The horses wear the same harness as in ploughing; including a bridle, collar, traces and whippletree. Surprisingly, Monty and Drummer are not blinkered; “I think it depends on the horse, but mine are much calmer being able to see all around especially with the clickerty click and whirring noises of the frequently passing bicycle wheels”, explains Stephen. “Our horses also wear ‘bobbins’ which are wooden beads that are painted the same colour as our boat on their traces. These are unique to boat horses and stop the traces from rubbing by rolling up and down with the movement of the horse.”
The rope that attaches the horse to the barge would have originally been made of cotton that would easily sink if you were met with another horse barge coming the other way. “The idea was that one horse would slow down making the rope slack, sinking the rope along the canal bed whilst the other horse stepped over it without stopping”, explains Stephen. “This allowed the boat that had the right of way to be pulled over the sunken rope.”
Tunnels also had their own set of obstacles to overcome. Unlike bridges, where the horses would carry on regardless, tunnels were a whole other ball game to navigate. If too low for the horses, the crew (normally consisting of two men) would lie on their backs, on a plank, in the middle of the boat and move the boat along using just their legs against the walls. “This was known as ‘legging’ and could be extremely dangerous”, says Stephen. “If you fell in there was oſten nowhere else for you to go but under, and that was almost
certainly a death sentence as the barges at the time would be carrying 70 plus tonnes of goods!”
Experiencing the Kennet and Avon canal by horse boat, can only be described as something special. The landscape of rolling hills combined with its unique quirkiness and regular Kingfisher sightings, makes it the perfect place to escape from the stresses of everyday life. “There is something beautiful about being in an unmotorised boat where the only noise to be heard is those of the horses feet hitting the tow path ahead”, says Stephen. “You are instantly transported back in time but of course, you have the added bonus of having a licensed bar and cafe on board as well as toilets!”
Like many businesses at the moment, the Kennet Horse Boat Company has not been immune to the effects of Covid-19, where Charlotte and Stephen have been leſt with little option but not to operate this season. “Our customers have been loyal and a majority have carried bookings over to next year and some are supporting us by booking for next season via our website regardless”, says a grateful Stephen. “It has been tough, but at the end of the day the horses are our life blood and we need to keep our customers and staff safe. I have always taken great pride in being able to make a living by keeping part of our heritage alive but we will just keep on smiling and get through this together, whilst looking forward to being back on the canal with Monty and Drummer next season.”
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September/October 2019, ISSUE: 01 The Vintage Scene The Vintage Scene FREE on line & in print
Festival of Country Life Raskelf Ploughing Up Hill & Down Dale
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Bloxham Steam Rally Middle Barton Ploughing Paul Newton
‘VINTAGE TRACTORS, MAC INERY & SO MUCH MORE!’ ORS, MACH
Tony Parks - Ploughing with cobs Gordon Cleall Remembered Legacy Vehicles
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