Flibble
Well-Known Member
The background to this post is I cant hack out where I am and the only times I have been out with the Lad I have been to fun rides and bucked off big time and last Sunday had to be checked out in A & E.
So.........
Yesterday My OH and I went for a 2 hour walk and I was pretty tired when we got back. I was just tucking into a bacon Sandwich when the phone rang and it was my mate. She said the Sun is shining its perfect for a hack why dont you box over.
My immediate instinct was oh dear god no I am going to die but of course I said yes please. Luckily I had just read the section in The Fearless Horse which recommended how to get your horse to load. (Has no one written The Fearless Rider yet?)
So off I went to my doom got Drifter in and prepared him for travelling he hates his travel boots and so rewarded me by digging out his bed completely and break-dancing with his back legs. We loaded him wearing his bridle, a normal head collar with a lead rope attached and a controller head collar with a lunge line attached. Initially he would not go in but when we had the assistance of a young girl sweeping the yard behind him he went straight up the ramp. I did tell her to stay well back he only needed the sweeping sound of the brush and told her if he started to kick or back towards her she was to drop the broom and leg it.
He travelled very well and when I got to her yard he unloaded like a pussycat and was just very alert. We tied him up on the yard near Bella but not too near and he continued to break dance in the travel boots so we whipped them off and left him to chill out.
I gingerly tacked him up and prayed that I would not throw up in front of my friend. I had already agreed with myself that if things got too anxious I would just hand graze him and take him home again but she promised a quiet pootle along lanes.
He was very alert and I spent most of my time working on not transmitting my anxiety down the reins. He likes Bella which helps and we went off for our little hack with me thinking wont say thank you until we get back in one piece.
We passed tractors, ride on lawn mowers and the major thingy of all we crossed a bridge over the M5 motorway when it was really busy.
Now you need to know I have a history with Motorway bridges. I once owned a grey mare called Daisy who when spooked would nap into the path of oncoming vehicles and famously napped on a motorway bridge and then reared waving her front legs perilously close to the inadequate rails. She gave me nightmares about dangling over bridges just hanging onto a buckle end of rein.
Anyway back to the point he was lovely. If the revolting Daisy taught me one thing it was that anxious horses need as much rein length as they can so that they dont feel trapped so we duly walked across the motorway bridge holding the buckle end of the reins and singing baa baa black sheep.
His final trials were when we rode past an unexpected lone horse in a field we were at walk but the horse went ballistic and Drifter was quite worried but well behaved.
And then finally we rode back to the farm and there right beside the track was the biggest crackliest bonfire I have ever seen. The flames were shooting skyward and I thought Thats it I am going to die!.
He was a sweetheart anxious again but listened to my Very Good Boy voice and the tickles on his shoulder and went on past.
We untacked him and tied him up for another chill and then prepared for the loading battle. No Bridle this time just the double headcollars and two lead ropes. He didnt like the travel boots going back on but he will have to get used to them as its better than having his legs mashed.
Well he just looked for a second felt the bit of pressure and walk on and went straight in. So there we have it.
Drifter and I went hacking with my worst friend and I am still alive.
She told me she had always planned to get me out but didnt give much warning so I would get a good nights sleep.
And now she emails me and tells me we are to hack out again on Wednesday.
Now that is what I call a really good mate.
PS yes I wore my Body Protector.
So.........
Yesterday My OH and I went for a 2 hour walk and I was pretty tired when we got back. I was just tucking into a bacon Sandwich when the phone rang and it was my mate. She said the Sun is shining its perfect for a hack why dont you box over.
My immediate instinct was oh dear god no I am going to die but of course I said yes please. Luckily I had just read the section in The Fearless Horse which recommended how to get your horse to load. (Has no one written The Fearless Rider yet?)
So off I went to my doom got Drifter in and prepared him for travelling he hates his travel boots and so rewarded me by digging out his bed completely and break-dancing with his back legs. We loaded him wearing his bridle, a normal head collar with a lead rope attached and a controller head collar with a lunge line attached. Initially he would not go in but when we had the assistance of a young girl sweeping the yard behind him he went straight up the ramp. I did tell her to stay well back he only needed the sweeping sound of the brush and told her if he started to kick or back towards her she was to drop the broom and leg it.
He travelled very well and when I got to her yard he unloaded like a pussycat and was just very alert. We tied him up on the yard near Bella but not too near and he continued to break dance in the travel boots so we whipped them off and left him to chill out.
I gingerly tacked him up and prayed that I would not throw up in front of my friend. I had already agreed with myself that if things got too anxious I would just hand graze him and take him home again but she promised a quiet pootle along lanes.
He was very alert and I spent most of my time working on not transmitting my anxiety down the reins. He likes Bella which helps and we went off for our little hack with me thinking wont say thank you until we get back in one piece.
We passed tractors, ride on lawn mowers and the major thingy of all we crossed a bridge over the M5 motorway when it was really busy.
Now you need to know I have a history with Motorway bridges. I once owned a grey mare called Daisy who when spooked would nap into the path of oncoming vehicles and famously napped on a motorway bridge and then reared waving her front legs perilously close to the inadequate rails. She gave me nightmares about dangling over bridges just hanging onto a buckle end of rein.
Anyway back to the point he was lovely. If the revolting Daisy taught me one thing it was that anxious horses need as much rein length as they can so that they dont feel trapped so we duly walked across the motorway bridge holding the buckle end of the reins and singing baa baa black sheep.
His final trials were when we rode past an unexpected lone horse in a field we were at walk but the horse went ballistic and Drifter was quite worried but well behaved.
And then finally we rode back to the farm and there right beside the track was the biggest crackliest bonfire I have ever seen. The flames were shooting skyward and I thought Thats it I am going to die!.
He was a sweetheart anxious again but listened to my Very Good Boy voice and the tickles on his shoulder and went on past.
We untacked him and tied him up for another chill and then prepared for the loading battle. No Bridle this time just the double headcollars and two lead ropes. He didnt like the travel boots going back on but he will have to get used to them as its better than having his legs mashed.
Well he just looked for a second felt the bit of pressure and walk on and went straight in. So there we have it.
Drifter and I went hacking with my worst friend and I am still alive.
She told me she had always planned to get me out but didnt give much warning so I would get a good nights sleep.
And now she emails me and tells me we are to hack out again on Wednesday.
Now that is what I call a really good mate.
PS yes I wore my Body Protector.
