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?

[TheLoneRanger]

Yes, I was thinking photos. I'm very cautious about putting photos up for any old body to see, but I do like looking at horsey pix, so would be prepared to share and share alike if it were more private. I'm not a Facebook expert (lol at the very idea) but as I understand it, it could be a private FB group; presumably only members of that group would be able to tie up our MN name with our RL name - by identifying our horsey activities.

Hoodies would have all our MN names on the back?

[Mitchy1nge]

eeek if that's the case I feel a name change coming on

[TheLoneRanger]

Hmm, well, yes, Itchy Mitchy.

[frostyfingers]

Oh god no, not Facebook - that's a technical step too far for me! Please bear in mind that some of us (well me) might not be able to cope with it......

I'd also spend even more time on the computer because I'd have to check here then on FB!

[Pixel]

Don't worry Frosty, I won't be on it either as I don't 'do' Facebook. We can be outcasts together!

[frostyfingers]

Glad it's not just me then!

Dhorse has had his shoes re-done and on the basis of a quick trot up the lane in the half dark seems to be sound enough for our day's hunting tomorrow - yippee! It's up on the hills (well, mountains but they're in Wales so only hills) so there won't be many jumping opportunities but lots of ups and downs to wear him out which will be a good thing bearing in mind he's been stuck in his box since last Sunday night.....

[TheLoneRanger]

That's really good, D0G. Sadly my dh is better than me at riding.

Ok re abandoning FB group - maybe I will work myself up to putting pix up on a profile here. Don't hold your breath though.

[Mirage]

TheLoneRanger if you are anywhere near Leicestershire,you are more than welcome to join us.
Hope you have fun today frosty.

We had a quick hack around the block yesterday,which was anything but relaxing.We met a tractor,the bin lorry twice and a speeding lorry with a crane attached,all within about 2 minutes.Brandy spun around at the sight of the tractor,and I thought DD2 was about to go flying,but she held on,didn't know whether to laugh or cry,but mercifully burst out laughing.Dpony is pretty bombproof but took exception to the bin lorry & spun,DD1 hung on and laughed.I was frantically signalling to the crane lorry to slow down as I had visions of the 2 ponies buggering off in opposite directions & me not knowing which way to go first.Miraculously,although it didn't slow down,both ponies ignored it as it rocketed past. I was ready for a stiff drink by the time we got back to the farm.

[Mirage]

D0G I'm so jealous of you going on a beach ride.We couldn't be any further from the coast if we tried.Hope you have a lovely time!

[50BalesOfHay]

First ride out with Nell today, following her finising traetment just a walk through the village up to the pub but it was lovely, and she's fine.

[frostyfingers]

Blimey Mirage that sounds scary - well sat everyone! If you caught the name of the crane lorry give them a ring and complain (although I expect you were too busy at the time!) A beach ride sounds wonderful, I haven't done that for years and 3 cheers for Nell, I bet she was pleased to be out.

Dhorse lost a shoe after about 1.5 hours today so I'm really cheesed off. Having farrier problems which I can't go in to but he's coming out tomorrow to fix it again....... All that faffing about for barely anything, and it was such a lovely day it would have been wonderful up in the hills. I'm poulticing tonight in case of bruising again, when will it ever all go right? Grrr!

[Mirage]

Glad you had a lovely hack 50 sounds like Nell is doing well.
frosty that is rotten luck,hope your boy isn't bruised.

We managed a hack across our main fields today,the first time it has been dry enough since October.Brandy walked through a field of sheep for the first time,and wasn't the slightest bit bothered,which was a relief.Apparently he doesn't like going through water,but dd2 got him through the small streams still running through the gateways,and through all the horrible mud.He is such a willing little soul and even if he is unsure or scared,he'll do his best. He wasn't bothered by DD1 and dpony hooleying around either.

We might have made progress on the fear of cyclists,we saw one today and although he was worried,he didn't do anything silly.He has been with us 3 weeks today and if he carries on like this,we might attempt a PC rally in a few weeks.

[ManateeEquineOhara]

Not very fun ride today

Well i started okay, but just as we got up to the moor we ran into two cyclists and they put the pony on edge (the pony being ridden by DD, not me, Dmare was fine). We had a little trot and the pony went into canter and that was fine.

Next trot was on a sort of track but with a verge of sorts. The pony leapt onto the verge, took off into a fast canter and then started bucking like crazy. Poor DD looked like she was coming off (she didn't, amazingly), but they were proper flying bucks, and she wasn't stopping either. DD did actually manage to stop her after what felt like an eternity but was probably less than 30 secs! I was yelling '"Sit back" like a loon (distracted a few dog walkers!). Also DD had been blinded from the first buck as her hat silk is too big and came down over her eye! MUST get a smaller one! Dd was very shaken and we just walked back to the yard, she was saying that the pony feels ashamed and is going to behave now! I'm not so convinced, totally lost all confidence in this pony for DD to ride :(

On the plus side Dmare was good, if a bit ploddy (opposite of the damned pony!).

On the subject beach rides - we can see the sea from our yard, but the beaches are stony within hacking distance. It is quite cruel to see the sea but have no beach to ride on! I could hire transport but it would be quite logistically hard for me. Single parent, work, etc.

On the subject of fb groups - a closed one would be okay I think.

[Mirage]

Oh Manatee that sounds very scarey indeed.I really feel for you and your DD. It is horrible to watch a little one on an out of control pony,your DD sounds like she has a good seat and is a brave girl.

We went across the ford today,Brandy's first walk through proper water with us.It took 2 attempts,but he did it and walked across and back,so we were very pleased with him.Two cyclists passed us on the way home and he didn't react,but took exception to a motorbike,who very kindly slowed right down for us,and jumped about a bit.Thats another bit of de spooking to do.

[frostyfingers]

I often think watching scary things is worse than experiencing them sometimes Manatee - your daughter sounds very brave and practical too, well done for sticking that little lot!

Dhorse has had some glue repair to his foot today and having been very ouchy on it this morning seems a bit better this afternoon. If he's ok on a walk out tomorrow I'm going to try and turn him out for only his 3rd day in 8 weeks - I feel so sorry for him seeing his mates out in the field and he's confined to a cattle shed! At least he's not in his stable all day and has some cows for company (although the nearest ones went to make burgers or similar the other day...)

[Mirage]

I hope that dhorse is feeling less ouchy tomorrow frosty.

DD2 fell off today.We were doing a course of jumps and I'd put her on a lunge line so she didn't get held back by my slowness.She jumped them fine,but turned to quickly as she finished and went out the side door.I made a grab for her,but was too late.Thank goodness for safety stirrups! She was fine though,and had a little cry and got back on,poor Brandy just looked confused.We did the jumps again,because although I knew DD2 would be ok,I didn't want the poor pony to end on a bad note.By the time we got back to the farm,DD2 had forgotten all about falling off and went off to look at the new lambs with her cousins whilst I poo picked,hayed and sorted out pony teas.My father now refers to me as 'the groom'.

Dpony didn't want to jump today and when she got a smack for refusing,put in some pretty amazing bucks.It was very funny,because when she's in a mood,she knows she is going to get told off and will cow kick or buck in anticipation.DD1 got her going eventually and was flying over the jumps.

[frostyfingers]

Dhorse is skipping about in the field like a foal (very alarming seeing him gallop and handbrake turn), enjoying only his 4th day out since 15th Jan. My relief is tempered by the possibility that a horse on the yard has mysterious and serious hind leg lameness and is being xrayed tonight for a possible fracture of the pastern or fetlock. His owner is understandably distraught and I'm doing what I can but feel so helpless in the face of her despair.

Sounds to me Mirage that Brandy is a star and learning to deal with all sorts of excitements. Falling off is part of learning and your DD is just getting more experience - she won't turn too tight again will she?! I'm glad you're all having some fun at last, and now the evenings are lengthening it does all feel less grim.

[Mirage]

Thank you frosty we love him and hope he carries on being (fairly) unflappable.

Fingers crossed for you friend's horse.

[Mirage]

Another lesson tonight.DD2 ended up falling off again.We noticed earlier that when her whip accidentally touched his rump,he shot forward in panic.She was trotting him and somehow managed to touch his rump with the whip again,he shot forward,she leant back to pull him up,whip touched him again,he rocketed forward in real fear.We were shouting at DD2 to drop the whip,but she was hanging on too hard to do it.Then she fell off,had a cry and got back on.We dispensed with the whip,and she carried on doing some lovely jumping and got a couple of nice canters out of him too,which isn't easy as he doesn't really know what he is doing.It all ended well,and DD2 knows he was just scared because he is a baby and wasn't being 'naughty'.He was in a bad accident when he was a driving pony so that might have something to do with it too.

My aunt told me that I was a 'hard mother' to make them ride in the rain.

[frostyfingers]

Ah well, lessons are for learning from! FWIW we were never allowed to carry a whip for riding, the only exception being a hunting crop out hunting. A bit like learning to ski without poles, scary but in the long run very good for you.
Hopefully DD isn't too bruised!

I did 2 hours in the rain and mist this morning and it was horrible but unfortunately I've only myself to blame - I can't believe we're back to slopping about in the mud again. I daren't put dhorse out, I'm so scared of his mud fever flaring up again that he's back in his box much to his disgust. Friend's horse is a mystery - no x ray in the end as the swelling and the heat had almost disappeared and gone from 10/10ths lame (ie couldn't put the foot down) to about 3/10ths in 24 hrs......on box rest and pumped full of antibiotics for the next few days and fingers crossed. My gut feeling is a sprain or knock. The field is really bobbly and I wonder if she'd "turned an ankle" or something. Big relief all round, although it's still not gone yet.

[Pixel]

I had a pony who's leg swelled up massively overnight and I've got a photo of him holding it up pathetically in the air as he couldn't possibly walk. We feared the worst but it turned out to be a teeny tiny little puncture wound from a thorn or bramble or somesuch that had got infected in the muddy conditions. Yet when he fractured his hock years later (quite badly, I saw the x-rays and part of it was shattered) he wasn't actually as lame as he'd been with the tiny wound and was able to hobble around. Bloomin' horses like to keep us frantic with worry guessing don't they!

[Mirage]

You are braver than us riding today (grin) it was utterly miserable here,too foggy to go on the road and the fields are slippery and horrid again,so no riding today.I had a very trying time sliding about the field trying to push a barrow full of poo up a slope to the muck heap.We have started lambing and have had to bring some back in from the field today as it is so swampy.Gah!

I'm quite happy for DD2 not to use a whip as I don't think he needs one.His owner told me to take one with us in case he was lazy,but I don't think she'll suggest that again.DD2 is fine,I on the other hand spent this morning trying to get the black marks caused by the fall,out of her jodphurs [had to be her best 'show' ones too.

[TheLoneRanger]

I had a vigorous group lesson this week, which reminded me how much I need to learn. I feel that I really need to have a hack to get back into it, before doing more schoolwork - I just don't quite feel balanced in my seat; but as you are all saying, the weather is so changeable. Still the smell of the stables is back in my nostrils, long may it remain there.