good stickability

[fimacg]

Took Brave out for a hack last night and he was doing really well, going past fields full of combines, tractors baleing silage and tractors towing trailers around and he didn't bat an eyelid at any of it.

As per usual I usually totally relax for the last 1/4 mile home, if all is going well, I go to the buckle end of the rein, kick me feet out of the stirrups and just enjoy a plod for the last little bit.

One short stretch of the road as 10' high hedges and a shelter belt of trees right beside it and intially this area always spooks the horses but after a while they think nothing of it.

BUT...

As Brave and I plodded through last night there was a rustling in the hedge and Brave must have thought a bear was about to break through and eat him as his head came right up and we took off up the road at a gallop (bear in mind I had no stirrups or rein contact whatsoever). With a flash of the blinding obvious I suddenly realise the feel of what my instructor means by wrapping your legs around your horse.

After about 5 strides I have my reins again and am able to bring him back to trot at which point I find one stirrup and we come back to walk. I know I said I in my post yesterday that I hadn't been able to canter for 2 weeks because of the weather, but a mad gallop up the middle of the road with no reins and no stirrups is not quite my idea of rectifying that fact...

[dannyboy]

Well done for staying on You would have had to scrape me off the tarmac

[racaille]

Ah, but it's because you were so relaxed that you just sat it out!!!!

They always do this, don't they? Throw a wobbly when we least expect it. It's to stop us getting complacent.
I do like you do at the end of a hack, no reins, no stirrups. Once when P and I were just about to turn back into the club he took fright at a dog walker in the pear orchard. He spun and hared off back up the path, steaming along the whole length of the club fence, so everyone could see us!
I could hear the trainers falling about laughing behind me but it took the whole length of the path for me to get P back under control. I would have died of shame if I had fallen off in front of all the littlies!

[brigadier]

Well done for staying on Fi.
I love the last few minutes of a ride, I too buckle end and feet out. Since Basil though I tend to get off and walk the last half mile or so. Im right at the top of his weight range so I think a bit of a leg stretch with me off him is probably better and it gets the blood flowing in my legs too! Mind you he has nearly stood on me a couple of times when jumping at stuff! People always think youve fallen off though when you do this, Ive lost count of the times folk ask me whats happened!

[racaille]

That's very true Brig!

As a 'professional' randonneur, (LOL ) we were always taught that it was good practice to leave on foot and arrive on foot. Mind you, clients often object to walking, the lazy bums!!!

[zara]

Well done Fi for staying on - why do they always do these things when you least expect it? Zx

[FirenLady]

Well sat! that'd be painful if you had fallen off.

horseys always seem to wait for the min you have no control. I was out riding with a friend when I was young and showing her how I could ride with no hands. Had them both out the sides her horse spooked at something which made Fire spook too and nearly came crashing out the side door! Another time was practising riding jockey and someone came out from behind us and sent him shooting forward I was so stupid when I was younger, wouldn't dream of doing that sort of thing on him now.