And we’re there...

[Jessey]

We got out last night for a quick 50 minutes, it was a speedy one with lots of trot and a few canters on the few softer tracks.

And today L&L came over, Monkey was tired and happy to have a long ploddy ride.

We investigated a digger, Monkey likes the game of touch when he gets treats!

 

[Jessey]

We got out for a lovely chilled hour and a half tonight, had a couple of nice canters and I realised it’s been some time since he did the silly hoppy bouncing nonsense going into canter, I definitely think it was the last saddle and it just took a while for him to get out of the habit!

Going out there were 2 cats lazing on the drove and Monkey was terrified, head up, eyes on stalks, trying to turn back, but as we crept closer they left and all was well

We enjoyed the sunshine and stopped when we found some green grass for him to snack


On the way back on a very narrow track, overgrown with chest deep ferns, I could smell smoke, came around a corner to a big burnt area that was smouldering and smoking a lot. The track was along the edge of the burnt area, Monkey didn’t falter at continuing along it through the smoke, and once past and in the open happily waited while I called it in to 999. It looks like they had put out the main fire at lunchtime but it was ramping back up again.

He makes my mind boggle, scared of silly things but brave with dangerous things!

 

[Jessey]

The weather felt stormy here this evening but I decided to head out anyway, and we had a lovely peaceful ride there wasn’t a soul out in the forest, not even over at high lodge.

Deer and squirrels were the only things we saw! Monkey was quite excited to get over to high lodge, it feels like ages since we’ve been (I avoid it during the day as it’s so busy).

As I drove home we finally got some rain, it’s only forecast for a couple of hours, it won’t be enough to put a dent on the drought, but hopefully it will help a little

 

[Jessey]

L&L came over yesterday and we went for a lovely bimble for two hours. Monkey seemed tired as our new livery arrived Friday night and he spent the whole night staring at her


We went down through the river but no pictures there as I had my hands full, there were several paddle boarders, a few canoes, loads of kids 2 were on a rope swing sploshing into the water, dogs on flex leads and barely a responsible adult among the dozen or so there Monkey only stared at everything intensely but I didn’t fancy letting go to get my phone out!

It was the absolute perfect day for a ride, perfect temperature, a tiny breeze and wall to wall sunshine

He just stares at her, which is kind of funny given he grumps at her whenever we’ve ridden together previously!

 

[Jessey]

I was going to ride yesterday afternoon but walked out of the house to find my car with a flat tyre, pulled the spare out and put it on to find that flat too friend came and blew it up for me yesterday evening but too late to ride by then.

So went out early this morning, it was lovely and peaceful out in the forest, we had a few nice canters and popped a couple of little logs, thankfully the ground is still soft enough in the depths of the forest

We stopped for picnics for Monkey a couple of times too

This is where we found the fire last Monday

 

[Jessey]

I ride Tuesday night, but I was in a bit of a funk from work so didn’t take a single picture! We had a nice ride though, peaceful

Wednesday and Thursday I got stuck at work late so didn’t get out, and I’m working until 9.30 tonight but managed to get a ride in this morning. It was actually chilly! We met lots of dog walkers but still managed to have a couple of trots and canters further out, did an hour and 20, Monkey was very chilled and I’m tired after this week so we mostly just plodded.

 

[Jessey]

Went out with L&M (M now lives with us but in her own paddock) tonight, it was an overall pleasant ride

it’s been 14 months since we rode together as M went down with lami.

I’d forgotten how reactive Monkey can be to M, mostly just face pulling but he went full warhorse at one point tonight, coiled, arched neck, ears flat back, sitting and bouncing

He gets frustrated with her, she fusses behind to go in front, then when she is in front she walks slower and slower until we’re almost stopped, if we go back in front she fusses again, trotting up his bum and bouncing around, also not his favourite. Hopefully it will get better now we’re likely to ride together more regularly I think she does it because she’s in love with him, the feeling isn’t mutual.

 

[Jessey]

I’m exhausted and it took me about 45 minutes psyching myself up to ride tonight but on I got and we had a nice ride. More a pootle than anything, we tried a track Monkey has been begging to go down for months

It’s too narrow for us, and too low for me but he’s been fascinated and as we were both on a go slow I figured we’d try it. We made it through, just!

There’s a new mobile home appeared at the other end, it was fine but Monkey was mezmorised by his reflection


The forest was fantastically deserted

 

[Trewsers]

I’m exhausted and it took me about 45 minutes psyching myself up to ride tonight but on I got and we had a nice ride. More a pootle than anything, we tried a track Monkey has been begging to go down for months
View attachment 137109
It’s too narrow for us, and too low for me but he’s been fascinated and as we were both on a go slow I figured we’d try it. We made it through, just!

There’s a new mobile home appeared at the other end, it was fine but Monkey was mezmorised by his reflection
View attachment 137110

The forest was fantastically deserted
View attachment 137111

They are fascinated with their reflection aren't they. At our last place I used to park our old Landy down one side of the school and when we rode past Storm would goggle at herself hahahaa.

 

[Jessey]

We had a quiet plod out last night, there was a big piece of polystyrene on top of a wheelie bin the night before and it had blown off into the drove, Monkey wasn’t keen so I hopped off and picked it up and put it in the bin which he was happy to assist with and we carried on our way



33c today, 38 tomorrow and 34 Friday so no riding for us, he’s happy to have a few days off, so why not, the weekend is meant to be back in the mid 20’s so might as well wait.

 

[Jessey]

L&L came over yesterday and we had a really good ride, both horses were eager and really walking full steam, we went across the river and turned left, I’ve hardly taken Monkey that way for no real reason other than it’s always a long ride but he seemed to really enjoy doing some new sections.

The train track is just to our left along this bit, it’s good to see forestry have cut all the grass as there is too often fires caused by the trains.


It was a lovely 2.5 hours, much nicer as it was much cooler (only 26c!)

 

[Jessey]

I got lots of jobs done at the yard today and by 2pm wasn’t feeling very energetic so nearly didn’t ride, but did and we had a pleasant time but we were both on a go slow, still managed a couple of trots and canters, we put a herd of deer up at one point and they cantered along with us , I’m so glad he isn’t vaguely bothered by them

It was muggy so I’d taken a drink of water with me, Monkey thinks it’s great

 

[Trewsers]

I got lots of jobs done at the yard today and by 2pm wasn’t feeling very energetic so nearly didn’t ride, but did and we had a pleasant time but we were both on a go slow, still managed a couple of trots and canters, we put a herd of deer up at one point and they cantered along with us , I’m so glad he isn’t vaguely bothered by them
View attachment 137188View attachment 137189
It was muggy so I’d taken a drink of water with me, Monkey thinks it’s great
View attachment 137190

Aw too cute him having a little drink there!

 

[Jessey]

I got out early this morning before work, it was cool, damp and pretty deserted
Monkeys new favourite track again


We had a nice hour and a quarter out and met my neighbour walking her dogs on the last stretch home, Monkey wanted to wait and walk back with her, he likes walking with dogs, probably because I let him slow down for them

 

[Jessey]

L&L were over today and we had a lovely 2.5 hours bumbling around the forest. After torrential rain last night, Monkey was terribly tired today, but quite enjoyed himself once I convinced him he could move out

As it rained last night there was hardly anyone at the river, just 1 kids 9th birthday picnic including giant helium foil balloon, but after carefully checking it, monkey decided it was not a threat

A treat after, I gave them a strip on a rested paddock. Hopefully with all this rain it will cope with some grazing

 

[Trewsers]

Glad the helium balloon wasn't seen as a threat! One of those once landed on our land at our old place. Oh heck it spooked me lol I wondered what it was (it was something to do with 101 Dalmations lol) I don't think Joe minded it. But Storm was wary.

 

[Jessey]

Fun ride tonight, Monkey was so enthusiastic he kept offering canter, managed to jump a tiny downed tree from canter without getting his legs in a mess or putting an extra stride in (a first), gave me a lot of big Welsh trot and I had to actually hold him back!!! And that was all the way out on a 4 mile loop! We got a little walk on the way back to take some pictures


Then he asked to go again! He was buzzing! As we neared home we approached the earlier cantered/jumped tree and he broke to canter it again, put in an almighty long leap and naffed off with me a bit I managed to collect myself and him back together and we continued at pace most of the way home I suspect the rain last week is now sprouting the grass!

 

[Jessey]

Early ride this morning despite a day off work as we’ve got a thunderstorm warning from 10am.

Monkey makes me laugh, after all the excess energy on Monday, going onto a rested paddock since Monday night and a day off yesterday, he was pooped today, I had to work hard but we had a pleasant ride, plodded the first mile then managed a mile uphill non-stop trot and canter, he wasn’t desperately impressed at that but he’s plenty fit enough for it, there wasn’t even a drop of sweat under the saddle. Then we mostly mosied back with an occasional trot and canter before walking the last 3/4 mile home.

He’s grown up so much this year, he’s less anxious and more focused and willing, I ride one handed a lot more now as don’t have to constantly prevent 180’s and I don’t have to ride every single forward step anymore, only 1/10 of them

 

[Jessey]

I had to get hay this morning and by the time I got done it had started drizzling so I opted to lunge (first time in months the ground has been softer enough). Monkey worked himself hard! he was a bit spicy on the changes of direction, front end coming well off the floor and taking off the other way bouncing and bucking! But he did some nice work too.

I’ve been wondering how Jess is still slim and Monkey is getting fatter, then I caught him, leaning over the fence into the little shelter, helping Dan eat his round bale! He’s not called Monkey for no reason

 

[Jessey]

It’s was drizzling first thing but the sun came out as we headed out and we had a nice ride, although Monkey was on a definite go slow today!

Summer is nearly over, Monkeys highlights are starting to disappear as they do at the end of every summer

As I was looking I noticed he’s got a sore in his mane, I don’t think he’s rubbed it as such, his mane is intact.

I looked closer at that sore when we got back, it’s on top of an almost golf ball sized lump, my best guess is either he got his head stuck somewhere and scraped it or something bit him, possibly a tick and he scraped it off. It’s not sore. I’ll hot compress it a couple of times a day as it’s got the feel of an abscess, but hopefully it’s not.