The year we rode 170 miles on horseback
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325798)
Rockingham, Australia
December 1, 2017 3:03am CST
I have been going through some old photos and came across this one which I thought you might enjoy. When I was 22 my cousin and I rode our ponies from Albany on the south coast of Western Australia to our home town of Narrogin, a distance of 170 miles.
Walkathons were just becoming popular but this was a ride-a-thon. I had a group of 17 children who wanted to learn to play brass instruments with a view to joining the brass band. The band didn’t have enough instruments for them all so I came up with the idea of doing the ride. Townsfolk sponsored us for so much a mile. We were able to buy three new instruments with the money raised.
Although it was the middle of summer we rode in the early morning and we really enjoyed most of it. We only did 20 miles a days so it wasn’t like it was a huge endurance test. For all that, we look a bit tired and sunburnt, don’t you think? From left to right is Black Magic, me, Vivienne and Feriel.
37 people like this
37 responses
@averygirl72 (37726)
• Philippines
1 Dec 17
The photo is old what year is that? Your good in horseback riding
6 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
1 Dec 17
@JudyEv at what age did you learn to ride?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325798)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 17
@hereandthere I was probably about five or six. Here is the first horse that I was able to ride by myself. Her name was Trixie.
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
1 Dec 17
That was an awesome feat, you really looked sunburnt, did you camp out at nights?
5 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
1 Dec 17
That is so cool that you took such a long trip on horseback and raised money for your town. You look a little tired but happy.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325798)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 17
@misunderstood_zombie There must have been a reason though because our parents would have had a say in when we went.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
2 Dec 17
@JudyEv When we're young we don't make the greatest decisions.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169966)
• United States
1 Dec 17
Wow...you must have been very saddle sore. I went on an hour long ride one time..and discovered muscles I didn't know I had!
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
1 Dec 17
@JudyEv why did you choose black magic as his name?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325798)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 17
@hereandthere I'm not sure really except that he was black.
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11038)
• Hyderabad, India
1 Dec 17
The picture is very nice. I liked Feriel. This is good. You are quite cute there in the picture.
2 people like this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
1 Dec 17
Surely that was a great adventure in your life.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325798)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Dec 17
@ilocosboy That would have been good wouldn't it? I only have a couple of photos from that ride.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
2 Dec 17
if only digital photography is available at that time.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
1 Dec 17
how did you eat? are those softdrinks (soda/pop) still available today? did you use sunscreen back then?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
2 Dec 17
@JudyEv it was a very different time, wasn't it?
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@JudyEv (325798)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Dec 17
The drinks would have Fanta/Coke/Lemonade - something like that. We didn't use sunscreen but we had hats. You can see mine is pretty raggedy. It had had its own adventures as my Mum took it on a bus trip to the north of Western Australia before it came on the ride with me. The people we stayed with fed us at night and I can't remember what we did for lunch. I know once or twice we were in a small town and we bought something. Maybe our hosts cut a lunch for us to take.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
2 Dec 17
Great pic! Horse riding is just a dream for me. I have a memory of riding a pony when I was a young child. My mom took me someplace where they gave pony rides. It's a nice memory. But I've never bee brave enough to get on a horse if you must know the truth. I love them. They are magnificent creatures. But since I don't know how to ride one, I'd probably break my neck. I'll have fun watching others horseback riding. 
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
2 Dec 17
@JudyEv - You just inspired yet another childhood memory. Ever see the movie "National Velvet" starring Elizabeth Taylor (when she was a young girl)? That movie could make anybody fall in with horses.
Directed by Clarence Brown. With Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, Donald Crisp, Anne Revere. A jaded former jockey helps a young girl prepare a wild but gifted horse for England's Grand National Sweepstakes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325798)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Dec 17
@cmoneyspinner As a matter-of-fact, I watched the film not so long ago. It is a classic, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246838)
• United States
2 Dec 17
@JudyEv Well, at 22 you are a big girl, but that's so nice how you would have respected your parents. In high school, I wanted a job as a go go dancer in a cage, white boots and all. My father put his foot down and I obeyed. lol I don't think that would have looked too good on my teaching applications. 
1 person likes this
