New 2026 Hacking / riding thread

[newforest]

We had the farrier today and although it's not actually a hack. It's half a mile inhand
She is also on sniffing terms with the cob we rode out with last week. That's good as we will be in front of that one next time.
I find it really hard to believe we have actually either found another with a slower walk than us, or, she's got more of an active walk as I have been working on it/ she's lost the excess pounds.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

1 hour hack today, short 40 minutes yesterday.

 

[Trewsers]

A lovely damp pootle today. What a difference calm makes, I can do rain just not rain and wind. Or I can do wind and sunshine even. She was so good, if a bit snorty but that's fine. I still can't believe how lucky I am, she's just what I always wanted and needed. I never feel like she's going to do something silly out of the blue. Not saying I take her for granted, I don't as she does spook at certain things. But on the whole I feel great on her. I like to think she enjoys the little jaunts too! Incidentally its one of the few Sunday's I've managed a potter because the weather seems to always be "off"more than on at the weekend!

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

Due to do hydro but new poodle had a bit of a meltdown so only hacked Harmony for half an hour then came to keep her company

 

[Trewsers]

Lovely potter today, and I timed it good too because its a bit breezier now and fairly annoying so I probably wouldn't have enjoyed as much. She got a spurt on when we were heading back up the yard, she does make me laugh, old plod be darned, she can move if she wants!

Look at all those daisies!

 

[Trewsers]

Really good ride today, and timed well as about half an hour later the day totally changed to torrential rain and it was black as night out there. Knew something bad was coming as the air smelled of thunderbugs - no thunder though! Just heavy rain. Thankfully I have a channel outside the byre where it all goes and it doesn't flood our yard.
Fuzzy was great, though like me, she was quite warm - what a difference no wind makes up here!

 

[Trewsers]

Nice misty / damp plod today. Not a bit cold, so I don't mind the damp. Neighbour had let more cows on so just in case she was surprised I avoided the bottom end of our field where they were perched on a mound. (They all love that mound and behave like mountain goats!). Fuzzy was super as always I love the way she totally ignores any of my nerves / excitement vibes and just gets on with things. Total opposite to Storm - she would have picked up on my thinking about the cows from the moment my foot was in the stirrup!

 

[GaryB]

We went for out normal canters on Thursday and Friday, then on Saturday I pulled on my brave pants and took Harvey on a fun ride on our own (well other half was there as a groom but we rode on out own). The last time we rode on out own was nearly 10 years ago and Harvey chucked me on the floor before we got through the start line. This time it was the Cotswold fun ride at Cotswold farm park which we have been to many times before. Harvey went very well with not too many overexcited moment and surprised me by wanting to do lots of cantering and galloping.
Sunday was just a quick leg stetch around the block.

We had a really nice day for it

There is a small road section with a pub which has a tie up rail for horses

Trees for @Trewsers

Still full of himself at the end

Hacking
4 hours 30
14 miles

Totals
Schooling
25 minutes

Hacking
203 miles
63 hours 30

 

[Trewsers]

We went for out normal canters on Thursday and Friday, then on Saturday I pulled on my brave pants and took Harvey on a fun ride on our own (well other half was there as a groom but we rode on out own). The last time we rode on out own was nearly 10 years ago and Harvey chucked me on the floor before we got through the start line. This time it was the Cotswold fun ride at Cotswold farm park which we have been to many times before. Harvey went very well with not too many overexcited moment and surprised me by wanting to do lots of cantering and galloping.
Sunday was just a quick leg stetch around the block.

We had a really nice day for it

There is a small road section with a pub which has a tie up rail for horses

Trees for @Trewsers

Still full of himself at the end

Hacking
4 hours 30
14 miles

Totals
Schooling
25 minutes

Hacking
203 miles
63 hours 30

That's lovely scenery for your ride.

 

[Trewsers]

Well what a carry on!
My neighbour decanted his cows into the field next door, so I waited to tack up as they were hopping and skipping and jumping for joy. Only to be expected! So they calmed down so I tacked up and brought her out of the byre.
Hopped on at my usual spot. All good and then suddenly FREEZE! Wowser. She went stiff as a board, couldn't flex her neck at all. This is something I've not had with her - even after two years!
So I waited and we sat and I tried to suss out what was up. Then I heard the noise. It wasn't the cows at all, she wasn't interested in those. But she was fixated on the roadside across the field. There was a convoy of old style tractors and suddenly the noise was deafening! Blimey. I hopped off, I had no idea what she was going to do. Stood scratching her neck whilst we watched them pass by.
Got back on and set off on our usual ride. She was fine but I was a bit on edge so it was short and sweet. She did see the cows but really not bothered for those. It must have been the tractors and the noise. Plus they were holding all the traffic up so I guess seeing everything stationary puzzled her. But overall she was good and she got a thank you and a ginger biscuit as always.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

hydro yesterday then a 1 hour hack today spoilt when we were on the A road on the way back, passing a house where a car decided to reverse out as we were walking past and only avoided hitting us when the folks he was visiting yelled at him horse passing you. He then reversed out passed us at around 40mph and disappeared. What a wally. He couldn't see a thing reversing out and there was room to turn around and come out facing the road which most sensible folks would have done.