Welcome to Our Blog – Meet Holly, Our Gentle Matriarch
I'm delighted to welcome you to this new little corner of our website, where I'll be sharing stories from life behind the scenes at Carrbridge Carriage Driving.
Whether you're interested in carriage driving, curious about the horses who make our experiences possible, or simply love hearing stories about life with horses, I hope you'll enjoy following along.
We'll be sharing a little of what goes on behind the scenes, introducing you to our wonderful horses, talking about their care and welfare, and giving you an insight into the people, places and personalities that make Carrbridge Carriage Driving what it is.
And what better way to begin than by introducing you to a very special lady?
Meet Holly – Our Gentle Matriarch
At 26 years young and standing at 14.3hh, Holly is a beautiful Pinto Cob mare and, without doubt, one of the most special members of our little team.
Holly has been part of my life since she was born on the yard where I used to work in Lanarksire, and our relationship goes far beyond that of horse and owner. She's been a constant companion, a trusted partner and a wonderful ambassador for carriage driving.
Over the years, Holly has enjoyed quite an interesting career. She has helped teach many people how to ride, been a steady trail-riding lead horse and gained her Bronze Thistle in endurnace riding. One of her particularly memorable roles has been transporting brides on their special day, taking them on their journey in true style.
She's travelled across Scotland, been part of some very special occasions and helped create memories that will last a lifetime.
These days, Holly enjoys a rather more relaxed pace of life. At 26, she's earned the right to take things a little easier, and although she's semi-retired from regular driving work, she's still very much part of what we do here.
One of the things Holly continues to enjoy is demonstrating the art of harnessing. She's a wonderful example of the patience, training and trust involved in preparing a horse for carriage driving, and she helps visitors appreciate just how much goes into getting everything ready before a carriage ever moves.
More Than Just a Working Horse
For me, horses have never simply been a means of providing an experience for our visitors. They're individuals, each with their own personality, needs and quirks, and their welfare always comes first.
Holly has given me so much over the years, and it's important to me that her later years are comfortable, happy and filled with the things she enjoys.
She has certainly earned her place as the matriarch of our little team, and I suspect she knows it!
What's Next?
Over the coming weeks, I'll be introducing you to the other horses who help make Carrbridge Carriage Driving special, sharing more of their stories and giving you a glimpse into everyday life here in the Highlands.
There will be stories from the carriage, behind-the-scenes snippets, insights into horse care and welfare, and hopefully plenty of lovely moments along the way.
Thank you for stopping by and being part of our journey.
And if you ever visit us at Carrbridge Carriage Driving, you may just get the chance to meet Holly herself.
Until next time,
Gillian
Carrbridge Carriage Driving
Sharing the pleasure of carriage driving in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
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