2020 Hacking & Riding Thread

Well we've been doing in hand stuff now for a few weeks with Zi. The weather started off nice here but quickly turned bad. But we're in a routine which I'm liking time-frame wise (as it does fit in with our working week) so despite a squall looking imminent we carried on. Hmm. Zi wasn't overly impressed but did listen. I didn't push it with him, I can tell when the weather is about to turn and so can he! But I'm pleased overall and I don't think the transition to riding is going to be too difficult. He didn't even take a look at the new muck heap (which is to one side of the school). He's very sensible in general, not like a certain mare I could mention!
 
  • Love
Reactions: GaryB
They are so daft arent they about new things. The baler is out in the yard at present and billy has a good look at it everytime we go past it. Get him level with it he veres sideways and then jogs a few strides to get away. After its been parked there for a few days he forgets about it. But move it to another bit of the yard he starts being silly at it again.

God forbid we leave the mower on the back of the tractor in the yard. Given the opportunity hed bolt past it each time. It has a white protective plastic cover, billy hates it as its above his head when mounted on the tractor. He looks at it, and nearly sh!ts himself everytime. One day i will get deposited.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
A few to catch up on.
After work on Wednesday was some jumping practice - I need to get going again properly before my next clinic. It went ok but wasn't really happy with my canter so one to work on.

I'd booked the day off on Friday to go for a nice long hack somewhere, but it was forecast to be meltingly hot so that had to be changed. I went early for a local hack and it was 25c by twenty past nine. We had a pleasant hour though and came back reasonably comfortable.

Saturday was going to be more jumping practice but when I brought Harvey in Harvey had a huge fly bite on his side where the stirrups go (about the size of my hand) so no riding for me. I did have a quick canter round the school on on of the other livery's cob as she wanted him to work and she is still a bit lame so can't canter yet (the rider that is!)

On Sunday I played babysitter for one of the other liveries on a hack (I took the yard veteran). Harvey was fine so we did some jumping practice and he went well with 3 fences set up at 90cm

Harvey has his hay put in the corner away from the door and his water - it never stays there!
IMG_0932_heic-X2.jpg


Schooling
1 hour

Hacking
8.5 miles
2 hours 15

Totals
Schooling
21 hours 40

Hacking
45 hours 30
161.95 miles
 
  • Like
Reactions: Huggy and Trewsers
GaryB said:
A few to catch up on.
After work on Wednesday was some jumping practice - I need to get going again properly before my next clinic. It went ok but wasn't really happy with my canter so one to work on.

I'd booked the day off on Friday to go for a nice long hack somewhere, but it was forecast to be meltingly hot so that had to be changed. I went early for a local hack and it was 25c by twenty past nine. We had a pleasant hour though and came back reasonably comfortable.

Saturday was going to be more jumping practice but when I brought Harvey in Harvey had a huge fly bite on his side where the stirrups go (about the size of my hand) so no riding for me. I did have a quick canter round the school on on of the other livery's cob as she wanted him to work and she is still a bit lame so can't canter yet (the rider that is!)

On Sunday I played babysitter for one of the other liveries on a hack (I took the yard veteran). Harvey was fine so we did some jumping practice and he went well with 3 fences set up at 90cm

Harvey has his hay put in the corner away from the door and his water - it never stays there!
IMG_0932_heic-X2.jpg


Schooling
1 hour

Hacking
8.5 miles
2 hours 15

Totals
Schooling
21 hours 40

Hacking
45 hours 30
161.95 miles
Click to expand...


Lovely Harvey! Lol they do love moving their hay around don't they! Ours never keep it where we put it !!
 
  • Like
Reactions: GaryB
Out again this morning - Hogan actually seemed quite enthused. Got some lovely active trots along sandy tracks. One little paddy with a buck, over a horsefly, so understandable. Now extending rides from 45 mins to 1 hour. Nearest I can get to a selfie! Screenshot_20200804-145047_Gallery.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers and GaryB
So, since we moved yards Pete's lost 30kg and we are out exploring our hacking as much as possible.

The yard is on a bridle path and within a minute we can link to a major trail that goes about 40 miles and being fully surfaced, should be relatively mud free in winter, wellfingers crossed! There are lots of routes off of the trail, so lots and lots for us to still explore :)

We joined Activequine app during Lockdown and have been rewarded with gorgeous 30 mile, 50 miles and 100 miles rosettes ?

Pete's currently sporting a small kick mark where the girth goes, so we've been out in hand and lunging over jumps and poles. Hopefully, he'll be recovered enough to ride out at the weekend

IMG_20200613_111906_262.jpgIMG_20200705_140450_247.jpgIMG_20200705_140354_789 - Copy.jpgIMG_20200717_204604_653.jpg
20200726_185144.jpgIMG_20200717_204645_291.jpgIMG_20200726_184747_027.jpgIMG_20200804_214231_666.jpgIMG_20200804_223715_758.jpg
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Trewsers, GaryB and Huggy
Went out for short ride and lead tonight with the boys. Although i didnt lead chunky that much. He just followed. They were both a bit keen having had 2 days off. Chunky kept putting in little trots to catch us up when he got behind. So i could tell he was keen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers and GaryB
A nice cooller night last night for my after work schooling. Apart from a run out following a silly spook Harvey went well for me. I started with a cross pole then went straight to 90cm. After a few single fences we tried a course of four which went well. I finshed on a single fence of 95cm - I need to get back to 100cm as I have booked on my riding camp in September to SJ at 100cm.

90cm spread - you can tell I am out of practice b ythe face pulling!
P8060050-XL.jpg


Final jump at 95cm (more face pulling!)
P8060109-XL.jpg


Schooling
25 minutes

Totals
Schooling
22 hours 05

Hacking
45 hours 30
161.95 miles
 
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers, Huggy and PePo
Just looked up 100 cm in ft - Ramsey and I never got past 2ft 6 - I'm in awe ?
 
GaryB said:
A nice cooller night last night for my after work schooling. Apart from a run out following a silly spook Harvey went well for me. I started with a cross pole then went straight to 90cm. After a few single fences we tried a course of four which went well. I finshed on a single fence of 95cm - I need to get back to 100cm as I have booked on my riding camp in September to SJ at 100cm.

90cm spread - you can tell I am out of practice b ythe face pulling!
P8060050-XL.jpg


Final jump at 95cm (more face pulling!)
P8060109-XL.jpg


Schooling
25 minutes

Totals
Schooling
22 hours 05

Hacking
45 hours 30
161.95 miles
Click to expand...


You’re allowed to pull faces jumping those jumps! Hehehe, anyway I think you just look like you’re concentrating!
 
  • Like
Reactions: GaryB
Another ride and lead hack tonight. Well actuallly only lead at the points where i know chunky will try to turn off for a shortcut.
A little plant as he refused to go up the steep incline to get onto the top of the hill. I dont blame him, it is steep and very hard work just walking it, never mind poor billy having a weight on his back going up it. But i could have killed chunky for planting as it gives me whiplash when he stops. Then he stopped again part way up the steep rocky bit for a ?. I had no choice but to drop the lead, which he managed to stand on the end of. I had to turn billy around, trying not to make him trip over his own feet, a rock or tree root, whilst balancing himself and me on the most dangerous bit. We somehow managed to turn on it, walk back down, back chunky down a couple of steps to free up the end of the rope, return billy around, grab rope and renegotiate the incline once again. Once on the top both were well behaved and chunky even trotted to catch up and then trotted past whilst i walked billy. He even snuck in a couple of canter strides behind us at one point i noticed. Glad hes feeling like hes got a little energy. Its nothing very exciting but it shows me that hes trying and still able to without me actually forcing him to.
On the way home we had the most beautiful red sky too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GaryB, Trewsers, Huggy and 1 other person
Out this morning, early, 7.30. So hot already! Lord, Hogan was slow. To make up for the slow walk, we trotted more, too hot to fight him into a better walk. Had to tap a couple of times, and no arguments or mini bucks, so I suppose that's progress. Cantering is out of the question - grounds too hard, and he's just too lazy just now. When i took his saddle off, I thought I saw a muscle, but it was a trick of the light lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GaryB, Trewsers and PePo
Was doubtful about going out in the heat (even at 7) but bit the bullet and went as there was a slight breeze. Glad I did, Hogan is still slow, but we got some lovely long trots in, on the shady tracks through the trees. One funny moment though - going up towards the main track, Hogan stopped dead and started backing up, very fast. I couldn't see anything, so got off, as it could have been anything. Walked him to the top, and it was a woman walking a very elderly, massive bull mastiff - go figure. We'd already passed a huge irish wolfhound, no problem and Hogan is brilliant with dogs, so I don't know what that was all about! Anyway, got back on and got home with no further incidents. I'll never understand horses :rolleyes:
 
  • Like
Reactions: GaryB and Trewsers
Huggy said:
Was doubtful about going out in the heat (even at 7) but bit the bullet and went as there was a slight breeze. Glad I did, Hogan is still slow, but we got some lovely long trots in, on the shady tracks through the trees. One funny moment though - going up towards the main track, Hogan stopped dead and started backing up, very fast. I couldn't see anything, so got off, as it could have been anything. Walked him to the top, and it was a woman walking a very elderly, massive bull mastiff - go figure. We'd already passed a huge irish wolfhound, no problem and Hogan is brilliant with dogs, so I don't know what that was all about! Anyway, got back on and got home with no further incidents. I'll never understand horses :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I love reading about your hacks with Hogan, something always happens! You two do so well, I'm envious of your confidence and the fact you keep on!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Huggy
Almost getting ready for Mr T to get back on board. (Subject to his new bp arriving). I think Zi is really enjoying the attention and routine. Maybe part of the problem I had with him at the back end of last year was lack of routine with working him? I know the in hand stuff isn't quite the same as ridden, but it's a great starting point and I think moves his mind into a set for actually being ridden. Today we took out the water containers and other stuff and it was just plain old riding school. But he was still good - and less looky at the spooky end. Who knows, maybe I'll look back on this thread this time next year when I'm back on board??
 
  • Like
Reactions: GaryB, Huggy and PePo
8 miles hacked this weekend and although not many pictures (too busy chatting...!) it was nice to be out in the cool, shady routes :) IMG_20200808_192300_907.jpgIMG_20200808_192433_125.jpg
IMG_20200810_150036_215.jpg
But super pleased he's (finally) beginning to lose weight, although still a long way to go!
 
  • Like
Reactions: GaryB, Trewsers and Huggy
Trewsers said:
Almost getting ready for Mr T to get back on board. (Subject to his new bp arriving). I think Zi is really enjoying the attention and routine. Maybe part of the problem I had with him at the back end of last year was lack of routine with working him? I know the in hand stuff isn't quite the same as ridden, but it's a great starting point and I think moves his mind into a set for actually being ridden. Today we took out the water containers and other stuff and it was just plain old riding school. But he was still good - and less looky at the spooky end. Who knows, maybe I'll look back on this thread this time next year when I'm back on board??
Click to expand...
It all sounds good. I agree with the routine thing - there's a happy medium I think - not being a slave to it, but having a relaxed routine never hurts. Spot on too, with the leading - certainly worked with Hogan. It's all softly softly catchee monkey, isn't it?!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: PePo and Trewsers
newrider.com
Top Bottom
Back