On the Road - Pictures

This section contains photographs of Jennifer and Peggy taken at various stages along the route.

Epping Forest

These were taken before the journey proper, and give a brief glimpse into the months of training preceding the ride.

The first picture; showing both horse and rider in hard training.

Not all the training was so gruelling.

An unscheduled detour - through potentially rider-removing trees.

Back on the straight and narrow.

Peggy learning to canter. She got there eventually.

No-one could accuse the duo of being camera-shy. Threatening to ride the cameraman down, however...

A number of long-distance athletes talk about "the wall". Most of them don't try to eat it when bored.

The First Day.

Taken at a hideously early hour of the morning, these photographs show the start of the real journey - both horse and rider totally unaware of what awaits them on the road.

One horse, totally unaware that this is anything other than a normal day. Observe the straw.

Still unaware, although somewhat subdued. Might be something to do with the suspicious extra weight.

Any horse with sense should still be asleep at this hour.

Riding solo means travelling light. That's all of Jenny's kit, attached to a brand new top-of-the-range Australian saddle.

A road's-eye view of the duo. The lower lip is not some strange genetic quirk - it's the sign of a relaxed and mellow Peggy.

One driver concentrates on the road. The other driver concentrates on the nice green grass.

Like owner, like horse. In this case, both of them have learnt to display an entirely justified distrust of the cameraman. The flaps in front of the leg are called poleys, and are the distinguishing mark of an Australian saddle.

A lot of the route will involve road work, since the countryside has changed a lot in 304 years. Thankfully, Peggy is unfazed by lorries (though scared of pigs).

Probably the closest thing to a genuine 17th-century road surface; it only lacks the massive carting ruts.

Both of them getting into the routine. Only 1500 more miles to go.

On reaching the furthest point of her normal daily ride, Peggy started pulling the "...but shouldn't we be going home now?" face. Keen observers will also notice the bitless bridle.