old stockyards appeared followed by a truck with a billy boiling with hot tea, coffee and biscuits for morning tea, a very welcome sight. A girl squealed, a rabbit ran around the fence line and under some horse’s legs. They didn’t even notice, just pricked their ears. On we rode over some magnificent hills, water crossings and along creek beds, then some bush bashing.
Lunch was at the Fishing Club on the banks of the river. The back up crew were in full swing with a BBQ of steaks and onions cooking, billy tea and a cold beer waiting for us. It is one of the best lunch stops I have ever seen. They used a long line to tie the horses to, which was a bit of a learning curve for the city folk. A few horses startled and caused the horses to try to scatter; it was amusing to watch 40 odd horses all trying to break free. After lunch, we rode along the river’s edge for about 2 kms. This was a new trail with breathtaking views. We headed back towards Yarraman up a big hill, (some thought it was huge but not us Dayboro riders!). We arrived back in camp about 5 minutes before the long ride.
Many great stories of the day were shared between rides, then it was time for a shower and over to dinner; fish ‘n’ chips, a few drinks and good entertainment. Ken won the trophy, a clock with a horse on it, for the oldest rider. A great time was had by all.
