Did half an hour in the school this afternoon, it was so so windy! He was fantastic though. He's so fit at the minute, we cantered for the most part and he didn't even break a sweat.
2017 Hacking/ Riding Challenge.... Add your photos too
- Thread starter Native Lover
- Start date
Float fixed so we are on the move again! Thursday I had a lesson on A, he was great and did all the jumpies like a pro. We tried him in a new bit which I think he really liked, he was far softer and listened to brakes! Friday I went for a road ride on M, she alternated between dawdling and jigjogging but seemed to enjoy herself! Saturday I rode A in the arena for a quick schooling session, and Sunday I had two rounds of showhunter, we came 2nd and 1st! He was much better at listening and waiting for the jumps so I'm pleased. Hopefully pics below work...
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View media item 25048
Running total:
Aus: 230hrs
Mads: 7hrs
View media item 25047
View media item 25048
Running total:
Aus: 230hrs
Mads: 7hrs
A very windy weekend, although luckily we didn't get the worst of Storm Doris. On Saturday it was jumping practice. I have found that Harvey puts his head right down before he jumps if the jumps aren't big enough so I am having to be brave and make them a bit bigger. I tried 70cm which seemed to work well. I'm starting to get a bit more control in canter, although there is a long way to go. I was pleased with what we did but we were both feeling tired after only 25 minutes so I called it a day.
On Sunday I decided it wasn't sensible to go too far so we just went for a short hack. Despite a lot of snorting Harvey was good and went forwards for me even when he wasn't sure.
Blurry showjumping!
Not sure if the video will work off my web site...
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-m37WNgx/0/1280/i-m37WNgx-1280.mp4
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-HB9LnZk/0/1280/i-HB9LnZk-1280.mp4
Hacking
1 hour
3 miles
schooling
25 minutes
Totals
Hacking
59.9 miles
19 hours
Schooling
2 hours 10
On Sunday I decided it wasn't sensible to go too far so we just went for a short hack. Despite a lot of snorting Harvey was good and went forwards for me even when he wasn't sure.
Blurry showjumping!
Not sure if the video will work off my web site...
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-m37WNgx/0/1280/i-m37WNgx-1280.mp4
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-HB9LnZk/0/1280/i-HB9LnZk-1280.mp4
Hacking
1 hour
3 miles
schooling
25 minutes
Totals
Hacking
59.9 miles
19 hours
Schooling
2 hours 10
Had a lesson this morning and we did a basic pole exercise which I did not find basic haha! Me and Toffee were all legs and poles everywhere. He tried so hard too bless him. He was pouring with sweat afterwards. We are starting to do different pole exercises in preparation to restart him jumping. We have cancelled all jumping up until now as he was so unbalanced and green that putting a jump infront of him together with asking him to take ME over it with him was an idea destined to fail so we have worked solidly on his flatwork and he's now so much more balanced. We can canter circles on both reins and he's going over poles on the ground beautifully without hitting anything so we are starting to do different pole exercises and raised poles.
I found it sooooo hard! But going to practice and my instructor is still schooling him for me.
I found it sooooo hard! But going to practice and my instructor is still schooling him for me.
Harvey and I are rubbish at polework. So many things to learn!
Do you find your mind goes blank? I concentrate on one thing and forget the rest. I was working so hard on my leg to hand that I forgot to take the turn I was meant to. My diagonals went out the window as well! Toffee has been working so well but throw some poles into the mix and it all goes wrong lol
Not blank, but very definitely the concentrate on one thing and forget the rest bit! Harvey can be a bit clumsy and can kick/stand on the poles so I fin myself looking down (which I don't normally do). I'm looking forward to light nights when I'll be able to ride in the evenings and get some more practice in.
I actually focus intently on doing one thing correctly and the rest just kind of falls away. Toffee used to kick poles all the time time but he's a lot better now. Yes I can't wait for summer evenings!
Hopefully not be long til I can post some jumping pics too, I get a bit envious of seeing others jump when we're not there yet (although I do enjoy seeing jumping pics!) Fingers crossed! :-D
It was lovely and sunny here today so we went out for a hack. There was some fencing etc down from the storms we have had, Marley had a good look at the destruction but he just kept marching on bless him. We had quite a bit of traffic and one driver went past us so fast it resulted in me coming out with some colourful language Marley was a saint When we got back to the yard I also decided to ride in the field for another 15 mins. I have not put my video on here as its rather long as I am also doing the Northwood Farm challenge on fb and I have to log my rides on there also with a video or picture. I was asked by an other member to put up a video so it was a bit long and all of you on here have seen my hacking route well enough by now
Total Ridden 15 hrs 45 mins
Marley was a saint When we got back to the yard I also decided to ride in the field for another 15 mins. I have not put my video on here as its rather long as I am also doing the Northwood Farm challenge on fb and I have to log my rides on there also with a video or picture. I was asked by an other member to put up a video so it was a bit long and all of you on here have seen my hacking route well enough by now Total Ridden 15 hrs 45 mins
I did a fab hour in the school and did some mini challenges afterwards. We got finished in the school and I walked him up the lane as he was sweating a bit. On the way back we practiced stopping and just standing (he likes to pull to the yard as he knows we are going that way and yard = a carrot or dinner usually lol) and waiting around for a bit. I was surprised actually, I expected a fight and he didn't, he was excellent. Then we came to the pile of stones that used to terrify him. I've done work with that and now can lead him over in hand but never tried to ride over them. They're small stones and so they shift easily and put him off balance. I rode him over them and he stood at the top like a star. Then we walked round a bit that we never go to on the yard where there is a big drain. He was frightened, I felt him tense and he was snorting but I just gently kept my leg on and asked him forward and we went for a look and he was a bit nervous but he relaxed in no time. I was so proud. He is really coming on. I feel like he trusts my judgement and trusts that I won't ask anything of him that will get him hurt and that's a good feeling. I feel we are working as a team now.
Had a hack today but unfortunately it resulted in me having to phone the police as I was nearly run off the road by a DPD driver who then proceeded to make abusive finger gestures at me and mouth F*** OFF at me. Really frightened me and poor Toffee got a shock too. How can people be that horrible? :-(
Anyway we continued our hack and got to the village and back.
Anyway we continued our hack and got to the village and back.
I was so annoyed because I thought, you can see I am female, I'm alone and you can also see I am riding. I have a high visibility jacket on with THINK HORSE on the front and back. I did the slow down gesture when I saw him come round the corner ahead and he was far enough away at this point that I couldn't make out his number plate so I did give him more than enough chance to slow down. I kept doing it and he literally ignored me so as a final desperate attempt, I put my hand up in a stop gesture and he took both his hands off the wheel and threw them up in the air as if to say "what" at me. I mouthed to him SLOW DOWN and he took his hand off the wheel again and stuck his finger up whilst saying F off to me. I was trying to hold Toffee as he was chomping away at his bit (he does that when he's stressed or anxious usually) and had his head right behind the bit so I had limited control at this point and I was trying to get his head up whilst keep him still and reassure him but also try and get the guy to slow down a bit. I decided against turning round and going home because I'm not ruining our hack for him but Toffee was a bit edgy. Who can blame him.
I got home and rang the police non emergency number and they said come in tonight and give a statement. Needless to say I have just gone and ordered a hack cam and high vis gilet from Gizapaw.
I got home and rang the police non emergency number and they said come in tonight and give a statement. Needless to say I have just gone and ordered a hack cam and high vis gilet from Gizapaw.
I am so lucky - all of the drivers in my area seem to be considerate, and oddly the DPD chap is one of the best. I've posted on several businesses FB pages to say how good their drivers are. Hopefully the Police will take it seriously and go round for a word.
Half an hour of schooling yesterday in the early morning sun!
Total 13hours 50 mins
Total 13hours 50 mins
@SeeingSpots sorry to hear you had a bad experience out hacking. It only takes one idiot driver to ruin a nice hack and knock confidence in both rider and horse. You could also send DPD an email and explain what happened and hopefully they could have a talk with the driver and talk him through the correct way to pass a horse and rider. Yes you should get a head cam i never go out hacking without mine. Glad both you and Toffee came to no real harm.
I decided just to play about in the field bareback with Marley this morning. I haven't rode bareback in ages so I felt a bit wobbly at first lol but after about 10 mins all was well I found my balance Marley was a saint, he even trotted nice and steady as he usually has quite a fast trot. He was lovely and warm
Total ridden 16 hrs 15 mins
Marley was a saint, he even trotted nice and steady as he usually has quite a fast trot. He was lovely and warm Total ridden 16 hrs 15 mins
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