Always look on the bright side!

sugarpuff

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I hacked out on Sunday on my own with my youngster (4 1/2 years) for our longest hack on our own (hour and a half) and although I wouldn't describe the hack as the most relaxing hack, I'm looking at all the positives! We went over a bridge with a raging torrent of water underneath it and he just walked over very calmly. He jogged a bit past some other horses trotting round in a field, but didn't spook or shoot off and wasn't strong and once past calmed down again. He let me get off to open a couple of gates and then stood still next to them to let me get back on with fidgiting or walking off. He did a HUGE catleap over a big muddy horse eating puddle, which was just the otherside of another small bridge and raging torrent of water, and although I lost a stirrup he didn't canter off up the field, he just walked round in a circle while I got it back. I then asked him to canter in a big open field, which he did, he was a bit wobbly and got his legs a bit muddled, but didn't gallop off or spook at anything. And then a bit further along we came across a flooded road (not deep, just about 15m wide) and after a bit of hesitation, a good look and a few big snorts he did walk through without too much trouble!!

Now considering he was on his own and we went along roads he's not been on before and I've only had him since July and he's a baby, I was really pleased with him!
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I'm not the most confident person either and the fact I managed to get home in one piece with a happy horse as helped my confidence no end!!

So a bit of a pointless post, but I thought I'd share as I'm now stuck at home with a cold and 2 snotty kids! (and really should do some housework!)
 
That's a lovely post, I'm really glad you had such a good outing. My horse is really nappy and can be spooky on her own so every ride out on our own with no incidents (not that we ever have anything major) is cause for celebration.

Yippee for you and your horse, keep it up, it does your confidence wonders!
 
aaah thats really nice, and sounds like he was a very good boy - to be honest id be pleased if my 18 year old behaved that well out hacking so 4 1/2 is fab!!!!
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I almost thought I was reading about myself. I went out for the first time on my own with baby 4 and a half yr old on Sunday. We've only had her a week so really new. We also passed raging torrents and then splashed through a 50m long fast flowing "puddle". All she needed was a little bit of voice and leg and she was a superstar. I'm a lady of a certain age as well so was really chuffed for the both of us.
 
WOW!! I wish more people would look on bright sides instead of the "woah is me" !!
Well done you, sounded like great fun. Make sure you do it alot, as you'll be surprised how much better he'll be over time!!
When I rode Horlicks at the weekends, I use to hack her out all the time (they don't hack the RS horses due to lack of off road hacking) and the more I done it, the better she became!! I really noticed it when I didn't hack her one week... the next week she'd be jumping all over the place!!!
 
Thanks guys!! He is getting better all the time and my confidence is growing the more I do with him. He's my first horse so it was all a bit daunting at first.......I was really nervous even picking his feet up on the first day!! But the more we do and the more I know how he reacts to certain things the better I feel!

The other week he was led down to the field in a blowing gale next to a 20 year old TB that was bouncing around all over the place, and he just walked down as quiet as a lamb! He did gallop off up the field bucking and farting and squealing, but he waited til he was let off! I was so proud of him!
 
I do like to read the positive posts
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It is so easy to get caught up in the very many disasters, so it is lovely to read the 'everyday' we had a good time posts, thank you
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