It definitely is. I’ve never had one who rides like him so it is frustrating me as well
I’m hoping he’s different when I get back on him this time round 
And we’re there...
- Thread starter Jessey
- Start date
It definitely is. I’ve never had one who rides like him so it is frustrating me as well
I’m hoping he’s different when I get back on him this time round 
I’ve not been riding monkey, between work and daylight even a couple of rides a week was unsustainable. And as I’ve decided this job isn’t for me and am waiting on vetting on a new one, I’ve decided to cut myself some slack.
The downside is he’s in full brat mode! Nothing can be left where he can reach it anyway but his climbing skills are growing and this morning he’s climbed into the barn hay box to reach into the horse free zone behind it and pull out rugs -pulled the neck clean off his fly rug!, tarps, spare fence posts and eat his way into a bale of bedding
I could throttle him!
The downside is he’s in full brat mode! Nothing can be left where he can reach it anyway but his climbing skills are growing and this morning he’s climbed into the barn hay box to reach into the horse free zone behind it and pull out rugs -pulled the neck clean off his fly rug!, tarps, spare fence posts and eat his way into a bale of bedding
I could throttle him!
Another one for the naughty step!I’ve not been riding monkey, between work and daylight even a couple of rides a week was unsustainable. And as I’ve decided this job isn’t for me and am waiting on vetting on a new one, I’ve decided to cut myself some slack.
The downside is he’s in full brat mode! Nothing can be left where he can reach it anyway but his climbing skills are growing and this morning he’s climbed into the barn hay box to reach into the horse free zone behind it and pull out rugs -pulled the neck clean off his fly rug!, tarps, spare fence posts and eat his way into a bale of bedding
View attachment 115056
I could throttle him!
Oh he is mischievous isn’t he! Zi is the same. At night we have to make sure the entrance to the cat barn has a barrow and something else in front, else he pokes his head in and pierces bales of shavings or horsehage!!!! He will nibble anything and do just about anything when he’s that way at night!! Argh. Don’t know if yours will grow out of it but Zi is 18 and not showing any signs.
He’s not called monkey for no reason! Jess was stood diagonally in the barn eating a dumpy bag of hay, he shot in the tiny gap behind her risking a kick, whizzed around her, crashed over the bag of hay and off outside. I have absolutely no idea what his game plan was 
Zi has a plan lol, he actually picks his empty bucket up and hurls it at Storm if he can - but he only does it when she's standing quietly. Like he's trying to deliberately wake her up poor lass!He’s not called monkey for no reason! Jess was stood diagonally in the barn eating a dumpy bag of hay, he shot in the tiny gap behind her risking a kick, whizzed around her, crashed over the bag of hay and off outside. I have absolutely no idea what his game plan was
I lunged monkey yesterday very briefly to try out the new girth, all was well so I hopped on this morning and headed out.
What a tit he was! Started out fine but turned the first corner and he lost it over a decorative lawn edge that’s been newly installed then a man on a bike then a cat walking along the path then a parked van then where someone had dug over a flower bed and a few invisible ghosts each requiring banana-ing fixation and complete loss of any steering, then the world nearly ended when there was a parked car on one side and a parked van on the other and he just hit reverse. So I got off and walked. Tit.
It’s just time off and being a baby but sheesh, I thought we were past all the drama.
What a tit he was! Started out fine but turned the first corner and he lost it over a decorative lawn edge that’s been newly installed
then a man on a bike then a cat walking along the path then a parked van then where someone had dug over a flower bed and a few invisible ghosts each requiring banana-ing fixation and complete loss of any steering, then the world nearly ended when there was a parked car on one side and a parked van on the other and he just hit reverse. So I got off and walked. Tit. It’s just time off and being a baby but sheesh, I thought we were past all the drama.
Got out with monkey in company today, first proper ride in weeks and weeks. He was a bit fresh during his 10 minutes on the lunge first, but actually really well behaved once I got on, only one tuck and launch incident!
He was a bit of a turd about going in front to start with, but soon got over it, and didn’t loose his mind when our company got very excited and huffed and bounced behind us. He was a very tired monkey after 90 minutes, which was good for the first time he saw alpaca’s and donkeys
poor kid 
He was a bit of a turd about going in front to start with, but soon got over it, and didn’t loose his mind when our company got very excited and huffed and bounced behind us. He was a very tired monkey after 90 minutes, which was good for the first time he saw alpaca’s and donkeys
poor kid
First ride of the new year and it was a cracker. We went out with H, I decided monkey could suck it up and lead from the outset (his comfort zone is to follow), we had a little bit of a discussion after some spooking, slamming breaks on and backing up, no thank you! But when he got over himself we had a lovely 2 hours around the Forest getting back just as it got dark. We had lots of trotting and H was puffing and sweating and monkey was still cool as a cucumber, that arab bit is definitely noticeable.
We had a bit of a break through today, since I came off he’s done everything with the hand brake still half on, his anxiety shows this way and I’ve had to ride really positively, today he finally relaxed and let it off and we had a lovely forward ride 
it was so nice. He was really good with the wind, just wasn’t so keen walking head on into it.
We got back just as it was getting dark
it was so nice. He was really good with the wind, just wasn’t so keen walking head on into it. We got back just as it was getting dark
Riding hasn’t happened since I started the new job, but I’m settling in fast and evening light is drawing out so I’m hoping to get in more of a rhythm now.
So I’ve booked a couple of weekends away at one of the places I ride to, so we’ve got until May to get fit and strong enough for his first bigger ride (15 miles each way) and 2 night stay
So I’ve booked a couple of weekends away at one of the places I ride to, so we’ve got until May to get fit and strong enough for his first bigger ride (15 miles each way) and 2 night stay
Last minute decision to ride before work this morning, I don’t like being on a time limit, but I really wanted to get out as I’ve not ridden him in 2.5 weeks.
He was a bit nervous going out, he’s not been out on his own in ages.
First excitement was masses of sirens on the road parallel to us, as we got a bit further on I could see there’d been an accident
Next we met a big herd of deer, and Niko actually noticed them for the first time ever, he was curious but not a foot wrong no pictures as I wasn’t taking my hands off the reins just in case as they were moving noisily through the forest parallel to us.
A very nice if chilly morning though
Then we turned a corner onto another track to find some young cows, only 7 of them but all very curious and they wandered towards us. Niko didn’t do anything but I hopped off, it was the same place I came off him before and he’s never seen cows and if they came to us then started frolicking I didn’t want to get caught up in it. I phoned around and found the owner, then as I got to them they turned off into the trees and we carried on by with no drama.
But I’m still a couple of miles from home, it’s 8.40 and I need to leave the yard by 9 to go home, shower, breakfast, make lunch and make it to work! And I’m now on foot so we both got some exercise and I jogged with monkey which he was very amused by somehow I got back, sorted him, hayed everyone and left the yard at 9.10 and made it to work on time!
This is why I don’t like riding on a time limit! But he really did very well this morning, lots of firsts, and he coped and excelled and I’m glad we went
He was a bit nervous going out, he’s not been out on his own in ages.
First excitement was masses of sirens on the road parallel to us, as we got a bit further on I could see there’d been an accident
Next we met a big herd of deer, and Niko actually noticed them for the first time ever, he was curious but not a foot wrong
no pictures as I wasn’t taking my hands off the reins just in case as they were moving noisily through the forest parallel to us.A very nice if chilly morning though
Then we turned a corner onto another track to find some young cows, only 7 of them but all very curious and they wandered towards us. Niko didn’t do anything but I hopped off, it was the same place I came off him before and he’s never seen cows and if they came to us then started frolicking I didn’t want to get caught up in it. I phoned around and found the owner, then as I got to them they turned off into the trees and we carried on by with no drama.
But I’m still a couple of miles from home, it’s 8.40 and I need to leave the yard by 9 to go home, shower, breakfast, make lunch and make it to work! And I’m now on foot
so we both got some exercise and I jogged with monkey which he was very amused by somehow I got back, sorted him, hayed everyone and left the yard at 9.10 and made it to work on time!This is why I don’t like riding on a time limit! But he really did very well this morning, lots of firsts, and he coped and excelled and I’m glad we went
Well, that was eventful!Last minute decision to ride before work this morning, I don’t like being on a time limit, but I really wanted to get out as I’ve not ridden him in 2.5 weeks.
He was a bit nervous going out, he’s not been out on his own in ages.
First excitement was masses of sirens on the road parallel to us, as we got a bit further on I could see there’d been an accident
View attachment 116042
Next we met a big herd of deer, and Niko actually noticed them for the first time ever, he was curious but not a foot wrong
A very nice if chilly morning though
View attachment 116043
Then we turned a corner onto another track to find some young cows, only 7 of them but all very curious and they wandered towards us. Niko didn’t do anything but I hopped off, it was the same place I came off him before and he’s never seen cows and if they came to us then started frolicking I didn’t want to get caught up in it. I phoned around and found the owner, then as I got to them they turned off into the trees and we carried on by with no drama.
View attachment 116044
But I’m still a couple of miles from home, it’s 8.40 and I need to leave the yard by 9 to go home, shower, breakfast, make lunch and make it to work! And I’m now on foot
This is why I don’t like riding on a time limit! But he really did very well this morning, lots of firsts, and he coped and excelled and I’m glad we went
They definitely have a spring in their step, unfortunately monkey took it too far.
Went to catch him to ride and Jess thought I was heading for her and took off flat out taking him with her, along the track and into the paddock, Monkey misjudged the corner at the far end of the paddock, lost all 4 legs, slid leg first into the fence where he got all 4 legs tangled
how I don’t know, he managed to extract himself with both him and the fence intact!
I’m a bit pee’d off as was really looking forward to riding today, but after a fall like that I don’t want to risk climbing on a sore horse, not that he looked sore when he continued charging about!
Went to catch him to ride and Jess thought I was heading for her and took off flat out taking him with her, along the track and into the paddock, Monkey misjudged the corner at the far end of the paddock, lost all 4 legs, slid leg first into the fence where he got all 4 legs tangled
how I don’t know, he managed to extract himself with both him and the fence intact!I’m a bit pee’d off as was really looking forward to riding today, but after a fall like that I don’t want to risk climbing on a sore horse, not that he looked sore when he continued charging about!
The good, the bad and the ugly today!
Went out being a tit, soft snorts right from the offset, going rigid at every little nothing (which I hate because he becomes oblivious of his other side then jumps if he walks into something), generally unpleasant.
Then got to a junction where we can turn for home or the forest and he had a tantrum when I said forest
head tossing, napping, bouncing. Then a car pulled up behind us so I jumped off and lead him.
Got back on in the forest once he’d calmed down and he was better. Didn’t follow our normal route, lots of zig zagging along different tracks to reach the same destination. Lots of trots and transitions, and working on bending from my leg. Lots more long trots and he was really good. Went along the verge of a 60mph road and he didn’t fuss about cars flying by. Through the village and could hear loads of motorbikes not far away racing around and didn’t care. Lots more long trots and transitions. Met loads of dog walkers. Got some nice long and low on the way back too. Half a mile from home on a narrow path met a person on a mobility scooter with 2 loose dogs, and 2 more people walking with a dog each on leads, they moved over but barely left us room to pass and the dogs were playing, pulling and trotting around, so I hopped off slightly sooner than I normally do and walked him by, he was good as gold, even with 2 dogs following right on his heels and another jumping up at his side
So in all a good ride, just a shame he was a tit for the first half a mile, really pleased he was good for the other 4.5 though!
Went out being a tit, soft snorts right from the offset, going rigid at every little nothing (which I hate because he becomes oblivious of his other side then jumps if he walks into something), generally unpleasant.
Then got to a junction where we can turn for home or the forest and he had a tantrum when I said forest
head tossing, napping, bouncing. Then a car pulled up behind us so I jumped off and lead him. Got back on in the forest once he’d calmed down and he was better. Didn’t follow our normal route, lots of zig zagging along different tracks to reach the same destination. Lots of trots and transitions, and working on bending from my leg. Lots more long trots and he was really good. Went along the verge of a 60mph road and he didn’t fuss about cars flying by. Through the village and could hear loads of motorbikes not far away racing around and didn’t care. Lots more long trots and transitions. Met loads of dog walkers. Got some nice long and low on the way back too. Half a mile from home on a narrow path met a person on a mobility scooter with 2 loose dogs, and 2 more people walking with a dog each on leads, they moved over but barely left us room to pass and the dogs were playing, pulling and trotting around, so I hopped off slightly sooner than I normally do and walked him by, he was good as gold, even with 2 dogs following right on his heels and another jumping up at his side
So in all a good ride, just a shame he was a tit for the first half a mile, really pleased he was good for the other 4.5 though!
He really is good, He’s just got to that point where he thinks he knows best, and is relaxed enough to hyper focus on silly things. Like in the first half mile the man grinding metal with an angle grinder in his driveway, absolutely fine but many unseen (to the mere human eye) monsters required silliness!
He very much enjoyed a roll when we got back, I have no idea how he gets it ground into his blaze!
He very much enjoyed a roll when we got back, I have no idea how he gets it ground into his blaze!
Just realised I forgot to share this earlier in the week, his brow liner he’s started shedding around his eyes and makes him look a bit ridiculous
he’s started shedding around his eyes and makes him look a bit ridiculous newrider.com