An evening with Ben Hobday and Mulrys Error at Craven Country Ride

IT MAY have been a tad chilly, but there was nothing frosty about an evening with international event rider Ben Hobday and 'super cob' Mulrys Error at Craven Country Ride, Coniston Cold.

Ride owner, farmer David Coates, pulled out all the stops to make it an unforgettable event, with Ben putting on a master-class that was fun, very entertaining and extremely inspiring - everyone will have gone home having learnt something

More than 200 people went along to Pot Haw Farm to the event, which started off with drinks in the barn. Nicely warmed up, we were all then shown over to a specially laid out dressage arena, surrounded by sparkling tractors and trailers, with seating, including a VIP one with roof, all of which doubled up as stands and transport later on - but more of that later.

Ben, with microphone, introduced us to Mulry, whose proud owner, Sallie Ryle, was also there, and explained how four star horses came in all shapes and sizes, and could even include cobs.

A Clydesdale cross Thoroughbred, Mulry has been described by television's Clare Balding as having 'the biggest feet in eventing'. But big feet aside, together, Ben and Mulry went double clear at Burghley in 2014, and double clear again at this year's Badminton. They both have a huge following on social media, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, with Ben clocking up more than 13,000 followers on Twitter, and Mulry as @Mr Mulry, his own more than 3,300.

In front of the very appreciative crowd, Ben explained that Mulry had cost just £1,200 and although a talented jumper, who would jump anything he was put at, was not the fastest or necessarily what judges looked for in the dressage arena. Ben explained he had been on two weeks holiday after Badminton and was now hacking gently, on the road back to fitness, although he still had his 'beer gut' and was indeed a 'bit of a fat lad'.

And it wasn't just Mulry who was not the most obvious of event competitors. Ben said he had not grown up around money, and made us all laugh when he said riding cross country was not all 'tally-ho' like it was in the old days. He actually began riding at four years old, but it was his partnership with a dun pony called Rabbit, which brought him his first taste of success, winning at most of the local shows where he lived in Rossendale at the first ridden championships at Ponies UK. With the Lancashire Holcombe Hunt Pony Club, he qualified for the Pony Club championship in all three phases and became the first in his club to do so for 25 years.

Warming up the cob, who really didn't look that unfit at all, he demonstrated the importance of 'trying out all the gears' and making sure both acceleration and braking was in fully working order. At one point, he had everyone shout and clap their hands to show how Mulry could come alive and take off at a spirited gallop. Then it was off across the fields in the trailers to the schooling area, next to David's water obstacle - which anyone who has ridden at the country ride will be all too familiar with, including members of the King's Troop.

On such a sunny evening, the back of a trailer was a wonderful way to see the lovely rolling drumlin hills. After ten minutes or so, in which Ben and Mulry galloped past the three trailers, we arrived at the schooling area, and the second part of Ben's talk. Now, he explained to us how to go at a jump successfully - always as if you meant it and with confidence - and how important it was to enjoy yourself, and your horse.

Don't be frightened of saying a horse was not for you, he pointed out. "A good horse costs the same as a bad horse to keep, don't be frightened to say a horse is not for you, a superstar horse like Mulry might just be around the corner." Horses did not want to fall, he pointed out, you've just got to listen to them. "I'm not superman, I just listen to the horse," he said.

To prove his point, he then set off on a course, including the water obstacles, and as he was talking all the time, linked up to a sound system, we all heard as he very nearly came a cropper, before doing it again, and this time, perfectly. "Mulry has learnt something today, and so have I," he told us, before going on to say if anyone said they were not scared before tackling a difficult course, not to believe them.

Back at the barn, for fish and chips, from a mobile catering van, there was more time to chat and ask questions and a prize draw. Ben, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, had treatment, and was quickly back in the saddle. He is now patron to the Hannah Francis Willberry Wonder Pony charity #kickingcancersbutt. The prize draw, with the winning ticket a golden pass to visit Craven Country Ride at any time was won by Sarah Hargreaves from Clitheroe, who gave it back to be auctioned towards Ben's charity. Following some lively bidding, it was sold for £300. Together with signed photographs, the eventual sum raised for the charity was more than £900.