Elf On A Shelf
...
I realised I haven't written one of these for a while but to honest not an awful lot has been going on! It's summer! The majority of the horses have been turned away on their holidays though I still have 2 of my rides in as they are summer jumpers.
Wednesday Workday
Woken up early because it is far too hot and muggy! Yes It has got to the stage where we can complain about the LACK of rain! And went to turf my lot out before heading to yard 1. I had wee Compo to ride, he is such a dude! We were doing 2x up the gallops and he was in a twitish mood! We trotted out at the speed of light but once we set off cantering I nearly got my nose smashed in - thanks Compo! So a couple of broncy, head throwy uppy circuits of the round gallop we head off up the straight where the wee beggar tries to tank off! Not today thanks Compo! 2x up we were paired up. When we do this one horse joins the other off the bend and they work upsides up the straight - in theory! In practice the lass on the horse that was supposed to be next to me went cannoning past. I tried to catch her but her horse just went faster so I gave up. Not that Compo was bothered! He just used it as an excuse to try to tank off then smash me in the nose again!
Heading over to yard 2 I stopped in to the shop to pick up some carrots. When I got to yard 2 I heard a commotion in a box, a horse was going a bit crazy - bucking and rearing! Far too excitable for 9.30am! And which horse was it? Yup! One of mine! Great! My Mr Reliable Handicapper was being a total and utter space cadet! "Pony!" I called. "What on earth are you playing at?!?" I got a massive neigh, buck and rear in response! Fan-bloomin-tastic! And He wasnt getting ridden til 2nd lot so I had a whole lot to contemplate my fate!
Lot 1 was my wee Pocket Rocket and a pocket rocket he was! He worked uber well and strode on by the 2 horses he was working with! There really is no better feeling in the world than sitting on a proper workhorse! But by heck he gives you a workout in the process! He is relentlessly keen - up and down! But he is safe with it. He would never completely tank off and he does listen when you ask him to steady up, grudgingly as he is having fun but he does it!
Got back to the yard and Pony was still doing acrobatics in his box ... Mucking Fagic! Right! Lets get on with it! As I go to tack him up I am met with yet another ear splitting neigh! Pony is known for whinneying all the time but never really neighing. Some days I wish he had had a hobday ... Tacking up he was quite literally chomping at the bit as soon as the door was a fraction open we were off! Hopped on and we went jogging sideways up the yard - How Rude Pony! He managed to contain his excitement into just a few spooks and a spanking trot up the road. We hit the gallops early with another horse as I had a tongue tie to put on the other one and bless Pony, He stood like a lamb and again for me to hop back on again at the gate. He is Mr Reliable when it comes to things like this. 1x up the gallop he was plunging and snatching. 2x he was keen as mustard! 3x working he absolutely flew! At least he was putting his excess energy to good use! In the process of 3x up he pulled a front shoe which meant a lot walk home for me! Pony likes speed walking on the way home - me? Not so much when I am having to lead him! So we compromised on a decent walk - quick for me, slow for him! But by heck my shins and knees were killing me by the time I got back! It's only a 1.5mile walk ... Im getting old!
My last lot was Macattack who was a total dude as ever! Though he got a bit cheeky and was having a wee bronc! He has headed back to yard 1 for some fun work and a few spins on the water treadmill before he runs next week.
Wednesday Workday
Woken up early because it is far too hot and muggy! Yes It has got to the stage where we can complain about the LACK of rain! And went to turf my lot out before heading to yard 1. I had wee Compo to ride, he is such a dude! We were doing 2x up the gallops and he was in a twitish mood! We trotted out at the speed of light but once we set off cantering I nearly got my nose smashed in - thanks Compo! So a couple of broncy, head throwy uppy circuits of the round gallop we head off up the straight where the wee beggar tries to tank off! Not today thanks Compo! 2x up we were paired up. When we do this one horse joins the other off the bend and they work upsides up the straight - in theory! In practice the lass on the horse that was supposed to be next to me went cannoning past. I tried to catch her but her horse just went faster so I gave up. Not that Compo was bothered! He just used it as an excuse to try to tank off then smash me in the nose again!
Heading over to yard 2 I stopped in to the shop to pick up some carrots. When I got to yard 2 I heard a commotion in a box, a horse was going a bit crazy - bucking and rearing! Far too excitable for 9.30am! And which horse was it? Yup! One of mine! Great! My Mr Reliable Handicapper was being a total and utter space cadet! "Pony!" I called. "What on earth are you playing at?!?" I got a massive neigh, buck and rear in response! Fan-bloomin-tastic! And He wasnt getting ridden til 2nd lot so I had a whole lot to contemplate my fate!
Lot 1 was my wee Pocket Rocket and a pocket rocket he was! He worked uber well and strode on by the 2 horses he was working with! There really is no better feeling in the world than sitting on a proper workhorse! But by heck he gives you a workout in the process! He is relentlessly keen - up and down! But he is safe with it. He would never completely tank off and he does listen when you ask him to steady up, grudgingly as he is having fun but he does it!
Got back to the yard and Pony was still doing acrobatics in his box ... Mucking Fagic! Right! Lets get on with it! As I go to tack him up I am met with yet another ear splitting neigh! Pony is known for whinneying all the time but never really neighing. Some days I wish he had had a hobday ... Tacking up he was quite literally chomping at the bit as soon as the door was a fraction open we were off! Hopped on and we went jogging sideways up the yard - How Rude Pony! He managed to contain his excitement into just a few spooks and a spanking trot up the road. We hit the gallops early with another horse as I had a tongue tie to put on the other one and bless Pony, He stood like a lamb and again for me to hop back on again at the gate. He is Mr Reliable when it comes to things like this. 1x up the gallop he was plunging and snatching. 2x he was keen as mustard! 3x working he absolutely flew! At least he was putting his excess energy to good use! In the process of 3x up he pulled a front shoe which meant a lot walk home for me! Pony likes speed walking on the way home - me? Not so much when I am having to lead him! So we compromised on a decent walk - quick for me, slow for him! But by heck my shins and knees were killing me by the time I got back! It's only a 1.5mile walk ... Im getting old!
My last lot was Macattack who was a total dude as ever! Though he got a bit cheeky and was having a wee bronc! He has headed back to yard 1 for some fun work and a few spins on the water treadmill before he runs next week.
