hapless hacking and Actual Riding log

[Mitchy1nge]

is the riding log full now? Haven't seen it for ages.

Anyway we (well, me and the horse) are back in very light work at last, 2013 can finally begin!

What are your goals?

[Mitchy1nge]

:) all this happy productivity

at frosty hunting, quite sharp pang of envy

both mine a bit rodeo-y, esp the pony (and that is just on the lunge) I suppose we couldn't get away with so little work forever but eeeeek

[marialuisa]

Hello everyone, good to hear so many are getting out and about. Dpony was out of action for a good while but over the past week has started to be ridden again. After 4 weeks in I was delighted when he behaved in a beautifully calm fashion on his first couple of hacks up the road. He's now bored of that and appears to have decided he wants to join the circus DD spent 15 minutes last night teaching him that he could trot past the line of hedge (that he has gone past at least twice a week for 3 years) without skipping, bunny-hopping and so on. Hopefully he'll get the final all clear on Saturday and can move from the small front swamp to the enormous field on a steep hill and get the itch out of his toes!

[EMUZ]

I rode yesterday excuse numpty position I was stretching her off at the end to cool down
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[mrslaughan]

rode today - half hour lesson, would have loved to stay in the arena after, and done some more but had to get home to the kids.
Working more on my shoulder position today - so frustrating, as I just couldn't do it - I get around crooked, (I drop my right shoulder forward), so its not surprising that that I am like that in the saddle - got it for one circuit, and then couldn't do it again.
D-instructor is going to video me next week as she thinks that will really help me, I hate seeing myself in photo's or videos so this is very cringe worthy for me.

Here I was thinking you get secure in your seat and your away - but your constantly tweaking aren't you? searching for perfection.

Dmare was fab!

[Grunzlewheek]

Luckily young horse and I were already cantering up the field as the bird scarer went off, he sort of thought "Noise ! run ! oh I'm running already, that's ok then"

[N0tinmylife]

Rode a friends horse today, 17.1 hh tb, it was like riding an armchair! He was an absolute angel though, and we had a lovely hack, despite it being bloody freezing! Planning to have a lesson on Mum's pony on Monday, then going to see a potential loan horse on Tuesday. I'm just trying not to get my hopes up too much, as he's the first one in 3 weeks of looking that seems worth actually going to see.

Am very of hunting and beach rides!

[50BalesOfHay]

Fingers crossed for you DOG. Hope DD loves riding. My lovely daughter in law has just posted a video of GS (2) on a pony at the local farm park so I'm very hopeful that he'll get the bug

[Mirage]

I had my first day when I didn't see the ponies for 16 months and it felt very odd.Been up north at MIL's all day and my dad was on pony duty for me.

The hunt came through yesterday,so I went down to see how Brandy reacted.I know dpony will only look mildly interested and won't career about,but wasn't sure what he'd do.The answer was,nothing.The hounds followed a trail through the next field and the horses were on the road,both ponies completely ignored the horses but were watching the hounds with great interest,but didn't get in the least excited.We had a lovely hack later and poor Brandy nearly turned himself out when a sheep jumped out of the hedge at him.I thought DD2 would surely fall off,but amazingly,she stayed on.She truely does have a sticky bum [like the rest of her].

[frostyfingers]

Had a fab day's hunting yesterday but unfortunately had to stop after losing a front shoe - it was 3pm, so probably not a bad thing. Lots of jumping and galloping, and after 20 mins flat out I realised that I'm a lot less fit than I thought! Dhorse behaved impeccably and I remembered why I had him - floating along without pulling and jumping without me having to do anything, although queuing is most definitely a weak point!

Typical, just as things start going right the season ends.

[Mitchy1nge]

queuing is a LOT to ask in that situation isn't it!

[ManateeEquineOhara]

Oh a new riding log :) Hello all, haven't been on here for ages.

I don't suppose I'll be posting on here that often I'm so busy.

Anyway update for anyone who remembers me. The yard we moved to having moved house has a little pony owned by the YO's dgd who has outgrown it. Pony left in field. Dmare is now field sharing with this pony who needs it's hay soaked and has laminitis so not the easiest pony to field share with and end up by default looking after. Plus side (I wouldn't still be there if there wasn't one) is dd has been riding this pony so we can go out together which is (usually) lovely.

I have no time for any riding other than occasional hacks now as I am doing a full time PhD plus part time job, so no exciting posts from me or long exploring rides (my favourite ).

But - our ride this week was lovely. DD is getting the hang of making the pony behave, AND it was sunny and almost warm :)

[frostyfingers]

It is only out hunting that we have problems - all other times he's absolutely fine. Standing still is fine, although we have a little jiggle about every now and then. Waiting at jumps is impossible - he plunges up and down, shoots backwards and then tries to rear. I have about 20 seconds when he'll wait and then he starts mucking about. I just have to keep turning him which works except then you get other people cutting in! It can happen at gateways too. I don't know what the answer is in everyday situations - lots of practice at walking past jumps, through gates - repetition to take the excitement out of it might work. I'd just keep him moving when he won't stand still - even when he stops move him on, maybe he'll get bored!

[Mirage]

I think even the best of them get impatient waiting out hunting. Even Dpony got frustrated at having to queue along an old railway embankment and was bucking on the spot with excitement.

The girls had a lesson tonight and Brandy's owners came to watch.They were very pleased with DD2 and how she's getting on with him,but recommended she use a whip to back up her legs from now on.He can be lazy in canter and will do a few strides before giving up,so may be better with a 'reminder'.

They were watching DD1 jumping and our instructor put the jumps up a lot higher that they have ever done before.DD1 lacks confidence jumping and thinks that dpony can't manage high jumps,which then transmits to dpony who will refuse.Not tonight,she was flying,Brandy's owners are both excellent riders and said that they couldn't believe that DD1 would get over it as they were proper horse jumps and the pole was on the highest cup.But she did it,twice and received a spontaneous round of applause.They made a point of complimenting her on her riding,which was lovely,because it boosted her confidence no end.So,a good day for both of them.

[TheLoneRanger]

Love the sound of an MN horsey fb group. We could have a big horsey meet!

I had my private lesson last week, and was complimented on my rising and sitting trot. I was riding a sweet grey with a newly hogged mane; we were in an indoor school, not doing that much but getting back into it.

As a child I just flew round the countryside on sundry farmers' ponies; I know very little about the niceties! Instructors tend to assume I know a lot - I don't - I just know how to cling on and avoid a tumble. My next lesson's this week; after that, I'll try to join a nice friendly group lesson and also try to do some hacking in the spring to get back in the swing. It's a great time of year to be on a horse.

[Mirage]

I like the sound of the horsey fb club too.

We had a lovely hack tonight and went across the fields.DD2 was galloping dpony around and jumping logs.Brandy was very good,he didn't bother when dpony galloped away out of view.The girls swapped ponies and DD2 jumped him over a log,his first x country jump ever.Then they swapped back and DD1 jumped the log too.Bless him,he is very willing.It was lovely to ride in a field that wasn't sodden and with the sun out.Roll on spring!

[TheLoneRanger]

I had another lesson today, starting in the indoor school, then outdoors in lovely sunshine. I asked the instructor to be really basic with me and tell me ridiculously obvious stuff, which she did, and she's suggested a group class with people like me who want to go back to basics. I had the chunky grey again, and the instructor was great at explaining his mode of propulsion - v interesting since I'm re-watching Olympics dressage recorded from the BBC atm, and the commentator Judy whatsername is really good at explaining all that.

I can just picture you all, Mirage. I'll try to dream that I was with you.

[frostyfingers]

Dhorse has been off games all week with a bruised foot after pulling his shoe off on Saturday so it's another frustrating lay off. The good news is though that there's been no sign of an abcess yet and if the farrier is happy when he comes to reshoe tomorrow then the last day's hunting on Saturday is a possibility......

[Mitchy1nge]

:) hooray, we are all having fun (although I cannot find my way to the FB group :( )

some of our tracks are starting to dry out! In a month or so they will be like concrete and I will be whingeing again. Hope you make it to the meet on Saturday frosty.

[Pixel]

There was an attempt to have a horsey group once before, I think it was on Yahoo and was called MNhorsepeople. I gave up because I could never log into it and it was very annoying seeing references to it every other thread. I still get the odd email from some girl in America advertising her horse sitting service even though I wrote to tell her that she probably won't want to come this far .
Besides, what would we do on a Faceache group that we don't already do here? Would we have to be all gushy to each other and buy a special hoody?

[Mitchy1nge]

'gushy' how? Because I am thinking about female ejaculation and feel uncomfortable.

The rest sounds great though, what colour hoodies?