BARNABY

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted a horse, especially when we came to live on Coll and we discovered all those wonderful beaches.

I saw Barnaby, a Welsh Cob Cross, for sale in the Scottish Farmer. He sounded perfect but I knew it was pointless getting my hopes up. However Mum and Ron did discuss the possibility and rang up to find out more. He was sold! Imagine my misery!

What I didn't know was that he had been sold to us! He was to be my surprise Christmas present.

Barnaby's previous home had been at a riding school near Loch Lomond. When he secretly arrived on Coll there were surprises in store for both him and I.

First of all he had to endure travelling to Coll. The Christmas Livestock Sales had been on in Oban so there was a boat coming over on the Saturday night. Mum and Ron smuggled him off with the help of Tommy McKechnie and a trailer to Broadhills and hid him in Tigh-na-Creig over night.

Next morning, Barnaby was mine! "Surprise" was an understatement!

To begin with he always hung about Broadhills feeling sorry for himself. He obviously missed all the other horses at the riding school. That soon changed when the Lonban horses came to Coll. Barnaby was no longer dependent on me and turned out to have a mind of his own!

When I first took him out of his field I soon learnt that he had never been on a beach before. After a lot of coaxing and encouragement I finally got him onto the sand and into the sea at Breachacha Bay.

Barnaby is a very well tempered horse. He is patient and kind and always a popular sight at the Coll Show. He is really good with children. He has never kicked or bitten anyone.

In the summer I go off with Barnaby as much as possible. I go to my favourite beaches - Crossapol, Feall, Ballyhaugh, Cliad and Breachacha. On really hot days, Barnaby loves to swim in the sea and so do I - on the back of my sea-horse!

Barnaby and I love to gallop bareback and one of our favourite places is Crossapol beach. We can gallop non-stop all the way to the end!
Sometimes I regret the lack of company. The other horses on the island are not ridden regularly. How I would love to share this wonderful island with horse- riding friends...

But I so appreciate how lucky I am even although I am on my own. Many riders on the mainland do not have the freedom that I have to ride virtually anywhere on the island. I thank all the landowners who let us go over their land and especially the Taylor family at Lonban who allow Barnaby to have his 'home' on their land.

I do not shoe Barnaby as we are seldom on the road, but inevitably, we have to go by road to get to the beaches. Most locals and visitors know the Highway Code and are extremely careful and slow down as they pass or overtake. You do get the odd one who doesn't appreciate the fact that driving fast past a horse and rider could result in an accident. Horses, after all, were here long before cars. Thank you, careful drivers!

I am writing this in the Hostel where everything is very much a routine, especially at exam time. I miss not being at home when the weather is nice. I long for my next holiday when I can just catch Barnaby and gallop off leaving all my worries behind.

Jessica Bell.