On 30th October and 1st November 2009 demonstrations of horseboating took place on the Cromford Canal in Derbyshire. Shire horse William pulled the boat Duchess along a mile of canal between Cromford Wharf and Leawood Pumping Station.

See Gallery section for more photographs.

Iona on the River Wey

The horsedrawn passenger boat business with narrowboat Iona might be desribed as 40 years old this year, as it started out in 1969 at Norbury on the Shropshire Union Canal. A second boat came into use, and was given the same name of Iona as the first boat. The business was then sold with horse and boat and, without missing a season, set up at Godalming on the River Wey, where it still operates.

This season boathorses Rosie age 24, Ben age 16, and Denzell age 8 have shared the workload of carrying the many passengers enjoying a 2 hour trip on the River Wey.

Horse drawn boats were a part of the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival, on the Forth and Clyde Canal on Sunday August 30th, 2009.

The Clydesdale horse Ben had attended a horseboating training day with his owner George Robertson held on June 17th in preparation for the festival. The training day involved 3 HBS members Sue Day (HBS chairperson), Tim Lucey (HBS Scottish rep) and Richard Davies (festival co-ordinator). On this occasion the local motorboat Janet Telford was pulled by Ben, using a bridle at the bow to help the crew control the steering of the boat in the absence of a large rudder. It rained constantly!

At the Kirkintilloch Festival, Ben pulled three different boats, one at a time, each with the mast lowered. These were White Wing, the 1919 vintage fishing boat, Wee Spark, a one-third scale Clyde Puffer and a steel yacht based on the design of a Dutch inshore fishing boat - complete with lee-board. Again the bridle system was in use to help steerage. Ththe fishing craft would have been horsedrawn when on the canal in the past. A crowd of interested onlookers can be seen watching from the bridge. The sun shone down (well, at least the rain stayed off until mid-afternoon)!

Tim Lucey, HBS's Scottish representative, went along to keep an eye on things!

See Gallery section for more photographs.

Maria was horseboated along the Rochdale and Ashton Canals on her return journey, after taking part in the Rochdale Canal Festival.

See Gallery section for more photographs.

Maria travelled along the whole length of the Rochdale Canal, including the "Rochdale Nine" down to Castlefield, On Sunday 9th August she returned via the "Rochdale Nine" and the Ashton Canal to her base at Guide Bridge.

BBC North West Tonight filmed the arrival of Bilbo and Maria through the final lock of the Rochdale Canal outside Dukes 92 pub. They then filmed an interview with Sue Day and returned in the evening to broadcast the weather forecast from Maria. All this was shown that evening, Friday 7th August.

Maria was moored in Castlefield Basin alongside the only grass area for Bilbo. This small grass haven has only survived due to the Castlefield Residents putting up opposition to planned development on it. Power to the People! Save our Boathorse Grass! Castlefield was the first urban heritage park set up in the UK.

Saturday was spent talking to passers-by and visitors, and the Museum of Science and Industry, (in Castlefield) sent people across to Maria as an extension to their Transport Festival.

Sue Day on board Maria at Castlefield. Photo: Elizabeth Hogg

See Gallery section for more photographs.

Sunday was the long haul home. Up the Rochdale Nine. Up the Ashton 18. How quick and simple the Ashton seemed after 184 broad lock passages on the Rochdale! But the Rochdale is magnificent as it strides from Manchester city across the Pennines into Yorkshire market towns.

A short video taken by Lucy Rogers of The Waterways Trust, showing Maria being horseboated on the "Rochdale Nine", can be seen by clicking the arrow below (or following this link).

A selection of photos of the highlights of the Rochdale Canal Festival can be viewed here.

If you have taken any photographs of Maria's return trip from Sowerby Bridge or of her jourey on the Rochdale Nine, please contact us!

Bilbo and Maria left Manchester city centre from Dale Street, climbing the Rochdale 18 to Failsworth. Many lamp-posts and railings hindered use of a towing line but the crew cheerfully met the challenge of city horseboating.

Maria, Bilbo and the team successfully reached Sowerby Bridge on schedule on 16th July, still as part of the Rochdale Canal Festival.

The return horsedrawn journey along the Rochdale and Ashton canals starts on Monday 27th July. Crew members are needed. Details of dates are now on the Events page.

Two barrels of beer were loaded onto Maria from a horse-drawn brewer's dray, to be transported down the locks.

The 2009 rally had a record turnout of 84 historic narrowboats. It was the first time that a horsedrawn narrowboat had attended the Rally which is established as the premier event for a historic boat gathering.

Elland was horsedrawn by Bilbo from Stoke Bruerne, where she and Bilbo had attended the Gala Weekend of the Canal Museum.

On the Saturday of the Braunston Rally, the HBS crew legged Elland through Braunston Tunnel while Bilbo was taken over the tunnel-top. Legging time, just under one hour for two pairs of leggers. Elland was then horseboated down the Braunston locks as a demo and photo opportunity, and this was much appreciated by the many observers with eyes, cameras, and video cameras.

Over the weekend, harnessing demos were held at the BW Stop House garden with Bilbo and Toy Bonny.

Bonny the Boathorse gave birth to her second foal on Friday, June 5th at about 10.00 am. The foal is a full brother to last year's foal Mayfair Lady. Name undecided so far. Bonny and foal are doing well despite the foal only having 6 hours dry weather before experiencing 36 hours of unseasonal cold and wet weather.

The Horseboating Society had a good presence at Crick Boat Show. Two boats were horseboated to the show and there were WoW activities with Toy Bonny and live boathorse harnessing demos with Bilbo Baggins.

A video taken at Watford Locks for the Rugby Advertiser can be seen on this page, featuring an interview with Sue and some shots of Elland being horseboated.

A video slideshow of images from Crick Boat Show can be seen on this page, including Toy Bonny, Bilbo Baggins and Sue.

An interview with Sue was broadcast on BBC Radio Leicester. It can be heard by following the link on this page.

BW's Chris Stanley wrote:

I wanted to thank you for all your help and support in achieving some fantastic media coverage for the Show (not forgetting The Horseboating Society).

We had a clean sweep of all media outlets and there is no doubt in my mind that this had a major positive impact on visitor numbers to the Show. They always say in the media never work with animals but on this occasion it was an absolute pleasure to work with Bilbo and you.

Please pass on my thanks to the volunteers and I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Photo: Mike Casswell

Some of the members of The Horseboating Society gathered for the AGM, with Maria at Portland Basin.

Members of The Horseboating Society inspect the boat horses at Portland Basin.