2024 Hacking Thread

[Jane&Ziggy]

Sid and I had a little potter today. I am so unfit! And he is very strict with me. We were trotting along and I thought, Ouch, that is hurting my ankle. I swear I didn't change anything but he immediately dropped to walk and turned his head to look at me.

Sweetheart.

 

[GaryB]

We had snow this week. The horses were kept in on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as the fields were covered. On Friday it was thawing fast so I took Harvey out so I could supervise him. I let him go in his paddock and he rolled, cantered 2 laps and then jumped the fence Having captured him I then grazed him in hand for an hour. Saturday and Sunday brought heavy rain, so all I could really do was a couple of short sessions in the school.

Hippo!

Schooling
30 minutes

Totals
Hacking
498.75 miles
156 hours 30

Schooling
5 hours 20

 

[Bodshi]

I haven't done anything much with AJ due to the weather (snow then ice then torrential rain) and my days off being taken up with other stuff. It always gets like this towards Christmas.

But just wanted to say very exciting news about Harmony @diplomaticandtactful and I'm glad Harvey is feeling so well @GaryB!

 

[newforest]

We had snow this week. The horses were kept in on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as the fields were covered. On Friday it was thawing fast so I took Harvey out so I could supervise him. I let him go in his paddock and he rolled, cantered 2 laps and then jumped the fence Having captured him I then grazed him in hand for an hour. Saturday and Sunday brought heavy rain, so all I could really do was a couple of short sessions in the school.

Hippo!

Schooling
30 minutes

Totals
Hacking
498.75 miles
156 hours 30

Schooling
5 hours 20

Is the person behind you looking for gold?

 

[newforest]

I haven't done anything much with AJ due to the weather (snow then ice then torrential rain) and my days off being taken up with other stuff. It always gets like this towards Christmas.

But just wanted to say very exciting news about Harmony @diplomaticandtactful and I'm glad Harvey is feeling so well @GaryB!

I think there is also a Scooby that came well.

 

[GaryB]

Is the person behind you looking for gold?

Much less exciting I'm afraid - treading back in the divots from when he escaped!

 

[newforest]

The Cob would like to thank Harvey for noticing that plant as it meant that my human has been looking into the hedges.
I got this dandelion today.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

Sid and I had a little potter today. I am so unfit! And he is very strict with me. We were trotting along and I thought, Ouch, that is hurting my ankle. I swear I didn't change anything but he immediately dropped to walk and turned his head to look at me.

Sweetheart.

Sid is so special you are blessed to have such a saintly cob

 

[Trewsers]

A wintery potter in the sunshine today with the Fuzzy one. I think this is the longest into winter I've managed to keep riding for many years. So happy!

 

[newforest]

Popped out with her boyfriend, bright and breezy.
Had this idea to pop her boots on a post to keep them out of the mud. Spot the second photo

Check out that chilly Robin all fluffed up.

 

[GaryB]

Thursday dawned cold and frosty, but later the roads looked ok so I set off for a hack. After about 15 minutes I came across a sheet of ice covering the whole road so it was time to turn back
Friday and Saturday were much warmer though so we pushed on to a 4.2 mile hack each day. Sunday was time for a play over poles in the school and our first jump since his injury (only a 30cm x pole)

My delightful poo pony

Hacking
10 miles
3 hours

Schooling
20 minutes

Totals
Hacking
508.75 miles
159 hours 30

Schooling
5 hours 40

 

[GaryB]

Goodness - its quiet in here this week! Here in the UK we had a major storm over the weekend which rather curtailed riding. Thursday was a horrid drizzly day and I had a delivery coming so Harvey got a day off. Friday was nice though and we managed a 4.75 mile hack. I'd really like to get him up to 8 miles before we go out in the lorry so still a way to go. Saturday was 60mph winds and it was too wild to turn the horses out as with small paddocks they have nowhere to escape any loose items etc. I did take Harvey out in hand but he was very unhappy in the wind and after 5 minutes wanted to go back in. Sunday was still very windy and very wet - Harvey got his turnout, but I decided not to ride

Tring to much out round a Harvey is fun!

Hacking
4.75 miles
1 hour 20

Totals
Hacking
513.5 miles
160 hours 50

Schooling
5 hours 40

 

[newforest]

Popped out and we discovered some inflatable decorated houses on our travels.

 

[Trewsers]

Another winter time pootle today - despite the mud she just keeps on going, lovely little woolly pony that she is. (Ignore feet on this photo, I don't know why they are shoved so far in - I was about to hop off as we'd finished). We don't do much, just pottering about in the field behind the byre. She's so steady. I have no clue how much hacking / riding time I've clocked up this year but it feels like more than I've done in the last eight years, so I'm happy!

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

We went out yesterday. Just for a short one, I can't do long ones yet. We went round the block and Sid was VERY slow until he was terrified out of his wits by a piece of black plastic stuck in the hedge. Cue a full on spin and run away, which I countered with a firm "NO!" and stopped him in 2 strides. Then of course he could not possibly go past it. Oh yeah? We know the answer to that one. He was funny, in the end he hurried past it because he knew I would just keep him facing it and keep asking him nicely! Then there was another dragon further down the lane, an unexpected bin bag this time, but at least it perked him up and we had some nice canters.

I was absolutely shocked when I tacked him up. I don't think I have ridden him for a month and his girth has gone up 2 holes on each side. That is a LOT of weight to lose in a month! More hay for my boy.

 

[GaryB]

Anyone else find this time of year a bit depressing?

The usual mixed bag of weather dictated my riding this week. Thursday was constant drizzle so we went in the school. Harvey was delighted to be able to jump a 40cm vertical - he does love his jumping. Friday was dry so I set off on a hack at which point it stated drizzling again so I got soaked!

On Saturday it was fine so we extended Harvey's hacking distance a little bit further - up to 5.2 miles now. It was a bit weird - there was nobody about a bit like when it was covid. Sunday just a quiet plod around

Hacking
11 miles
3 hours

Schooling
20 minutes

Totals
Hacking
524.5 miles
163 hours 50

Schooling
6 hours

 

[Bodshi]

I haven't hacked out for ages. Combination of weather, lessons, vet appointments, Christmas markets, etc on my days off. Now my lorry is in the garage having it's annual service and pre MOT checks ready for its test on Monday.

Bring in the New Year!

 

[Trewsers]

Anyone else find this time of year a bit depressing?

The usual mixed bag of weather dictated my riding this week. Thursday was constant drizzle so we went in the school. Harvey was delighted to be able to jump a 40cm vertical - he does love his jumping. Friday was dry so I set off on a hack at which point it stated drizzling again so I got soaked!

On Saturday it was fine so we extended Harvey's hacking distance a little bit further - up to 5.2 miles now. It was a bit weird - there was nobody about a bit like when it was covid. Sunday just a quiet plod around

Hacking
11 miles
3 hours

Schooling
20 minutes

Totals
Hacking
524.5 miles
163 hours 50

Schooling
6 hours

Yeah I'm finding it a bit depressing this past couple of days, it was going so well weather wise but it's dark and gloomy up here and just getting the horses sorted is a job all of it's own. Bring on the spring and lightness!

 

[Skib]

Anyone else find this time of year a bit depressing?

I have been ill with sore throat and cold which makes me depressed. Germs caught on public transport and last week's theatre going no doubt. But it is now a month since I rode. And winter riding was my cure for winter depression.

 

[newforest]

We popped out.
It went like this clop, scuff, clop, scuff, clop, scuff, clop, scuff.
"pick your bloody hooves up"
Clop, scuff, clop, scuff, clop, scuff. Ten minutes of this I pull into a driveway to sort said scuff side. I hadn't put it on properly.
I hope they did have any cameras with sound because they would have got the "don't move as you will step on me" "no stop eating you aren't starved" "hang on its not done up yet"

I literally did one mile as I have had other things going on.
Can't recall when last rode, it was just good to stretch her legs.