And we’re there...

I got Monkey out again this afternoon and it’s amazing how a couple of rides in the week settles him, he was fantastic! 🥰 we met our neighbours out with their 2 and he just stood quietly watching them while we chatted and left them happily. He was enthusiastic but not silly and just with me all the way, really enjoyable to ride 🤩
IMG_3193.jpegIMG_3194.jpegIMG_3195.jpegIMG_3196.jpegIMG_3197.jpeg
We’d been out almost an hour when it started tanking down but he just got a cracking trot on and didn’t fuss, and we made it back before we were too wet, Jess stood outside the barn sulking while he cooled off.
IMG_3198.jpeg
 
  • Love
Reactions: Kite_Rider and Trewsers
The K&M saddle is ok but I don’t love it.

While at the national equine show today I saw the saddle company so went for a chat and got lucky that Dave (owner and saddle maker) was there, as soon as I mentioned my old saddle model, he said you need to try this and grabbed an event saddle down, and I have to say he’s dead right!

The seat was really nice for me as it’s flatter and wider and with a VSD flap it wasn’t bad, but he said he can make it with a straighter flap and suggested I have a coccyx cut out in the tree to allow me to sit more down into the seat, he said my pelvis wants it so I’m not pushed forward. He also said he can put a longer (dressage) stirrup bar on for me to get my stirrups more under me and put the memory foam seat on it, and a shorter panel for Monkey, and an extra bonus he said most of that is no extra cost, as long as I don’t mind waiting for it to be made for me! And extra luck, one of his fitters that covers my area was there. So I guess I’ll be saving up for a while 👌
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers and carthorse
Jessey said:
The K&M saddle is ok but I don’t love it.

While at the national equine show today I saw the saddle company so went for a chat and got lucky that Dave (owner and saddle maker) was there, as soon as I mentioned my old saddle model, he said you need to try this and grabbed an event saddle down, and I have to say he’s dead right!

The seat was really nice for me as it’s flatter and wider and with a VSD flap it wasn’t bad, but he said he can make it with a straighter flap and suggested I have a coccyx cut out in the tree to allow me to sit more down into the seat, he said my pelvis wants it so I’m not pushed forward. He also said he can put a longer (dressage) stirrup bar on for me to get my stirrups more under me and put the memory foam seat on it, and a shorter panel for Monkey, and an extra bonus he said most of that is no extra cost, as long as I don’t mind waiting for it to be made for me! And extra luck, one of his fitters that covers my area was there. So I guess I’ll be saving up for a while 👌
Click to expand...
That sounds like a very detailed and helpful solution. Can you have an ebay clearout to raise funds?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jessey
I got Monkey out tonight, he started out very slow but I think it was a full belly from a day on more grass, he didn’t even scamper when the neighbours pony galloped up the field beside us! After about 20 minutes walking it off he perked up and we had some nice long trots and canters 🥰
IMG_3205.jpegIMG_3206.jpeg
The sun went down as we got near home but it was a lovely evening
IMG_3211.jpegIMG_3213.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers and carthorse
Monkey was go-ey tonight, we walked half a mile out, trotted and cantered a 2 mile loop and near the end he suddenly stopped dead from a good trot and launched into a bouncing bucking fit 🤣 not sure what that was about, but I think I might feel it tomorrow! Carried on a bit then walked the half mile home like a lamb.
IMG_3221.jpeg
Then put in a huge sideways spook in the driveway because of a deer in the front paddock 🤣 muppet!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
Jessey said:
Monkey was go-ey tonight, we walked half a mile out, trotted and cantered a 2 mile loop and near the end he suddenly stopped dead from a good trot and launched into a bouncing bucking fit 🤣 not sure what that was about, but I think I might feel it tomorrow! Carried on a bit then walked the half mile home like a lamb.
View attachment 134892
Then put in a huge sideways spook in the driveway because of a deer in the front paddock 🤣 muppet!
Click to expand...
What a character! You are such a good brave rider, I think Monkey would have the measure of me in about five seconds hahahaa.
 
Trewsers said:
What a character! You are such a good brave rider, I think Monkey would have the measure of me in about five seconds hahahaa.
Click to expand...
Some horses weigh and measure you and take any opportunity to do their own thing, but Monkey just doesn’t have a bad bone in his body, he doesn’t mean to do anything wrong, it just happens by accident sometimes. Honestly he’s that kind.

I suspect something startled him last night, perhaps a leaf looking at him the wrong way or a stick pointing at him, and he scared himself 🤣
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
Monkey had a lunge tonight, did some trot poles, cavaletti and a tiny bounce which he thought was fantastic fun 🤩 then cooled off with some slow careful pole straddling
IMG_3242.jpegIMG_3247.jpeg
It’s funny how it helps them re-set and relax
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers and carthorse
The perfect day today, but also the perfect storm!

It was frosty this morning and beautifully sunny, they left their hay (first time this year) in favour of the grass that’s shooting up and Monkey finally started shedding properly.
IMG_3256.jpeg
L&L came to ride and all started off well, but they’re not as fit so we just walked, a couple of miles out Monkey got jittery, which then turned into seeing monsters in the bushes, jumping and fussing like something was chasing him 😬 He was already itchy, and then a bit sweaty (which he hates) and the breeze was frigid and I hadn’t put his exercise sheet on to keep the chill off, and I think that was what all the drama was about 🤦‍♀️ hopefully tomorrow will be better!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
I finally got out tonight, he started out well enough, a couple of spooks but nothing terrible and not jangling with electricity like he does sometimes, had a really nice ride, some nice trot and canters
IMG_3282.jpeg
did some nice ‘schooling’
IMG_3279.jpegIMG_3281.jpeg
but on the last stretch home he started getting over excited and joggy, fine though annoying, until a flipping motorbike came blaring through the forest (they’re not allowed in there) along the track behind us 🤬 as Monkey was already pinging I jumped off and turned back to have a little chat with the biker at the top of my voice! Thankfully Monkey didn’t mind and I got back on and he settled down
IMG_3284.jpeg
until some muppet decided to hide behind a tree right near home which just blew his little brain. I really cannot fathom why people think that’s helpful!
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Trewsers
Jessey said:
I finally got out tonight, he started out well enough, a couple of spooks but nothing terrible and not jangling with electricity like he does sometimes, had a really nice ride, some nice trot and canters
View attachment 135084
did some nice ‘schooling’
View attachment 135082View attachment 135083
but on the last stretch home he started getting over excited and joggy, fine though annoying, until a flipping motorbike came blaring through the forest (they’re not allowed in there) along the track behind us 🤬 as Monkey was already pinging I jumped off and turned back to have a little chat with the biker at the top of my voice! Thankfully Monkey didn’t mind and I got back on and he settled down
View attachment 135085
until some muppet decided to hide behind a tree right near home which just blew his little brain. I really cannot fathom why people think that’s helpful!
Click to expand...
That's naughty of the motorbike rider to be there isn't it. Yes, why do folk hide?!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jessey
Today didn’t exactly go to plan, I got stuck at work and then remembered I had arranged to pick up a market place purchase this evening, but I just managed to get out for an hour before dark.

Monkey was pleasantly chilled and I decided I had probably been making the spring effects worse by doing a lot more faster work with him, so we mostly walked and just had 1 trot and he was calmer on the way home than he has been recently!

IMG_3287.jpegIMG_3289.jpegIMG_3294.jpegIMG_3295.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
I had the day off yesterday so spent all day at the horses doing jobs and got Monkey out again.

I think I had been winding him up, because after a slow ride on Saturday, he was so slow yesterday, if I stopped riding he just stopped 😂 but I was able to pep him up a bit after some canters and lateral work so it wasn’t too painful.
IMG_3301.jpeg
I can’t wait for the clocks to change so I can consistently ride during the week!

First night on a summer paddock for the bigs, will see if we have fire breathing dragons by tonight 🤣
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
newrider.com
Top Bottom