And we’re there...
- Thread starter Jessey
- Start date
Haha, that's us booked in for some agility in October! goodness only know what Monkey will think to it, travelling, going to WHW Hall Farm's indoor school, with other horses, doing stupid stuff 
poor kid has never even seen a coloured pole!
poor kid has never even seen a coloured pole!
^^ because of that I dug out some pool noodles last night and we had a play, after thoroughly snorting at them, we used them as trotting poles, popped a jump, put them all over him, walked under an arch and pushed through them.
So hopefully he won’t be terrified when we go to agility as he got over the snorting really quickly.
So hopefully he won’t be terrified when we go to agility as he got over the snorting really quickly.
It’s rained heavily since 2am, then at 2.30pm it stopped so I dashed out and grabbed Monkey in and headed out, about half hour out it started raining again 
although we got soaked through, it was an enjoyable quiet ride (all the walkers had stayed home 
)
Our jumping is coming on, but we’re not quite there to tackle this tree that had come down!
although we got soaked through, it was an enjoyable quiet ride (all the walkers had stayed home )Our jumping is coming on, but we’re not quite there to tackle this tree that had come down!
I don’t like to, so try to avoid it but will do it occasionally. I do towel dry before and use a sheepskin saddle cloth, It’s not especially the wet that bothers me, but our Sandy soil as I think when they’re wet it’s virtually impossible to brush sand out so there is more chance of rubs from it.
Our Sunday buddy was sick today, so we went out on our own.
Monkey really wasn’t feeling it, he was on such a go slow and would just stop and stand if I stopped riding he’d trot and canter when asked, nothing wrong, but I could tell he just couldn’t be bothered at all today. It’s probably after all that rain yesterday, he finds it exhausting!
Monkey really wasn’t feeling it, he was on such a go slow and would just stop and stand if I stopped riding
he’d trot and canter when asked, nothing wrong, but I could tell he just couldn’t be bothered at all today. It’s probably after all that rain yesterday, he finds it exhausting!
Interesting start to today’s ride, as soon as we turned out of the driveway he could see a bright blue tent further up the drove with excited children popping out of it, cue amber alert.
So we turned before it into the estate, where we found a double decker car transporter winching a car up, that upgraded him to red alert, thankfully the operator spotted us and stopped to let us pass, which took a good deal of encouragement but we downgraded to amber alert.
The next mile through the estate he jumped and skittered at all sorts, a woman crouched down painting her fence was almost as terrifying as the car transporter
The rest of the ride was pleasantly uneventful, he was back down to ambling along with apparently no energy
until we came back down the drove to the tent, and he pinged back to red alert, but managed to keep his nerve and only skitter a few steps to pass it. Silly really, I put up various tents at the yard regularly, he doesn’t even twitch an ear when I throw up a pop up tent, so it shouldn’t have been such a big deal!
So we turned before it into the estate, where we found a double decker car transporter winching a car up, that upgraded him to red alert, thankfully the operator spotted us and stopped to let us pass, which took a good deal of encouragement but we downgraded to amber alert.
The next mile through the estate he jumped and skittered at all sorts, a woman crouched down painting her fence was almost as terrifying as the car transporter
The rest of the ride was pleasantly uneventful, he was back down to ambling along with apparently no energy
until we came back down the drove to the tent, and he pinged back to red alert, but managed to keep his nerve and only skitter a few steps to pass it. Silly really, I put up various tents at the yard regularly, he doesn’t even twitch an ear when I throw up a pop up tent, so it shouldn’t have been such a big deal!
We had a lovely relaxing ride this evening, Monkey was keen but nicely relaxed, and it was sunny but cooler at 27c! The heather is pretty at the moment, Monkey wasn’t quite sure why we had to stop though!
I arrived to find Monkey outside the paddock today, he’d either limbo’ed or jumped as the fence was still up! Having had a night on thigh deep grass his belly was huge!
L&L came over today, so no time to let him sleep it off, he just had to waddle instead
and in a humid 27c he was very much on a go slow
We had a cheeky stop at the pub for a Diet Coke to cool down half way around, and somehow Monkey managed to stuff more grass in!
L&L came over today, so no time to let him sleep it off, he just had to waddle instead
and in a humid 27c he was very much on a go slow We had a cheeky stop at the pub for a Diet Coke to cool down half way around, and somehow Monkey managed to stuff more grass in!
Hmm, he was the wrong side of the fence again this evening, fence still intact and Jess the right side! He can’t go anywhere but still, I added a couple more posts in case he’s pushing it up to shimmy under it 
We did a shorter faster ride today as yesterday was longer but leisurely. Lots of trotting down to the jumping place that has a big pit and I asked him to walk down the steep side (it’s much steeper than it looks in the picture) and stop half way, he did it nicely.
Then more trot until we spied a deer path into the trees that warranted exploring, turns out it’s a fox path to their den so we quickly left so as not to disturb them.
And a nice long canter of almost a mile, just briefly slowing for a gate and a dog walker. In the last stretch there’s a tree overhanging and I would normally slow and loop around it, but I decided to carry on and ask for some lateral strides (still in canter) around it and back to our track, which he did beautifully
we’ve been working on it a little bit but it was the first big ask so I’m chuffed.
We did a shorter faster ride today as yesterday was longer but leisurely. Lots of trotting down to the jumping place that has a big pit and I asked him to walk down the steep side (it’s much steeper than it looks in the picture) and stop half way, he did it nicely.
Then more trot until we spied a deer path into the trees that warranted exploring, turns out it’s a fox path to their den so we quickly left so as not to disturb them.
And a nice long canter of almost a mile, just briefly slowing for a gate and a dog walker. In the last stretch there’s a tree overhanging and I would normally slow and loop around it, but I decided to carry on and ask for some lateral strides (still in canter) around it and back to our track, which he did beautifully
we’ve been working on it a little bit but it was the first big ask so I’m chuffed.
4th day he’s been the wrong side of the fence! I’m hoping he was pushing under it not jumping it, so it’s now powered up.
I was going to ride tonight but wasn’t in the mood, so decided some more trailer practice was in order (first chance I’ve had since replacing the wheel bearing), it’s been about a month since I last put him on.
He went on as soon as I pointed him in, I did everything up, started the car and moved a few feet up the driveway, not a peep from him and he just stood and waited for another 10 minutes.
I’d have taken him out for a spin but in typical fashion as soon as one thing is fixed there’s now a knocking on my car I’m not keen on, so we’re grounded until I can get that checked!
I was going to ride tonight but wasn’t in the mood, so decided some more trailer practice was in order (first chance I’ve had since replacing the wheel bearing), it’s been about a month since I last put him on.
He went on as soon as I pointed him in, I did everything up, started the car and moved a few feet up the driveway, not a peep from him
and he just stood and waited for another 10 minutes. I’d have taken him out for a spin but in typical fashion as soon as one thing is fixed there’s now a knocking on my car I’m not keen on, so we’re grounded until I can get that checked!
Successful solo trailer trip today, just out and back to home as reassurance for him and only 20 minutes.
I rode from the trailer when we got home and he was somewhat wired after we left, screaming like a manhandled piglet, coiling up and chomping at the bit and couldn’t stand still. I’m sure it was adrenaline release. I found it very interesting though, that somewhere totally familiar he was like that. He hasn’t been like that to ride from home in over a year!
Roll on my week off next week, where we can hopefully trailer out to ride
I rode from the trailer when we got home and he was somewhat wired after we left, screaming like a manhandled piglet, coiling up and chomping at the bit and couldn’t stand still. I’m sure it was adrenaline release. I found it very interesting though, that somewhere totally familiar he was like that. He hasn’t been like that to ride from home in over a year!
Roll on my week off next week, where we can hopefully trailer out to ride
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Nicer ride than expected today. L&L came over again and we got on in grey drizzle (and a yellow rain and thunderstorm warning) but after a couple of light showers the sun came out!
The less great weather meant high lodge wouldn’t be so busy so we headed out there for a change.
It’s nice to have pictures from someone else’s perspective
The less great weather meant high lodge wouldn’t be so busy so we headed out there for a change.
It’s nice to have pictures from someone else’s perspective
Early, chilly start this morning before the wind gets up again. I took Jess along too so the neighbours didn’t get upset at her shouting so early!
They’re really good together, but they both find it hard, Jess wants to lead but as the led horse she needs to stay behind and Monkey isn’t brave enough to step into her space to move her, but as the lead horse he needs to! But we did an easy 5km, 4km of walk and 1km of trot, they’re not quite there for canter work together yet.
They’re really good together, but they both find it hard, Jess wants to lead but as the led horse she needs to stay behind and Monkey isn’t brave enough to step into her space to move her, but as the lead horse he needs to! But we did an easy 5km, 4km of walk and 1km of trot, they’re not quite there for canter work together yet.
A picture from earlier when it was still sunny
This afternoon the wind and rain were back, so no jobs done other than a groom. Monkey rubbed a chunk of his mane out a few weeks ago and it was all stragglie and looked a mess, so I shortened it up
I like a long flowing mane but I’m not sure I’ll ever get that on him, his is so fine and soft.
This afternoon the wind and rain were back, so no jobs done other than a groom. Monkey rubbed a chunk of his mane out a few weeks ago and it was all stragglie and looked a mess, so I shortened it up
I like a long flowing mane but I’m not sure I’ll ever get that on him, his is so fine and soft.
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