A Cracker is not just for Christmas
A HORSE needs to eat and Bywater Cruises, which offers one of only three horse-drawn narrowboat experiences in the country, is gently suggesting that supporters might like to join their Cracker Club.
Cracker, well known to regular readers of this newspaper through his column, Cracker’s Chat, has been having a quiet summer. Normally doing three trips a day Friday to Sunday throughout the season, along with private events, Cracker’s used to making hundreds of trips a year, pulling Countess, the 35ft Victorian packetboat replica, along the Montgomery Canal.
Tim Barker, who runs Bywater Cruises, said: “He really enjoys it. By the end of the summer he’s always in prime condition. At the moment he’s furloughed with Riding for the Disabled, who are working him as and when, so he’s just being exercised at the moment with lockdown.”
Cracker is a 13.2hh Strawberry Roan Shropshire Half-leg and is a bit of character. “At Riding for the Disabled he’s been testing all the fences, making sure that everything’s all right,” said Tim. “He's fat and happy but prefers to be out and about.”
He’s also costing money. “At the moment,” says Tim, “feed, livery and tending his feet are our biggest costs. The insurance company has reduced their cost down to a bare minimum, but normally he costs £1500-£2000 a year, with no vet’s bills or transportation costs.”
Bywater Cruises is a social enterprise, which is a company that aims to make a positive social change, and means that any profits are invested in the business. However, with the trips unable to operate all summer, profits this year will be non-existent, which makes finding the funds for next year’s fees all the more concerning.
At the moment, money donations are the simplest way to support Cracker. “If people would like to support in any way, from my point of view it would be nice for them to get in touch,” says Tim. Details are on the website www.bywatercruises. com/cracker-club, or you can email hello@ bywatercruises.co.uk, phone 07941 429980 or write to Tim Barker at Bywater Cruises, Perry Cottage, Yeaton, Nr Baschurch, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 2HY.
In normal times, members of the Cracker Club are rewarded with cruises and experiences on Countess and with Cracker. Although these are on hold at the moment, they will be returning. “If people want to see us the other side of this, though,” added Tim, “they need to help.”
Read Cracker’s monthly chat on page 78.