2023 Hacking and Riding

[Skib]

I am glad you werent hurt. But take care!

We went to the yard today. It was pouring with rain. And the back yard where Ella lives was being re-surfaced. Found Ella in another box busy munching a hay net and well rugged, so nothing to cuddle. So we came back home. Am hoping for better next week and a Boxing Day ride.

 

[newforest]

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

I did manage to find a super dirt stop photo that got me 1st place

Hope you are okay.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

@GaryB I didn't know Harvey had a dirty stop in him! Norty pony *wags finger* but glad you aren't hurt.

 

[GaryB]

I didn't know Harvey had a dirty stop in him

Nor did I! It may have been a dragon in the hedge. I'm a bit stiff today as might be expected, but that's the only damage

 

[Huggy]

Dry today, so quick lead out. Quick, because the horses over the lane were hooning round the field and he was VERY alert. He did behave very well though, his only reaction was walking up really fast (for Hogan!). I'm pretty sure he's more or less ok, so might ride without saddle after Christmas. He didn't snatch his leg away when I lifted it, so

 

[Huggy]

Very blowy, but manageable, so we had a walk out. I trotted him up along the tarmac lane and he seems fine. Will pop on him after Christmas, all staying as is. It was very gusty in the forest, and noisy, because of the trees, but he behaved immaculately - didn't seem to bother him at all.

 

[newforest]

I am still waiting for a nice day.

I have though spent my time sorting paddocks and dealing with the tractor tyres that churn up my gateway. There is no reason for fields and gateways to turn into a swampy mess of mud.
Now ours won't.

 

[Tir]

Very, very windy today but got out for a short one on the more sheltered lanes. Lost my hat silk on the 200m of open main road though! Luckily i had already requested a new one for xmas.

No pics out as I didnt want to be ordering a new phone as there was lot of stuff being blown everywhere, but my hacking companion got bkth the boys just was I was walking up and this pic was cute!

 

[newforest]

Very, very windy today but got out for a short one on the more sheltered lanes. Lost my hat silk on the 200m of open main road though! Luckily i had already requested a new one for xmas.

No pics out as I didnt want to be ordering a new phone as there was lot of stuff being blown everywhere, but my hacking companion got bkth the boys just was I was walking up and this pic was cute!

View attachment 120810

I am glad it's not just me that looses hat silks.
In your defense or probably was in need of replacement
I stopped buying the pompom tops as those end up soggy.

 

[newforest]

You know it's windy when the hay blows out of the field you are walking past.

The gateway was better to get out of.
On return, the brain cell that suggested taking the boots off after leading through the grass got a sweetie
I am going to see if positive reinforcement gets any other good ideas out myself, since most come with a health warning!

 

[newforest]

Boxing Day ride.

First hack after goodness knows how many months off.
It was the first nice day since the farrier says I could start riding.
She was a little super star.
I was really anxious about taking her out, in case she wasn't sound downhill on hard ground. But she was fine.

It was so mild I only had my jumper on. I didn't need my over trousers but wore them as I wanted to know what they were like to ride in - since that was the point in getting them originally.

I MUST do something about my gateway. I can't have her setting off like this, the boots will get trashed.

 

[carthorse]

@newforest how fantastic to hear that you're finally back in the saddle! And even better that she was a good girl

To be fair the mud looks like it's only hoof deep, considering everywhere has been so wet I'd say that wasn't bad at all, and surely hoofboots are meant to cope with mud?

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Yay @newforest , I'm so glad you are back on board

 

[Mary Poppins]

I am glad you werent hurt. But take care!

We went to the yard today. It was pouring with rain. And the back yard where Ella lives was being re-surfaced. Found Ella in another box busy munching a hay net and well rugged, so nothing to cuddle. So we came back home. Am hoping for better next week and a Boxing Day ride.

@Skib - Did you get your boxing day ride in?

 

[Skib]

@Skib - Did you get your boxing day ride in?

Yes and No.
@newforest may be back on board, but it is the opposite with me. Today I decided to dismount and walk home.
Christmas rest did Ella no good at all. The track was busy with Boxing Day walkers so I never got the chance to trot her long and hard to get the edge off. And when we got to the big car park, the place she ran away with me last week, she was about to do it again. I chickened out, left the track to go to some railings and as luck would have it, a retired riding master was near and phoned someone from the yard and held Ella so I could dismount.
The shame of it. It is the first time ever that I have dismounted while out hacking solo but I am older now and it didnt feel safe to ride a horse that I couldnt control. We led her back towards the yard and someone came out to meet me.
I think the difficulty today resembled a day when I had trouble with my old share and a laundry van. Then the YM and RI said she was being over fed. May be Ella was fed lots of Christmas treats yesterday as I know they went for Christmas rides instead of having a rest day.
Staff was kindly very worried I might be put off riding for good, but I assured her not and downgraded myself to beginner rider, requiring an escort next week please.

 

[newforest]

@newforest how fantastic to hear that you're finally back in the saddle! And even better that she was a good girl

To be fair the mud looks like it's only hoof deep, considering everywhere has been so wet I'd say that wasn't bad at all, and surely hoofboots are meant to cope with mud?

They are designed for it, it's just a bit tedious having to clean them everything we go out.
Minor thing though.

 

[Huggy]

I walked him out this morning - too windy to risk getting on. 20 minutes in, and the rain started, so I accepted defeat and we turned for home. He was good, despite the wind. Cheered myself up by trying on his new rythm beads - I'm a child, I know - don't care

 

[carthorse]

With the weather, particularly the wind, I'm hardly riding at all at the moment

 

[GaryB]

From reading other posts here I have been getting off lightly with the weather! Lots of days to remember
Thursday was torrential rain so a day off
Friday I boxed over for a hack with C who I haven't seen for ages
Saturday was miserable so I played in the school
Sunday a hack on my own
Christmas day a quick hack with YO
and Boxing Day a hack with K including a nice canter and getting back too close to sunset for my liking (good job its getting better now)

A Christmas day Harvey

Hacking
20 miles
6 hours

Schooling
20 minutes

Totals
Hacking
845 miles
339 hours 40

Schooling
16 hours 30

 

[newforest]

I walked him out this morning - too windy to risk getting on. 20 minutes in, and the rain started, so I accepted defeat and we turned for home. He was good, despite the wind. Cheered myself up by trying on his new rythm beads - I'm a child, I know - don't care View attachment 120875

You've got that to match the headcollar really well or they sold together?

I have sleigh bells but hasn't been the weather for any photos of her wearing them.