2023 Hacking and Riding

[Huggy]

Well, a week of walking Hogan out and he's no worse, but still stiff. Farrier came yesterday and agreed with vet - pulled something, keep him moving and give it time. That said, he's been so good, we even met 2 riders, one of whom had a very agitated horse, and he was really well behaved, only getting a teeny bit pushy for about 5 minutes. I'm missing riding, but crossing everything for maybe being able to get on in a couple of weeks.

 

[newforest]

Not sure if we got blown or popped out. It's funny as my definition of popped out is the two mile route.
I am glad I wasn't planning a stop off part way had we go be the longer route.
Vandals have trashed the bench!

With the bottom photo she always stops at this spot. She used to stop, reverse, want to go back, lift her tail and get stressed because that gap changes if the tide is in or out.
Now she stops to look and I use it as an opportunity to check the tack over, or get some photos since she won't move.



I have the farrier on Thursday and hoping for the green light to get on and start doing what we would normally be doing over winter.
It's seven months since the abscess, bruise and mechanical lami, so it's either this trim or the next one I could be back on board.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

@newforest damn what a shame, why are people so mindless!

We had a great hack today, my first time on board for a couple of weeks. Sid was very lively with his sharer yesterday and I think she might have emptied the tank a bit because he was slow to start, but as usual got more cheerful the longer we stayed out. We couldn't get up speed in many places because of the mud - he hates mud - but we were adventurous, heading up the steep hill to the deer park, where the deer had changed sides just to upset him. Then through the competition yard along the Sheepwalk, where a new rubbish sorting facility has been built in the old quarry and erected giant new fences, which Sid walked past as far away from as he could get! More muddy tracks leading to a brisk canter up to the Roman Temple, where the huge logging machinery was at work loading whole trees onto a trailer. Sid stood and watched when I asked him to, but the canter away was even brisker than the approach

We headed down a narrow stony track which started to fill up with mud at the bottom, so I offered Sid the chance to climb out of it by jumping up a 6 foot bank. He didn't even hesitate and I was really surprised at how smoothly it happened. I've never ridden up an obstacle like that before, and he just seemed to, as @Jessey put it, teleport up to the top - one mighty push from behind and there we were! We manoeuvred our way along the narrow upper path and then down through an area where the forestry has been completed and there are sone huge tank-tracks left by the machines. They are hard to cross. A person could step across on the high parts but I looked and couldn't really see a route for a horse. Sid did that thing where he doesn't exactly take hold of the bit but he makes it clear that he is taking control, and walked us down to a section which he thought would be passable, as indeed it proved to be. We crossed another tank-track the same way, letting him choose the route, and then enjoyed another whizzy canter up the slope on the far side.

This brought us onto the Heath where he was thoroughly warmed up and offering trot and canter every which way, such fun, except when he tried to canter down the gully and on to the road!

He was very, very good and got 4 poles of grass as his reward.

 

[newforest]

@Jane&Ziggy gates around here are metal, as wooden ones disappear when people want a bonfire on the beach.
It's possible that this is the fate of this wood once it's been dried off.
I think they would be better just putting a metal back to it.
It's not really resting weather, A nice hot chocolate and locally made flapjack is in order after a four mile walk.

I guess the four poles on return meant four polos, or are you strip grazing by four poles. I give her one Maxima and the tub is lasting months!

I have opened up the winter paddock gradually so she's got a square that's relatively flat in comparison to the steep side of the hill that's left.

 

[GaryB]

The weather forecast on Thursday morning was for 4 days of rain so on Thursday K and I hacked in steady drizzle. It wasn't too bad - it was just starting to go down my neck when we got back (after about 40 minutes).
Forecasts being what they are Friday was dry so I had a longer hack, but still keeping to the roads. Saturday was very windy so I decided Harvey could havea day off as I was worried about things blowing around. Sunday was rainy so I just had a quick play in the school

Spooky Christmas decorations. Santa riding a moving polar bear!

Hacking
2 hours 10
8 miles

Schooling
15 minutes

Totals
Hacking
811 miles
329 hours 10

Schooling
15 hours 25

 

[newforest]

The weather forecast on Thursday morning was for 4 days of rain so on Thursday K and I hacked in steady drizzle. It wasn't too bad - it was just starting to go down my neck when we got back (after about 40 minutes).
Forecasts being what they are Friday was dry so I had a longer hack, but still keeping to the roads. Saturday was very windy so I decided Harvey could havea day off as I was worried about things blowing around. Sunday was rainy so I just had a quick play in the school

Spooky Christmas decorations. Santa riding a moving polar bear!

Hacking
2 hours 10
8 miles

Schooling
15 minutes

Totals
Hacking
811 miles
329 hours 10

Schooling
15 hours 25

I have seen a few inflatable things, but they've not been up when we have gone past.
We used to have a hot tub adjacent to the school and that used to create a few shapes when we went by.

 

[newforest]

Went out today in what was described as "showers"
If you look at the photos you can see we enjoyed a nice walk with blue sky initially.
Then it seemed to come over cloudy, next minute the heavens opened and well we had a rinse!
You couldn't see the beach at the mist had come down, had I had a longer rope I could have sheltered in the wigwam and she could have tucked round the corner.
It was a lovely walk as we are more used to doing inhand in rubbish weather, so it felt normal
The farrier is due in 48 hours, not that I am counting them or anything. It depends what he feels about the toe as we've still got wall separation. My positive brain says it's because she's still got to grow out the wedge so it can't connect as it's mishapen.



YO has decided to discontinue one of the services I was getting in my rent. So that's indirectly put my rent up.
Heyho.

 

[Jessey]

YO has decided to discontinue one of the services I was getting in my rent. So that's indirectly put my rent up.
Heyho.

That's a pain, what have they cut out?

 

[newforest]

That's a pain, what have they cut out?

Nothing important just the water Seriously you couldn't make it up!!
Well you could except nobody would actually believe you.
After the initial shock where my brain tells my mouth to just say okay that's fine no problem - because that's what it does. It then thought wtf and a few other words I can't put.
I am trying to "be more horse" as she actually doesn't know about this. The water just appears in the buckets. I have got myself a freelance groom that will drop water off. The water angel that will be worth every penny for the piece of mind that it will get done when needed, no stress, no hassle.

 

[Jessey]

Nothing important just the water Seriously you couldn't make it up!!
Well you could except nobody would actually believe you.
After the initial shock where my brain tells my mouth to just say okay that's fine no problem - because that's what it does. It then thought wtf and a few other words I can't put.
I am trying to "be more horse" as she actually doesn't know about this. The water just appears in the buckets. I have got myself a freelance groom that will drop water off. The water angel that will be worth every penny for the piece of mind that it will get done when needed, no stress, no hassle.

Gosh glad you got it sorted, no water can be just about the hardest to cope with because it's such hard work carrying it in from elsewhere.

 

[Tir]

Wet Wednesday afternoon hacking...again. I am so sick of the rain making our nice field margin hacks unrideable and everything wet, dirty and slippy. Nearly didnt get on today, but glad I did for a short one.


This track does not normally have a stream running down it (and not in the previous 7 years). Bonkers.



I want your hacking newforest, its beautiful whatever the weather!

 

[newforest]

I am lucky to have the option of three villages or off road. I think 90% of the rides have sea views.
The ice cream van novelty wore off, I want to move onto flapjack and hot chocolate stops now.

 

[newforest]

When the farrier says you can start some ridden work and the saddle needs a wipe.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

When the farrier says you can start some ridden work and the saddle needs a wipe.

View attachment 120744

Oops! I am sp glad it's not just me that this happens to....

 

[newforest]

Oops! I am sp glad it's not just me that this happens to....

The spider that had made a few nests will have to move over slightly.

 

[newforest]

Popped her out today, just to stretch her legs.
What's the weather with the rest of you, is anyone managing to ride or get out?
Forecast for stormy stuff tomorrow.

 

[Tir]

Im managing to ride. Did my usual 2 days of hacking at the weekend and had the day off today so jumped for the first time in ages. Unseasonably weirdly warm here atm, but everything is still pretty waterlogged and doesnt look like thats going to change any time soon.

Boys are now on full winter rations but seem quite happy. My resting field is very green for this time of year though!

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

I should have gone out yesterday but didn't. We have Steve's older daughter and family coming for an early Christmas on Saturday and as I am working Wednesday to Friday the preparation overtook the riding!

There'll be time after their visit.

 

[Huggy]

I was too tired yesterday, after London, and today is foul outside. Hoping to get him out for a walk tomorrow

 

[GaryB]

I still managing to get out - TBH I think its been better weather than some previous years. I am sticking mostly to roadworks as its been so wet.
Thursday was a hack on my own and then Friday with K
On Saturday I ventured onto the bridleway to see what it was like - it was very boggy
Sunday was a SJ clinic with K. We were very lucky with the weather as it was about 10c. Harvey was very spooky and had a rare dirty stop leaving me sat on the arena floor. After spitting out the mouthful of sand I was fine to carry on and things were ok after that. We were jumping about 100cm as usual

Hacking
14 miles
4.5 hours

Schooling
45 minutes

Totals
Hacking
825 miles
333 hours 40

Schooling
16 hours 10