Haven't ridden for a week, and still a bit shaky after this virus, but missing going out too much. Lovely, lovely ride. I don't know if he knew I was only powered up about 50%, but he was a little gent. I felt SO much better when we got back!
2023 Hacking and Riding
- Thread starter chunky monkey
- Start date
Glad that you are recovering. I havent been ill but just worn out by the hot weather and a new GP making a hyperchondriac of me by insisting on the equivalent of a 4 star vetting up at the hosptal. And I am having to measure my blood pressure morning and night
Thus reminded of my antiquity, I went to ride today with dire foreboding. But in the end we pottered around off track, at a meander because of the heat and with three nice little canters. Plus I got on and off with little angst.
She wanted to drink at the pond but I didnt let her. There seems to be some idea that horses can catch something from the water. I need to go on line and check.
What with the water and some threatened napping we did have one or two arguments. But she is a safe and long suffering horse. She shrugged and went on
Thus reminded of my antiquity, I went to ride today with dire foreboding. But in the end we pottered around off track, at a meander because of the heat and with three nice little canters. Plus I got on and off with little angst.
She wanted to drink at the pond but I didnt let her. There seems to be some idea that horses can catch something from the water. I need to go on line and check.
What with the water and some threatened napping we did have one or two arguments. But she is a safe and long suffering horse. She shrugged and went on
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Yesterday's ride was interesting! He was wired anyway. Then almost home and I didn't realise there was someone on the other side of the hedge who then shot 2 shots over our head! Robin thought that sod this I need to go home. He was actually very good and managed to hold it together while bouncing, but we sort of exploded back into the yard! We are meant to be hacking quietly for short hacks!
Today was just lovely. Round the grass fields. Much more sensible and enjoyable!
Today was just lovely. Round the grass fields. Much more sensible and enjoyable!
Harvey has had a busy week as I have been on leave. Thursday and Friday were hot so I rode early (for me!) and kept it short. Saturday and Sunday were roasting so Harvey got the weekend off.
On Monday I picked up my hacking buddy C and we boxed over to a local farm to hack. We had a nice ride apart from Harvey having a meltdown when the farmer was driving sheep towards us with a quad (they were miles away!).
On Wednesday I picked C up again and we went for a play at our small local off road riding.
I don't normally work in metric but I have hacked 1000km now this year
Harvey living his best life as a mower
Hacking
19 miles
5 hours 45
Totals
Hacking
627 miles
273 hours 40
Schooling
12 hours 40
On Monday I picked up my hacking buddy C and we boxed over to a local farm to hack. We had a nice ride apart from Harvey having a meltdown when the farmer was driving sheep towards us with a quad (they were miles away!).
On Wednesday I picked C up again and we went for a play at our small local off road riding.
I don't normally work in metric but I have hacked 1000km now this year
Harvey living his best life as a mower
Hacking
19 miles
5 hours 45
Totals
Hacking
627 miles
273 hours 40
Schooling
12 hours 40
Wonderful pics as always.Harvey has had a busy week as I have been on leave. Thursday and Friday were hot so I rode early (for me!) and kept it short. Saturday and Sunday were roasting so Harvey got the weekend off.
On Monday I picked up my hacking buddy C and we boxed over to a local farm to hack. We had a nice ride apart from Harvey having a meltdown when the farmer was driving sheep towards us with a quad (they were miles away!).
On Wednesday I picked C up again and we went for a play at our small local off road riding.
I don't normally work in metric but I have hacked 1000km now this year
Harvey living his best life as a mower
Hacking
19 miles
5 hours 45
Totals
Hacking
627 miles
273 hours 40
Schooling
12 hours 40
I haven't done anything for a few days as family visiting.
Decided she could have those days off as farrier was due today.
She's in season and feeling rather playful and fruity. The boots are back to fitting easily again.
My new rope reins arrived so will take the noseband off and attach those to go out tomorrow.
Decided she could have those days off as farrier was due today.
She's in season and feeling rather playful and fruity. The boots are back to fitting easily again.
My new rope reins arrived so will take the noseband off and attach those to go out tomorrow.
I don't know if or when this bubble is going to burst, but it's great while it lasts. Forest was lovely and quiet, Hogan was chilled (okay - slow, as usual)but we got lots of nice trots and a nice long chat with a dog walker. 
I haven't ridden for more than a week as I have just been working too hard, but this morning was lovely. I let Sid choose the route and to my surprise he chose to go on the road hack around the village, which is actually perfect for early on a Sunday. No canter opportunities, but several long trots (long for us - maybe half a mile) and one very long, steep hill at the end. He was very sweaty when we got home and enjoy a rinse off with a stiff wet scrubbing brush.
Generally he was good as gold, but he did one delightful slow motion spook. Turn head to look into a drive. Ears brace. Oh. My. Goodness. What. Is. That?
Lean back, lean back further. Lift head veeeeeeerrryyy slooooowly and lean back.
Turn head verrrrry slowly towards home and begin to shift weight in that direction.
At this point I stopped laughing and said, "Er, no, Sid. Seriously?"
I swear the entire spook took more than a minute. It was at nothing at all, as far as I could tell.
Generally he was good as gold, but he did one delightful slow motion spook. Turn head to look into a drive. Ears brace. Oh. My. Goodness. What. Is. That?
Lean back, lean back further. Lift head veeeeeeerrryyy slooooowly and lean back.
Turn head verrrrry slowly towards home and begin to shift weight in that direction.
At this point I stopped laughing and said, "Er, no, Sid. Seriously?"
I swear the entire spook took more than a minute. It was at nothing at all, as far as I could tell.
Unusually, a hack today in the afternoon, after a short work shift. Very, very windy! Sid was a muppet about leaving the field, which is exposed, but once I got him out (trying for that elusive balance of 0% energy and 100% authority) there was less wind on the lanes and in the trees and he was pretty good, though on his toes throughout. We were only out for 45 minutes but I nearly came off in our first canter when he spooked left and just as I got my balance back spooked right! I stuck to him though and I swear his ears said "Hmm, probably not worth trying that one again." He didn't either, no more silly canter spooks. We had one enormous nap, where after 2 jumps in the jumping ring he full on refused to leave the ring. I felt sympathetic, but he was excited and I didn't want to push my luck, so I insisted that we walk away.
Although very windy it was a beautiful Autumn afternoon, pine needles whipping down from the trees and sparkling in the sunshine, and it was so relaxing to be out.
Although very windy it was a beautiful Autumn afternoon, pine needles whipping down from the trees and sparkling in the sunshine, and it was so relaxing to be out.
After 3 days of rain, we managed out this morning. First ride with a jacket on - 8° at 8am! Lovely ride though, no flies, inclosure fairly quiet, and Hogan good as gold. We can stop and chat, or not, with no nonsense, and some good trots without too much leg flapping.
For my third ride this week with C we had a nice local hack. Her pony was slightly footy so we didn't go too far. I have to make the most of hacking with her as she is away a lot.
Saturday was a short hack and canter on our own.
On Sunday I went to watch my old riding buddy A do her first one day event(on a borrowed pony). A nice catch up and I got roped into helping her warm up for SJ
Monday was a day off for me so a nice hack round the block.
Tuesday was rainy - I don't do wet!
On Wednesday Harvey had a check up with the ortho/physio which he seemed to enjoy. She didn't find much but I have some stretching exercises as homework.
Friday was feeling very Autumny. I had a nice hack onto the hill getting back just before the rain started.
Harvey has new hi viz (he doesn't seem impressed)
On the hill
Hacking
20 miles
6 hours
Totals
Hacking
647 miles
279 hours 40
Schooling
12 hours 40
Saturday was a short hack and canter on our own.
On Sunday I went to watch my old riding buddy A do her first one day event(on a borrowed pony). A nice catch up and I got roped into helping her warm up for SJ
Monday was a day off for me so a nice hack round the block.
Tuesday was rainy - I don't do wet!
On Wednesday Harvey had a check up with the ortho/physio which he seemed to enjoy. She didn't find much but I have some stretching exercises as homework.
Friday was feeling very Autumny. I had a nice hack onto the hill getting back just before the rain started.
Harvey has new hi viz (he doesn't seem impressed)
On the hill
Hacking
20 miles
6 hours
Totals
Hacking
647 miles
279 hours 40
Schooling
12 hours 40
Just a walk out this morning - bright but chilly. Hogan was actually quite perky and walked up smartly. We met a lady with a gorgeous dog, I asked the breed and ut was a very long French name. The dog was carrying basically half a tree, which worried Hogan - a lot! However, he just grew and glared. A nice relaxed wander, can't complain.
We've not done anything for three weeks. She went sore after farrier, ongoing, noted, will adjust trim and relocate to another yard.
She can't cope with this surface just now.
I am still buzzing after the five day lucinda green challenge. Too hard to try and explain. It's about feel, and you need to feel things for yourself rather than read what I felt, if that makes sense.
I took loads away, and I popped out today to put into practice away from home what we had both learnt.
Well, she turned into a piece of granite.
I am NOT going to walk through that puddle. I always go round puddles.
Yes that's true, up until today that is.
She wasnt scared of the puddle, she had simply always said no and that's that. You know the horse equivalent of the middle finger!
It took me ten minutes to go through.
I am beyond surprised.
The photos upload, but that's all they do. @Mike is that part of the maintenance. Thanks.
She can't cope with this surface just now.
I am still buzzing after the five day lucinda green challenge. Too hard to try and explain. It's about feel, and you need to feel things for yourself rather than read what I felt, if that makes sense.
I took loads away, and I popped out today to put into practice away from home what we had both learnt.
Well, she turned into a piece of granite.
I am NOT going to walk through that puddle. I always go round puddles.
Yes that's true, up until today that is.
She wasnt scared of the puddle, she had simply always said no and that's that. You know the horse equivalent of the middle finger!
It took me ten minutes to go through.
I am beyond surprised.
The photos upload, but that's all they do. @Mike is that part of the maintenance. Thanks.
A short update this week as I was late last week! (and no photos - boo hiss)
I have a show jumping clinic booked next week, so on Saturday I though we had better have a little practice (as its weeks since we last jumped). Amazingly Harvey wasn't too overexcited and went well.
On Sunday I met my riding buddy J at the local forest and we had a nice relaxed hack round and catch up
Schooling
25 minutes
Totals
Hacking
655 miles
282 hours
Schooling
13 hours 05
I have a show jumping clinic booked next week, so on Saturday I though we had better have a little practice (as its weeks since we last jumped). Amazingly Harvey wasn't too overexcited and went well.
On Sunday I met my riding buddy J at the local forest and we had a nice relaxed hack round and catch up
Schooling
25 minutes
Totals
Hacking
655 miles
282 hours
Schooling
13 hours 05
Hopped on today. Just went for a walk round next doors field as I didn't need her boots for that.
My saddle needs cleaning again! This time I have a nice cover for it though.
Its been so long since I rode that a family of rats have moved into the tack box. I did get photos, but decided you might not want to see that
My saddle needs cleaning again! This time I have a nice cover for it though.
Its been so long since I rode that a family of rats have moved into the tack box. I did get photos, but decided you might not want to see that
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