I had a yard just outside Richmond Park in London a very large park, no flowerbeds or bandstands, just lots of ancient trees, Red and Fallow Deer and a riding track that runs right around the park. It must cover at least a four to five miles. The Royal Park regulations state that all horses must be saddled and bridled and riders may not exceed a “ hand canter”. Much of this ride is a poached, boggy, mess, but on one side of the park, the terrain changes and there is a long hill that remains dry 24/7. Not surprisingly, this is a favourite place for a good gallop. Unfortunately the parks police are aware of this and occasionally have men stationed behind their favourite bushes with a speed gun, who will clock anyone going faster than a gentle canter. My liveries, and many other riders would immediately spot the park plods, and in mid gallop, drop a rain and do their best impression of a poor helpless rider being bolted with. It worked so well that that stretch of became known all around the park as “Bolting Hill”! I actually spoke with one of the Parks Police about the whole Bolting Hill phenomenon. He gave me a very old fashioned look, and suggested that perhaps there might be something in that area that spooked the horses😉
