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Dunnet
Head Outdoor Activities, Walking, Fishing, Wildlife & Bird Watching at the most northerly point of the UK mainland! |
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Dunnet
Head Outdoor Activities, Walking, Fishing, Wildlife & Bird Watching at the most northerly point of the UK mainland! |
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Richard is Tina's retired hunter. He is a 16h chestnut gelding with a white face, 4 white socks and a very mischievous sense of humour. He is still ridden regularly, though not to hounds, and enjoys a good gallop on Dunnet Head. He is an Irish Draught cross Thoroughbred (3/4 ID, 1/4 TB), and, at 25 years of age, is only just starting to slow down, although still gets excited if he thinks he's going for a gallop!
Richard was ridden to hounds until 1998 when he fell in a ditch. His then owner broke her arm and he was retired, he was then 19 years old. Tina adopted him in September 1998 and kept him in Cheshire, where she was working at the time. In March the following year she took him to Kent and rode him on charity rides, some of them very exciting as Richard often thought he was going hunting! She had to strap herself on board on several occasions, and apologise to walkers pushed off paths into stinging nettles, and sincere apologies to Brian and Jonathan for nearly killing them and squashing their bikes.
Richard travelled to Caithness in air conditioned luxury, a three day trip which he took in his stride, although he was (and still is) uncertain of the sea.
Tina with Richard in winter 1998 - a hairy chap! |
 Summer 2000 still handsome at 21 years of age! |
Callum Bain on Mouse, one of Richard's many girlfriends. She belongs to Callum and Marion Bain of Achalone Activities, Halkirk. Taken @ 1996. |
Off for a ride - Summer 2000 |
 Some of our guests in 2000, who enjoyed their spontaneous visit to our B&B so much that they came back in 2001. Welcome to Justine Brown (centre) and her brother, Adrian, the tall guy at the back, and Scamp the dog. Jill, Adrian's wife, took the photo! Also starring are Richard the horse, in typical "tongue out" mode and Tina and Brian (far right). We look forward to welcoming the Browns (and their dogs) to Dunnet Head again in the future. |
 Richard in the evening, compliments of Janet and John Datchens. What a handsome chap! |
Tina acquired another horse in 2002, who goes by the name of Wes. He is a 9 year old chestnut gelding (Tina really likes her big chestnut geldings!), 16.2 hands, a registered part bred Welsh Cob x Thoroughbred - registered name "Trade Secret". Wes's claim to fame is that his sire is Royal Match, a good quality racehorse who has won at Doncaster, Ascot and Sandown Park racecourses.
Sue on Richard and Tina on Wes just back from a ride - what a handsome pair (the horses - that is!) 2002 |
Nice to see the old boy and the young one are good friends! 2002 |
Betty Heath and Richard - Canisbay Show 2003 The old boy still trots out well at 25 years of age! |
"Let me tell you a story" says Richard. "I'm all ears" says Wes (aka Trade Secret) - Canisbay Show 2003 |
"Trade Secret" at his first working hunter at Faraway, Aberdeenshire, June 2005 with Caroline Paton on board. |
"Trade Secret" at his first working hunter at Faraway, Aberdeenshire, June 2005 with Caroline Paton on board. |
Tina is involved with a local group helping to improve access for horse rider. You can see details of existing routes and information at http://www.caithness.org.
Halkirk - Mrs. M. Bain, Achalone Activities - Tel: 01847 831326 BHS, liveries, riding lessons, trekking. http://www.scotland-index.co.uk/caithness/in_halkirk.htm
Directory of UK riding centres: http://www.horseweb.co.uk/stables
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