Post by fimacg on Jun 13, 2010 17:37:13 GMT
Had an absolutely fab weekend, decided I was bored of hacking up the road or hacking down the road or schooling. So on Saturday H and I boxed Chompy and Brave and went to the local country park, (which is only a 15 minute drive away but is over the motorway and would take an hour or two so to hack to as the quickest way is also on 60mph roads)
Anyway parked in the riding school car park and were immediately stared at as if we didn't belong (hate to say it but anything that wasnt on the horses got locked in the car when it would usually be thrown into the trailer).
Then off we went a ride was heading out as we got on so decided to go a different way and avoid them, unfortunately the two tracks met up so H and I decided we didn't want to get stuck behind them so it was an early canter up the nicely mown grass either side of a tarmac path to get in front. Then we had to battle a gate to get onto a forest track, after about 5 attempts Brave and I managed to get it open and hold it open long enough for both horses to get through. Then it was a massively long gallop up a hill which went on and on and on, we had to stop halfway up to give them a breather before we carried on. Wandered back down the hill through the forest with Brave initially spooking at every tree stump wooden bench before he finally settled down.
We then took a track that went around the loch but at one point got to a wooden bridge over a small river (only wide enough for 1 horse or two people abreast), I am working on Brave having less reliance on Chompy and more trust in me as rider so we were determined that he would go over the bridge 1st, with me on his back he would walk up to the end then freeze and back up, so eventually I got off lead him over it a few times before finally riding across, Chompy of course plods over.
We were on the far side of the loch and found a nicely mown grass patch, with 2 beaches which were about a 1-2' drop down from the grass, intially we walked around the drop and into the water before trotting out and up the step had some fun playing up and down the drop and in and out of the water, with Brave also loving having a splash and going in up to his belly. He would have gone swimming but I am not wrecking my tack by doing that.
At the other end of the loch after another few canters and gallops and a lot more gates we got to another bridge this time there was fair but of suspicsion but Brave gingerly walked over the bridge 1st without me having to get off and lead him. Then we found a broken bench and had a little jump before having a flat out gallop around the edge of a football pitch).
The route we picked back to the car meant we had to go through the kiddie area and beach where we got stopped by a couple of kids asking if they could pat them, within minutes we were surrounded by about 20 kids a few parents and a dog. The horses were faultless, both stood and didn't move at all as the kids were dashing around their legs they nuzzled a couple of kids which caused a stir until they realised they were just being nice. Then there was a bit of a competition to see who could pick the most grass for them. Evenually we managed to leave and got back to the trailer with tired, wet and happy horses.
Today decided to go for a hack as it was raining and I'm still not in the mood to school, as we went around a longer route than we often do one of the massive flat grass fields and been cut, baled and the bales were away so of we went for a gallop, Chompy was at top speed and he and Brave were going for it but I am sure Brave still has another gear that we haven't reached yet!!! But it was a real pipe opener for all of us, but what I really like was even though they were really going forward and at a fast gallop they were totally under control, they were running but not racing and at any time either of us could have pulled up.
Crisps and wine for all who made it too the end.
Anyway parked in the riding school car park and were immediately stared at as if we didn't belong (hate to say it but anything that wasnt on the horses got locked in the car when it would usually be thrown into the trailer).
Then off we went a ride was heading out as we got on so decided to go a different way and avoid them, unfortunately the two tracks met up so H and I decided we didn't want to get stuck behind them so it was an early canter up the nicely mown grass either side of a tarmac path to get in front. Then we had to battle a gate to get onto a forest track, after about 5 attempts Brave and I managed to get it open and hold it open long enough for both horses to get through. Then it was a massively long gallop up a hill which went on and on and on, we had to stop halfway up to give them a breather before we carried on. Wandered back down the hill through the forest with Brave initially spooking at every tree stump wooden bench before he finally settled down.
We then took a track that went around the loch but at one point got to a wooden bridge over a small river (only wide enough for 1 horse or two people abreast), I am working on Brave having less reliance on Chompy and more trust in me as rider so we were determined that he would go over the bridge 1st, with me on his back he would walk up to the end then freeze and back up, so eventually I got off lead him over it a few times before finally riding across, Chompy of course plods over.
We were on the far side of the loch and found a nicely mown grass patch, with 2 beaches which were about a 1-2' drop down from the grass, intially we walked around the drop and into the water before trotting out and up the step had some fun playing up and down the drop and in and out of the water, with Brave also loving having a splash and going in up to his belly. He would have gone swimming but I am not wrecking my tack by doing that.
At the other end of the loch after another few canters and gallops and a lot more gates we got to another bridge this time there was fair but of suspicsion but Brave gingerly walked over the bridge 1st without me having to get off and lead him. Then we found a broken bench and had a little jump before having a flat out gallop around the edge of a football pitch).
The route we picked back to the car meant we had to go through the kiddie area and beach where we got stopped by a couple of kids asking if they could pat them, within minutes we were surrounded by about 20 kids a few parents and a dog. The horses were faultless, both stood and didn't move at all as the kids were dashing around their legs they nuzzled a couple of kids which caused a stir until they realised they were just being nice. Then there was a bit of a competition to see who could pick the most grass for them. Evenually we managed to leave and got back to the trailer with tired, wet and happy horses.
Today decided to go for a hack as it was raining and I'm still not in the mood to school, as we went around a longer route than we often do one of the massive flat grass fields and been cut, baled and the bales were away so of we went for a gallop, Chompy was at top speed and he and Brave were going for it but I am sure Brave still has another gear that we haven't reached yet!!! But it was a real pipe opener for all of us, but what I really like was even though they were really going forward and at a fast gallop they were totally under control, they were running but not racing and at any time either of us could have pulled up.
Crisps and wine for all who made it too the end.
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
