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.

Fascinating insight into the mind of the British driver today. We moved a few months ago and the new area is much worse with regards to riding, I have to use the lanes mostly and as a result have encountered huge amounts of traffic. Dhorse is quite tricky having been sideswiped by a car last year, but we manage if I'm alert and make sure the cars pretty much stop before passing, and if I keep him in trot. I always say thank you, with a big wave (if I can manage it) and a smile.

Today I went somewhere slightly different which involved going through the heart of the village. It was fine on the way out, but on the way home through there were 2 examples of idiots and 1 lovely man. I was trotting down the narrower part of the road, waved at a car to slow it down so I could get into a gap and he whizzed past me with a toot of the horn. Dhorse was so startled he didn't have time to react luckily. Walking past the pub the lorry was unloading barrels of beer and without being asked the delivery man stopped and waited for me to pass - I said a huge thank you and waved at him.

Almost home and I could hear a car coming round the bend so I waited as there was no handy drive for me to nip into. Idiot woman driver with a child in the car reacted really slowly, dhorse whipped round and headed back to the pub and then she slammed her brakes on, managing a nice squeal of tyres and a skid. Dhorse was dancing around with his eyes on stalks and as she came past she wound down her window and told me to "F* off". Lovely.
All of this was inside a 30mph limit - unbelievable. What are they thinking off when they do that. Sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant but I was so angry, if I see her car again in the village I shall have words!

Oh frosty that sounds downright scarey.DH has often commented to me that it seems to be women with small children in cars who seem to be the worst offenders.We hack out about 4 times a week and have never had a problem with motorcyclists,HGV drivers,tractor drivers ect,it is car drivers if it is anyone.

B has her shoe back on,then lost the other one yesterday.Grrr! So am waiting for the farrier again.However,she has stopped peeing around when we go to catch her now and the last 3 times DD2 has ridden her,she has behaved herself,so perhaps she has realised that it does no good top be silly.DD2 did some groundwork with her today,leading her around the school,over poles,around cones,stopping and starting and she was very good.We finished with a little walk and trot with DD2 riding and again,no problems.We decided to end on a good note.

Interestingly,I saw dpony and B grooming each other over the fence yesterday. I have never seen dpony allow any other equine that close to her,never mind actually touch her.I was amazed and called the DDs over to watch,they couldn't quite believe it.

Good weekend. Grey SHP went well on Saturday - particularly off the lead so looking forward to his progress at BSPS.

Palomino Sec B won FR and went champion at Three Shires show yesterday. For anybody wanting to try showing in the future it is a good place to start. Proper classes and judges but hardly anybody there (although the in-hand Welsh classes rammed because it's a medal show) and they have lovely flat rings with good grass.

Just back from a couple of days at Ponies UK, so grateful we had sunshine! DD was desperate to do a big show with dpony so we gave it a whirl. She managed a third, two fourths and an eighth in some big, but not huge classes so all very happy. Dpony took the stay away in his stride. Gossip was that this may be the last year PUK runs, certainly they had some very small classes, but for us as first timers it was "manageable".

Last show with dpony this Sunday. It's all getting a bit emotional round here

Well done to your dds marialuisa and Butkin.

B seems to be settling down now.We've had her 3 weeks now but not ridden as much as we normally would due to a combination of bad weather and B losing two shoes.Yesterday we had a lovely hack and DD2 rode the last 1/4 mile home off the lead rein and got some trotting in.Touch wood the bucking seems to have stopped now.Today we went hacking again and across the fields and farmyard and through the villages,through a herd of sheep,with B behaving perfectly.DD2 rode most of the way home off the lead rein with no problems.

On Wednesday I got to the yard to find that the ponies had managed to swap paddocks-the gate was shut and the fence was on so I couldn't work out how they'd done it.All became clear when DD1 took dpony's tea down to her paddock,she saw B open the gate and let herself in with dpony.Dpony does not like sharing her paddock,but I left them to sort it out between themselves.Sooner or later B will work out that dpony does not like other ponies in her space and will give her a wide berth.It may take some time though,the lady who overlooks our field has just rung to report that B tried to sniff dpony's backside and got lashed out at.I've sent the dds around on their bikes to see what is going on.

Well,I've had to separate our two.Dpony was bullying B and really going for her,squealing and kicking and someone was going to get hurt. As soon as they had a fence between them Dpony was up and down the fenceline,calling and doing the Welshie head swinging thing until she could see B,who wasn't bothered in the slightest.I can't win.

On the plus side,B's feet are so much better and the farrier was able to nail the missing shoe back on,so we can hack out properly again.DD2 is now riding off lead rein most of the time and B has been very well behaved.DD2 did a little jumping course on the lead rein in the school at home yesterday and really enjoyed herself.It is a novelty at the minute,going from Newboy who would not jump,to a pony that is keen.Today we've been over Dad's fields and around the villages and had a lovely time.

Sorry your ponies are fighting Mirage, Dony is certainly a character from the sounds of things! Lovely that B is settling in and DD2 is enjoying her though.

We did our last ever show on Dpony yesterday who was a nightmare in one class and a saint in the next . DD had a win and a sash so overall it feels like we're finishing on a high. Lots of tears at bedtime at the moment though and truly dreading Sunday . Although DD is doing well with new pony and they are bonding well knowing that Dpony has to go is tearing her to pieces.

Haven't been on here for ages, nice to see that you're all enjoying the summer competition season!

Had a lovely ride today, been working on getting my horse more flexible lately and it's really paying off. He's also a bit of a loon out by himself but was a saint today when I went on a short ride after the schooling session, actually took himself, I just sat there until he safely guided us back home!

marialuisa I hope things go as smoothly as possible.I can't imagine how your dd must feel,she has achieved so much on him.

Dappleton it sounds like you've done a really good job on your boy,I'm glad you are having fun with him.

Today is our ponies day off.I got there to give them their tea,to find that between them they had untied the rope securing the gate,opened it and let themselves into each other's paddocks. Dpony has form for untying ropes,and we have seen B opening the gate by pushing it,so it was obviously a team effort.They seem happy in each other's paddocks so I've left them too it,but double tied the gate this time.

We have a busy couple of weeks coming up,camp next week,I'm fence judging at a ODE on Friday,gymkhana on Saturday and hound exercising next Wednesday..We'll all be shattered by the time school begins again.

Too stormy here to ride today.I have got a padlock and chain to secure the gate-lets see them get that off!

marialuisa Dpony is indeed,a 'character'.I've called her far more impolite things than that.Good job I love her though,as I often tell her.

Mirage at ponies swapping paddocks, you must be wondering who will be where each day! Fingers crossed the chain and padlock keep them in the right places!

marialuisa, I hope it is not too painful when Dpony goes! It must be hard though.

Hi to everyone else!

I have managed to ride twice in the last week with no pain from my leg at all, which has been brilliant. You don't realise how much you use your leg muscles riding until they start to hurt! Pouring down here today though, hoping to ride again tomorrow.

Just been to York to see Frankel - awesome! - whilst DW/DD went to BSPS champs. Delighted to report that 4yo Grey SHP did his off the lead rein class and came 3rd of 14. Obviously a bit green compared to the other experienced ponies but they did a fab job. DW so nervous as they call out result from 10th to 1st and she was sure they were unplaced when they got to 5th but then called 3rd and won 15 quid. We're going again tomorrow and Saturday and DD is going to spend her winnings on a photo.

you saw frankel! did he win again?

I'm so depressed today. The vet came and looked at dhorse's back at the recommendation of the physio and has referred him to specialist for proper examination and x rays. He's not rideable, and the vet said that the possible cause was kissing spines which I know isn't brilliant. I am carefully avoiding looking it up until I know what we're dealing with.

Feel so down, after a horrible time last year losing my other horse, and thinking I'd found "the one" with this, to be back to deciding on how far to go with veterinary treatment, with a possible negative outcome I'm absolutely gutted. I ended up in tears speaking to the insurance company today, and know I will be absolutely hopeless if it's bad news next week.

I'd like to join, please :D
I have a 15.2hh dutch warmblood, she's 18 y/o and we mainly do natural horsemanship and hack together.

I'm moving stables next week, so am looking for some advice... We are currently on a friends yard where there has been a max of 3 horses (Inc her) at any time. New yard has 20+ horses, as well as cows (scary!) I'll be riding there which shouldn't be an issue as we often ride that way anyway... Should I dismount and then lead her into the new yard and stable? Or ride? I'm undecided as to which would be safer... She's usually quite chilled, but new things can turn her into a bit of a giraffe :P also, should I expect to have her stabled for a day or so? Or would you put your horse straight out in the field? Thanks :D

Hi myhorse, I don't know, I always feel 100x safer on my horse than on the ground but with my other one it's the other way, he's better in hand than under saddle. Good luck whatever you decide! I just put mine straight out with all their new field mates, it was all very entertaining for about 15 minutes then they started grazing and that was that.

Frosty, am sorry to read that. Really hope the prognosis is better than you fear - when next week will you know, did they say? Waiting for news like that is horrible. Keeping my fingers crossed. x

He's booked in for a "full lameness work up" and xrays on Weds. I don't know if they tell you straight away what they find. In some ways I hope not as if it's bad I don't know that I'll be able to hold it together and then drive 2 hours home with the trailer! Just had him shod today, and was gloomily wondering if it was the last time......

Myhorse - I should give dhorse a good exercise before you get to the new yard, make sure she's hungry and then I would stable her (as long as she has company) either overnight, or for a good few hours just to acclimatise her to the new surroundings. Is the turn out in a big group, or will she be quarantined for a bit? Some yards also request that hind shoes come off. Another question is will she be out with geldings and is she mareish? If so I would take introductions slowly! I expect they will race about for a bit until a pecking order is established and then hopefully settle down (in the meantime don't watch!). Something that can help is if they are going on to new grass - they are more interested in that than arsing about!

The field is split up into sections, each section is for two horses and are shaped so that a fence can go equally down the centre in order to have the horses separate if required. As far as I know it is mixed fields of mares and geldings, but I think horse will be with another mare. She does get mareish, she'll stand with her bum to the fence, legs spread, tail at a right angle.
I've not heard that i need to remove back shoes, she's due to farrier on the 5th and I was planning to wait to get that done before I move, so I'll have to look into that. As for keeping her hungry, she's not being fed anything other than grass at the moment anyway, so any opportunity for food in her mind, is excellent ;)

Such a lot of unknowns frosty, will hope for the best for you.

lovely hack this evening but met a very strange man who offered me free livery (stables, 8 acres) he named lots of people I knew, said all he wanted in return was for his wife to ride out (on my brown one) now and then - I don't know why I'm not tempted, it just felt a bit odd. Especially as he rents that land from the same farmer as us. I like it where I am, is that crazy?

it is a bit intense working them twice a day (pony lunged and horse ridden in school earlier) then two hours hacking each but hopefully can get the weight down. Was when farrier said 'you realise that pony is obese?'

Hi Amaleda, That does sound extremely odd... I'm not sure i'd be too tempted either. I find it particularly fishy that he wanted his wife to ride your horse... Good luck with your choice

frosty, I hope everything is going okay with your horse...

I added some photos of my horse, but it's my first time doing so, could someone let me know if they show please?

your name isn't clickable so I can't see anything - using phone though, not sure if that makes a difference?

I asked around, everyone said 'nice people but always drunk'! So I'll stay where I am, it's perfect anyway (apart from not being free). Another lovely long hack today, isn't the weather ideal! I got a bit lost though and had to do a u turn eventually because I'd strayed off the map and last time that happened it was nearly four hours to get home.

We did that once, we'd been given directions but took a turnoff before the one we were meant to take and were miles out of our way before we realised. We ended up tagging on to the end of a sponsored ride so that we could ask the organisers the way home. Seven hours we were out and had to ride back through a thunderstorm!

seven hours!

Lovely hack out with DH on Sunday, big gallop across open fields, lots of logs to jump, and managed all the gates. Rode back through the village and the horses turned into the pub car park and refused to leave, much to the amusement of people in the pub garden. Naughty horses, anyone would think we went there a lot