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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Riding log - anyone interested?

999 replies

SupersonicDave · 26/03/2011 11:25

Saw this on a horse forum and thought it would be a good idea.

Basically i need a bit of help with motivation (too much to do, not enough hours in the day etc) and can get a bit stuck in a rut wrt schooling/hacking/lunging.

So, today i am riding out my mare, a friend is riding my gelding, and we are going to ride through the village and back across some grassy tracks. Want to concentrate on keeping my mare calm, especially on the grass.

OP posts:
Pixel · 04/09/2011 00:30

I told dhorse's previous owner today that he was a handful and she said cobs don't start to settle down until they are six or seven, so I'm expecting a definite improvement next year. Smile Eight might be pushing it but you can claim he had a mis-spent youth!

Mirage · 04/09/2011 16:16

Well done Pixel! Please post some photos,I'd love to see some.
We hacked over to my dad's farm this morning and went blackberrying whilst the dds rode around the fields,it was just lovely.Dpony is a sneaky thing though,she stands by the water trough,knowing that we'll think 'oh she's thirsty',and remove the grass reins,upon which she'll sidestep the trough and get her head down,stuffing as much grass down as she can before we can clip the reins back up again.We also caught her stealing blackberries out of DH's basket.
Mitchy,is the film the weepy one I'm guessing it is? How lovely to be able to watch the filming.My neighbour's nephew is a stunt rider and is always off somewhere filming.Envy

We've just finished watching the x country on TV.Dh was watching my face at the falls and suggested that if the dds ever did x country,mummy would be necking back gin like there was no tomorrow.I think I'd need sedation,not gin.Grin

MitchiestInge · 04/09/2011 18:07

Very very weepy. But it's getting a small tiny bit annoying, will be nice when they finish (coming back in October though).

Went for hack and horse spent more time dancing sideways and snorting at 'base camp' than anything else. Then there was a freak hailstorm (is there any other sort of hail?) so it was a quickie but feel better for it anyway.

DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 04/09/2011 21:17

Well done Pixel!

We did the heath ride today. It was fab but bugger me I will hurt tomorrow! :o

frostyfingers · 05/09/2011 10:13

Wow Pixel, you must be proud. I watched Burghley and couldn't believe the size of some of those fences - that Cottesmore Leap ditch was 3m wide and the picture on the website shows a Land Rover parked in it, but I don't think any or many had trouble there. I would never be brave enough.

However, I had my own personal success on a very minor scale yesterday as I went on the fun ride on my own as my friend blew me out at the last minute. Dhorse was a star and we jumped lots - some quite big hunt jumps and lots of freestanding tiger trap type things - and he behaved incredibly well. I'm dead pleased with this picture (even if I'm looking down again!).

www.all-sport-photos.com/#/gallery/lh-start-to-11-00/lf2-2487/
The two before and after aren't quite so good, but who cares as long as there's one decent one?!

The only time he got het up was when some people passed but didn't go on far enough ahead so he pranced and snorted until I asked if I could tag on to them.

I too am a little stiff this morning, and dhorse is looking a bit tired too1

DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 05/09/2011 11:16

Frosty well done! Can't see pic unfortunately. I wish I could say ours look knackered this morning, but no, they were chasing each other around the field this morning.

olderyetwider · 05/09/2011 13:49

Well done frosty, gd's going on the hunt fun ride on Thursday, she's really got the bug for hunting. We've not really done anything worth reporting recently, except lots of really lovely hacks and schooling new pony (who's getting really confident, balanced and supple). We've still had no rain though, can't jump due to ground like concrete and heaven only knows how much hay will cost this winter as the farm is unlikely to get an autumn cut. Bankruptcy beckons

MitchiestInge · 05/09/2011 19:34

Frosty how do I get to your photos? It gives me a long long long list - am on iPad so maybe it is being obstructive as usual whenever I want to view something that isn't text. Hope you're not too stiff today Alice, how long was the ride (you have probably told me about twelve times already)? Are you going out with the hunt too OYW? Really want to before it starts properly, think a couple of hours early morning would be enough for me and the horse. It's just headachy to organise transport. Also mild clipping nightmare, he is already very woolly.

Lovely long hack today, broke the law and sneaked along some 'stewardship' tracks - if the film crew can traipse around everywhere what difference does one galloping quiet horse make? He did take off across a huge stubble field and I loved it, although thereafter pretended to be In Charge by imposing some walking, by the time we got back to first stubble field it was disappearing under the plough :( so that explained the urgency. It means winter is definitely coming doesn't it?

MitchiestInge · 05/09/2011 19:54

and someone gave me a lovely silver grey show jacket with navy trim and fuzzy collar, it's a bit posh. Not sure when I'll wear it but fits perfectly and is v comfortable, nicer than my tweed. Maybe would be ok for hunting?

olderyetwider · 06/09/2011 01:15

I am definitely not going out with the hunt, Mitchie, I have come on loads with my confidence, but not that far! Jacket sounds fab! Maybe wear it to pull a film star, thus dealing with your problem upthread?

MitchiestInge · 06/09/2011 01:22

Aha, good thinking!

Don't say that about confidence, mine wobbles - the other day I thought 2'6 looked big Blush but am going anyway. It's what alcohol was invented for!

frostyfingers · 06/09/2011 08:11

I'll see if I can scan it and stick it on my profile - although that may be a bit techie for me at present.

I put dhorse's light rug on last night which seems really early, but it was a really strong wind and then pouring with rain and he is still almost naked with his winter coat barely started. He did seem very please, and likewise a little disapproving about it coming off this morning. It's still windy and wet, but much warmer. To compensate I put him on some fresher grass so he's wandering about picking at that - he's so different to my other horse who would put his head down and not stop eating, this one is much less interested in food which may be a problem when the weather gets worse.

I'm toying with the idea of autumn hunting - the only problem is the timing and getting kids to school, but like you older I'm not sure about my confidence, I know dhorse is fine, but it's me nerves!

olderyetwider · 06/09/2011 08:28

I'm also not convinced that popping over little logs out hacking is actually comparable to hunting, so doubtful of my competence as well, and don't want to make a tit of myself

frostyfingers · 06/09/2011 09:39

Photo finally on profile, it's a bit wonky as I couldn't get it straight in the scanner! Second photo is of dhorse when I first got him in March.

olderyetwider · 06/09/2011 09:43

OOHHH he's lovely!

MitchiestInge · 06/09/2011 13:11

Nice horse! That's a great pic, although it looks tiny on here. My own fault for avoiding my diseased laptop.

RUG today, no-fill and only for the old man. It was like introducing a new member to the herd when I turned him out in it, his friends were all 'oooh you never usually wear a rug' and sniffed it all over, at speed, while he jogged round the field so everyone could admire the way he moved in it. Starting loading up on cortaflex again, am quite excited about winter. There's more stuff to do and think about, like feeds and supplements and RUGS.

frostyfingers · 06/09/2011 15:22

Thanks - I'm very pleased with him, after a few hiccups I feel that he has lots of potential, the only thing holding him back is me. A friend has just offered to nanny me out hunting so I'm going to have a go. I used to be utterly fearless but age has put paid to that, and the knowledge that I don't bounce.

They are funny when the rugs go on, he had my previous horse's rug, cleaned, but he spent a lot of time turning round and sniffing at it. He does love being inside and rugged up - as a previously pampered racehorse he's going to get a bit of a surprise this winter as I'm not keen on him being in unless absolutely necessary! Hay coming in this week which is always reassuring, if expensive and I shall be off to Countrywide to study all the extras you can buy, it's the only place I like shopping!

Pixel · 06/09/2011 15:25

Lovely photo and a very handsome horse!
Huh! well it turns out my stepdad isn't much of a photographer after all and apparently doesn't realise his camera has a zoom so the pics aren't as fab as I'd hoped (plus I look fat Wink). I will try and pick out a half-decent one to put on my profile!
Lesson cancelled today as it's pouring with rain and blowing a gale. Have resisted RUG as dhorse wasn't cold though.

Pixel · 06/09/2011 15:47

Ah well have put on a couple of pics to give the general idea. Shame dhorse has his 'blackberry coat' now as he doesn't look as shiny as he did just a week or so ago. I did try to polish him up a bit but he was in a foul mood and I opted for self-preservation.Grin

frostyfingers · 06/09/2011 16:00

Pixel, he looks nicy and shiny in that first photo - and very smart in the line up and totally at home. Was it very intimidating or was everyone friendly? I've never shown in hand and wouldn't know where to start. To an outsider it all looks a bit like a "dark art".

It's very windy here too, with really heavy showers but much warmer than last night so no rugs tonight, unless things change dramatically of course.

Pixel · 06/09/2011 16:51

It was my first go and I didn't really know what I was doing but no one was horrid to me! It was only a very tiny local show though and I already knew a few people which helped. There were lots of other 'novices' who didn't have all the gear so I didn't feel too out of place. I was rather nervous beforehand (had to suck polos cos I feel sick when I'm nervous) but now I wouldn't mind doing it again. I will have to read up a bit as I was behind a sulky girl who was just drooping along with her pony (think she'd had a row with her mum or something!) and dhorse was getting upset having to walk so slowly. I wasn't sure if I should pass her or if that would be the height of bad manners. It does all seem a bit of a minefield doesn't it?
Thanks for the compliments btw. Smile Dhorse is standing nicely in the photo but he did get a bit fidgety (patience never his strong point!) but the judge was very nice and came over to tell me not to worry about circling him if I wanted to.

MitchiestInge · 06/09/2011 17:25

My first thought 'oh isn't he standing nicely' to the accompaniment of Envy face! But have only done in hand once and they were freaking out about being separated for their classes, obviously we still won Grin

Got any more planned? Showing season just seems to go on all year now, unless am imagining things. You do NOT look fat you freak!

I'm going out with a nanny too frosty, as have absolutely no a very good idea what the excitement factor will be when it comes to waiting turns to do a filthy stop at every jump

frostyfingers · 06/09/2011 17:35

I'm hoping my nanny is well practised in first aid! She went out on Monday meeting at 8am (gulp) and there were only 10 people so hopefully if I can organise a week day it won't be too busy......and it was up on the hills so no leaping!

He has been used as a whipper in's horse for 1 season, so as long as he doesn't expect to be up front and in charge then hopefully we'll be ok - if he does it could be interesting.

Butkin · 06/09/2011 18:37

Well done Pixel. The only etiquette is not getting between the judge's eye and another horse/pony.

If they are looking at ponies down one side then you are free to overtake, cut corners, take a turn on the other three sides.

A good judge will normally only watch one side so they can be sure of seeing every horse really well for that period of time. Judges that swivel will struggle to stay on top of the class.

Pixel · 06/09/2011 18:46

Thanks Butkin, I'm not even sure which side the judge was watching tbh as I was too busy trying not to be stepped on. I just followed the one in front and hoped for the best. Dhorse did swerve to avoid a poo and managed to step on the back of my boot (don't know how as I was next to him, not in front of him??), pulling it off so I had to hop along while trying to get it back on again. BlushGrinI will try to be a bit more on the ball next time and take notice!

Mitchy called me a freak

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