He certainly is - our yard veteran is 26 and still loves to go out for a hack.He's way off retirement age at 15
He certainly is - our yard veteran is 26 and still loves to go out for a hack.He's way off retirement age at 15
Funny how some horses just don't enjoy not working. YO's horse took to retirement like a duck to water, Ramsey got depressed - I led him out for as long as I could, but eventually even that was too much. Sounds like Zi is like that.I'm not riding atm - but I thought it was time to start doing a bit of something in hand with Zi again. He's getting porky and fed up. He misses his job I am sure about that. So today tacked him up (just in case he got any ideas about rolling in the sandschool!) and did a bit of in hand stuff. Only basic moves, lots of large circles, figures of eight and walked him over the planks in there. The flies were awful, so we didn't do much for very long but his ears were pricked and he didn't object to his tack being plonked on. I had a fear he might tell me where to go when I presented him with his tack but no, he was fine. Ears pricked up immediately and eyes lit up. Bless him, I really must try a bit harder - for his weight's sake and for his mind too. He's way off retirement age at 15!!!
Funny how some horses just don't enjoy not working. YO's horse took to retirement like a duck to water, Ramsey got depressed - I led him out for as long as I could, but eventually even that was too much. Sounds like Zi is like that.
It is indeed. He'll be enjoying it by the sound of it.He was never meant to be retired, just with the covid thing and him being OH's horse - and he's not riding - we weighed up the risk and as he's got asthma and other health issues, we thought it best to avoid a & e! Not that he plans on having anything dramatic go wrong whilst riding but you never know. So we just sort of put it all on hold. Zi's a lovely boy - he came to us three years ago, he's extremely laid back for a warmblood - and considering he'd been doing lots and lots of work and out competing he's really been so good. I just wish I hadn't had the fall on Christmas day that dented my already rubbish confidence. And then the virus. Oh well, in hand work is a start..........................
Sounds like progress. If you think Harvey's slow, you ain't seen Hogan yet! You'd feel so much better.Another weekend to wear the brave pants. I decided to carry on with my campaign to be able to take Harvey hacking solo on routes that involve gates. On Saturday we had another successful trip onto the hill. Harvey was very slow but while he ws going forwards on his own I decided to let him. We successfully negotioated the 2 gates and even had a small canter. Minf yopu he was so slow I had to take a short cut on the way back!
On Sunday I decided I was going to get back to jumping 100cm so got myslef all psyched up. We started at 80cm and were just about to go up to 90cm when Harvey threw a front shoe so that was the end of that
Sorry - no pics this weekend
Hacking
2 hours 30
7.75 miles
Schooling
10 minutes
Totals
Schooling
18 hours 40
Hacking
39 hours 35
150.25 miles
One of those rides that throws everything at you. Big white cows, grazing, then big black cows lying down, then more big white cows, then new set of ponies with curious foal ?. Got round the inclosure without too much drama, despite all that, almost home, when a big truck comes up behind us, so I move over to the verge. As he'd slowed up for me, I turn to thank him and he revs up just as he's right beside us. I don't think he meant to be mean or anything, just didn't think. Realised once we got to the yard that I'd been tensing up at each incident, and Hogan had actually been really good.
Another weekend to wear the brave pants. I decided to carry on with my campaign to be able to take Harvey hacking solo on routes that involve gates. On Saturday we had another successful trip onto the hill. Harvey was very slow but while he ws going forwards on his own I decided to let him. We successfully negotioated the 2 gates and even had a small canter. Minf yopu he was so slow I had to take a short cut on the way back!
On Sunday I decided I was going to get back to jumping 100cm so got myslef all psyched up. We started at 80cm and were just about to go up to 90cm when Harvey threw a front shoe so that was the end of that
Sorry - no pics this weekend
Hacking
2 hours 30
7.75 miles
Schooling
10 minutes
Totals
Schooling
18 hours 40
Hacking
39 hours 35
150.25 miles
Yes - our farrier is very good - he did it on MondayOh knickers to losing a shoe! Hope you get it sorted quickly
Sounds like you're all enjoying it - he's obviously one of those horses that didn't like doing nothing. What you need now is a chubby laid back cob, then you and Mr T can go out together when things go back to normal (if ever!)Almost a week tomorrow since we started doing something every day with Zi! He's not put a hoof wrong and hasn't given us any hassle like I expected. I still think three months off is a lot. But he's been really good - despite the pansy effort he made yesterday in the rain lol
I'm not sure it's getting him fit but we are - those long legs of his cover ground fast, I am quite out of breath keeping up! But he's in work mode which is all we wanted really. And I'm pretty sure he's happy about it too.