Ok, "little" is a total understatement, and I'm too unfit and old for this.
I think I said in another thread that I'd been very impressed at how well Luka came back into work after over 2 months off - a bit nappy at the start of rides but even that was merely planting, a poor tactic for a lad who gets bored more quickly that I do.
Today was a different story. He'd had a few days off due to the weather and a dentist visit, but he had been ridden this week and been an absolute saint - maybe this was a oversight he saw fit to correct today! He was tricky to mount, but there's nothing unusual in that, however setting off in trot before I've got my right foot in the stirrup is a little rude and unusual.
He was like Tigger on speed the whole hack, and spooky too, he even had one attempt at whipping round and he hasn't done that for a few years! Walk was killing, trot was huge with a definite nod to his Hackney blood. Cars seeing us coming were pulling off the road so I dread to think what he looked like!!!!
What was meant to be a quiet walk and jog round the village ended up with him needing washing off when we got home. He had foam between his hind legs and chest which was dripping down his legs and sweaty elsewhere too. I felt like I could have done with a wipe down too and my damaged ankle and knees where protesting. Once he was dealt with I couldn't face doing my stable straight away so cleaned my tack as an excuse for a sit down! I'll need to strap my ankle up to ride tomorrow, it's sore and swollen tonight but weather permitting I intend to get on again tomorrow and see if he's being any calmer.
It's funny how I forget what a hothead he can be, and how powerful. Do we al do that, get lulled into a sense of security because they've been so good for so long? I know it crossed my mind today that at 14.3 he is quite big enough, that at 16hh he'd be hellish. Also that when wound up his paces aren't really designed for riding no matter how good the saddle
I think I said in another thread that I'd been very impressed at how well Luka came back into work after over 2 months off - a bit nappy at the start of rides but even that was merely planting, a poor tactic for a lad who gets bored more quickly that I do.
Today was a different story. He'd had a few days off due to the weather and a dentist visit, but he had been ridden this week and been an absolute saint - maybe this was a oversight he saw fit to correct today! He was tricky to mount, but there's nothing unusual in that, however setting off in trot before I've got my right foot in the stirrup is a little rude and unusual.
He was like Tigger on speed the whole hack, and spooky too, he even had one attempt at whipping round and he hasn't done that for a few years! Walk was killing, trot was huge with a definite nod to his Hackney blood. Cars seeing us coming were pulling off the road so I dread to think what he looked like!!!!
What was meant to be a quiet walk and jog round the village ended up with him needing washing off when we got home. He had foam between his hind legs and chest which was dripping down his legs and sweaty elsewhere too. I felt like I could have done with a wipe down too and my damaged ankle and knees where protesting. Once he was dealt with I couldn't face doing my stable straight away so cleaned my tack as an excuse for a sit down! I'll need to strap my ankle up to ride tomorrow, it's sore and swollen tonight but weather permitting I intend to get on again tomorrow and see if he's being any calmer.
It's funny how I forget what a hothead he can be, and how powerful. Do we al do that, get lulled into a sense of security because they've been so good for so long? I know it crossed my mind today that at 14.3 he is quite big enough, that at 16hh he'd be hellish. Also that when wound up his paces aren't really designed for riding no matter how good the saddle
