New 2026 Hacking / riding thread

[newforest]

You weren't planning on riding today were you. Um, well I was
It actually took me half hour to get her clean enough to lead out. I left scrubbing the belly for another day. Someone needs clipping as she's staying to feel too warm bless her.
I was in a t-shirt and summer thin jods.

 

[GaryB]

I've missed a week as a I has a week off work and off the computer
I had a nice trip to see my hacking buddy C and we had a glorious hack round in the warm sun. We stayed mostly on road as it was still wet. The highlight of this week was cantering along the bridleway and rounding the corner to find a fallen tree. We couldn't get past so had to turn back. As we were more than half way through the hack Harvey was not happy and grumped all of the way back

Some more trees for @Trewsers

Hacking
9 hours
30 miles

Totals
Schooling
15 minutes

Hacking
89 miles
29 hours 10

 

[Trewsers]

Yaye! No wind (well not much lol) so managed a little pootle today. The Fuzzy one was good as ever. Though I wasn't sure what to expect as when I groomed her she walked off and went in the corner. But I needn't have worried. Ginger biscuits all round!

 

[Trewsers]

I've missed a week as a I has a week off work and off the computer
I had a nice trip to see my hacking buddy C and we had a glorious hack round in the warm sun. We stayed mostly on road as it was still wet. The highlight of this week was cantering along the bridleway and rounding the corner to find a fallen tree. We couldn't get past so had to turn back. As we were more than half way through the hack Harvey was not happy and grumped all of the way back

Some more trees for @Trewsers

Hacking
9 hours
30 miles

Totals
Schooling
15 minutes

Hacking
89 miles
29 hours 10

I really do miss them. You can see a little copse on my photo, but I just miss the random ones that used to grow about the field edges down south, and the tall bankings of hedging.

 

[chunky monkey]

Fitted in a quick up, over and down ride tonight before it got dark. Took Quin with us too as im wacked and I really didnt fancy walking him after. He spent most of his walk walking backwards as he just can't switch off watching the horses every step. He needs to be taught that horses are walking buddies not for rounding up. In fairness he hasnt been trained enough yet. I didn't have him long before losing the horses. By the time I got him I'd retired the boys from riding. Floss and Abbey were great hacking buddies with the horses.

 

[Trewsers]

Another pootle in the warmth today, absolutely lovely. What a contrast to the previous weeks. So nice spending time tacking up, can feel my hands and not dead feet before getting on board either. Lovely. She's shedding like mad, there was an insane amount of fluff on the barn floor and she went right down for a roll soon as the saddle came off.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

After more than a week not riding, lovely morning so decided to risk my back main worry was getting hoof boots on. Rode for 45 minutes, Harmony was gorgeous, just perfect. So lucky to have her.

 

[Doodle92]

Friend and her daughter came over today with their pony. No one rides at the yard so I have never ridden him in company. It was the best hack and he was brilliantly behaved. Pony is actually 14.2 but I won't stop growing and Indy is maybe a bit big too!

 

[chunky monkey]

Went out tonight for a hack. Did about 5½ miles. Did have a couple of canters. Although on the long canter I have a little wobble moment as i lost my balance. Stirrups were too short which didn't help. I still haven't adjusted to having nothing underneath me.
My spin was really hurting at the end of the ride tonight too.

Going out again in the morning.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

45 minutes today ruined by my idiot neighbour almost taking us out with her horse box. I was coming down the steep hill towards home, the surface is worn and the edge of what little verge there is - not rideable- is deeply rutted by tractors and heavy vehicles having to pull over as the road is not really 2 lanes I was not taking up the space of a car width. She came up the hill and would not have seen me till the last minute 35 tonne box with her 17'1 on board. she was doing at least 40 and had to jam on the brakes, horses made a hell of a racket as lost its balance and she screamed abuse at me and drove on. When I take my own box out - same size - i never go that way I go the longer route where it is shorter to get to the main road and there is only one blind bend. I am effing furious, she could have hit Harmony. and yes I had high viz on and was walking.

 

[Trewsers]

45 minutes today ruined by my idiot neighbour almost taking us out with her horse box. I was coming down the steep hill towards home, the surface is worn and the edge of what little verge there is - not rideable- is deeply rutted by tractors and heavy vehicles having to pull over as the road is not really 2 lanes I was not taking up the space of a car width. She came up the hill and would not have seen me till the last minute 35 tonne box with her 17'1 on board. she was doing at least 40 and had to jam on the brakes, horses made a hell of a racket as lost its balance and she screamed abuse at me and drove on. When I take my own box out - same size - i never go that way I go the longer route where it is shorter to get to the main road and there is only one blind bend. I am effing furious, she could have hit Harmony. and yes I had high viz on and was walking.

Oh dear, glad you are okay.

 

[chunky monkey]

Had a change of horse today. The owner rides bareback. The one I've been riding is wider and not so pronounce withers so is actually nicer to ride bareback. So asked if I was OK swapping. Having been hacking alongside it I was happy it wasn't doing anything silly. Did some trotting. We were going to canter but the one I've been riding didn't like going behind so threw in a couple of sideways dances as we hit the grass so we decided just to keep it at a trot. Did about 6½ miles.

 

[newforest]

Popped out for a quick ride. I think I might be the reason there are labels on everything.
My gaiters needed a note saying we do up at the back you idiot
I am surprised I didn't try and put her hoof boots on

I love her colouring now she's clipped. She's more of a roan and actually has black spots in places. Her dam had a previous foal that was spotted so maybe that's where they come from.

It was warm enough for my thin summer jods and a thin sweatshirt.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

hydro today did very well.

 

[GaryB]

I was pleased this week to find that some kind person has cleared the blockage on the bridleway and also cut down the very low tree that was shortening the canter. We were forced to go for a gallop to check it out. We had four very sunny days and on Saturday I took advantage and went on a longer hack to check out the bridleway onto the hill. It looked fairly dry so I will be going up their soon

Hacking
4 hours 40
15 miles

Totals
Schooling
15 minutes

Hacking
104 miles
33 hours 50

 

[newforest]

Got out for a ride, short and sweet as confidence building, mine and hers probably. Not ridden on the moors for a year so we are a bit rusty.
Luckily there are loads of random bushes you can use can use to turn round and head back and she's not bothered. I have a couple of spots I could do a bit of schooling for something different to do and to have a focus.

 

[chunky monkey]

Was meant to ride last night but neighbour wasn't feeling good and to be honest there were horrible windy squally showers. I've also had a headache for a couple of days so I was glad when we cancelled. Possibly ride tomorrow but whether not looking great, so it might be weekend instead.

 

[Trewsers]

Managed a little potter yesterday but we had some neighbours escaped chickens and I was a bit on edge as Zi had been giving them horsey evils and I was waiting and wondering if they would come clucking and popping out of the undergrowth (we usually ride past our pigeon barn which is where they were headed!). Anyway, she was a bit head tossy / go-on make-me and so I kept it short and sweet. Didn't see any chickens so then was cursing myself for being silly and waiting for the balloon to pop but there you go. Birds have been evicted and are now back in their own home lol (they'd come a quarter of a mile to us!)

 

[newforest]

Funnily enough one of my concerns is someone's dog getting too near the sheep and causing the sheep to run. She likes to chase them as well!
If we get a little to close trying to ride through them we've had the odd one stamp and that seems to trigger the need to investigate and go after it mode.
The signs say keep your dogs under control around the sheep, no mention that the horse thinks they are fair game.