I know I haven't ridden this year and I probably haven't ridden since October, so perhaps I should have been a bit thoughtful when I agreed to go out today with my friend and livery mate Suzi and her 7 year old filly. My right hand is still sore and has no strength at all.
But I shouldn't have worried. My darling Ziggy is the most consistent pony ever. He is always cheeky about stealing mouthfuls of this and that, and he'll always speed up like a little sewing machine half way round the hack. Apart from that, he is a rock. As we waited to set off, I was mounted, Suzi was holding Izzy, and several riders passed us and then a huge lorry and Izzy (who is very green) was snorting and spinning and rushing backwards and making a palaver, and Ziggy just stood completely still and rolled his eyes like Gromit. We went round a very spooky route, mares & foals and stallions, freshly cut trees and heaven knows what, and apart from trying once to trot off with me (which is normal) he was perfect. Just as well as I was hardly strong enough to do up his girth so it was loose through the whole ride!
Suzi is a very good and experienced horsewoman, and she said, "Uncle Ziggy is wonderful isn't he, he's always just the same." And I gave his withers a rub and smirked.
It was lovely to be out. We can't do dressage, or collection, or show jumping, but my little hacking pony is a total dude.
But I shouldn't have worried. My darling Ziggy is the most consistent pony ever. He is always cheeky about stealing mouthfuls of this and that, and he'll always speed up like a little sewing machine half way round the hack. Apart from that, he is a rock. As we waited to set off, I was mounted, Suzi was holding Izzy, and several riders passed us and then a huge lorry and Izzy (who is very green) was snorting and spinning and rushing backwards and making a palaver, and Ziggy just stood completely still and rolled his eyes like Gromit. We went round a very spooky route, mares & foals and stallions, freshly cut trees and heaven knows what, and apart from trying once to trot off with me (which is normal) he was perfect. Just as well as I was hardly strong enough to do up his girth so it was loose through the whole ride!
Suzi is a very good and experienced horsewoman, and she said, "Uncle Ziggy is wonderful isn't he, he's always just the same." And I gave his withers a rub and smirked.
It was lovely to be out. We can't do dressage, or collection, or show jumping, but my little hacking pony is a total dude.