Post by spotti on Mar 14, 2011 11:33:19 GMT
She was brilliant. Seems a lot fitter than I give her credit for. Obviously I'm not pushing her as she's still not that fit, but we've discovered that after about an hours walking she's all warmed up and raring to go, and yesterday if I hadn't asked her to canter I think she would have tanked off anyway...much better having it on my terms me thinks 
.
Anywho, had a nice walk, explored the woods some more (we like to stray from the tracks and go ducking and diving between the trees instead!). Climbed a few random banks, paddled in the stream, negotiated a few bridges and ditches, and then on the way home we came out of the woods and into a big open crop field...I could just tell Faith wanted to go! So I checked with OH that we were ok to run (he walks with us and runs alongside for a short stretch of canter), then clicked at Faith to trot, then sat down, "brrrrrrrp" 'ed at her (her newly learnt canter cue) and she set off in a lovely canter as soon as I asked ;D. Within a few strides OH was winning so I clicked again and Faith opened out into a slightly bigger canter until we were winning once more, then I sat deep and she came back to an amazing rocking horse canter - loved it! Sat slightly deeper and she came back to a trot, then "aaaaand waaaalk" and she walked, and then stopped at "whoooaaa". So very pleased with her.
To say I think we have only cantered about 4 times EVER (in our nearly 4 years together), I think this one was the most controlled...even though she was raring to go AND she was racing my OH. Barely even touched my reins either! 
And do you know what she did after our canter...walked home on the buckle like a donkey. She's such a good pony ;D.
Just wanted to share my 'big grin' moment ;D.
.Anywho, had a nice walk, explored the woods some more (we like to stray from the tracks and go ducking and diving between the trees instead!). Climbed a few random banks, paddled in the stream, negotiated a few bridges and ditches, and then on the way home we came out of the woods and into a big open crop field...I could just tell Faith wanted to go! So I checked with OH that we were ok to run (he walks with us and runs alongside for a short stretch of canter), then clicked at Faith to trot, then sat down, "brrrrrrrp" 'ed at her (her newly learnt canter cue) and she set off in a lovely canter as soon as I asked ;D. Within a few strides OH was winning so I clicked again and Faith opened out into a slightly bigger canter until we were winning once more, then I sat deep and she came back to an amazing rocking horse canter - loved it! Sat slightly deeper and she came back to a trot, then "aaaaand waaaalk" and she walked, and then stopped at "whoooaaa". So very pleased with her.
To say I think we have only cantered about 4 times EVER (in our nearly 4 years together), I think this one was the most controlled...even though she was raring to go AND she was racing my OH
. Barely even touched my reins either! 
And do you know what she did after our canter...walked home on the buckle like a donkey
. She's such a good pony ;D.Just wanted to share my 'big grin' moment ;D.
. She's such a nosey pony - any little gap in the trees, regardless of whether we'll actually fit or whether it even leads somewhere - and she wants to go in it. She does what your Murphy does Haffy and wants to climb over styles/gates/massive ditches etc. Such a pudding. But it's nice to have her interested and enjoying going out again 