First proper ride out

[haffyfan]

Apologies as i know some people have already seen these pics but here are some pics from penny's first proper hack at start of week. It was a new route for her and we did a complete 'circle' for first time, i had been leading her on way out and riding back home via same route previously but bar a couple of times i rode most of the way. Very pleased with her as we met a mountain bike straight away, then the tractors were lifting onions, just over the hedge, as we got further up lane (cue first get off and lead her). On reaching the common we met a dog walker and she had her first experience of the longhorns...who had very kindly decided to lurk bodyless in the heather! (second get off and lead until she got used to them being there as we were under low branches and i didn't want to be swept off plus i thought if it did happen it would probably freak her out as well so easier to get off).

She was a total star, eyes on stalks all the way but she's very sensible, has a look, weighs it up and calmly carries on. Clever girlie! Wasn't impressed with the puddles and wouldn't get her feet wet but i'm not going to push that just yet...and Harry won't get his wet unless he absolutely has no other option whatsoever after 10 years living here!

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[haffyfan]

And an onboard view

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[pboy]

She sounds like a little star!! Not to mention gorgeous

[dannyboy]

She's getting on so well Haffy - you must be so proud as she's gorgeous and a great calm nature. I love the approach you've taken, calm and patient - no wonder she's confident and trying her best for you.

[spotti]

Love her more every time I hear one of your stories! What a little star

Although I agree with Penny that those longhorns are spook-worthy!

[brigadier]

that heather looks really pretty, but a bit spooky with the cows poking out! Was just about to do a thread about Harriet's first hack, saw this so if you dont mind will put it here, they seem at a similar stage so its interesting to compare.
I boxed her to a layby on a quiet country road where my friend J joined us on her sensible cob Minnie. Although sensible Harriet was totally amazed at the outside world, I always thought she would be spooky but I dont think I would have got her out by herself- she was totally reliant on Minnie as a safety blanket, but with her there she was forward enough and answered my leg. She thought the rustling maize stalks were about to attack and every puddle and wet patch was a potential lurking snake. However she didnt flinch at the swans in the ditch or the flock of ducks that suddenly flew up from under our feet. Sadly she didnt like a passing car and we had to seek refuge in a gateway, I dont think she knew what to make of it! we were out around 45 mins, perhaps with hindsight a touch too long as with around quarter mile to go she started showing signs of brain over-load, she became fidgety and kept stopping and putting her head low, her ears lopped- her"Im over whelmed get me out of here stance!" So I got off and fussed her and led her the remaining way, happily she relaxed again and we returned to the box. She was slower to box but went on after twenty mins or so and then we had a coffee on the ramp whilst she had some time on the box.
Overall I was really pleased with her- it was her first hack out ever and she didnt run backwards or spin.Also it was her first time travelling alone so I think it can only get better. I think she enjoyed it but she seemed relieved to get back home!
My friend J was a star, I think having a sensible hacking friend is essential when doing a young horse for the first time and it was fab not having to worry about what she was doing as she read each situation just right. We will repeat this hack next week sometime then try a different route. Just so glad to get her out!

Haffy- your mare seems further on or has she also never hacked? I wouldnt have thought Id have had such a successful outcome if I had been alone.

[racaille]

Haff that pic of the cows in heather is priceless - but Paco would have fainted away at the sight! Brilliant Penny sounds like a very sensible girl.

And Brig Harriet did very well for a first outing too. Great that she boxes alone without too much fuss.

[haffyfan]

That sounds pretty good for her first hack brig, especially considering how spooky you've said she is previously. Plus boxing her there all adds to the excitement/jitters for everyone i'm sure.

Penny had started hacking prior to coming to us and in the two weeks between trying and collecting, Helen kept working her. I'd say she's done less 'formal schooling' than Harriet but has been out and about the lanes and mainly alone. It's also worth remembering she's 8, and been shown in the past, so has life experience just not ridden experience...i still lead her if she needs and have gone back to leading her up the lane from home as she was a bit sticky a couple of days ago so it's easier as she comes more willingly. (It certainly doesn't help that my boys scream for her until she's out of sight!) My Oh always walks with me too although we're starting to do small ventures alone (but still in sight).

[brigadier]

I wish I wasnt main road side-puts me off going out a bit, even out the back, but I think your method of leading out and riding back is worth a try, I will arrange a few more 'in company' rides first as her reaction to the car was extreme. I think I will just take her for a couple of walks also, although she pulls my arm out for the first mile or so- I wish she would long rein but Im stuffed with that!

[haffyfan]

Brig how often are you working Harriet at present? I don't want to over do it with penny but find she's better doing little and often, when she has a day off it seems to take longer to get her 'in the zone' next time so to speak. I hack (or lead her) out every other day if poss, to reinforce the separation if nothing else, then school another 2/3 days generally allowing 1 day off. Schooling is no more than 30 mins at a time, hacking longer but mainly walking with a few transitions/short periods of trot.

Had my first lesson on her yesterday, went really well so booked again for Wed. Instructor was new to me but I like her and she had lots of useful suggestions for me to work on, so will see how things progress...

[racaille]

Sounds like everything is going really well Haff! Great to have found a nice coach - that can make all the difference. And yes, I agree with reinforcing the separation. Personally I'd keep the schooling sessions to just 20minutes at this stage, but you know her better than I do

[brigadier]

Haffy- sorry missed your question, before her foot injury I was doing two or three days then a day off. Work consisted of a 30-40 min schooling session or during the least week a 40 min hack. If the schooling session extended a bit ie during a lesson then lots of the work was steady in between stuff- ie working long and low at trot or walk. Shorter sessions involved canter.
With her being out all the time she will have a natural fitness from constantly moving about, so your work would involve lots of long and low to strengthen her back muscles (crucial with ex brood mares) and gradual build up of trot to help her stamina. A steady hack of around 90 mins would be feasible especially with your excellent policy of walking out and riding back, every other day wouldnt be an issue I wouldnt have thought.

[haffyfan]

Thanks Brig, appreciated.

Really pleased with her tonight. Ventured into the country park 'proper' for first time tonight (with OH on his bike), pretty quiet even though we went past 'the tree' as it was fairly late and rained earlier but just as we were about to cross back over onto common on other side, to where we went out, the path ( bridleway) was virtually blocked by some sort of event. I got off and led her as we had to squeeze past three cars, whilst negotiating loads of inner city kids and a huge banner on a tree right next to us, all whilst stepping over logs laid on the floor. She was an angel! Just past this they were taking down a gazebo...hence thinking they were city types as they just continued oblivious, no thought it might scare her or why i'd got off...and then had to negotiate squeezing around about a zillion bin liners which they had further blocked the path with. She hardly batted an eyelid, I'm really starting to think this ones a keeper...scared now i've said it out loud i'll have jinxed it.

[haffyfan]

She's also getting better with gates, it's not pretty and my knees often take a bashing but she's defiantly getting more of an idea about how she needs to position herself so i can open and close them, again pleased with her progress as they are not bridleway gates with a lever, just normal metal field ones you have to lift the latch on.

[solomon]

She sounds like such a sweetheart. Book me and Zara in for a visit!