Man walking 200 miles with horse for charity reaches Winchester

Roger Sewill, 60, and his native dales pony Scarlet, walked through the city on Friday, October 10, briefly stopping in front of Winchester Cathedral.

Roger, a rural chartered surveyor who lives in Dorset, is undertaking the journey from Surrey to Dorset to raise awareness and funds for CountrymenUK, a charity which offers support to people who have lived or worked in the countryside but who now find themselves isolated.

The father of three told the Chronicle: “I started on October 15 in Charlwood, in Surrey – and that’s my parent’s house and childhood home.

Roger and Scarlet in Winchester (Image: Chris Atkinson)

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“It’s been very different, walking this countryside. People normally drive up and down the M3, whizzing along, but I’m walking and joining the dots and the different villages, seeing the countryside differently. I wanted to walk back to Dorset, and I’m a trustee for CountrymenUK, which helps farmers who have got to the stage of life where they have dementia or a physical disability, and the charity provides them with care in a one-to-one environment which is more suited to them.”

Roger said that he was hoping that he and Scarlet will walk approximately 15 miles a day, saying that their pace is “very slow”, as they have to use bridleways and footpaths to complete their journey.

He continued: “I think the biggest thing that has happened to me on this journey is what they call ‘the kindness of strangers.’ All the way along the way, people have taken me in, given me food, given Scarlet shelter. Someone took me in and gave me their Air BnB, and I’ve camped in people’s barns, and someone rescued us from the storm last weekend and put Scarlet up in a stable. So all along the way, people have been really generous and kind.

“Walking with a horse like this, you also get to stop and chat with people and hear about their life journeys. And I suppose, as a man, it is difficult for people to stop to chat with you if you’re just walking through, but with a horse, everyone feels much safer for some reason and stops to chat and see what crazy thing you’re up to.”

Roger and Scarlet are crossing five counties in their journey: Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset (Image: Roger Sewill)

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Roger wanted to thank those who had helped him and Scarlet during their journey. He said: “The journey is a multi-day journey, and at every stop there have been some absolutely fantastic people who have helped me, or more importantly helped Scarlet.

“They have settled her and made sure she is well fed. My priority is that Scarlet enjoys herself and we have a good time together. So, I think it is a thank you to everyone instead of anyone in particular. Each stop is special in its own way.”

More information about Roger and Scarlet’s journey can be found by visiting country-journey.com or following Roger’s Instagram page a_country_journey.

So far, Roger and Scarlet have raised £485 for CountrymenUK – to donate, visit localgiving.org/fundraising/ACountryJourney.