Does he have little hooves, though they do glitter in bigger one.Robin sez he would like boots if they are glittery
2024 Hacking Thread
- Thread starter Native Lover
- Start date
Stepped over the telegraph pole thing, both ways. Good girl less energy required.
We went out yesterday and the day before for short hacks, 40 - 50 minutes. I really enjoyed them both, though it's an uphill struggle to get Sid out of his looking after Mum state of mind. I can't persuade him that I'm ok, probably because occasionally my balance slips, and I can't do 2-point canter yet. He is funny with it, though. I put him into a little canter to pop over one of the jumps in the jumping ring (which he usually flies) and 2 strides before he dropped to trot and just trotted over it with no jump at all! He couldn't be clearer about his Views of my riding fitness.
The work goes on...
The work goes on...
I took AJ for his fourth hack away from home, to another x country/hacking route. It's a lovely place to go for a hack even if you don't want to jump. I think it's 6 miles round or 12 if you do the elusive extended loop (which I have never managed to find).
Today we both learned that AJ can cope in a car park when there are a couple of other trailers and horses banging about. Also horses coming cantering up behind us out of the blue with their riders whooping and clearly having a great time. The latter warranted a shoot forwards and a dragon snort but nothing bad happened. In fact he was a total star and I can't fault him. The first 5 minutes felt like I was sitting on a stick of dynamite but then he gave loads of snorts and grunts and came back down (ETA emotionally I mean, not literally!) It's just like Raf in his younger days.
I don't know if it's really obvious in these two videos, but I could certainly feel it. The first is not long after we set off and the second is later in the ride. All in all a fabulous day.
Today we both learned that AJ can cope in a car park when there are a couple of other trailers and horses banging about. Also horses coming cantering up behind us out of the blue with their riders whooping and clearly having a great time. The latter warranted a shoot forwards and a dragon snort but nothing bad happened. In fact he was a total star and I can't fault him. The first 5 minutes felt like I was sitting on a stick of dynamite but then he gave loads of snorts and grunts and came back down (ETA emotionally I mean, not literally!) It's just like Raf in his younger days.
I don't know if it's really obvious in these two videos, but I could certainly feel it. The first is not long after we set off and the second is later in the ride. All in all a fabulous day.
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Mine still can't cope with horses being ridden in any other gait besides walk.
We tend to prong and nap until they are out of sight then she's back to donkey mode. We had never experienced that until we moved yards though.
I have shrunk. (NHS o.a.p. exam measured height) Pics now show me as a plump little old lady rider. I am going to shorten my stirrups one hole next week, as I had to sit in canter yesterday.
3 days off. Plus an increased energy feed (he felt flatish...) New shoes and off we set. He huffed and puffed, spooked and star jumped. The piles of grit at the side of the road and any form of boulders were particularly horrific.
We got to the woods and suddenly angel.horse was back. We spent a lovely time trotting and cantering up tracks, we jumped a couple of (very tiny) logs, we explored a new track (and cantered back up it as we didn't really get anywhere), he was a complete machine up and down tricky terrain, we were over taken by a jogger who we then caught up with again. We had the best time ever.
He bounced home again as a much nicer horse (the piles of grit were no longer awful) and we stopped and shared some brambles, one for me, one for you, can reach so many more from horse back.
We got to the woods and suddenly angel.horse was back. We spent a lovely time trotting and cantering up tracks, we jumped a couple of (very tiny) logs, we explored a new track (and cantered back up it as we didn't really get anywhere), he was a complete machine up and down tricky terrain, we were over taken by a jogger who we then caught up with again. We had the best time ever.
He bounced home again as a much nicer horse (the piles of grit were no longer awful) and we stopped and shared some brambles, one for me, one for you, can reach so many more from horse back.
Not really brave but with each hack out I'm getting more confident that we can manage. He's at such a lovely accepting baby stage just now - finally grown out of the terrible twos (thank goodness) and not yet entered the 'Kevin's'.
In fact I can't believe what a lovely soul he is now, compared to that angry little 2 year old that kicked me and ran me over.
My RI thinks it's important to do lots of solo hacking with a baby so they learn to rely on you rather than the security of another horse. That's fine for what we've done so far but I don't have the confidence or capability to do it on the road so I will have to try and find someone with a bombproof horse to escort us for that particular chapter!
Today we went out for the longest hack Iāve had since my injury, about two hours 15 minutes. It was very slow with an average speed of 2.5 miles an hour, but very enjoyable through lovely countryside. Sid was a complete tosspot a couple of times, including a huge spin and spook at a very inoffensive bed of Gunnera (giant rhubarb). I have no idea what he thought it was going to do to him! But we mostly walked and trotted a bit on one of our prettiest rides and I think he enjoyed himself as well.
The pictures are back to front! Sid asks me to tell you that it was very hilly and the fact that he became a sweaty mess at walk is nothing to do with his fitness.
My leg held out well, though getting off and landing are still a bit of a performance. I just had a long hot bath to aid recovery!
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I love that kind of ride, it's what it's all about for me (minus the giant rhubarb!) Sid must think you're mending if he's starting to take chances with you though. He's such a star
Also, tell Sid that it looks hot in your photos and together with hills it completely justifies his
Lunged the cob, sound in trot on both reins, yay!! I have finally been able to check since we have two fitting boots. She was 99% last time.
Now she did click the boot a few times on the right rein. I did wonder about taking them off to lunge - however I won't until I see the farrier as she has flat soles and I don't want a bruise.
She tried sneaking in a canter on the left rein so I let her for a while since she's not been allowed to do anything with me for such a long time. She didn't feel the need to explode, I swear she's saving that for under saddle.
What a glorious day, I am in t shirt and shorts.
Someone stopped me to take a photo of her sparkly boot, that is seriously only in use for the bare minimum needed time
Such as we won't fit it next week
Now she did click the boot a few times on the right rein. I did wonder about taking them off to lunge - however I won't until I see the farrier as she has flat soles and I don't want a bruise.
She tried sneaking in a canter on the left rein so I let her for a while since she's not been allowed to do anything with me for such a long time. She didn't feel the need to explode, I swear she's saving that for under saddle.
What a glorious day, I am in t shirt and shorts.
Someone stopped me to take a photo of her sparkly boot, that is seriously only in use for the bare minimum needed time
Such as we won't fit it next week
The vet has been to rescan Harvey and his check ligament is massively improved so she says I can.......
I can hack for 10 minutes a day in walk increasing by 5 minutes a week and then a rescan in 6 weeks
Being a good boy to be scanned (we checked it was ok to take a photo)
Hacking
60 minutes
3 miles
Totals
Hacking
428 miles
135 hours 45
Schooling
3 hours 50
I can hack for 10 minutes a day in walk increasing by 5 minutes a week and then a rescan in 6 weeks
40 - 50 minutes - just a dream for me ATM
Being a good boy to be scanned (we checked it was ok to take a photo)
Hacking
60 minutes
3 miles
Totals
Hacking
428 miles
135 hours 45
Schooling
3 hours 50
I lunged today and will try and get the physio for next week. She did need a second session and although she's not looking lame, she's looking very unfit and most of it was in walk with a few trots.
I wouldn't say we are exactly doing circles either. They are more oblong as I stopped a few times to throw the rocks back into the sea. Then made them a little smaller to avoid to the walkers as we are on the coast path.
I wouldn't say we are exactly doing circles either. They are more oblong as I stopped a few times to throw the rocks back into the sea. Then made them a little smaller to avoid to the walkers as we are on the coast path.
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