2017 Hacking/ Riding Challenge.... Add your photos too

[horseandgoatmom]

I let Sonny in Virginias ring for a nice roll before the trainer came for Toni and Levi.


Shooting was awful and REALLY CLOSE off Virgina's property line.
Muzzle loader has started now as of NOV 2.

Sonny did not pay any attention and Levi was ok too.
It was a bit too close for comfort for me though.

Sonny did redeem himself being a total sweetie ground tying
Next to the bench I was sitting on - he did me proud
The trainer was telling Toni that Levi should stand where she puts him til *** SHE*** wants him to move.
And there is Mr Sonny boy rock there not a foot moving
for the duration!!





I used to do a lot more freelonging and cavaletti at the old house pretty much on a daily basis.
I had gotten a bit away from it this past year and need to get back to it!!
And being on the road riding the neighborhood was good to leg him up and not need boots on him..
I don't really have a route I can do here but I can certainly get out more on it near the house.

Hunting is 7 days a week now and I'm not keen on the woods aside from I have to boot up all the time to go on those trails.,

WE will see what Sonny I have today

I did like the trainer that came out for Toni yesterday.

She said their place is next to a gun club so they hear shooting
all the time ...
But its a bit different with it being on a range and just possible
yahoos out in the woods!!

 

[Trewsers]

Sonny
Unmounted 59.00hrs
Mounted 67.25 hrs

Andi unmounted 1.75hr

Some times threads don't pop up with new messges and I don't know why???

So sometimes I miss a lot

Have not done much in the last couple of weeks due to weather and things.

Went back Friday to some walking but it was sooooooooo hot
it was terrible. I had planned to do some rd pen cavaletii but
but no way could I do that with the heat.
I did some walkabout on the road cause it was good for him legging him up and good for my knee too.

Yesterday was cooler so I did some walk on the road then came to the small cavaletti pen I had monster horse again.
He was so full of him self
and took quite a while to blow it out and listen to voice commands
View attachment 89793

View attachment 89794

View attachment 89795

View attachment 89796

View attachment 89797

View attachment 89798

FINALLY he settled down a bit
View attachment 89799

View attachment 89800

View attachment 89801
and I got the WHO ME ????? BEING A BRAT????
LOOK

View attachment 89802

We did more walkabout on the road to cool him off
and
Virgina had said Toni was having a lesson
I saw Toni and and she said sure watch the lesson.

He matches those trees in one pic colour wise!! Lovely.

 

[horseandgoatmom]

He matches those trees in one pic colour wise!! Lovely.

LOL went back to look he did!!

Today went much better than yesterday

Sonny
Unmounted 60.50hrs
Mounted 67.25 hrs

Andi unmounted 1.75hr

We had a nice walk on the road - that I knew was going to be good.
In the cavaletti ring he was much less silly and almost immediately went to listening well to
verbal voice commands.

 

[horseandgoatmom]

He was not perfect but very big difference from Mr Brat yesterday.
It started to rain so it was good he was not Mr silly to get sweaty.
I looked up the website for the trainer Toni had come out
and she does Western Dressage. woo hoo!!
She is not horribly far from here and I may look into
taking some lessons both at her place on a school horse to work on ***ME*** and doing some lessons on Sonny.
That would be a win win!!!

 

[MrA]

Not the best pic I've ever taken but shows what a beautiful day it was. My mums been really down. I suggested we have a canter and her share starting bouncing up and down which my mum found hilarious, amazing how much horses can cheer us up!

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Sonny
Unmounted 61.50hrs
Mounted 67.25 hrs

Andi unmounted 1.75hr

Went back over very late in afternoon yesterday.
Worked in Virginia's big ring Sonny was not perfect free
longing but for the huge size of the ring he was very good on voice commands.

He was perfect and such a good boy to being VERY RESPONSIVE
to my just barely tipping my body for HALT.

Today is rainy and crummy so far bummer.

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Sonny
Unmounted 62.50hrs
Mounted 67.25 hrs

Andi unmounted 1.75hr

Time has changed but maybe I'm on a bit of a roll here

I totally hate the dark but went over quite late yesterday because it did start to clear near dusk.

Even though its not far driving has made a big difference especially last nite when it was black dark by the time I was done.

I did a good walkabout and some awesome traveling circles in Virginias ring.
I turned on Virgina's ring lights and played a bit longer.
Toni was down cause its going to be dark by the time she is there after dark but
the lights were fine and I could ride out there if I got the wild hair and I'm a
person who hates the dark.

I still wake up way way WAY too early but if I can change up things to not fade like a flower at dusk.
This will be big progress for me.

 

[GaryB]

Another nice long weekend for me as I had a day's leave left to take.

One of my fellow liveries has not ridden since July as her horse has a long term injury. She has been offered a horse to loan for a few months which is a bit green and hasn't done much so she came out with Harvey and I for her first ride. It all went very well and they should have some fun together - hopefully they can come out on a trip in the horsebox with me soon.

On Sunday E, O and I went out in the lorries to hack around Ambridge. Well not really, but we went to Inkberrow which is supposed to be the village that Ambridge (from the BBC radio series The Archers) is based on. We had a really nice hack which was mostly off road and culminated in a glorious long group canter.

I've been having a few braking problems with Harvey now he is fitter, so on Monday I borrowed a new bit to try. Its a Dutch gag (I think) - the part that goes through is mouth is the same as his existing bit and he seemed happy in it. I had a short hack up the road, did a bit of flatwork in the school and then tried some jumps. It was a bit of a revelation really actually having some control coming into jumps and I ended up jumping higher than we have ever gone before (2' 11"). I think I will have to buy a new bit (I'll only need it for fun rides and jumping).

Harvey (on the left) saying hello to Ollie (who used to be his field mate, went away and has now returned)

Wearing the brave pants!! (and pulling faces as usual)

Hacking
10.5 miles
3.5 hours

Schooling
30 minutes

Totals
Hacking
401.5 miles
122 hours 50

Schooling
25 hours 50

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Sonny
Unmounted 63.25 hrs
Mounted 67.25 hrs

Andi
Unmounted. 1.75 hr

Just got done doing some AWESOME
Traveling circles at trot.

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Sonny
Unmounted 64.50hrs
Mounted 67.25 hrs

Andi
Unmounted. 1.75 hr

Went back over later in the day rain had heald off

Got some more nice traveling circles.
Then he wanted to blow it out..
Virginia has a really big ring and omg he was flying
I saw the quarter horse for sure. Glad I was not on him.

I forgot to pull my camera out til the end sigh.

He got done and then walked over to me with an
ahhhh that felt good.

We did get rain over nite and its supposed to get really windy today so not sure what the day has in store.

 

[GaryB]

@horseandgoatmom You can send me a bit of that energy for Harvey (not all of it though!)

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Lol I'd love to hand some off.

Omg you should have seen him
Galloping. I was so riveted I did not get my camera out.
I wish I had but my thoughts were not
Towards the camera but oh _^$<*=<(]*^^
I hope he stops at the fence or turns.
He did a couple sliding stops.

Today he was awesome in the cavaletti rd pen over HERE.

He trotted beautifully and basicly did a modified traveling type circle free longing with me in the center and even sitting in center and him continuing to go around behind me at the same gait.

Then I'd ask for a halt tell him it's ok to eat some grass. And then we would
Continue.

I was very pleased.

Sonny
Unmounted 66.00 hours
Mounted 67.25 hours

Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Sonny
Unmounted 67.25 hrs
Mounted 67.25 hrs
And
Unmounted 1.75 he

Really low key but great day today
I pulled up some of the cavaletti In
the cavaletti round pen.
I left just 3 flat ones

My goal today was lots of consistent
Free longe walk
While I was sitting on bench in there.

He was AWESOME.

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Sonny
Unmounted. 67.75 hrs
Mounted 67.25
Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Short good session
Wind is horrible
Did some traveling circles in
Virginia's ring

The wind gusts were awful and
It was biting cold.

He did great I had forgotten
My stick and string but he did it fine.

He is very MUCH getting back to being
Really good on voice commands

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Sonny
Unmounted. 70.75 hrs
Mounted 67.25
Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Two really good sessions yesterday
Great session over here.
Then another great session at Virginia's

I did traveling circles TO THE RING.
Then some in the ring and was working on trying to set up to a freelonge circle
In her gigantic ring.
Just doing a modified join up

I also did traveling circles back up the driveway.

I felt really good about progress...

Not sure what I'm doing today ...

Toni is having a ground lesson with the trainer today.
She teaches a variety of things including western dressage so I want to
to her about that.

The balance of the week will be a bit warmer -- thank goodness it was 18f yesterday am
and only got to about 33f.
Today was a bit better at 24f and woo hoo may get close to 40f.

This is way colder than we should be at this time of year but I feel soooooooo good
with myself I still played!!!

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Sonny
Unmounted. 72.25 hrs
Mounted 68.25
Andi
Unmounted 1.75 hr

Played once yesterday and rode once yesterday.

Had a great play session here.

Went back over in the afternoon to see Toni ground lesson with Levi and I wanted to talk
to the trainer about the western dressage lessons.

I decided to ride As I was watching the lesson I was riding around trees etc .
When he pooped I had to dismount toss it in the woods and used a rock to re mount.
We also did some lateral work.. and turn on fore hand and haunches etc

low key things as I watched her lesson..


I also wanted to see how I felt in the SADDLE with leggings under my jeans...
That worked out great!!!!

The trainer was telling Toni if you ride the rail don't just ride the rail give him something to do.

So I think she will incorporate cones etc when Toni gets back to riding Levi.

I like a ring that's not sterile so I think she will be a good fit for me.


I talked to her about 2 fold western dressage lessons building me up a bit (legs etc) on a school horse at her place.
And lessons on Sonny so that we can get more finesse together.

Right now I never ride with a bit but for more finesse I do want to back to a snaffle for lessons.
I do ok he rides fine with the Scott Purdum bitless halter I use all the time and trail ride
and have done versatility etc in it but if some western dressage shows did come up
I would probably have to have a proper bridle with a bit for the test.

She also is not a bitter cold lesson person..
I'm totally on board with that!!!

I'm really excited about this....

 

[GaryB]

It was a slightly disappoint weekend for me. On Saturday I took Harvey into the school but as soon as I trotted on the left rein he didn't feel right so I jumped off him. He was just a bit stiff behind in a trot up so back to the field he went.

He trotted up ok on Sunday, but I just took him on a gentle walk around the block to make sure I didn't cause any issues.

Being silly after returning from out hack.

Harvey decided to join in

Hacking
3 miles
1 hour

Totals
Hacking
404.5 miles
123 hours 50

Schooling
25 hours 50

 

[horseandgoatmom]

LOL he's too cute.

 

[Native Lover]

Well today I got back on Melody just an half hour plod round the school for the first time in ages.... I am smiling like a Cheshire cat here..... It feels wonderful to be back riding again now to make the effort rain hail or shine to get back on and slowy build both are fitness to ride again. And to get out hacking again as soon as shes is fit enough....

So as Arnie used to say we are back

 

[horseandgoatmom]

Well today I got back on Melody just an half hour plod round the school for the first time in ages.... I am smiling like a Cheshire cat here..... It feels wonderful to be back riding again now to make the effort rain hail or shine to get back on and slowy build both are fitness to ride again. And to get out hacking again as soon as shes is fit enough....

So as Arnie used to say we are back

AWESOME WELCOME BACK!!

I'm ALL IN WITH you except with the rain /hail part..

I might get out and ride in a pretty snow shower but
I just don't like rain and hail.

Its been rainy crummy the last 2 days here.
We actually did have some snow showers too.
We were in the car and I tried to get a photo but it did not come out well.

Thankfully it was not sticking to the ground


Someone did post a nice photo to the news
though.


This is how I love to see snow!! Very pretty but not sticking to the ground!!

Today thankfully will be sunny out so ill get some ride/play in.

How cool is this though- we went for lunch to the closer seafood place we found in RI.
I really love Lobster Hut in Plymouth Ma but it was far from old
house and REALLY REALLY far from here.
This place is on a cove so still on water has a good
seafood platter +++++open all year round++++++
The Lobster hut closed for a few months.

They have inside area and a large heated enclosed tent like
seating area with a REAL FIREPLACE!!!

The windows are very thick flexible plastic - not stiff plexi glass so they are not crystal clear but its still AWESOME






The ocean is a couple miles down that way but
I'm so thrilled to have found this place!!


I bet it will be so nice with the fireplace and snow on the ground as much as I totally don't like snow!!

LOL Lobster Hut does not have a fireplace!!!