2018 Hacking/Riding challenge........ Add your photos and join in open to anyone.

A super long weekend in the UK :) After fetching the lorry back from its MoT (passed - yay!!) Saturday started with a solo hack around the block, Harvey sadly was not on his best behaviour. When we got back he practically dragged me back through the gate so we then spend the next 10 minutes riding backwards and forwards past the gate until he started to get the idea that I chose where we go. Later on we had another jumping session in the school, starting at 60cm and working up to 75cm.

Sunday was another solo hack. I had to change my plans as they were mustering several hundred sheep on the bridleway (its also the farm track) so I decided to reroute. This involved passing the scary parked boat again which took a while. I had planned some more jumping in the afternoon, but it really was too hot considering both of our fitness levels. I also swapped Harvey over to being out at night and in during the day.

Monday was forecast to be very hot so I was at the yard before 9 for some more jumping practice, and then a lazy walk round in the afternoon including checking out a new bridleway.

i-xx9Gj3d-XL.jpg


i-bVfsK5z-XL.jpg


My best face pulling (again :( )
i-vsq8qdB-XL.jpg


i-8TGNbgV-XL.jpg


Hacking
14.6 miles
4.5 hours

Schooling
50 minutes

Totals
Schooling
3 hours 5 minutes

Hacking
103.3 miles
32 hours 25
 
I really like Harvey! :)

Well I am back in the land of the riding (frantically touches wood) now our feet problems seem to be sorted. But i got so annoyed with on again off again horse Ive uttetly lost track of what I have been doing.

However, had such a lovely weekend. My friend passed her trailer test monday and so we took our 2 boys to her house for an 11 mile wander around her local forest yesterday! Was just wonderful. Fingera crossed he stays right as going on a beach holiday with them both in 2.5 weeks! Exciting. :D
 

Attachments

  • IMG-20180508-WA0001.jpg
    IMG-20180508-WA0001.jpg
    197.2 KB · Views: 7
5.34 mile hack today. Now HRH has a week or so off, needs some growth on his hooves, worn them down so much in the stable when the farrier came today he couldnt take anything off, just rasped them smooth. Well i say a week off, grass track hacks only, but was planning a few days off for him anyway hes been working like a trooper and has lost weight And down a girth size which goes 4 holes up each side now whooo! Here i was thinking he was putting it on haha!
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    743.8 KB · Views: 1
Never got any pics going round because she was being a bit of a bugger.
First time round this hack since last summer so I thought I'd try take her easy, she had other plans.
So glad I never led Amber along as whisk was requiring two hands today.
She was fine until we ventured off the road we usually do the short hack, kept jogging so I let her trot, never pulled and kept a nice brisk pace.
Slowed back to a jog before entering the woods and well that was that she wouldn't settle and just pulled pulled pulled, so as soon as we got to the grass track i let her have a good canter, never pulled nice pace wasn't being silly with it.
After that managed a pleasant walk for maybe 2 mins before jogging like an idiot again the whole way home.

This picture is after our hack. IMG_20180511_125020_622.jpgIMG_20180511_125020_621.jpg
 
Had an amazing ride today, topped off by missing all the rain which started just as we loaded to come home.

9 miles around hankley common which wss about 35 mins from our yard. Beautiful mostly sandy tracks, some fabulous long canters and amazing scenery and best of all all free!

Now i will add at this point we had a route map and everything, but we were supposed to be on frensham common, we went the wrong way out of the carpark so were pretty much lost for most of it. :D Thank goodness for modern phones that meant we got back to where we started!

IMG-20180512-WA0019.jpg IMG-20180512-WA0022.jpg IMG-20180512-WA0023.jpg
 
Forgot to update for a while but haven't been riding on a weekly basis.

My last ride before today was 22/04, I can't really remember what happened now but I'm sure it was uneventful or I'd remember! That ride we did 7.03km in 1hr40. It was mostly walk as I was with my friend who's hesitant to do more than that at the moment. Longer rides are no good for my hips though!

Didn't ride the two Sundays after that for a variety of reasons, but back on board today. With a break in the rain for most of the last fortnight the ground has finally dried out enough for a canter, so I went out with another friend. We had a few nice short, controlled canters. Then we got to a part I've never been to before but my share regularly canters/gallops up there and boy did I feel out of control when we first got going!! I finally relaxed enough to get into it but it's prompted me to practise standing in my stirrups for canter as that's where I went wrong.

Today we managed 5km in 1hr.

Totals 69.96km in 15hrs 50mins plus 180 minutes schooling
 
Well tonight Melody was like a little Ferrari well a powered rocket speed ( powered by grass farts lol ) she was trying to trot the whole time but I kept her walking and stopping till she started to listen to me then we went onto trotting. Bye the time we finished we were both blowing a little lol... I am so loving being back riding.... I have missed the fun of her little cheeky ways....

Rode for approx 60mins.... tonight :)
 
A late update from me as I'm away (totals and photos will follow)

Saturday started with more schooling. I've never tried Harvey with bounces so I set up 3 jumps with poles on the floor, and then eventually got the back 2 up to 30cm. He seemed to enjoy it so next time he can do all 3.

More solo hacking in the afternoon. I tried a new route that has 4 gates (we are rubbish at gates). I got,off for the first one and it took about half a dozen goes to get back on as Harvey was being a pain about standing by the fence. The second gate was open (yay!) and I managed to open the final 2 (double yay)

Sunday was the admington fun ride. Only E and I were going so we both went in my box. Harvey wasn't too bad to start with, but he steadily worked himself up into a sweaty, joggy mess. I did manage some jumps though, probably about 45cm

Hacking
15 miles
3 hours 45

Schooling
30 minutes

Totals to follow when I get home
 
newrider.com