PONY CLUB MEMBERS TREK TO RAGLAN

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 1362, 19 January 1950, Page 2

PONY CLUB MEMBERS TREK TO RAGLAN

CAVALCADE OF 174 ON 12-DAY TRIP GOOD ORGANISATION Ten Days at Raglan-Jay-Sea Members of the Morsinsville and Matamata Pony Clubs thoro.ughly enjoyed a twelve-day trip to Raglan over the holidays, the expedition being wonderfully well organised by Mr L. P. Swarbrick, of Kiwitahi. No less than 174, of whom 150 were young riders, made the trip, and there was no mishap of any moment throughout the entire journey and stay. The foresight and care with which this big undertaking was organised may be gauged 'from the following pointers. The young riders were fed and refreshed with drinks on the way; five tons of fodder for the ponies in the form of chaff, were shipped from the South Island to Raglan at a cost of £110; a 601 b hogget and 101 b of ham were consumed at one meal; and each day breakfast, morning and afternoon tea, lunch and dinner were provided by a commissariat consisting of about 30 adults, who travelled by motor «ar and three lorries, which carried four marquees, 1 31 tents and other baggage, including cooking gear. The findertaking; was, therefore, no light one, yet there was not the slightest hitch throughout the twelve days the riders were away from home. Young Rider of Seven Years It is interesting to note that the youngest rider to make the trip was Peter Ryan, aged only seven years, grandson of Mr and Mrs Ryan, of Waharoa. Young Peter rode his pony all the way, the longest ride being from Te Rapa to Raglan, a distance of 32 miles, and behaved like a veteran throughout. The cavalcade left Morrinsville on December 27 and rode to Mr Hardwood’s farm at Te Rapa. A stay was made there overnight, and here a party of 20 from Te Kauwhata joined up. Next morning a start was made at 8.30 a.m. for the long ride of 32 miles over some mountainous country to Raglan, most of the lorries and cars proceeding ahead in order to provide a hot meal on arrival for the young riders.

Bn route about a dozen further riders from Fukemiro joined the party, and the cavalcade journeyed over the mountain range by the old deviation. This road was very rough and stony and three of the ponies suffered stone bruises and required attention, two having to be sent back by lorry. However, spare ponies were available and to obviate any such further trouble the return journey was made later by the main bituminised road. Ponies First

It is important and interesting to note that during the entire stay one of the precepts of pony clubs was faithfully carried out—ponies first. Each day the ponies were groomed and fed by their young riders, and rested when necessary. The grazing provided for the horses during the stay was given free by Mrs Pegler, of Raglan, to whom the organisers owe a deep debt of gratitude, as they do to Mr Gee, chairman of the Raglan carnival committee, and his executive, and many residents of Raglan for numerous kindnesses.

A full programme of sight-seeing, picnics and swimming was arranged for the young, members of the various clubs, and these were all thoroughly enjoyed in perfect weather. On the first day after arrival in Raglan the ponies were rested and the young folk were allowed to roam at will around the environs of the town without restriction, the only rule was that if any went bathing they had to be accompanied by adults. Trip to Whale Bay On the second day the ponies were saddled up and a twelve mile ride was enjoyed to Whale Bay. Here, on a wide stretch of ocean beach, . there was a sheltered spot for the ponies, while the riders enjoyed swimming, and a day’s picnic on the beach. The_ following day there was no long ride, but the ponies were ridden on the beaches near the camp. On the fourth day a sports meeting was held and practically every member participated. Bending and flag races were interspersed with tilting the ring, dual jumping, wrestling on horseback and other events. One event that caused much amusement was that of riders carrying a plate of five oranges while they rode their ponies around the course over four jumps. The wholehearted manner in which the youngriders participated in all of the

events struck the adults as being (outstanding. Small prizes were given to the i winners. The fifth day was taken up with a launch excursion up the long Raglan harbour, where a picnic was held on a suitable beach near a Maori monument. On all of these trips there was no hitch in the work of the commissariat, and voracious young appetites were always satisfied to repletion. Another almost free day for the ponies followed, further rides around the neighbouring beaches being all that the ponies were called upon. to do. / 1 Beautiful Bridal Falls On the seventh day one of the most enjoyable treks of the stay was organised. • The party rode about 12 miles to the Bridal Falls for a day’s picnic. All of the party on arriving at the bush walked through to the base of the falls, which are stated by local residents to be the highest straight unimpeded drop in the Dominion. The height is approximately 180 feet, and at the base in a basin which ends a ravine there is a perpetual rainbow in a spray just above the pool into which the water of the fails drop. This trip was so fascinating that a late dinner was eaten that night. The eighth was a further free day, but for rides on nearby beaches and the swimming of ponies. Seasick on Horseback! An amusing incident was noticed one day when an adult from an inland town was with the children who swam their horses. There was quite a fair swell on the sea, and although this adult’s mount was not actually swimming, the heavy swell around caused the rider to be seasick. The last day in camp was also a free day, a fair portion of which was takfen up with preparing ponies, baggage and other gear for an early start on the ride home the following day. The party again broke the journey at Te Rapa' and the major portion continued on to Morrinsville and- Matamata the day following. The excursion was a remarkable success in every way and all who undertook it were loud in their praise of the organising genius of Mr and Mrs Swarbrick, and the manner in which they supervised every arrangement throughout the 12 days.