And we’re there...

[Jessey]

We got out in the sunshine this afternoon, it was lovely

Monkey was chilled and we had a couple of nice canters, popped some logs, biggest one yet where 1 tree has conveniently landed on 2 others propping it up to about 2ft, it was no effort for him.

We did a 5 mile loop but he wasn’t ready to come home and kept asking to go further but the sun was creeping down and I didn’t have any lights on so we had to head for home.

 

[Jessey]

I got monkey out tonight for a 30 minute 2nd ride in his hood boots, I’ve added a carpet pad to them and they’re nice and snug now. We walked out and trotted back and popped a little canter in, he was a little unsure initially but soon got on with it.

I did have to laugh at him, the horse who makes a spot out of chasing my guinea fowl and making them scream, was spooked by a sparrow tonight. Honestly he’s such a prat!

 

[Jessey]

L&L came over today and we set out with the sky threatening rain. Monkey was in a bit of a grump, not sure what started it but when it started raining he was less than impressed!

We had a nice womble, lots of chattering and not so much riding! We decided to head for the river as it’s normally quiet there when it’s not sunny and there were just 2 people there.
It started tipping down as we crossed, we hid under a tree for a few minutes before deciding to double back as that way is more sheltered. Monkey was mad, 3 times he told me he knew the way home and had a little tantrum when I insisted we weren’t going that way! i don’t ever really go back the way I came, so he was very confused and mad at the rain

 

[Jessey]

When I arrived tonight Monkey was grumping at Jess, cantering around and kicking vaguely in her direction, which normally means he’s cold and mad about it.

I was late arriving but wanted to get a quick ride in. I headed out and trotted unless we could canter apart from the road crossings and a couple of corners, we did 4km in a hair over 30 minutes.

He pepped up quite nicely, the first canter was a bit bouncing bum! Not sure if that was from the first wearing of a quarter sheet this year or just his mood but by the 5th canter he’d given up pinging his bum but sat down, concertina-ed and virtually stuck his ears up my nose it felt like this, my face probably looked slightly disgusted like that too

No pictures, my hands were full

 

[Jessey]

Work has been insane, I’ve worked 10 days straight, almost all 10hr+ days so I haven’t ridden or even spent much time with the neds Monkey has been being a brat the last couple of days, biting Jess (obviously feeling very brave!), grumping at me, running off when I want him and generally being a pest! He’s so much happier in himself with something to keep his brain occupied!

I got to the yard 20 minutes before sunset, I probably had 45 minutes until dark, so I could have whipped around the block, but I decided to lunge as I hurt my neck earlier today. I’m glad I didn’t try riding in a rush, he was full of himself!

He bounced and bucked and got mad he couldn’t just eat the grass (we were in a rested paddock), but in his typical style he quickly got over himself and settled to some nice work after a ten minutes. He’ll be back to his normal happy-go-lucky self now.

 

[Trewsers]

Work has been insane, I’ve worked 10 days straight, almost all 10hr+ days so I haven’t ridden or even spent much time with the neds Monkey has been being a brat the last couple of days, biting Jess (obviously feeling very brave!), grumping at me, running off when I want him and generally being a pest! He’s so much happier in himself with something to keep his brain occupied!

I got to the yard 20 minutes before sunset, I probably had 45 minutes until dark, so I could have whipped around the block, but I decided to lunge as I hurt my neck earlier today. I’m glad I didn’t try riding in a rush, he was full of himself!

He bounced and bucked and got mad he couldn’t just eat the grass (we were in a rested paddock), but in his typical style he quickly got over himself and settled to some nice work after a ten minutes. He’ll be back to his normal happy-go-lucky self now.

Darn work! Hope you get some good horse time soon. (He was feeling brave biting Jess then!)

 

[Jessey]

He’s so contrary! I got a new electric tool for trimming feet and introduced it this morning, and he was cool as a cucumber. 20 minutes later we set off for a ride and there was a plastic bag in the paddock next to the drove. It wasn’t moving, just there and we had snorting and high speed reverse! When I convinced him to stop and think, he walked right past with just a little side eye.

We continued on our way and had a nice uneventful ride. Autumn is definitely coming.

 

[Jessey]

Late ride tonight, didn’t leave until 6pm so it was already dusk but we were geared up for the dark.

Found a burnt out car in the forest, he was completely chill so I took a picture

got to about half the distance in the picture and he suddenly noticed it (this is why things scare him, because he’s so busy thinking about other things and they sneak up on him!!), cue reversing and snorting, then rushing past it.
It was really pretty dark by the time we headed home.
Monkey was a champ about it, not even scared of my torch spot this time

 

[Trewsers]

Late ride tonight, didn’t leave until 6pm so it was already dusk but we were geared up for the dark.
View attachment 132544
Found a burnt out car in the forest, he was completely chill so I took a picture
View attachment 132545
got to about half the distance in the picture and he suddenly noticed it (this is why things scare him, because he’s so busy thinking about other things and they sneak up on him!!), cue reversing and snorting, then rushing past it.
It was really pretty dark by the time we headed home. View attachment 132546
Monkey was a champ about it, not even scared of my torch spot this time

Heck, a burnt out car! Blimey. You are both so brave in the semi darkness. And then it did go dark - wow.

 

[Jessey]

Another rough week at work but managed to get out today finally, even if it was only for 25 minutes, but it was pleasant.

He does bemuse me with what he’s worried about and not, this for example, I’m sure a lot of horses wouldn’t like giant eyeballs in a bush!


Whenever we get back I hop off in the driveway, pick up my mounting block and go to unlock the gate, and he just stands there and waits until I call him to come through. Peculiar boy

 

[Trewsers]

Another rough week at work but managed to get out today finally, even if it was only for 25 minutes, but it was pleasant.

He does bemuse me with what he’s worried about and not, this for example, I’m sure a lot of horses wouldn’t like giant eyeballs in a bush!
View attachment 132847

Whenever we get back I hop off in the driveway, pick up my mounting block and go to unlock the gate, and he just stands there and waits until I call him to come through. Peculiar boy
View attachment 132848

Omg, I don't think Zi would ever get over those eyeballs!!!!!

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Another rough week at work but managed to get out today finally, even if it was only for 25 minutes, but it was pleasant.

He does bemuse me with what he’s worried about and not, this for example, I’m sure a lot of horses wouldn’t like giant eyeballs in a bush!
View attachment 132847

Whenever we get back I hop off in the driveway, pick up my mounting block and go to unlock the gate, and he just stands there and waits until I call him to come through. Peculiar boy
View attachment 132848

Agghhh he is so pretty

 

[Bodshi]

Another rough week at work but managed to get out today finally, even if it was only for 25 minutes, but it was pleasant.

He does bemuse me with what he’s worried about and not, this for example, I’m sure a lot of horses wouldn’t like giant eyeballs in a bush!
View attachment 132847

Whenever we get back I hop off in the driveway, pick up my mounting block and go to unlock the gate, and he just stands there and waits until I call him to come through. Peculiar boy
View attachment 132848

Aw look at his face. I'm trying to teach AJ to stand and wait. He's good on the yard but I'm not sure it would be so successful in an open space like that.

 

[Jessey]

Aw look at his face. I'm trying to teach AJ to stand and wait. He's good on the yard but I'm not sure it would be so successful in an open space like that.

I didn’t consciously teach him to stay there, but he does normally get a treat when I get off and I suspect he’s actually just trying his luck for more

 

[Jessey]

L&L came over today and we got lucky with the weather, we were dressed for rain but it was sunny!

 

[Jessey]

I have put the big kids on the winter grass at night this week, Monkey has put on a girth hole in 3 days! He was sleeping when I arrived and I could barely see him, just goes to show how long the grass is!

I’m still working too much so not ridden all week but we got out today in the sunshine, though it was cold and windy.

Now the clocks have changed it’s definitely going to be dragon riding season, I was hoping to manage riding 1 night in the week but it’s not going to happen anytime soon with the way work is!

 

[Jessey]

He’s definitely a bit wired one tick from the electric fence on the floor as we went out sent him into orbit! He was then all wound up and looking for monsters everywhere. Halloween decorations didn’t help but we survived and enjoyed the autumnal leaves

Right up until it started piddling down and we made a hasty retreat as wasn’t prepared!

 

[Jessey]

I haven’t ridden all week and expected him to be wired again today, but he was in a fun super forward mood and we had a lovely ride!

We went out late but he’s a pro at it now! We cantered along the big wide track

and trotted on the little wiggly ones we were at a bit more than a working trot and he stumbled and went down on one knee, I thought we were a gonner but slipped him some rein, sat up and kicked and he managed to save us! I went back and looked and the ground had collapsed over a rotted out tree stump and he’d gone down it. Thankfully he seems perfectly fine and we continued on our merry way like nothing had happened



I’m glad we got back when we did, the fireworks started as I untracked, I forgot it’s November!

 

[Jessey]

L&L came over today and after being super chill last night, Monkey was wired (anxious) setting out but he soon relaxed then couldn’t really be bothered to do anything! But we had a pleasant, sunny but chilly couple of hours out.

 

[Jessey]

Monkey is in the bad books today

He gets a bit manic about treats sometimes, he’ll try all different moves in quick succession to get the treat, and normally I tell him to stop and he does, but I laughed at him on Sunday because L has been bringing him apples from her tree but as she has run out he got manic. I obviously let it go too far.

This morning I’d called them down off the grass and they stood by the barn waiting for me to take rugs off, very politely, so I got some treats out. As I went to unbuckle his chest strap, he thought the treat was incoming and went to snatch it, teeth first, problem was he just got a mouthful of my arm!