Sid's diary

We went out again today, this time with Cody and his owner L. Cody is a full blood American Appaloosa, quite big, about 15.3. He is a clumsy lummox and falls over his own feet, but he walks fast, and it was good for Sid to have to keep up with him. We had a splendid canter and climbed a couple of steep hills. Whoo hoo for a fit horse!

ETA I would have posted in Hacking & Riding but there is so much spam I can't find the thread!
 
A nice ordinary hack today https://www.newrider.com/threads/2023-hacking-and-riding.258200/post-3176630 .

It is interesting to me how much people admire Sid. They completely ignore the horse he is with (except Cody, who is very odd looking) and dote on Sid. They marvel at his blue eyes, his soft face, his moustache, his long, thick tail, his magnificent backside and his fluffy legs and feet. They want to touch him. Hands hover in the air, people say earnestly, "Oh, may I?" He is always happy to stop and be petted - he is very polite, though I can see he is wondering why people don't all have horse treats in their pockets.

Perhaps "just a cob" is my snobbish pikey pony prejudice talking...
 
Jane&Ziggy said:
A nice ordinary hack today https://www.newrider.com/threads/2023-hacking-and-riding.258200/post-3176630 .

It is interesting to me how much people admire Sid. They completely ignore the horse he is with (except Cody, who is very odd looking) and dote on Sid. They marvel at his blue eyes, his soft face, his moustache, his long, thick tail, his magnificent backside and his fluffy legs and feet. They want to touch him. Hands hover in the air, people say earnestly, "Oh, may I?" He is always happy to stop and be petted - he is very polite, though I can see he is wondering why people don't all have horse treats in their pockets.

Perhaps "just a cob" is my snobbish pikey pony prejudice talking...
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No such thing as 'just a cob' in my opinion. You've a good horse who is beautiful to look at I'm not surprised folk want to pet him.
 
A fast one this morning https://www.newrider.com/threads/2023-hacking-and-riding.258200/post-3176780. I really enjoyed it, though I have to concentrate when we're going fast because things come up quickly. Sid seemed to enjoy himself too. Whenever he walked he asked for a long long rein so he could stretch forward and down, then head back up again for a bit more speedy.

He got very very sweaty. Wednesday is wash and clip day! I think he'll be glad to be rid of the old floof, it is starting to annoy him.
 
After our lovely grooming session I honestly felt a bit pissed off yesterday when I arrived at the field and found 6 posts broken (£10!) and Sid smug and full of long grass. He must have felt it because he ran away when I went to catch him after doing the poo and repairing the fence. But we had a good ride anyway, fast and enjoyable. He was Spooky Cob today, silly bugger.

New grooming gadget is a big hit, he adores it. Many wobbly lips and ecstatic faces. I need to get 2 because this one is already clogged and sticky with feather oil.
 
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A first for me and Sid today. I went over to do the poo this morning and Sid hurried over to say hello. This is not because he likes me, it's because 2 times out of 3 I have an apple core or something in my pockets.

Today I had nothing. I showed him my empty hands and said, "Sorry, mate." Normally, in fact on every single occasion up to today, his ears snap back and he turns away - "You're dead to me." If I put up my hand to his face he jerks his head up and away.

Today he left his head where it was, ears forward. I said, "I could give you a scratch," and gently reached to the spot just below his ears which is always itchy. Then round to his forehead, which is shedding like nobody's business. He pushed his head against my hand and sighed. Then he wandered off.

Wow! After only 2 years! :rolleyes:
 
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As it turned out I could have ridden this morning - it was very cold and blustery, but dry. However, I seem to have got myself out of the mood, so instead I went over, gave Sid a haynet and groomed him for 45 minutes. At the end I looked at him and he was smooth and I felt satisfied. Then I ran the shedding blade over him one more time and released a whole lot more floof.

So I gave up on that, oiled his legs, brushed his feathers and oiled and brushed his tail. He stood the whole time eating his hay and enjoying the attention.

I filled up their water and went back home to make sure his spare hood is clean and fresh ready for Carol to put on him this afternoon. I told him I would miss him and he ignored me. Par for the course...
 
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I seem to have had so many days like that lately, if it isn't already raining it probably will do before I get back, so I just don't even start! I keep telling myself when spring finally gets a hold evenything will get back to normal!
 
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Jane&Ziggy said:
As it turned out I could have ridden this morning - it was very cold and blustery, but dry. However, I seem to have got myself out of the mood, so instead I went over, gave Sid a haynet and groomed him for 45 minutes. At the end I looked at him and he was smooth and I felt satisfied. Then I ran the shedding blade over him one more time and released a whole lot more floof.

So I gave up on that, oiled his legs, brushed his feathers and oiled and brushed his tail. He stood the whole time eating his hay and enjoying the attention.

I filled up their water and went back home to make sure his spare hood is clean and fresh ready for Carol to put on him this afternoon. I told him I would miss him and he ignored me. Par for the course...
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I like days like these.
Usually on a really rubbish day weather wise I seem to find chores to do.
Her summer coat is through on her neck now. She must know something we don't, but it's not cold.
 
Ha, I forgot to mention on our last eventful ride that we also encountered a roe deer stag. Mooching along the Downs Link, heading home, and suddenly Sid did the horse equivalent of a whole-body sneeze - I said What the? And there beside us in the undergrowth, not more than 10 feet away, was this lovely little stag staring at Sid. They stared at each other for a minute, then I asked Sid to move on, and he moved on, and the stag wandered the other way.

I'd never have got near him on foot.
 
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