A lovely potter about today. Fuzzy was rubbing her neck and face in the byre whilst I was tacking up. She couldn't wait to go down for a roll. I untacked her in the field and looked around and she was down!
2025 Hacking and Inhand Thread
- Thread starter newforest
- Start date
A quick (and I mean quick!) potter in the school today - heading down there on this pic. (Ours is behind the white car you see). Ignore the dried mud on her lovely rear. I only had time to quickly brush where the saddle goes. It's still chaotic here (having furniture collected and delivered and a lot of noisy joinery work done). That sky looks a bit ominous. But it's nice enough really, the sun keeps popping out. It was a nice interlude amid the messy time inside, am back to dusting and shifting things back into place now.......................................
Oops - out of date again! 2 weeks ago
I decided that the time had come to take Harvey off road for the first time since his injury. I had a word with him and agreed the plan which was for a steady canter to check out the ground conditions. Oddly as soon as his hooves hit the soil he forgot the plan and went straight to gallop (not a huge surprise) - we had a nice blast.
Next day he practically dragged me back there for another play. On Sunday we managed just a nice steady hack.
On Sunday we went to visit my hacking buddy C and had a nice hack round the lanes in shirtsleeves - such a nice day.
Hacking in the sun
Hacking
5 hours
17 miles
Totals
Hacking
21 hours 25
85 miles
Schooling
2 hours 40
I decided that the time had come to take Harvey off road for the first time since his injury. I had a word with him and agreed the plan which was for a steady canter to check out the ground conditions. Oddly as soon as his hooves hit the soil he forgot the plan and went straight to gallop (not a huge surprise) - we had a nice blast.
Next day he practically dragged me back there for another play. On Sunday we managed just a nice steady hack.
On Sunday we went to visit my hacking buddy C and had a nice hack round the lanes in shirtsleeves - such a nice day.
Hacking in the sun
Hacking
5 hours
17 miles
Totals
Hacking
21 hours 25
85 miles
Schooling
2 hours 40
Catching up! We had a couple of nice trips along the bridleway so Harvey could have a run, a quieter hack, and then on Sunday we did a bit of jumping. Harvey was very exited and we had to have a bit of a discussion about who was in control 
We jumped up to 100cm and I think he's ready now to try some oxers to stretch him a bit
Hacking
3 hours
10 miles
schooling
30 minutes
Totals
Hacking
24 hours 25
95 miles
Schooling
3 hours 10
We jumped up to 100cm and I think he's ready now to try some oxers to stretch him a bitHacking
3 hours
10 miles
schooling
30 minutes
Totals
Hacking
24 hours 25
95 miles
Schooling
3 hours 10
We had a glorious long hack today, 2 hours mostly at walk but with a bit of trot and one short canter. It was full of incident! These included:
Later on he was very reluctant to go forward and I forgot, like a fool, what causes that. Eventually after a short canter he detoured into the woods without instruction. I barely had time to ask, "What the..." when he stretched out and had a massive wee. Poor lad! I often forget that he doesn't like fast work when he's doubled up. Afterwards he offered me canter straight away, as if he was saying, "I knew what you wanted, honest."
He got very sweaty so I washed him off when we got home. He rolled afterwards, of course.
The weather was utterly perfect and all the blackthorn was out. It was just a gorgeous hack.
- two tiny dachshunds hurling themselves at Sid's pom poms, barking furiously. He ignored them but I had a lovely chat to their (very apologetic) owner while Sid was petted.
- a train going under the Scary Railway Bridge while we crossed it. No drama.
- Making our way on a narrow lane past what used to be a beautiful old stable yard until it (literally) fell down a few months ago. It's now being converted into posh homes for posh folks, as is the fate of all rickety farm buildings in Surrey. The men were working inside the shell of the houses, one with a very, very loud nail gun, another with an angle grinder. Sid really didn't like the nail gun, and nor did he like the third guy flapping a tarpaulin out of an upstairs window, but he held it together.
- Being pursued down the path by a man driving a small and exceptionally noisy road roller. Sid looked uncomfortably behind him but carried on.
- On past the Chilworth Manor vineyard, which was, very unusually, full of activity. Lots of people tying-in the new growth on the vines, I think. They were calling to each other and all of them had left their coats to flap on the posts at the end of each vine row. We had a little nap there but Sid moved on quickly.
- A perfectly innocent small wooden sign by the side of the track, announcing that a new native hedgerow had been planted by the residents of Chilworth. This was the scariest thing on the whole hack! Sid started to spin and got through 180 degrees before I stopped him. He stared at the sign wild-eyed. I said he was an idiot.
- 4 alpacas being escorted from one paddock to another by 4 chaps. The alpacas were, to my surprise, OK but the men stopped after they had closed the gates and stood in the shade of a tree chatting. Sid couldn't figure out what they were and sidled and bridled. I asked them to call to him, they did (they were very nice chaps) and he snorted with relief and went up to them to say hello. He got lots of fuss and the heel of a jam sandwich, gratefully received.
Later on he was very reluctant to go forward and I forgot, like a fool, what causes that. Eventually after a short canter he detoured into the woods without instruction. I barely had time to ask, "What the..." when he stretched out and had a massive wee. Poor lad! I often forget that he doesn't like fast work when he's doubled up. Afterwards he offered me canter straight away, as if he was saying, "I knew what you wanted, honest."
He got very sweaty so I washed him off when we got home. He rolled afterwards, of course.
The weather was utterly perfect and all the blackthorn was out. It was just a gorgeous hack.
What an eventful hack! Sid and you have each other pegged, isn't he lovely with needing his wee then cantering
he sounds such a good boy and all those things going on around him. I think the dogs would have sent even Fuzzy into overdrive (I think she does do overdrive but thankfully I've not experienced it yet).
Gorgeous weather here today, so much sunshinehad a lovely potter about, wasn't going to bother because this morning Fuz had been breaking and entering again and it took Mr T and me ages and ages to put back all the broken fencing. No harm done (to Fuzzy) other than she was slightly puzzled and cross in equal measure when I put a headcollar on her and coaxed her out of a small ditch between the back of the pig barn and the front paddocks. She practically rolled her eyes at me the cheeky mare! 
had a lovely potter about, wasn't going to bother because this morning Fuz had been breaking and entering again and it took Mr T and me ages and ages to put back all the broken fencing. No harm done (to Fuzzy) other than she was slightly puzzled and cross in equal measure when I put a headcollar on her and coaxed her out of a small ditch between the back of the pig barn and the front paddocks. She practically rolled her eyes at me the cheeky mare! 
More beautiful weather. Was waiting for a new fridge / freezer to arrive, got really excited when two blokes got out of a van at the main gate. Ha. Look what I did;
Yes hurled everything out the old freezer. Turns out it wasn't a fridge freezer delivery at all. Was two chairs! Hahaha. Thought knickers to it at that point and tacked up anyway. Had a lovely potter in the sunshine and untacked her in the field again. Still no freezer but feel really good for having a ride! (You can see Storm's ice boots on the floor too, they are permanently on stand by in the freezer just in case!)
Yes hurled everything out the old freezer. Turns out it wasn't a fridge freezer delivery at all. Was two chairs! Hahaha. Thought knickers to it at that point and tacked up anyway. Had a lovely potter in the sunshine and untacked her in the field again. Still no freezer but feel really good for having a ride!
(You can see Storm's ice boots on the floor too, they are permanently on stand by in the freezer just in case!)
We've done a few things in the last couple of weeks. Found a new place to ride, quite local and all off road. Going back there tomorrow
Then we went to a Working Equitation clinic which was great fun. AJ jumped out of an obstacle which had a little low fence. That surprised me as he's petrified of poles so I got it in my head that jumping wasn't on the agenda.
The next day we went to a show. I'm not brave enough to do ridden so it was inhand. It was a special Arab class and there were only 2 of us in it but we got 1st. I haven't a clue about showing. AJ behaved well, mostly.
Then we went to a Working Equitation clinic which was great fun. AJ jumped out of an obstacle which had a little low fence. That surprised me as he's petrified of poles so I got it in my head that jumping wasn't on the agenda.
The next day we went to a show. I'm not brave enough to do ridden so it was inhand. It was a special Arab class and there were only 2 of us in it but we got 1st. I haven't a clue about showing. AJ behaved well, mostly.
OMG he is the prettiest colour now! Don't you wish there was a button you could press to freeze a grey's colour just where you like it!
So much! He's so practical right now. I'm hoping for another couple of years before the stains start to show
I had another little pootle about yesterday, so many lately, I am losing count! We've had such lovely bright, calm weather up here for a change. I can really tell their coats are changing now, soon as I untacked her in the field she went down for a roll again. Zi joined us and did the same. She's so lovely, I never get bored with watching her in the field either. Sadly no pottering today as the wind is getting up, I think it's going to be a rough weekend so I'm glad I made the most of it earlier on this week.
I have intermittent internet so struggling to post and I can't read anything as it won't always load.
So will go back and catch up with everyone.
I lunged the cob in the schooling paddock.
That should read I took her in the schooling paddock, she's in season, she had a real jolly. Various snorts, shoot offs, broncs and a decent rear for her. First time using the new line line, so I think that's possibly the first session this year.
No photos, but I will be organised for next time. I bet she will just trot then!
Sunset photo, just because I can now.
So will go back and catch up with everyone.
I lunged the cob in the schooling paddock.
That should read I took her in the schooling paddock, she's in season, she had a real jolly. Various snorts, shoot offs, broncs and a decent rear for her. First time using the new line line, so I think that's possibly the first session this year.
No photos, but I will be organised for next time. I bet she will just trot then!
Sunset photo, just because I can now.
It's so lovely to see you on board enjoying your horsey time together.
And I only noticed the lovely shaped bottom.
Finally after over 8 months of rehab Harvey and I climbed the bridleway onto out local hill today - we had a nice day for it. Then on Friday we managed to get all of the way round the canter bridleway and pass the scarecrow which we previously failed to negotiate. Saturday was then a shorter hack and Sunday some jumping in the school.
Up the slippery bricks onto the hill
Not a bad view
Still climbing
Reached the top - not often I get a pricked ears photo!
Hacking
13 miles
4 hours
Schooling
20 minutes
Totals
Hacking
28 hours 25
108 miles
Schooling
3 hours 40
Up the slippery bricks onto the hill
Not a bad view
Still climbing
Reached the top - not often I get a pricked ears photo!
Hacking
13 miles
4 hours
Schooling
20 minutes
Totals
Hacking
28 hours 25
108 miles
Schooling
3 hours 40
That does look slippery if you tube it wrong is that an old cart track. We have some of those in between churches etc etc.Finally after over 8 months of rehab Harvey and I climbed the bridleway onto out local hill today - we had a nice day for it. Then on Friday we managed to get all of the way round the canter bridleway and pass the scarecrow which we previously failed to negotiate. Saturday was then a shorter hack and Sunday some jumping in the school.
Up the slippery bricks onto the hill
Not a bad view
Still climbing
Reached the top - not often I get a pricked ears photo!
Hacking
13 miles
4 hours
Schooling
20 minutes
Totals
Hacking
28 hours 25
108 miles
Schooling
3 hours 40
I actually rode out today with her boyfriend. Probably last time I rode was January, far enough ago that the spiders had made nests on the tack again.
She had a nice walk to her, girth gone up a hole. So whatever I haven't done as paid off. Not sure if turning away gets them to drop off a bit?
Took some of the storage box stuff home and it will go in the tack room. Least now it's been cleaned, it may actually stay clean!
She had a nice walk to her, girth gone up a hole. So whatever I haven't done as paid off. Not sure if turning away gets them to drop off a bit?
Took some of the storage box stuff home and it will go in the tack room. Least now it's been cleaned, it may actually stay clean!
It actually goes to a house on top of the hill (and that is the only access!). I've no idea what car they use to get up there as its pretty steep in places. Its a bridleway too.
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