2025 Hacking and Inhand Thread
- Thread starter newforest
- Start date
Took her out inhand in the evening for a change. It's quiet but a different quiet if that makes sense.
Private schools have broken up for a Easter, and the tourists are around, but in the evening maybe they are all shattered and sleeping
Private schools have broken up for a Easter, and the tourists are around, but in the evening maybe they are all shattered and sleeping
Popped out for an evening ride.
Got an interesting shadow in the evening sun. We haven't done this route in the evening before, it's usually our weekend winter route.
It was lovely to get her out and just take our time.
Got an interesting shadow in the evening sun. We haven't done this route in the evening before, it's usually our weekend winter route.
It was lovely to get her out and just take our time.
I went again to my new favourite off road ride. I really need to get AJ to some new places but the sun was shining, OH was away with work so not available to deal with an emergency if one arose and a lot of schools have broken up for Easter so the other places I'm planning to go to (mainly in the Peak District) could be very busy.
AJ was pretty good as usual. I had first breaks failure - went for a canter and for the first time he felt really confident and strong so I let him go a bit. Only then he didn't want to stop. He did stop, but I had to pull on his mouth, which I don't like doing. He's supposedly trained to respond to seat aids, but that didn't work yesterday!
AJ was pretty good as usual. I had first breaks failure - went for a canter and for the first time he felt really confident and strong so I let him go a bit. Only then he didn't want to stop. He did stop, but I had to pull on his mouth, which I don't like doing. He's supposedly trained to respond to seat aids, but that didn't work yesterday!
I think you're doing really well - I've followed most of your posts about him, you are so brave! Sometimes you don't have a choice but to ask and pull on their mouth, it really can't be helped can it.
The sun is out so I had a little potter about. Oh Fuzzy! She's so cheeky at times. She was snorting (she does it to distract me) and we went down instead of up (how dare I again). And then instead of going where I wanted on the way back (I wanted the opposite side of the paddocks) she turned up the hill to get back to the garage. Ha, foiled her plan and turned her left into the paddock behind the byre. Hehehee, she stopped snorting and meekly obliged. I think she wondered where we were going but it's fenced on all sides so not many options hahahaa. Lovely day for it anyway, she got her biccies and then promptly dunked her head in the water bucket to thank me. That will be me replacing the water at the back door again then............................. 
No riding today so we got out for an hours walk
And they enjoyed some grass in the forest
Then gave them both a quick bath when we got home which resulted in synchronised rolling when they went back out
And they enjoyed some grass in the forest
Then gave them both a quick bath when we got home which resulted in synchronised rolling when they went back out
We were out 3 hours yesterday!
Ages ago I agreed to meet a lady I have only met a couple of times (Steve did some work for her and introduced us) up at our Roman Temple to show her our hacking. We organised it for this Saturday, which happened to be her 50th birthday, and she booked her transport. On Friday I found out there would be 4 of them!
I was a bit antsy because I have never ridden Sid with more than one other horse, but I shouldn't have worried. He was slow on the way up to our meet (about a 40 min hack) but perked right up when he saw his new companions. There was S on her gorgeous Cob Normand Dalida (Dee), imported from the breeder in Normandy a couple of years ago - 16hh of beautiful bayness! Her friend and YO E on a black cob called Titan about Sid's size but slimmer, and 2 children, a girl about 12 on a RS pony called Charlie, who wouldn't win prizes for looks but was just a super pony, and E's daughter, about 7 or 8, on a little 11.2 blue roan Welshie called Trixie. They were just getting ready as I arrived and we set off.
We had agreed about a couple of hours' ride, and I took them around Farley Heath, then over onto Blackheath. We went mostly at walk but with a few long trots. I was saving the Golden Mile canter track for a final blast.
Sid was really good and stepped out nicely in the lead for 90% of the time. Dee, a bossy mare, tried to take over a couple of times, but when she got there realised that she didn't like it much because she didn't know the area, and dropped back behind Sid. He was super good until we got to our little jumping circle. E exclaimed with joy to see it - she had jumped in it 20 years ago when she was a teenager! The kids jumped their ponies round and round the jumps - both ponies liked to jump and did it with very happy faces - and then I took Sid over a couple, but he was strong and bolshy and I had to wrestle control back and retire. I have noticed before that he gets wound up watching other horses jump.
We strolled back across the Heath and dropped down to the Golden Mile. The littlest pony led us up at a cracking canter, and Sid and I ended up at the back. He was cross and very strong and I had to remind him to canter not gallop, and not to try to overtake! Afterwards he was gasping, we don't usually canter up the whole thing, but he recovered quickly.
We returned to the Roman Temple just as the lorry arrived to collect the visitors, and parted with lots of expressions of delight on all sides and a promise of a return visit. Sid did not want to go. He napped all the way down the first track, and when we turned for home he offered a fast trot, then broke into canter and gave a HUGE fly buck. Fortunately I was defensively in 2-point because I suspected him, so no harm done and I just sat down, brought him back to walk and kept him at walk for the next mile.
I got off him 10 minutes from home at a handy mounting block outside a field on the competition yard. It was a lot easier than jumping off, and I could stand on the block for a couple of minutes and remind my leg what to do before walking him home! We were out 3 hours and I was in the saddle for 2 hours 50 mins.
I had a lovely time but gosh, Sid hots up at a party. Once again, repeat after me: I will never, ever, EVER take Sid hunting!
Ages ago I agreed to meet a lady I have only met a couple of times (Steve did some work for her and introduced us) up at our Roman Temple to show her our hacking. We organised it for this Saturday, which happened to be her 50th birthday, and she booked her transport. On Friday I found out there would be 4 of them!
I was a bit antsy because I have never ridden Sid with more than one other horse, but I shouldn't have worried. He was slow on the way up to our meet (about a 40 min hack) but perked right up when he saw his new companions. There was S on her gorgeous Cob Normand Dalida (Dee), imported from the breeder in Normandy a couple of years ago - 16hh of beautiful bayness! Her friend and YO E on a black cob called Titan about Sid's size but slimmer, and 2 children, a girl about 12 on a RS pony called Charlie, who wouldn't win prizes for looks but was just a super pony, and E's daughter, about 7 or 8, on a little 11.2 blue roan Welshie called Trixie. They were just getting ready as I arrived and we set off.
We had agreed about a couple of hours' ride, and I took them around Farley Heath, then over onto Blackheath. We went mostly at walk but with a few long trots. I was saving the Golden Mile canter track for a final blast.
Sid was really good and stepped out nicely in the lead for 90% of the time. Dee, a bossy mare, tried to take over a couple of times, but when she got there realised that she didn't like it much because she didn't know the area, and dropped back behind Sid. He was super good until we got to our little jumping circle. E exclaimed with joy to see it - she had jumped in it 20 years ago when she was a teenager! The kids jumped their ponies round and round the jumps - both ponies liked to jump and did it with very happy faces - and then I took Sid over a couple, but he was strong and bolshy and I had to wrestle control back and retire. I have noticed before that he gets wound up watching other horses jump.
We strolled back across the Heath and dropped down to the Golden Mile. The littlest pony led us up at a cracking canter, and Sid and I ended up at the back. He was cross and very strong and I had to remind him to canter not gallop, and not to try to overtake! Afterwards he was gasping, we don't usually canter up the whole thing, but he recovered quickly.
We returned to the Roman Temple just as the lorry arrived to collect the visitors, and parted with lots of expressions of delight on all sides and a promise of a return visit. Sid did not want to go. He napped all the way down the first track, and when we turned for home he offered a fast trot, then broke into canter and gave a HUGE fly buck. Fortunately I was defensively in 2-point because I suspected him, so no harm done and I just sat down, brought him back to walk and kept him at walk for the next mile.
I got off him 10 minutes from home at a handy mounting block outside a field on the competition yard. It was a lot easier than jumping off, and I could stand on the block for a couple of minutes and remind my leg what to do before walking him home! We were out 3 hours and I was in the saddle for 2 hours 50 mins.
I had a lovely time but gosh, Sid hots up at a party. Once again, repeat after me: I will never, ever, EVER take Sid hunting!
Yeah hunting would be fun, Buddy used to be awful on hunt rides until he got a canter then he ignored everyone.
Quite blustery here today but the sun is so lovely and mr trews egged me on to tack up so I did. Wasn't going to bother but so glad that I did now. She was a bit miffed at first as I had kept her waiting because she comes in for a rest in a morning (to keep them both off the grass for a couple of hours!) but I didn't take into account tacking up and grooming, so she was a little impatient. But perfect when I got on, such a good girl. Fresh out there, blown away the cobwebs I'd acquired in the house lol
I went to a Working Equitation clinic at the weekend. It's the second one we've done. I really enjoy them. I think AJ likes learning with a purpose. Only issue is his fear of poles means that navigating a pole maze is stressful for him. And side passing over a pole is an absolute No. So we won't be entering any competitions any time soon! Trainer said she was hoping to set up a show to include a clear round class, and I'd be up for that.
I'd love to try that! I follow Huckleberry Pie on Facebook - he's a big patchy cob who does super Working Equitation
Mine likes to have a point and purpose.
I can recall doing a Trec thing where the gate was just in the middle of the field.
There was no point in going through it - you can just go round it. It blew her mind. We can do gates, if we need to go through them.
A few pics of me (orange hi viz) and my train of ducklings last Saturday. Note little pony taking her turn at leading! What fun 
The weather gods seem to have been smiling on me recently - all of my days off have been nice
On Thursday I picked up my riding buddy C and we had a really nice trip to the local off road riding. We have a very pleasant hour running, jumping and walking in the sun. C's mum came to spectate and see what it was all about with a view to riding next time we go.
The following 3 days I let Harvey have quiet hacks just in case he was feeling a bit stiff.
Hacking
4 hours 30
15 miles
Totals
Hacking
42 hours 55
159 miles
Schooling
3 hours 40
On Thursday I picked up my riding buddy C and we had a really nice trip to the local off road riding. We have a very pleasant hour running, jumping and walking in the sun. C's mum came to spectate and see what it was all about with a view to riding next time we go.
The following 3 days I let Harvey have quiet hacks just in case he was feeling a bit stiff.
Hacking
4 hours 30
15 miles
Totals
Hacking
42 hours 55
159 miles
Schooling
3 hours 40
Lovely little sunny potter for me, well behaved pony - all good until I hopped off and landed badly on what I thought was a stone, turned out to be a rut in the paddock. Eeeek! Lucky Mr Trews was with me and untacked her whilst I crumpled up and yelped. Smothered it in arnica cream - so hopefully any bruising won't be too bad. Honestly - talk about unlucky! I guess I just twisted and landed badly. Apart from that it was perfect........... 
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