0:00:02 > 0:00:03The Scottish Borders.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05A land steeped in history...
0:00:05 > 0:00:07Good lad.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08..and rivalry...
0:00:08 > 0:00:09Pass the ball!
0:00:11 > 0:00:13..with its own unique customs...
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Wahey!
0:00:15 > 0:00:17The sheep are afraid.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20..and twisting through these lands for 97 miles.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21The world-famous Tweed.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24In my view, it's the best salmon fishing river in Scotland.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Over eight months, we follow the river guardians.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29I kind of look as if I've been arrested!
0:00:30 > 0:00:32We learn of old traditions...
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Every morning, I love getting up to go shoe horses.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36..and embrace the new...
0:00:36 > 0:00:38It's just another part of life here.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39- ALL:- ..two, one...
0:00:39 > 0:00:41go!
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Come on!
0:00:45 > 0:00:48..as the modern Borders redefines its identity.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Welcome to life along The River.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Good old Borders wee lanes.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01There's hardly any traffic jams and, you know,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04you're out on wee back roads like this.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07It's just beautiful, it really is nice.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Richard Mackay is a travelling draper.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12I say to people, erm, the easiest way to describe me
0:01:12 > 0:01:16is probably an old-fashioned tailor, travelling tailor -
0:01:16 > 0:01:18and they can understand that -
0:01:18 > 0:01:21but I'm not a tailor because I don't cut.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Drapers fit. So they make clothes fit.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Richard's diary varies from day to day,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29with appointments scattered all along the river.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33We're currently on the way to a place called Beamerside,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36which is in the middle of the Tweed stretch, erm,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39and we're going to, erm,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42a house which is actually owned by
0:01:42 > 0:01:47the Haig family, and they actually have a ghillie who's needing a suit.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Richard's first task of the day is to track down Beamerside ghillie,
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Ian Farr.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54This is what I love about the job,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57cos you never know where you're going to go.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00So this is totally new to me.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Erm, next time, I'll know where I'm coming.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05- I didnae see the steps there. - Didn't see the steps?
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Just need the exercise, Richard.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10There's not many people know this is here,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13- and how to get access to the river.- Aye.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Lady Haig has asked Richard to fit Ian up for a new tweed jacket.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Ian, the river's changed quite a lot this year after the flood.
0:02:20 > 0:02:21How far did it come up here?
0:02:21 > 0:02:23- It was up to the top of the steps. - Was it?
0:02:23 > 0:02:25It's interesting to look back in the old records,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29cos they had a huge flood in 1796,
0:02:29 > 0:02:34when all the bridges at Gala and Jedburgh were taken down.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37There are records of big floods and big fish at Beamerside.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42This is the big fish that we caught in 2012.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44This was the biggest fish in Scotland that year.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- It was an incredible fight. - Very good.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48You could see you're like...!
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Yeah, I'm just saying, "Take the photograph, it's really heavy!"
0:02:52 > 0:02:55- Right, come on, let's get some work done.- Yeah, OK, no problem.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- Better get you measured up. - Come on, girls.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Do you want to try that on?
0:03:00 > 0:03:04The Haig family have owned Beamerside since 1921.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07I think that the river is the lifeblood of Beamerside.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09It's why Beamerside is here.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Economically, it's now the heart and soul.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- MOBILE PHONE RINGS - Right, that's fine. Good, we'll get that done. Oh, sorry, that's me.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18I didn't think I'd get a phone signal down here.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- I'll just turn it off.- We try to pretend we don't have phone signal!
0:03:21 > 0:03:23No, it's quite good! Down in the valley. No, but that's fine,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I'll get that organised and I'll tell you when we've got them
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and when we're dropping them off and stuff like that.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30And I'm sure we'll catch more fish as a result.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31Hopefully, hopefully.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39And what do they call this place, James? Do you know?
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- The middle of nowhere. - The middle of nowhere, aye.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45River bailiff Kenny and Tweed Foundation biologist James
0:03:45 > 0:03:49are monitoring numbers of juvenile fish in the Tweed river system.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52We'll have a sample up here at the top of the Teviot,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55and we'll have samples all the way down to the bottom of the Teviot,
0:03:55 > 0:03:57all the tributaries as well.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00The worry is that winter floods may have washed away eggs from
0:04:00 > 0:04:04salmon and trout spawning grounds, affecting the numbers of fish.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Samples are taken from different tributaries to get an
0:04:07 > 0:04:09understanding of the river system's condition.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11We've got this wonderful piece of equipment here,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15the electro-fishing unit, which allows us to find out what's there.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16Without this equipment,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19we'd have absolutely no idea what's in the water.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26The electro unit transmits a low current through the water to attract
0:04:26 > 0:04:30the fish to the probe, allowing Kenny to net them and James
0:04:30 > 0:04:34to count them, helping determine the effects of the winter floods.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37There's a salmon, there's a trout.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40The salmon's got the forked tail, the trout's got a flat tail.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Salmon, 63. Trout, 109.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47What that tells us is that adult salmon and trout
0:04:47 > 0:04:49have been spawning here.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51I'll just add those up.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Eight salmon fry, ten trout fry.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Fish returned unharmed, onto the next tributary,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01where they hope to find a healthy river full of fish.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- All right, we're done here. Onwards...- And upwards.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07I'll bring me bucket,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10unless we're going somewhere completely different.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21In Cardrona Forest, an ancient trade is alive and kicking.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23METAL CLANKS
0:05:24 > 0:05:25Further down.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Every morning, I love getting up to go and shoe horses.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30You've got to have a love for horses
0:05:30 > 0:05:32before you want to be a farrier, I think.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34And I've always had that, so...
0:05:35 > 0:05:38David Merry has worked as a farrier for 19 years,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42making shoes and looking after horses' feet throughout the Borders.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45I think they reckon there's more horses in the Borders now
0:05:45 > 0:05:48than there was 100 years ago.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51So, I think somebody said, the last survey they did,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54there was almost 80,000, I think? So...
0:05:57 > 0:06:00And there's a good community along the River Tweed, I find, as well,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03so, through all the Borders towns and coming together for their
0:06:03 > 0:06:06common ridings or some other sort of festival, you know,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and a lot of the times, it is horses.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12David and his farrier team have a lot of work ahead of them.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15It's the Common Riding season.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Each town has their own Common Riding and it basically
0:06:18 > 0:06:21goes back hundreds of years and they ride the boundaries of their towns,
0:06:21 > 0:06:25to protect them from invading, other people invading.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27So, June and July, they'll get on their horses,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30we'll shoe them all up for the Common Riding and they'll basically
0:06:30 > 0:06:33do a ride out and check the boundaries of their village
0:06:33 > 0:06:36to make sure no-one's coming in that shouldn't be coming in.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Dating back to the late 13th century,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43the Common Ridings are an ancient Border custom.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47During continual Border wars with opposing clans and the English,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51it became practice for each town to send out riders to mark the
0:06:51 > 0:06:54boundaries of the common land to protect their borders and people.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59Today, each town has its own commemorative festival,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01to continue the tradition and to remember the fallen from
0:07:01 > 0:07:04historic battles, such as Flodden Field.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09A townsperson is given the honour as flag-bearer,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11with principals supporting the rider.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15CHEERING
0:07:15 > 0:07:18MUSIC: This Is The Life by Amy MacDonald
0:07:18 > 0:07:21David and singing apprentice Ross Fitzgerald...
0:07:21 > 0:07:22Good tune, good tune.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25..are heading to the Jedburgh Common Ride.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28# And you're singing the song thinking this is the life
0:07:28 > 0:07:30# And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
0:07:30 > 0:07:33# And you wanna go Where you gonna go
0:07:33 > 0:07:35# Where you gonna sleep tonight?
0:07:35 > 0:07:40# Where you gonna sleep tonight...? #
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Nae bother. Nae bother! - Sure?- Oh, aye!
0:07:45 > 0:07:49- Once you get a wee run, that's it, into second.- Aye.- Into second.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52At Carter Bar, the location of the Raid of the Redeswire,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54the farriers need to manoeuvre the van as close as possible
0:07:54 > 0:07:56to the horses' rest area.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58- Just don't go right doon this time! - Aw, naw!
0:07:58 > 0:08:00ROSS LAUGHS
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Oh! Stuck in, isn't he?
0:08:06 > 0:08:09- ENGINE REVS - No, never.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10I'll get these horses shod
0:08:10 > 0:08:12and then I'll figure out how we're getting out.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14THEY LAUGH
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Riders from the Jedburgh Cavalcade will visit David and Ross
0:08:17 > 0:08:19to get their horses reshod. CHEERING
0:08:19 > 0:08:21We're just waiting for people
0:08:21 > 0:08:24to see if there's any shoes off and we'll get them sorted out.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26There'll be a mad rush, probably!
0:08:27 > 0:08:30On long rides and in heavy ground conditions,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- horses can easily lose their shoes. - Anybody else with a shoe off?
0:08:33 > 0:08:37- Aye, my yin.- The cavalcade won't hang around for long.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41The boys have 15 minutes to shoe the horses.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Good boy. Yeah.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46- Lovely, thank you very much. - Cheers.- Another one here.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56In the sheds of Cowbog Farm, farmer Robert Wilson is moving some
0:08:56 > 0:09:00of his pedigree Hereford cows and calves.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03If we could take the mothers and their calves at the same time,
0:09:03 > 0:09:07then once they get to the field, they'll stay...stay a bit calmer.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11But some cows are still to calve
0:09:11 > 0:09:14and he's keeping an eye on one in particular.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16This is one of my favourite cows.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19She doesn't look it, she's, you know, coming to calving,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22so she's a wee bit lumpy and bumpy in places
0:09:22 > 0:09:26but she's a tremendously good working cow for us.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30So, I'm excited to see the result of this.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34I'm hoping for a heifer calf, if it comes out, cos she's only
0:09:34 > 0:09:39had one heifer in her time, which is a good cow for us.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42I wouldn't be surprised if she calves tonight
0:09:42 > 0:09:44or, erm, early hours of the morning.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Ooh, you want a bucket? There's fish in there, I've just seen one.
0:09:58 > 0:09:59On the River Tweed tributary,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Kenny and James are tracking down young fish.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05We're heading down river and the further we get down,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08the stronger the effects of the flooding last year.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11It's difficult to believe that we had flooding on a day like this.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Back in wintertime, you know,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16- the river would be up above Kenny's head.- Oh, at least.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19They're looking for a good variety of fish,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22different species and sizes, to assess the health of the river.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25The question is whether, when the eggs have just been laid
0:10:25 > 0:10:27and they're at their most sensitive,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30whether they're just squashed
0:10:30 > 0:10:33or washed out further, further downstream.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37As they move downstream, they're hoping to find larger fish,
0:10:37 > 0:10:41which will indicate a healthy river, despite the winter floods.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43What we're seeing here is encouraging.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48You can see every time you put the probe on, we're finding fish here,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- so, a mixture of salmon and trout. - Come on, you.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Right, that's it. Let's count them then.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59James records their vital statistics
0:10:59 > 0:11:01to help him calculate overall fish numbers.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Almost all of the sites were more than I expected today,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11erm, considering what happened over the wintertime.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15We'll carry on doing our sampling further down the river
0:11:15 > 0:11:19and we'll find good numbers and everything will be all right.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22I thoroughly enjoyed it. No, it was fine, it was absolutely grand.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24I think we've got a decent, erm...
0:11:24 > 0:11:27I think James is quite happy with what we've got.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- LOUDSPEAKER:- Henry VIII's rampaging soldiers in the 1540s...
0:11:32 > 0:11:34At the Jedburgh Common Ride,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37farriers David and Ross are close to finishing the horses.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39That's brilliant.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41- There we go.- Cheers, thank you very much for that.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Perfect, brilliant, thanks very much. Cheers.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Pressure's on cos they don't want to be waiting around when they leave,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50they want to just go straight away or their times are all messed up.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53And our van's stuck, so I need to get that out as well!
0:11:53 > 0:11:55But the joys of Common Riding(!)
0:11:57 > 0:12:00ENGINE REVS
0:12:00 > 0:12:03This happens every single year and...I say to him,
0:12:03 > 0:12:08"Don't bring the van down," and he continues to bring the van down!
0:12:08 > 0:12:10This is a nightmare, isn't it?
0:12:10 > 0:12:12- BUGLE SOUNDS - That's them ready to leave, you can hear the horn now.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14That's them getting the... There he is.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17He's got the red jacket on, he's the Marshal.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19- Hip, hip! - CROWD:- Hooray!- Let's go!
0:12:19 > 0:12:22At least there's time to see off the cavalcade.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24BUGLE CALLS
0:12:45 > 0:12:47On Cowbog Farm,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Robert is waiting for Lucy's calf to arrive
0:12:50 > 0:12:53and he's hoping it's a girl.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Well, the water's broken on Lucy.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00She is aware that she is on calving and getting pretty excited about it,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03I think. So... There's a bit of worry as well,
0:13:03 > 0:13:09because things can go wrong, it's a...birthing process.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12It doesn't take too long for the calf to make an appearance.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15That's better. That's a better push.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Here we go...
0:13:18 > 0:13:20At the moment, I'm a wee bit worried,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22the sheet's over the calf's head.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25So, if it's over the nose, and you don't get in there quick enough,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27you can end up losing the calf.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30I might just go and move it off its nose.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32(Yeah, go on...)
0:13:37 > 0:13:40COW LOWS
0:13:42 > 0:13:44So, the calf's shaking its head a wee bit now.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47And it's taken its first breaths, so,
0:13:47 > 0:13:51I think it's been fairly successful.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55It's just the fact it was born into a pile of straw and it was
0:13:55 > 0:13:59getting, sort of squashed up - that was worrying me slightly.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02But, I maybe worried too much.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05CATTLE LOW
0:14:05 > 0:14:10And it's a boy. So, we need a name beginning with N.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13We've not got a Noddy yet this year, so...
0:14:13 > 0:14:16HE LAUGHS
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Erm, it's the start of the Gala week now,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27so we've got a ride out to Lindean tonight, so, myself,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Katie and Abbie are following on horseback.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33It's the day of the Galashiels Common Ride.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38Yeah, I've followed probably the ride-outs since '93...
0:14:38 > 0:14:42which is, what? 23 years.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Each year, a Braw Lad and a Braw Lass are selected as
0:14:46 > 0:14:51flag-bearers for the Gala ride. Katie was Braw Lass in 2010.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53She runs a racing garage but when time allows,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56she still participates in the ridings.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I think when you're riding a horse, just constantly, all winter,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02when it comes to the summer, I maybe don't do as much as I used to.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06And her trusty steed for the Galashiels ride this evening?
0:15:06 > 0:15:08This is Jewellery.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- SHE CLICKS HER TONGUE - Come on, bonny lass!
0:15:11 > 0:15:13So, she's actually in full training at the minute.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17She quite enjoys this as well, so, gives her a change!
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Well, actually, I'd swapped the tweeds to riding gear.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Right, I'll need to chase this Braw Lass on!
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Richard is also riding in Gala tonight,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31along with his daughter, Alice.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33This is one of the ride-outs, as a father,
0:15:33 > 0:15:35I can actually participate in,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37so, hopefully there will be a nice cavalcade
0:15:37 > 0:15:39following the Braw Lad and Braw Lass.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42We ride across the River Tweed, so hopefully we'll have
0:15:42 > 0:15:44a river crossing tonight cos the river's not too high.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46See the things you've got to do, eh?!
0:15:46 > 0:15:47Richard's wife, Lynne,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49will also be on hand to see him complete the ride.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- This is the wrong way. Did you put this on?- Yeah.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56You see, when men dress theirsel'?
0:15:56 > 0:15:58They say behind every good man...
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Aye, there's a better woman haudin' him up, eh?!
0:16:01 > 0:16:02OK...
0:16:03 > 0:16:04We're away, Lynne!
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Daughter Alice has the important role of Bearer of the White Roses.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Got the final approval from the boss.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12- A' they women...- See you later.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14- A'right, OK, have a nice ride. - Bye!
0:16:14 > 0:16:19One, two... Ooh! That's two. We're up.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Tonight, the cavalcade will ride ten miles
0:16:21 > 0:16:24around the Galashiels boundary...
0:16:24 > 0:16:25Come on, then.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28..finishing off with the chase up the hill.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40In Peebles, UK World Chocolate Master, Ruth Hinks,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43is getting ready for a really big day.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47I'm looking forward to having a wee glass of Prosecco after!
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Today marks the end of a long journey for Ruth -
0:16:50 > 0:16:53the official opening of her dream chocolate school.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56And they're expecting a very special royal visitor.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Oh, look, everybody's started to arrive now,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01so it's nice to have the event finally here.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03I'm like, "Oh, my God! All these people!"
0:17:03 > 0:17:06You know? Don't laugh!
0:17:06 > 0:17:08It's great, it's very exciting.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11OK, now I'm going to put my pearls in my raspberries.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Pastry chef Zoe has been nervously preparing
0:17:14 > 0:17:17a chocolate gift for the royal guest.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21So, he's going to take this one home and just this one to show what
0:17:21 > 0:17:24it looks like and then I'm going to decorate this one, when he's here.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Yeah! We've got a production line of "here's one I made earlier."
0:17:28 > 0:17:30SHE CHUCKLES
0:17:30 > 0:17:33If everybody wasn't watching, then it would be fine.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36If it was just him, I would be fine.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39There's going to be so many people, so, I'm going to be like, "Whoa!"
0:17:39 > 0:17:41I'm nervous I'll not be able to put the decorations on,
0:17:41 > 0:17:42cos I'm going to be shaking!
0:17:42 > 0:17:46His Royal Highness Prince Edward is due to arrive in 15 minutes
0:17:46 > 0:17:49to officially open the chocolate school.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Oh, my gosh! Oh, dear. I hope I don't get tongue-tied.
0:17:59 > 0:18:00HE LAUGHS
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Did you just bash your teeth off that bottle of juice?
0:18:03 > 0:18:05You're a ding-dong!
0:18:05 > 0:18:09David Merry and his crack team of farriers are heading to the
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Duke of Roxburghe's stud at Floors estate.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15We've got the farriers coming, so the main plan is to shoe them.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Nearly all of them will be shod all-round,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19so we'll have a full set of shoes on.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26David Trouton's stud team have 12 valuable young horses that
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- need to be shod for the first time. - This is it.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31This is their time to shine.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35They've only got eight weeks now until they go to the sales, so...
0:18:36 > 0:18:38International racehorse farrier, Gary Pickford,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41will be leading the team of farriers.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46I mean, I've probably looked at 200 yearlings in the last two weeks.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47- Yeah, yeah.- And you know,
0:18:47 > 0:18:51- she's well up there with the top of them.- Yeah.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54- Ready to roll, boys.- Gary comes from, like, a racing background,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56all over the world, so, definitely,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00his experience and knowledge does help us out a lot. Very good.
0:19:00 > 0:19:06Before they start, they must assess the hoof to decide how best to shoe each horse.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Probably what I'll do is I'll drop him right down and I'll shoe him
0:19:09 > 0:19:12- a little short.- Yeah. - Make him sit back a bit.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Any more been sedated, David?
0:19:14 > 0:19:16No, do you want another one doing?
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Yeah, please, we'll have another couple.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20No rest, Lester!
0:19:20 > 0:19:24Vet Lester gives the young horses a mild sedative to keep them calm.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26It's very important. Yeah, yeah.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29They need to be just relaxed, so you can do a proper job.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Yeah, it's like going to the dentist, you can't do a proper job
0:19:32 > 0:19:35if someone's jumping out of the chair, trying to fight you.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Shoeing the horses for the first time is a vital step in developing
0:19:38 > 0:19:42the supreme athletes that the team hope they'll become.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- He'll go up another size next time. - Yeah.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50At the end of it, you know, you've got million-pound horses here.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53So, whatever it takes to get them...
0:19:53 > 0:19:56to the sales, to the best of our ability,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59to make money for the stud.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10The Gala cavalcade has reached the crossing at the Tweed.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- Hooray! - CHEERING
0:20:15 > 0:20:19Richard and Katie have been riding hard.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Yeah, good!
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Yeah, we've had a good hurl so far and the weather's been good.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27- We've had a few canters and on the road a bit as well.- Hooray!
0:20:27 > 0:20:29CHEERING
0:20:30 > 0:20:34With the ride coming to its climax, it's time for the chase up the hill.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Richard and Lynne's daughter, Alice, is in the first race.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42First race is just about to start for the principals coming up
0:20:42 > 0:20:46the field here. Erm, so, they'll all race up here.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49We're right at the finish line, to see who's going to finish.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52CHEERING
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Oh, she was last. Oh, dear.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Katie will be in the ex-principals' race.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01So, I think her and Ryan Mania will have a good race coming up here.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Very competitive. Yes... Uh-huh.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08But Katie has a Grand-National-winning jockey to contend with.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12CHEERING
0:21:12 > 0:21:16When Ryan was Braw Lad, he won the Grand National that year,
0:21:16 > 0:21:20so, Katie coming second to the Grand National winner? That's OK.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Totally acceptable.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Finally, it's Richard's turn.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- Hip, hip!- Hooray!
0:21:28 > 0:21:31He did just like his daughter. Came in at the end there.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Too busy waving, I think! Enjoying it.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36CHEERING
0:21:36 > 0:21:38- Hip, hip!- Hooray!
0:21:41 > 0:21:46At Cowbog Farm, Robert's taking daughter Lottie to check on the new arrivals.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50We're going up to check the young calves and, especially Noddy,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53who was born the other day.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55And then there's been another one born since then,
0:21:55 > 0:21:57a little one called Plum.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00So, she's in with them, with two or three other calves.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Hello, Noddy.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Noddy's doing well. Yeah, he's a happy little chap
0:22:05 > 0:22:11and his mum seems to love him a lot. And it's good, yeah! So...
0:22:11 > 0:22:15- Oh, there's my favourite one!- Which is your favourite?- That one.- Plum?
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Yeah, Plum.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20She's got two cute spots on her head
0:22:20 > 0:22:22and it's just really, really cute to me.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26I love the name. Plum! And I love plums.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29With the Kelso show on the horizon,
0:22:29 > 0:22:34Lottie's helping her dad select the best cows for the show.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Rosettes are great but they don't put food on the table.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41There is a wider commercial audience round the ring as well.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43There's a pedigree judge in the middle,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45who's evaluating the cattle so
0:22:45 > 0:22:50we're trying to cover both bases by having a good enough animal and one
0:22:50 > 0:22:56that the beef producers in Scotland will see and will like as well.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59The plan is for Lottie to handle her own calf at the show.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02We'll see how these calves behave once we break them,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05as to whether Lottie's going to take them.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07And Robert knows exactly what to look out for when selecting
0:23:07 > 0:23:09prize cattle.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12So, this young heifer beside the wood,
0:23:12 > 0:23:14she's got a nice, attractive face on her,
0:23:14 > 0:23:18for a cow, if you're into those kind of things!
0:23:18 > 0:23:22Erm, she's got a good, long, straight back,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24which is what we want because from a commercial point of view,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27that's where all the sirloin and fillet steaks are.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31She's got nice, well, as we would probably say in Scotland,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35she's got nice cocky lugs. So, she's got nice big ears on her.
0:23:35 > 0:23:36It means they're going to grow.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Well, there's no science behind this, obviously!
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Lottie appears to have her dad's sharp eye for spotting a good cow.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- This calf will probably definitely go to Kelso show.- Straight back.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- Straight back, yeah. - Good standing.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56Stands well, nice and square. Do you think he will be a good show bull?
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- Yeah.- Are you going to hold on to him?
0:24:00 > 0:24:01HE LAUGHS
0:24:05 > 0:24:07The farriers are working their way
0:24:07 > 0:24:10through the 12 young horses at Floors Stud.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12The Frankel is next.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15So, they're all, I think they're all very pleased with him.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18It brings the sale day ever closer for stud manager David.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20In just eight weeks,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23these horses will go under the hammer at Newmarket.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27- This is Dubawi Comic. - This could be a million-pound one.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33- None of that cheap talk! - Is that a five? Give me a four.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35I don't want him pulling...
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Once David has worked his magic and got it sitting down,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41they don't very often pay me to shoe poor ones!
0:24:41 > 0:24:45Getting the right shoes in the correct position can make the
0:24:45 > 0:24:47million-pound difference for these elite horses.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50I always teach all my boys, it's all about having passion.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52If you have the passion,
0:24:52 > 0:24:56the money and the success comes because of the passion.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01You've got to have OCD tendencies, perfectionist tendencies.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Got those in abundance!
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- My wife wouldn't agree with that, I don't think. - DAVID LAUGHS
0:25:08 > 0:25:10With all 12 horses shod,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13they can now step up training for the Newmarket sales.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17What time is your plane in the morning, by the way?
0:25:17 > 0:25:18- Just thinking ahead. - Five o'clock.- Five!
0:25:18 > 0:25:22- Ah, well, I'll leave the bicycle out for you! - THEY LAUGH
0:25:26 > 0:25:29It's been a nervous wait for Ruth and her team in Peebles.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Time for the royal stamp of approval.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39His Royal Highness Prince Edward is officially launching Ruth's new chocolate school.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41- Good morning, welcome back. - Nice to see you again.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Yes, thank you very much for coming.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45- Thank you. Thank you. - Everyone's on their best behaviour!
0:25:45 > 0:25:48- I'm sure it's always this quiet. - THEY LAUGH
0:25:48 > 0:25:51This is Sarah, she's our chocolate production manager.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Astrid and Richard... Ruth's parents, from Tasmania.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57- Hello there, how are you? - I think it's excellent.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59He appears to be really genuinely interested in chocolate and
0:25:59 > 0:26:02what's going on here. And of course,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05I am overflowing with pride. It brings tears to my eyes.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09And then around this corner over here, we have seen Zoe Taylor.
0:26:09 > 0:26:10Hello there, hello!
0:26:10 > 0:26:11- Nice to meet you.- You as well.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- She's got a cake for you to decorate if you want to take it away! - HE LAUGHS
0:26:15 > 0:26:17There's no pressure on that one, is there?
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- Here's one we prepared earlier. - Oh, so I've got to try and copy that, have I?
0:26:20 > 0:26:23- Yeah!- Right, you just talk amongst yourselves...
0:26:23 > 0:26:26- So basically you use this as a glue? - Pretty much, yes.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30- Depending on what it is we're going to...- Beautiful, beautiful.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32What do you reckon? I did say, "Talk amongst yourselves," didn't I?
0:26:32 > 0:26:34There we go.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- We're recruiting soon.- Are you recruiting? I don't think so!
0:26:37 > 0:26:41- Have I got to try and put one of these in here as well?- You do.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44- Yeah, something... How many do we reckon?- However many you like.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47What do you reckon? Does that sort of...?
0:26:49 > 0:26:51I don't know what it says...
0:26:51 > 0:26:56Just to thank you for the honour of joining us today and
0:26:56 > 0:26:58thank you to all of our guests.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00It's been a long journey to get to this point,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02so it's lovely to have so many of you here.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05So, the object of the exercise is to try and declare this
0:27:05 > 0:27:09particular building and the classes open.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Now, I do have to warn you,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14I know you're quite excited about this, but the unveiling of
0:27:14 > 0:27:17a plaque is not necessarily the most exciting thing...
0:27:17 > 0:27:19THEY LAUGH
0:27:19 > 0:27:21..OK?
0:27:22 > 0:27:25So, I would like you to pretend, all right,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27and that goes for all of you as well, I'd like you to pretend,
0:27:27 > 0:27:29if I get this right,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32- I want you to pretend that it really is THE most exciting thing...- OK.
0:27:32 > 0:27:37..that's happened in your life? OK? Do you think you can do that? Right?
0:27:37 > 0:27:39- Can everybody else do that? - ALL:- Yes!
0:27:39 > 0:27:43OK, one, two, three... Go!
0:27:43 > 0:27:46THEY CHEER
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- Ruth can finally start to relax. - Whoo!
0:27:52 > 0:27:54It's been a long, hard week.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58Well, a couple of months and a couple of years, actually, but it's...
0:27:58 > 0:28:02- Yeah, I'll drink to this. - ALL:- Cheers!
0:28:05 > 0:28:07Next time on The River...
0:28:07 > 0:28:10the International Enduro hits the dirt at Glentress...
0:28:10 > 0:28:14It's nice we get the chance to have a wee romantic walk together.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16..it's judgment day for the stud team...
0:28:16 > 0:28:18It's probably our biggest day of the year,
0:28:18 > 0:28:20whether it goes right or wrong.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24..and Lottie shows her dad just how it's done.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28I could scream with happiness. Like, this is a dream.