Riding log - anyone interested?

[SupersonicDave]

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.

LAME :(

although since last visit here lots of more cheerful stuff has happened, including some exemplary behaviours and performances at sj events, not much by way of rosettes but that is ok

hope is minor, they have both been v silly in the field and pony also has slight injury - can't pinpoint what is wrong with horse but will give him few days off then see

I'm off for my 2nd day's hunting tomorrow at the more civilised time of 7.30 - still means I need to be up at 5am though as it's 3/4 hr in the trailer. BUT I will miss the Wales/France match so have ordered my dc's to text me the scores as we go along which will have to do!

Dpony went out to the Opening Meet today,and I'm relieved to say,behaved impeccably.My teenage helper rode her and I walked to the meet with her,about 3 miles,then met up with both our families and the dds.The dds had their photos taken on dpony [they looked so smart,I was so proud].Despite being 20,dpony was still going strong by 2nd horses and was much admired thanks to a friend who plaited her up for us.My helper swears that dpony has hunted out our way before as she seemed to know exactly where she is going.Apparently she is amazing to hunt on and was out at the front most of the way around,flew over ditches and small fences and had a fabulous time.

DD1 is absolutely desperate to hunt,so now we know dpony will behave,I've promised to take her on the lead rein to the meet 2 days before Christmas.It'll be in the village so I won't have to trek for miles to get there.Dpony has a day off tomorrow and DD1 has her first Pony Club Rally on Sunday.

I rode dpony yesterday for the first time,poor thing,no wonder she is so fit.DD2's new pony is coming on Wednesday,so all being well,dpony will have one less jockey!

You'd think the dds would be tired after their early start and being out of the house from 8am til 4pm,but no,they are charging around the room jumping.

Well done Mirage - glad all went well out hunting. Just a tip though - don't be tempted to take Dpony out on Boxing Day. Usually it is manic with lots of once a year hunters, kids out of control and refusers - best to go before as you plan and then watch that one on foot.

We had a strange day today. Having taken Sec B to Pony Club jumping for the first time on Wednesday evening we went to support PC friends at a show jumping competition this morning. DD saw jumps were OK so we went back home, got DD changed and collected Sec B from field with trailer. By the time we got back they were about to start Class 4 at 1ft 6 so we tacked up quickly and entered. DD jumped double clear (we told her not to race against clock though) and came 6th in first ever SJ competition so good day was had by all!

Thanks Butkin,good advice re Boxing Day.We've had a few people offer to lead DD1 off another pony that day,but I've been to the Boxing Day Meet for more years than I care to remember and you are right,big turnout and too much excitement.Luckily this years meet is about 10 miles away and I have no trailer at the minute so we have a good excuse.

I've just checked the hunt photographer's website and we are on there with dpony-my mum just about exploded with pride when she saw it.We have a lovely photo of my grandad and great grandad out with them in the 1930's and we are all chuffed to bits that the dds are carrying on the family tradition.

Well done to your DD,she must be so pleased.What an achievement,especially with no preparation.I bet she couldn't stop smiling.

nice to read all the successes and happiness :)

got couple of very local meets coming up, a morning hunt at own yard and then Actual Hunt at neighbouring farm so am sort of looking forward to that, sort of worrying about fitness and what is causing occasional stiffness - mostly all is great, the acorn epidemic means fields that can't be grazed can be galloped around and across, have sprouted jumps etc.

Since he was clipped horse has no brakes, not very good ones anyway. This has caused a bit of a problem when riding out with one of my sharers, what am I supposed to do? AIBU to be an ineffectual rider? Am NOT using bottom ring of gag just for hacking, jumping etc.

I managed our 3rd day's hunting yesterday - dhorse behaved quite well but every now and then he'd have a wobbly and leap up and down plus I need to review my brakes as although he will stop I have no say at what speed we cross a field at. Being an ex racehorse it's a bit fast! So, we're currently in a snaffle and have on hand a french link snaffle or waterford snaffle - what do you think is best?

It's the opening meet this w/end but I'm not doing that as I think, like Boxing Day it's likely to be too frenetic but hopefully it won't be too long before we can get out again.

I don't know, similarly preoccupied with bits for hunting, was thinking of digging out Waterford again but think we mainly used it for schooling. Was thinking of using bottom ring but worried about hurting him, I absolutely wouldn't because am so soft with my hands it's a sort of neurosis, but if I came off and didn't let go or something?

Someone who is a proper show jumper took him, and pony, round a course of jumps the other day and they preferred our ploddy pony which greatly surprised me. If they felt uncomfortable about lack of control I possibly shouldn't take him hunting at all? I rarely feel worried but then am rarely in the sort of company where it would matter much if we ploughed through everyone and everything.

Does he put his chin into his chest, because a Waterford is good for that as they can't get such a grip on it. I had it for my last horse who was unstoppable once his head went down and it wasn't perfect but I did feel that I had some control over where we went and at what speed. A gag doesn't really help if his chin goes into his chest as the action brings the head down I believe. I tried one on my last horse and it was a disaster!

Does he get his tongue over the bit too - a drop, flash or grackle can help with that? Have you had his teeth checked recently as sometimes that can cause problems.

yeah yeah, he gets hold of it so the stronger he is, the stronger you have to be with him and the stronger he becomes so it's a losing battle - someone offered me a loan of a Waterford gag yesterday, was trying to persuade her to take him for first time but she thinks I'll be fine

think there is a difference between me bombing round alone or with one or two others and a quite big group with hounds though, we should probably try not to jump at all in case he just gallops through everything, luckily will have a nanny to supervise us!

I've got a Waterford snaffle rather than the gag which isn't quite as strong. If you stay round the edge of the field it can be a bit easier, and don't be tempted (if you have a choice) of trying to stay at the back. The problem I've had is people whizzing past me which makes mine go faster. If you can go with a friend on a sensible horse, preferably one who won't mind you using them as a crash barrier then it might help. Good luck.

Good advice thanks! Have persuaded someone to take our pony for that very reason! I'm really looking forward to it, wondering whether to let daughter have day/morning off to follow in someone's car.

Aired my anxieties (for about 100th time) to my hunting guru and she said to apologise profusely the whole time, just in case.

Have fun Mitchie.Apologies go a long way..The girl who took dpony out intended to stay at the back with the non jumpers,but dpony had other ideas,and she found herself up front with the Master.She was apologising profusely and he said that it was all right,but if she'd been anyone else [she is the terrier man's dd] he'd have sent her home.I don't think he would have though-my cousin once found herself in the same situation and she didn't get told off.

Thanks - easily my biggest fear, ploughing through to front. Second fear is DITCHES and horse breaking his neck in the excitement.

Surprised at how strongly people feel about missing a day of school, or just a morning, this is only you-know-what, she could be in after lunch. Meet is at our place so seems silly not to.

Perhaps a little complaining of not feeling too good at school the day before, and a sudden raging temperature overnight is required. We had one of these during the rugby world cup, and hunting is a zillion times more important!

Agree with frostyfingers.When I was little most children had a Friday off to go hunting.My sister who works in a school suggested I ask the Headmaster for a day off for the dds citing 'family reasons'. She says if children can get time off to go to festivals,museums ect,why not hunting? I don't know if I dare though-knowing my luck we'd end up going past the school and be spotted.

I emailed the hunt secretary today,asking if the dds could go to the meets on lead rein and he replied saying he'd be delighted if they attended and looks forward to seeing them.Apart from that it has rained all day so no work and no riding.Newboy stood by the gate looking miserable,so is tucked up in a stable,dpony hates being in,so is mooching around in the rain.

I'm working on a shoot tomorrow and the forecast is for heavy fog.Great!

Hi all, haven't been here for a while. Jealous reading about all your hunting stories on this page!

Dmare has been at the agricultural college for 2 weeks, they had previously said they wouldn't take her, but all of a sudden seemed keen to have her there. It is not going very well. They changed her saddle (fine) but are now on about changing her bit, with no real reason. They want to shoe her all around (she has got to 14 almost entirely barefoot and now only wears back shoes for remedial reasons). I am not very good at getting my point across without seeming defensive and mad, but I think I am going to have to just be assertive! The worst thing of all is the daft rules. To lead my own horse I have to wear a hat and gloves! I got 'told off' for leading her up a little concrete slope, and the dcs have to wear hats to go into the field. The stupidest rule was one I saw today - there was a list of 'strictly not to be worn on the yard' items - and this included brightly coloured socks!!! I did equine at agricultural college and there was definitely no rules about socks then! I really think we are going to have to leave. Dmare actually seems to quite like it, but I can't cope with this! We might go back to the yard we were at, but we are moving after Christmas near to where the college is, so I might find another yard in the same area and just put up with driving further to her until we move.

On the riding side of things, dd jumped the mare in the school quite nicely, after ages of panicking that she can't jump, just like with swimming and bike riding, when dd decides she 'can' do it, then suddenly she can do it just fine!

I have also done a bit of jumping in the school at the college (very novel, no jumping allowed at the yard we were at), and have been out on one hack, which was nice. Not nice enough to balance all the issues though, it would have to be pretty amazing hacking to do that!

Oh my goodness Manatee,that college sounds absolutely crackers.No stripey socks? Are other stripey items allowed? It sounds completely bizarre.I don't understand why anyone would shoe a horse that doesn't need it either.

The dds rode newboy and dpony today.They were both jumpy because the shoot were two fields away and it sounded like WW3.Luckily,by the time we'd tacked up,it was all over and everyone was calm,so we rode in the menage.All went well,dd2 walked and trotted newboy nicely and he wasn't fazed by dd1 bombing around and over jumps on dpony.Then they swapped and dd1 cantered and jumped newboy,who went beautifully until their second circuit when he threw a huge buck and sent dd1 flying over his head.She landed flat on her back and thankfully was wearing a back protector,but a little hurt and shocked all the same.Newboy stopped dead, and looked confused.I don't know if it was excitement at going fast,more grass than he's been used to or what.DD2 walked and trotted him again with no problems and we'll try again tomorrow and see if he does it again.He didn't do it when we went to try him,and dd1 plus two other riders cantered him.I might try him on the lunge first.We only have him on trial for a week so I need to get to the bottom of it.

can NOT stop laughing about the socks

am very fond of my rainbow striped over the knee socks, sometimes ride just in those and tights and a short skirt or dress

think would not last v long at your place, although to be fair probably wouldn't last long anywhere

Tender I love that you ride in tights and a skirt! I may have to try that one day!

I took the two DHorses out today on a nice hack, rode the one and ponied the other. We rode over to a friend's so that we can share the house visit portion of the vet bill. Saves money and gets me out of the house. I am not used to ponying a horse, but we went though the gates, over the culvert and through the stream just as pretty as you please! I am very excited as my Dhorse needs exercise after a long lameness, and this way I can also exercise DH's horse if time is short!

It is obscene! I asked them yesterday how long the trial is and they started to go on about how she just needs a little more schooling and they will be happy with her - kinda not getting the point that I mean I might not continue. Am off up there in a sec - she is on DIY over half term then in term time the students use her but I can still ride her, but whenever I go there I feel crap, and that is totally not the point, so however much money I may save by her being there, I don't think it is worth it.

Tender - you have my kinda dress sense :o

:)

so much less stress at shows when we leave that brown horse at home! Pony is so EASY (in that he can be left for a few minutes with a haynet, no escaping, easy to load, love him) - he came 2nd in one class but eliminated from another (LOTS OF TEARS :() but very happy now it is finally the end of the day

think that is easily the biggest and longest local thing have ever been to, have been up since about 4, every class had about a million competitors so it took aaaaaages

Nothing to do with horses but I'm feeling very down today - lost my job, without warning on Friday as the company folded. The bastards have not paid for September (which was due Friday) and obviously won't for October so I'm two months down. I pay for all our family food shopping and my horse from my income so I'm feeling deeply worried about how to continue. It's so frustrating as I've really got going with dhorse, just paid a half sub for hunting this season and am now panicking about being able to afford him over the winter. BASTARDS!

Oh frosy, how horrid for you. You'll get through somehow, use the time to go hunting!

Oh no Frosty, that sucks :(

If it gets really desperate you could always loan him out until you get a new job?