All still calm here, but it was -6 last night! Also of course mine live out so probably do more exploding when I can't see them.
2023 Hacking and Riding
- Thread starter chunky monkey
- Start date
A fun Week for me.
On Thursday I hacked with S and took her on a longer route she hasn't done before. Friday was a play over the grid in the school.
On Saturday I had a long overdue trip to the local (ish) forest. OH was ill so I travelled on my own, but I met a hacking buddy there. The ground was unusually good which allowed us to have quite a few canters. I did get us slightly lost so we had a bit of cross country riding (eek)
On Sunday I thought Harvey deserved a day off and there was a schooling livery that needed some exercise and that I haven't ridden before so I took him in the school
Harvey waiting for his playmate
Hacking
17 miles
5 hours
Schooling
45 minutes
Totals
Hacking
54 miles
15 hours
Schooling
3 hours
On Thursday I hacked with S and took her on a longer route she hasn't done before. Friday was a play over the grid in the school.
On Saturday I had a long overdue trip to the local (ish) forest. OH was ill so I travelled on my own, but I met a hacking buddy there. The ground was unusually good which allowed us to have quite a few canters. I did get us slightly lost so we had a bit of cross country riding (eek)
On Sunday I thought Harvey deserved a day off and there was a schooling livery that needed some exercise and that I haven't ridden before so I took him in the school
Harvey waiting for his playmate
Hacking
17 miles
5 hours
Schooling
45 minutes
Totals
Hacking
54 miles
15 hours
Schooling
3 hours
I was surprised this morning - it wasn't frosty, so I suppose i could have ridden, but my head was geared to a walk out, so that's what we did. I headed for one of his bogey tracks, near the car park, where he enjoys having a paddy in front of an audience. My heart sank as we turned down towards the car park - a group of about 20 walkers, all in hi viz, chatting quite loudly - Ramsey would have had a coronary - Hogan was totally unfazed. They all turned and watched as we walked towards them, so we stopped to talk. What a good boy he was, stood beautifully, and wonder of wonders, we walked up our track with no problem at all. We stopped again to chat to a horse owning neighbour near home, and he got a bit antsy, but I circled him and asked him to stand, which he did. I can't take pics while leading, so just one of good lad in his stable.
Phew. Normal service resumed. Seems he didn’t like his belly band. I feel cross with myself for mistaking his confusion and upset for woopie we are in a new field.
Cold and frosty again this morning,but I decided to lead out anyway. We took a different route to the dreaded car park and stopped for a chat with some regular dog walkers. He was very good, and continued on being excellent, despite another stop and chat. I think he's definitely more responsive again to voice commands - I hope that carries through when I get on him again. Unfortunately, I think he might be slightly lame again - totally fine in walk, but just perceptible in trot so maybe be walking a bit longer. He'll have the weekend off and we'll see what next week brings.
We've been exploring the new area, it's definitely got lots of potential, picnics being one 
She's lost some weight but I keep forgetting to do the tape as I need to put her on the flat part.
A few feel she's 14.2hh if they see her out and about, probably because she just looks like a non green hulk and I look small
She's lost some weight but I keep forgetting to do the tape as I need to put her on the flat part.
A few feel she's 14.2hh if they see her out and about, probably because she just looks like a non green hulk and I look small
Oh nice ride this morning. Sid was a bit sluggish to start with but a couple of nice trots warmed him up. We did mostly walk and trot, but lots of trot. Then on the heath we popped a little obstacle by the track, it is only about 3ft wide, he has no trouble with skinnies! And went to the jumping ring and jumped one jump from trot on the way in, circled, cantered and flew over the big jump (all of 60cm) on the way out. I had gone there with the dogs this morning to put on extra branches! Sid was happy after that and I let him canter until he wanted to stop.
Honestly, all the time I had Ziggy this was my dream, just to be able to pop over a little obstacle while we are out and about. I don't want to be a show jumper or an venter or compete, just have fun like a kid on my pony. That's how Sid makes me feel.
Then we rode right past the entrance to his field to go up to my house to try the possible new saddle. He didn't make a fuss even though he knows his breakfast is waiting for him in the field. He is so good and lovely.
Honestly, all the time I had Ziggy this was my dream, just to be able to pop over a little obstacle while we are out and about. I don't want to be a show jumper or an venter or compete, just have fun like a kid on my pony. That's how Sid makes me feel.
Then we rode right past the entrance to his field to go up to my house to try the possible new saddle. He didn't make a fuss even though he knows his breakfast is waiting for him in the field. He is so good and lovely.
Do you think it might have been the hard ground that's made him a bit lame? If he's been hoolying perhaps? I hope he's normal again soon.
Could well be - I trotted him up today and he seemed sound. I'm going to put on my big girl pants and put his saddle on on Monday. As you can see, he got a bit over enthusiastic and I had to do the skid to stop! Little devil, all his pics look as though butter wouldn't melt.
I am glad it's not just me that makes jumps.
We have driftwood, that drifts a lot more than you would expect.
I made two jumps, different sizes. They need rebuilding as the lake will have helped itself. I think the "stepping stones" are still there for when I am inhand and can't cross. I found those and just repositioned or upcycled.
We had such a lovely ride. Now I have worked out what the issue was the prince(ss) is back. Saw the most enormous squirrel that sat and looked down on us. Spooked at a man walking down the road. Had a lovely trot through the stubble where he had his melt down (funny how he can do medium trot in a field but not when asked 
). Only had a minor look at a tractor ploughing right beside us (when I bought him I was told he can’t deal with tractors). Then had a bounce through the quary (see video) which he loves. Managed to have a spook and huff and puff past a fellow liveries chickens who are sometimes scarey and sometimes not. Power trotted back up the hill and back in time for tea. All is good with the world again.
). Only had a minor look at a tractor ploughing right beside us (when I bought him I was told he can’t deal with tractors). Then had a bounce through the quary (see video) which he loves. Managed to have a spook and huff and puff past a fellow liveries chickens who are sometimes scarey and sometimes not. Power trotted back up the hill and back in time for tea. All is good with the world again.
I set off this morning intending to do a slow poodle around the roads and through the village, because I'm going out with another horse tomorrow whom we don't know well and I think it might be a fast one. Then Uta said she was going to do a walk-only hack with Fin as he had been a bit off behind, so I said we'd go along.
We had a lovely long pootle, maybe an hour and a half, nearly all at walk but some trots in the end, and we passed the jumping ring so Sid and I did a little circuit. His jump is so neat and smooth, he is really classy.
I just adored him today. He looked so happy the whole time!
We had a lovely long pootle, maybe an hour and a half, nearly all at walk but some trots in the end, and we passed the jumping ring so Sid and I did a little circuit. His jump is so neat and smooth, he is really classy.
I just adored him today. He looked so happy the whole time!
Its dry enough to lunge again, yay. We haven't had anywhere over winter to do anything as we have no school.
I did expect a few acrobatics but she was fine. I don't ask for canter because I don't want to do small circles and her circle could end up being a mile in diameter if she took off! But, I might have found a safeish spot.
She was funny though, she spotted some people coming and transitioned to a walk. "Trot on" they are not near us. They get nearer to us and she wanted to walk, "trot on" which was then hollow and choppy - - because I really should walk when people pass.
Yes darling, but they are on the otherside of the river.
Once past she had the nice trot
I did expect a few acrobatics but she was fine. I don't ask for canter because I don't want to do small circles and her circle could end up being a mile in diameter if she took off!
But, I might have found a safeish spot. She was funny though, she spotted some people coming and transitioned to a walk. "Trot on" they are not near us. They get nearer to us and she wanted to walk, "trot on" which was then hollow and choppy - - because I really should walk when people pass.
Yes darling, but they are on the otherside of the river.
Once past she had the nice trot
I posted in Sid's diary earlier because there were so many spam bots I couldn't find this thread https://www.newrider.com/threads/sids-diary.256400/post-3175703 . We had a lovely ride, only short but quite energetic, and I was so grateful for my cob who is so neat and quick with his big fluffy feet.
Got both out for a very short walk tonight just as it was getting dark. Billy was going to try it on again and not be caught, so i started walking across the field with Chunky. He followed at a distance. So i stopped got some treats out for Chunky and asked Billy to come. He decided to oblige and got up close. As i raised the headcollar he turned his head away and the body started to follow. He suddenly cottoned on to a treat in my hand and turned his head back towards me. So i slipped the headcollar on and gave him the treat. He was as good as gold walking out, was relaxed and didnt rush. His body language even turned and leant over towards the places ive taught chunky to stop and touch for click and treat. So he got a few rewards for using his sensible brain.
We had our first proper ride after a lot of walks out. He was an angel really just a bit slow to start with. We went a bit of a convoluted route, which he actually seemed to enjoy. We're supposed to get another cold snap soon, so I suppose it'll be back to walking out, if the ground goes hard and slippy again.
I think they do get bored with same old, same old. My two definitely did. They like there comfort zones for sure and it they are being an idiot i think as riders we stick to what we feel safe with incase of an accident. But i am a firm believer that adding on a little extra loop here and there especially on road ride made them enjoy more. Its much easier to vary if your doing a street ride than if you are out in the countryside where you might have to follow a country lane for miles with nowhere to turn off.
I have seasonal routes I suppose is the best description.
I spend a fair bit of winter inhand because we didn't have anywhere to lunge if wet and off road is wet and muddy and oh it's windy, wet and generally cold, inhand keeps me warm
I spend a fair bit of winter inhand because we didn't have anywhere to lunge if wet and off road is wet and muddy and oh it's windy, wet and generally cold, inhand keeps me warm
Road hacks in town in winter for me. More sun, sheltered from winds and as it is lower down its 2° warmer.
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