2017 Hacking/ Riding Challenge.... Add your photos too

Sonny
Unmounted 73.50 hours
Mounted 68.25 hours

And
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Stepped up the free longing a bit
Yesterday to canter.

Sonny did get a bit silly
But nothing horrid.

He does have a really big bold canter
And the cavaletti round pen is
Only a 12 panel so it's not huge.

His verbal transitions at canter were
Not perfect and he would go
Into jumpy Bucky gsllops.

But walk trot were awesome
And maintaining walk with me on the bench in the center no funny
Business stopping or eating
Behind ME
He maintained the walk perfectly
For many revolutions til
I asked him to halt.
I was very pleased.

Today will be rainy starting very early
And tomorrow really bad winds tomorrow so there may not be any play for a couple of days.

I will have to see after this wind passes
If I can get the candy cane blow up
Archway set up someplace In the front yard to work well as a decoration and
Be a play obstacle.

I forgot I also played with dragging the trash contianers back and ground tying near the mail box.

Not that I thought he was going give me any
problemes with either but it does not hurt to reinforce it.





I was a bit surprised though that when Sonny was being silly
Kinley never budged form laying right next to the fence.





When we were done and I opened the gate back to the goats
Sneaky Pete had to go check things out.
The little cavaletti ring is part of the big goats area when I'm not using it for play.

Sonny
Unmounted 74.00 hours
Mounted 68.25 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Very nasty wind today but did lovely traveling circles to
Virginaia's to the ring.

Virginia woo hoo had cones out there. I was impressed
she likes a very sterile ring!!

But she got a new pony and it looked like she had made a smaller
lunge area with the cones.

I used them to do traveling circles from cone to cone hten around
the cone. It was a nice change.

This is the new pony she got, It will be good for her grand daughter and guests with children as well.
He is a cutie.




.

He really reminds me of a smaller verison of Max even
down to his petite little ears!!!

Max had varnish marks at his knees and hocks but wow
seeing this cutie and reminding me so much of max
makes me smile and teerie eyed at the same time!.

Sonny wandered down to the ponds edge for a treat
after his great session.

My new obstacle .

Bit of a struggle to get it up since it windy but its windy so much here.

it has to face away from the road I got a big rash of sh..
from my husband ugh DID I KNOW ITS
*********BACKWARDS****************
Yes I know its backwards but the blower/cord has to be on the
house side so I don't cross over the cord and my play area
cavaletti is on the other side too so this is the
direction it HAS TO FACE.

It's
not that close to the road so anyone driving that says
oh look its backards TOO BAD/

iT HAS TO BE SET UP SO ITS SAFE TO PLAY WITH..

Heading out to play with it in a little while.

Sonny
Unmounted 75.25 hours
Mounted 68.25 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Woo hoo played with the obstacle and the tire and cavaletti
on the front side yard area

I am so bundled up cause it was really cold and windy!!!













It was a lot of fun.

My solo shot has finally shipped and should be here next
week.

I cant wait to play with that!

Gosh its only been pre ordered for something like 18 months.

Sonny
Unmounted 76.50 hours
Mounted 68.25 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

NO play today 50 mph gusts is a bit too much.

A great play session yesterday.
Did traveling circles in the road.
I have really good sight lines so with a bit of care
that was something different to do.

Played with the arch and the short cavaletti on the side/front yard that were not curving around trees.
I did have to move the all white one out further because a tree was too close behind it and with the yard being all open
I really can only do ground things on line out there.

I do have another set of longer ones further out back near the laneway around another that I think I will move foreward
and put out in the open to play with.

I added some artificial poinsettias to some of the pots near the cavaletti.
It does make it look a bit more fun and festive

Sonny
Unmounted 77.25 hours
Mounted 68.25 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Well I decided to go see how much more sheltered Virginia's ring really is.
Not that much less for this nasty wind but I was not riding.

But Sonny shined we did lovely traveling circles over to the ring and
then walk and trot traveling circles and many direction changes in the ring.
As windy gusty as it was he was totally awesome and only got a tiny bit
silly a couple of times.
I was glad I went over and worked in the wind.

Missed a few weeks with everything going on but last Sunday I hacked to a local (ish 45min hack there!) yard and did some dressage. It was absolutely freezing and they were running behind so we were both frozen solid by the time we went in the school. But somehow my amazing share horse won it with almost 61% he felt absolutely brilliant. Hacked home with a huge grin on my face and carrying a huge bag of treats as a prize

Then on Thurs I just had a brief ride in the school my heart really wasn't in it and had far more fun just giving him a nice brush and lots of treats.

Today I thought would just pop a little cross pole, he was brilliant and we ended up doing a 60cm straight in canter, looping round to change the rein and popping it the other way. I'm not very good at planning turns so the fact we got it right first time was a nice surprise. Even got a lovely round pushing from behind canter on both reins to finish up. He's a typical head up, whizz off canterer usually so really pleased with how he's coming along.

87 hours

Oopsy haven't written in here for weeks!!

Had a lunge lesson on my share on 03/11 - it was great, I love my instructor, she's so encouraging and she never shouts or anything, plus she knows my share really well so it's a win win for me! Really enjoyed the lesson and working on my position etc.

Then I didn't get to ride again until 12/11. We had a few issues - unbeknownst to me someone had already taken him out on a hack, so when I tried to do the same, he wasn't having it and decided he'd done his day's work! I can't really blame him as in his mind, he goes out once a day and that's it, but definitely something I need to work on to avoid any issues in future. That hack was 50 minutes and we did 3.96km.

Yesterday we were thoroughly back to normal. We went for a hack on the Downs with two others on the yard. One is quite new and doesn't know many routes, the other is an old hand, although her horse won't hack out alone. We just plodded along, managed to fit in a few trots here and there. The ground is getting too soft and muddy for cantering or anything like that. Plus as the weather was so good there were dogs everywhere, which limits what you can do and where you can go, although they're always well-behaved! Yesterday we were out for 90 minutes and did 7.4km.

Overall totals 222.4km in 39hrs 20mins plus 11 hours 25mins schooling

Orenoko said:

Had a lunge lesson on my share on 03/11 - it was great, I love my instructor, she's so encouraging and she never shouts or anything, plus she knows my share really well so it's a win win for me! Really enjoyed the lesson and working on my position etc.

Click to expand...

Awesome I love lunge lessons I have not had one for a long time.

Sonny
Unmounted 79.50 hours
Mounted 68.25 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr


Had 2 play sessions so far today.

Had a good time this am over at Virginia in her ring.
It was quite cold and windy so her sheltered ring was a good choice.
She brought the new pony Page out and lunged him a little too.

He really is such a cutie.really like him.


I had already played with sonny doing a lot of trot traveling circles and he was perfectly happy to hang out for me to take photos of Virginia lunging Page.





Had a second session over here The wind had lessened a bit.
Played with cavaletti on the front yard the archway and just open areas out in the yard and laneway.
Then brought him in the cavaletti round pen.
I don't want him to do anything but walk in the Cavaletti pen while the ground is a little soft from all the rain.
If he mucks it up being silly and we
Have a hard freeze it will not be good.
He was awesome in there being super with no silliness.
He continued for a good 20 min each side walking and not stopping going around me while I sat on the bench in the center.
That's the longest ive gone so far in one clip on a given side.
I WAS VERY PROUD OF HIM.
He never once tried to take a bite of grass when he was behind me.

Now he's having a treat of some.


I thought about a third session before we go back but he did so
so good its a great place to stop.

Saturday was a bit rainy so just a quick hack. Sunday was a lot nicer so we had a longer hack with a nice canter. Harvey was a bit sweaty so he had a good wash down and as it was a nice day I turned him out without his rug on for a few hours





Hacking
11 miles
3 hours

Totals
Hacking
415.5 miles
126 hours 50

Schooling
25 hours 50

Sonny
Unmounted 80.50 hours
Mounted 68.25 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Did not have a chance to play til very late in the afternoon.
Would it have been something I'd have done in the PAST.
************NO*********
But I've had so much fun playing and today will be all day rain
so I went for it.

Can I turn over this new leaf I HOPE SO.
It was getting dusky but I still came over here to play.
Its only a short stretch on the road in the dark to go back.

I played with the short cavaletti out in the front yard and the tire.
I had to unplug the archway again because the wind was sooooooooooooo gusty again.

Sonny was good and only got a bit silly a couple times.
Its much less of an issue out there than in the cavaletti round pen where the grass has much deeper topsoil. That's softer.
After that play I did go in the cavaletti pen for freelonge walk.
He was doing so so good then he did let loose and get silly briefly but came right back down leaving me only a few divits
to deal with.
Its funny how animals notice things.
The goats know I'm not a dark person and omg when I was playing with Sonny here this late OMG I had everyones full attention it was kind of cute.
When I went into the big goats area heading to cavaletti rd pen
They ran in to it like they were claiming it- it is attached to their area so they have the run of it when I'm not playing.
Once it got dark I let sonny stay in there for a little bit - dark is dark so walking back in it was a given.
Then I played a bit more in the dark in there before going back.

Walk back was fine. The pen could use one more light on the one side but it was not horrible.

With winter coming how much would I be out there in the dark.
My husband said he wants to put another light on the corner of the house anyway so that may do the trick.
If not when we make the stalls and bring them over here in the spring it will be on the list.
And maybe a couple of lights near the ring .

Stupid me though I should have been doing this play late in the day/evening all summer when it was soooooooooooooo hot.

But hope fully I have turned a new leaf to embrace and conquer
my fear of the dark.

I'm sure fun play sessions will help that.

NO play today its going to start to rain before daylight and
ugh continue all day.
Will I add playing in the rain one day??????????????
I don't know about that.
BUT ONE NEVER KNOWS............






I did have a highlight yesterday though times 2.

There is an amish place that has goats usually by late summer
they are gone. They are teeny babies in spring then gone by late fall. I know where sadly.
I have not gone that route much to the old house cause a bridge is closed. I tried that route yesterday but ugh brige is STILL closed sigh.

Near there are also 2 very large Nubian goats in a persons yard.
They were not always out but I loved to see them too especially
since they are kind of urban, but do have the whole yard so they are not lacking for space.

Yesterday they were both out laying not far from the house and I finally got a photo of them!
One time one was on the landing of the back door OMG I loved that. I'd love to have mine right up looking in the door!!!
But sadly it was a photo I missed that time.








It was so worth making the bridge detour.

Sonny
Unmounted 83.50 hours
Mounted 70.00 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Played twice and rode once yesterday.

The weather was cold but other than that rather nice.

I went over early in the am to bring feed baggies and
really had not planned to play then but it was kind of nice out
so what the heck.
Trying to do things a little different and mix things up
I did traveling circles along the path near her pond up to the
cranberry bog.
With all the rain the bog was spilling over so I did not try to cross. He would cross fine but being on foot I was not sure how deep it was and I did not want wet feet.

I let him have a few nibbles by the pond


I went back later and figured I would ride.
Virginia had a very nice non horsey guest for Thanksgiving and Virginia was going to ride Tobias and the guest came out to the ring.
It was really nice of her to take some photos.
The womans brother lives in town and she was going to his house for dinner but really loved the weather and Virginias lovely property so she did not leave til later in the afternoon.


I played with some sidepass leg yield and turn on forehand etc.
It was cute she picked up on he was crossing legs over
and thought he was doing a nice DANCE.






Then later I started to go around the outside of the cavaletti
rd pen with wood chips.
I did a few loads and got short of half way done but its the slightly lower slope side. It will take a couple days to get it fully done.

Then I brought sonny over and played on the yard area
He was super no being silly boy.
So then I brought him in the cav pen.
WELL THEN SILLY BOY CAME OUT BIG TIME.





He kept it up for quite a while but I just let him blow it out.
Then he settled down to walking/trotting nicely
By the time I went back over it was dark.

Today is ugh Black Friday over here.
The whole world is at the malls/stores so a good day to stay away from stores enjoy the decent weather again today,
make more progress on footing in the cavaletti rd pen AND PLAY.!!!!

Sonny
Unmounted 84.25 hours
Mounted 70.00 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Yesterday was not our finest hour but things happen for a reason!

I went to long line Sonny and gosh it was the poster child
for whats wrong with this photo.

The long lines were way too short and I had not brought over a
proper driving whip and though well the stick and string would probably do ok and I had his bitless halter on.

The biggest problem were the lines being way too short.
They were more like the legnthwhen someone doing high level dressage is right up at the back of the horse or really close to
the saddle at his side
but they clearly did not work to *** long line***
good thing he's not a kicker for sure.





As it turns out Virginia had to go to Dover Saddlery for gaiters

for her Grand daughter and I went with her.
They had 30' long lines at a great price .

I also got a pair of Ariat h2o zip ..

There was really NO traffic it was great I guess
everyone was out on the road opening the stores at midnight.

When Virginia had called Dover saddlery they said they were mobbed when we got there woo hoo only 4 people in the store
and a nice clear parking lot.

She

Sonny
Unmounted 85.50 hours
Mounted 70.00 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr


What a difference a day makes.

Today was awesome!!!

The proper length long lines were great as was
a driving whip.
I used a bridle instead of the halter and that was good too.

It was a full cheek western went over the halter perfectly and no interfearance from the rings and xtra strap on the halter for reins.

The bridle worked great.

This all felt sooooooooooooo much better.

Even tying up the lead seemed to work good and not
get in the way.

Toni came out after she put Levi back took some photos.
I'm not perfect with the lines but it still went really well
and we will get better with time!!
I really had a lot of fun!!!













I think I'm going to try the bridle next time I ride as well

He was super and for not having a bit in for several years
he was awesome and did not fight it no gaping
no head tossing............

Wow that was sooooooooooooooo much fun.

I may play again or ride later.

Sonny
Unmounted 85.50 hours
Mounted 71.00 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

I did end up going over to ride later on.

Rebecca was there and wanted to know if we could ride together. Libby and Sonny get along fine.
So we rode she mentioned doing the loop and during hunting season I really don't want to do that nor do I want to go up on the hills beyond the ring or near the little 1700's cemetary.
I have heard close shots of hunters just beyone Virginia's property and orange or not I really don't want to be out there
or on a rise.

So we set up some cones and had a great time.
We played little patterns serpentine or circle a cone etc.
Then we did a bit of a 2 horse drill team coming across to a letter traveling to next letter meeting in the middle and when we both get to the other sides continuing to the next letter.
Where 2 cones were further apart we met in the middle and did a circle hten continued to opposide sides.

It was a lot of fun sonny did good with the bridle and bit not being ridden with a bit in years

One issue he did give me is being a bit of a brat near the gate and mounting block
I think your word is nappy???
We got to gate and hes says well I'm done
well YOUR NOT!!!

In itself it sounds cute - he went over to mounting block and
positioned himself PERFECTLY basicly telling me GET OFF.

When I said NO he did get a bit pissy.

I did some trot but I think I may try shortening my stirrups a notch today.

I am thinking about possibly seeing about getting a lesson
after Toni's lesson with Levi today.

I want to nip this gate/mtg block issue in the bud.
When I do western dressage lessons I will probably do them at my house but since I'm havimg this issue at Virgina's ring.
I think its better to address it at her ring even if I would have to pay Virginia a 10.00 ring fee to bring in a Trainer.

Sonny has never been overly thrilled with ring riding but
we have to get past this and maybe its something I'm not
doing correctly.?????












Libby has an interesting coat I really could not get a photo of
her white hair is a bit longer and sticks up more than her brown???
She looks like a 2 level sculpted rug!
Its very interesting.

Sonny
Unmounted 85.50 hours
Mounted 71.50 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr


Other than the really NASTY 40+ winds
it was a great ride.

Not overly long but that's ok short and sweet is always
better than long and HORRIBLE.


Putting the stirrup up one hole felt soooooooooo much better.
Sonny only gave me one little tiny bit of crap near the mtg block and I said NO WAY and he said OK

I have no idea if it was feeling more confident with the stirrup change but he was great.

I only did a tiny bit of trot and that felt better too.

Its so windy I'm going to leave it at that today.
Virginia and Toni are probably going to cancel
their lessons cause the winds are just so horrible.




I even got a good sidepass



I will have to put the stirrups up a hole on the tucker as well.

Sonny
Unmounted 86.25 hrs
Mounted 71.50 hrs

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hrs

It was spitting snow this am and
Ugh nasty wind again.

Just went for a walk with Sonny.
Very low key.

I'd got a flatwork lesson booked on Saturday with a new instructor, but after 5 minutes Harvey didn't seem quite level so we decided to give up.

We had planned a trip to Wyre Forest on Sunday so I got to the yard early and trotted him up. He was sound so we decided to go and play. I then found that the lorry didn't want to start. After a bit of messing around with jump leads I got it going so the trip was on. Three of us went and it was a really nice day. Far from being lame Harvey pulled my arms out most of the way round - he really loves going somewhere new!

Sadly this looks to be the end of my hacking challenge for this year as a trip to the Doctor's yesterday resulted in being banned from riding for a while (nothing serious). I think I will use the oportunity to teach Harvey to trot up (which he doesn't understand) and to learn how to lunge him.

Hacking
10 miles
3 hours

Totals
Hacking
425.5 miles
129 hours 50

Schooling
25 hours 50

Oh no that's horrible.
Glad it's nothing serious.

Don't give up on the thread it's not
Just riding.

You can lunge and ground drive (long line)
And traveling circles are fun too.