Post by haffyfan on Mar 22, 2016 20:34:17 GMT
Lovely hack, to start the Easter hols, on pen today. No time restrictions for once and as she is getting a bit fitter we ventured a bit further than normal in search of a path to have a canter. (Since the logging started our only suitable path very close by is utterly trashed).
So we headed to 'Lady Anne's gallop', which isn't far away just not a route i've ridden much since 2014 as theres often bikes in that part of the woods. Well what a disappointment, it was historically maintained (and mowed and rolled when i first came here) for exercising horses but now it's overgrown with creepers and branches and rutted to a point it's barely rideable. The bikes are mainly to blame but there is lots of evidence someone still hammers it on horseback (be surprised if the horse is sound as their hoof marks were at least 6 inches deep a lot of the way). So we wound up walking up it, whilst wishing i'd ridden the old road instead, the top quarter was totally lost to the undergrowth altogether - such a shame but we had a nice amble through the woods instead.
It doesn't look that bad in this pic taken at the bottom but it gets worse the further you go and the ruts are terrible under the cover of green. It use to look this this!
Progress is i've ridden Harry for the first time this year too today, just ten minutes in the field (which is drying up nicely at last) walking on a loose rein...i won't call it schooling yet. We then went out the gate and attempted to go up the lane, which was step too far and a bit silly of me really. Yesterday he went on his first solo walk (in hand)since winter started and was amazing, we got all the way to the common hence trying to ride out today. He did get to the end of my field but his heart failed him, i was going to lead him a bit further but one of the loggers appeared coming down the lane and he's not the bravest so we turned tail and went home. But i'm really pleased i didn't have to start from total scratch with him as i had expected.
Murph is a different matter as as soon as he saw me ride harry out the gate he galloped around like he was at aintree. Thought he was going to have a heart attack, the silly bugger was breathing so hard when we came back! (And that's why i have waited to take Harry out again until the fence was moved away from the side of the path!)
So we headed to 'Lady Anne's gallop', which isn't far away just not a route i've ridden much since 2014 as theres often bikes in that part of the woods. Well what a disappointment, it was historically maintained (and mowed and rolled when i first came here) for exercising horses but now it's overgrown with creepers and branches and rutted to a point it's barely rideable. The bikes are mainly to blame but there is lots of evidence someone still hammers it on horseback (be surprised if the horse is sound as their hoof marks were at least 6 inches deep a lot of the way). So we wound up walking up it, whilst wishing i'd ridden the old road instead, the top quarter was totally lost to the undergrowth altogether - such a shame but we had a nice amble through the woods instead.
It doesn't look that bad in this pic taken at the bottom but it gets worse the further you go and the ruts are terrible under the cover of green. It use to look this this!
Progress is i've ridden Harry for the first time this year too today, just ten minutes in the field (which is drying up nicely at last) walking on a loose rein...i won't call it schooling yet. We then went out the gate and attempted to go up the lane, which was step too far and a bit silly of me really. Yesterday he went on his first solo walk (in hand)since winter started and was amazing, we got all the way to the common hence trying to ride out today. He did get to the end of my field but his heart failed him, i was going to lead him a bit further but one of the loggers appeared coming down the lane and he's not the bravest so we turned tail and went home. But i'm really pleased i didn't have to start from total scratch with him as i had expected.
Murph is a different matter as as soon as he saw me ride harry out the gate he galloped around like he was at aintree. Thought he was going to have a heart attack, the silly bugger was breathing so hard when we came back! (And that's why i have waited to take Harry out again until the fence was moved away from the side of the path!)
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
Considering she literally hasn't cantered for weeks now, since the logging began, she made a lovely transition even if her eyes were popping at being in a strange place! So maybe we are making progress with her canter, famous last words 
