1st Pleasure ride

[scattymare]

We did our first pleasure ride yesterday. It was just across the road from me so ideal to start us off as we could head home at any time. Well I'm not entirely sure what happened to the pleasure part!! Eddie managed to jog for the full 10 miles!! It was all very exciting. All those lovely horses for us to chase. Now normally S & I crack on fairly well and generally stay in front of most people, but yesterday we were in the company of a lot of the hunt so there was a steady stream of horses overtaking, with each one Eddie deciding that Huffy and Cleos company was clearly not good enough and we really should be riding with the faster horse ahead!!
There were a few great gallop tracks and some nice x-country fences dotted around - we chickened out of most of them but did manage a couple. Still didn't tire the bouncing bomb!!
My shoulders and legs ache today. It was a good day but madam did get a little over excited. I tried gentle half halts, firmer ones, dropping the contact completely, turning circles. Nothing stopped the relentless jog jog jog. She was quite strong but not without brakes if that makes sense.
Heres a couple of piccies from the day - www.kwsimpson.com/photo4973710.html#photo
The two of us on our own, she was just about to explode as two horses had gone cantering past us over the jumps and she thought she really sould be joining them!!

[bonnyben]

Wow, that looks terrific Scatty.

Glad you had such a great day. Looks and sounds totally brilliant!!! ;D

[solomon]

Bouncing bomb! I love it, she is full of it. Lovely pics. I think you are very brave, I would have had the rein on the next ring down at least! Amazing how they don't tire.

[spotti]

He he he cheeky Eddie! But glad you both had a good day out

[dannyboy]

Scatty, it all sounds very exciting - love the pics. What bit do you have Eddie in?

[scattymare]

DB it's a dutch gag/continental snaffle (goes by both names) Sol I was riding on the middle ring but it didn't really make much difference - it just makes her lift her head all the more - and as I know my hands are not that great I switched it back to the snaffle a few weeks ago as I don't think those bits should be taken lightly. I am going to discuss with my RI what she feels is best. Schooling and general hacking she's fine in the snaffle but could do with a little more control in company so she's not constantly pulling against it.

[solomon]

Good idea checking with RI, have recently taken standing martingale off as the gag has the head lifting action, which is then blocked by the martingale. When I thought about it it seemed wrong. The control thing is so important though, if you don't feel safe there is no point riding. I wondered about a jointed pelham as they don't lift the head, not keen on changing things too much though. Have to have brakes!

[fleabitten]

Sounds brilliant but quite like our pleasure ride - ours was 8 miles and rightly we were on our own - jogged the whole way round whinnying, pulled my arms out but at least we had brakes! Horses overtaking us left right and centre!

Lovely pics!

[frankiesmum]

those pictures are amazing, looks alot of fun. Dont think id ever get Frank to stop on one of those. annax

[zara]

Sounds and looks great, Eddie looks a lovely sort, fancy swapping her for an arab??? Zx

[scattymare]

Ha believe me Zara she's not as innocent as she looks!!

[solomon]

I have the same thing, where do they get that extra energy from when you think you have tired them out! She does look so sweet tho'.