Such a gentleman

[otto]

I'm in the process of getting the ginger one fit for the MKEC 3DE which involes a lot of hacking atm. I'm fortunate in having 500 acres of superb farmland to hack around. Every field has 20' wide verges all the way round.
We have one particular area (about 1/2 mile circuit) which I use for his canter stamina so we always canter round this without fail.
Only really struck me last night that he still waits for me to ask him to canter, never gets silly as we turn on to the track and stays at the pace I put him.
On the way home we have a long hil we always gallop up which he loves. Again, always go flat out the instant we turn the corner. Thought I'd find out just how far his manner would go so kept him on the buckle as we turned the corner. he stayed in walk ;D Asked for canter gently and he set of at a very steady pace. I didn't give him any cue as to what to do so he increased his speed a bit, held it for a few strides then up another level and so on until we hit full gallop. I could feel each time he went up a gear he was waiting to see if I said it was enough.
Now the surprising bit is he is certainly not a plod, loves to go and really surprisingly, is only 6.
I have to say a feel very lucky and privelidged to be able to ride such a gentleman.
Anyone else have similar horses?

[Maes Seren]

Glad hes going well, youre lucky to come across the really good horses and the good hacking too! When is MK3DE?

How are all the rest of the horses/ponies too? ;D

[brigadier]

He sounds fab! And your area sounds great- we have lots of flat land but a lot of the farmers are cheesed off with the horse owners who ride on their fields when they are wet and cut them up- spoils it for the rest of us!
Brig

[maximum]

starting to go off you now otto!!!

*mumbles about people having 500 acres to canter about in*

see us redheads do not deserve our reputation!!

[fleabitten]

well, princess is very good with when she is out hacking if she spooks and tries to bolt, i just give a pull back and back to walk again

[kateflashy]

i used to be ablev to use a 100 acre stuble field once it was cut for 2 months but the horses knew when they were going there and would be idiots on the ride to it

[racaille]

Wow, Otto, he sounds a perfect gent!
Lucky you with fields and, presumably, grass. We don't have any really. But in the summer after the farmers cut the wheat on the river plain we have a series of stubble fields that give us a 2km gallop. Now that's nice!

[zara]

You lucky, lucky *******! A well mannered horse and loads of fab riding land - I'm seriously jealous! Zx

[salexis]

wow otto, your hacking sounds amazing. jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous!

i have a few woods i can hack round, once i've crossed some busy roads, once there the woods are filled with dog walkers and hooligans on petrol bikes

jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous!

ps your boy sounds lovely too. you must be sat there smug as a smug thing!

[flash7]

Otto wow thats my main ambition to do the MKODE!! Lucky you how exciting! My boy is not ready yet but when he is I ll be coming to you for advice. I used to go every year but as the plaiter and groom!! Goodluck!

[flash7]

OOOPPPPSSSS! Sorry I meant MK3DE in my post.

[duckles]

Your horse sounds lovely and I am totally jealous of your hacking!! 500 acres to hack, gallop etc Heaven. I have really limited hacking abilities. My horse would be the same to be honest excect if other horses were there- that is if other horses were in front of him- then he gets a kind of rocket fuel injection and takes off- but i'm working on it. If hes leading, he'll keep the pace you give him.