A little adventure

[Jessey]

My parents wanted to come camping for the weekend at wideham farm where have come with a horse many times over the last 10 years, and it seemed wasteful to come for 4 days without, so I decided to bring Monkey along.

Given our progress solo trailering, I opted to trailer rather than do the 4.5 hour ride here. And he loaded well, and travelled really nicely apart from a few calls when he’d been in there longer than normal!

He was very shouty for a couple of hours after we arrived but eating and drinking well, his paddock is right across from my tent.

Once it cooled off a bit we went for a nice ride and he was totally chilled.

But as we got back to the gate he was shocked to see all the other horses, screamed and planted

He got shouty again when his neighbours went out for a ride but has generally been very good and stayed polite. It was cute though, when we went to bed he had a few shouts again but I laid in bed talking to him and he settled again

Our Sunday hacking buddies L&L are coming to meet us later, so that might be a challenge for him when she leaves again but it’s all good experience!

 

[Jessey]

Today was unexpected, he’s settled in his paddock well enough now, even laid down to nap this morning and only shouts occasionally but riding was a mixed bag.


L&L came and he didn’t seem to recognise them. He went out ok a bit pingy, then got himself more and more wound up, wanted grass and got annoyed when I said no, got all crazy power walking and jogging, spooked at nothing, then tripping over his own feet resulted in bucking and farting, he was very much on the edge on keeping a lid on everything. As we turned back to camp it was like a switch was flipped and he was back to normal, but then minor napping back the other way, and the penny dropped, he’d been excited thinking we were going to ride home!

When we got back he was happy to snooze the afternoon away!

 

[Jessey]

Today didn’t really go to plan, L&L arrived at 10.30 and we knew showers were forecast but as we were tacking up the heavens opened and we got completely soaked in seconds, L’s saddle is western with a padded suede seat which soaked it up like a sponge! We waited 10 minutes but when it didn’t show any signs of stopping and the radar said it was here until 4pm we gave up and they went home.

I led Monkey back to his paddock from the car to save walking it twice!
It’s meant to clear up later so hopefully I’ll get a ride then

The only place to tie a hay net in the paddock is from the gate or fence, Monkey being Monkey pawed at it, got his foot through the net and we looked out from the tent and he was stood quietly with his foot up at his elbow awaiting rescue thank goodness he’s learnt not to panic at things like that! It’s too sandy to feed from the floor and he’d destroyed the big bucket I normally bring to put it in, so I need to go and buy another!

 

[carthorse]

It's no fun riding when it's like that, and L's saddle sounds like it would add a whole new level of misery. Next time I'm riding in a wet leather saddle I'll remind myself it could be worse!

Thank goodness Monkey is sensible enough to wait for rescue!

 

[Trewsers]

Today didn’t really go to plan, L&L arrived at 10.30 and we knew showers were forecast but as we were tacking up the heavens opened and we got completely soaked in seconds, L’s saddle is western with a padded suede seat which soaked it up like a sponge! We waited 10 minutes but when it didn’t show any signs of stopping and the radar said it was here until 4pm we gave up and they went home.

I led Monkey back to his paddock from the car to save walking it twice! View attachment 130168
It’s meant to clear up later so hopefully I’ll get a ride then

The only place to tie a hay net in the paddock is from the gate or fence, Monkey being Monkey pawed at it, got his foot through the net and we looked out from the tent and he was stood quietly with his foot up at his elbow awaiting rescue thank goodness he’s learnt not to panic at things like that! It’s too sandy to feed from the floor and he’d destroyed the big bucket I normally bring to put it in, so I need to go and buy another!

Glad to hear he didnt panic over the net. Fuzzy wouldn't have done, but Storm would have! Hope your weather lets you get a ride in.

 

[Jessey]

Yep I was explaining to my parents that Jess would have removed the whole gate from the hinges if it was her, but equally she wouldn’t have done it in the first place!

I got Monkey out for a ride last night, he was much better but very definitely keener in the direction of home, home home 15 miles away not camp! I can’t believe that he remembers riding here twice 2 years ago to know which way is home and that it can be ridden!

I have ridden a lot with bridged reins these last few days but he’s discovered his big boy walk which is lovely and we managed a remarkably controlled canter last night.

I can’t decide if I’m going to ride this morning or not, he’s pretty worn out from everything and we’re heading home today and I want him to load and travel well, I can’t decide if exercise will help or be too much. I’ll wait for the rain to stop before I decide.

 

[Jessey]

No ride this morning, it was raining first thing and forecast to start again at lunchtime, so I wanted to get away in the dry. He loaded first time but came right back off, 2nd try he stayed put, it seems to be his new routine but I can work with that! He travelled like a champ too despite winds gusting at 30mph which is the top end of what I’ll tow in.

Arriving home was a little interesting, Jess was in the other field so I wanted to keep hold of him until she got to us as I didn’t want them going flat out along the track towards one another. It’s a long time since he struck at me and reared, but he quickly thought better of it! He was just terribly excited. I let him loose and Jess booted him for being too in her face, poor kid! But all is now quiet after 10 minutes of excitement and 2 more squealing kicking fits from Jess, they’ve settled and gone back out to the grass.

In all I’m really happy with how he handled the weekend, there were challenges but nothing unmanageable, and next time he’ll be even better I’m sure!

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Well done Monkey! He is obviously half elephant, what a memory!

 

[lauren123]

him loose and Jess booted him for being too in her face, poor kid! But all is now quiet after 10 minutes of excitement and 2 more squealing kicking fits from Jess,

Jessica has not changed has she

 

[Bodshi]

Sounds fabulous. It's lovely to hear how he's progressing (and what a memory!)

 

[Jessey]

Jessica has not changed has she

Not at all! She’s still mad at him today, he hung out with me after dinner while she went back out to the field, she called for him to follow and when he didn’t go she came back up and started doing that mare squeal/scream striking at him with both front legs. He just stood looking at her bewildered!