scats
Well-Known Member
I had a day off today so decided to chuck Millie in the wagon and take her out to a local chaser course (about 10 miles away, so super handy). Don’t really have anyone to go with as my friend on the yard who I used to go out with sadly doesn’t really do much or go anywhere now, and most of my other local horsey friends don’t have transport. So thought I’d just have to chuck Millie in at the deep end and hope we survived! She’s used to hacking alone, which is good, but she is incredibly spooky and sharp so I was a little apprehensive.
Hasn’t travelled since last October but she was eager to load as always and travelled brilliantly. Then my brakes started to bind en route. Typical. The perils of only doing little drives around the yard for the last few months! Telltale seizing brakes, burning smell and engine feeling sluggish. Pulled in and let it have a few minutes to cool then set off carefully. Decided I was as close to the course as Home so carried on. Managed to get there fine, brakes started to feel better after a while.
Millie was overjoyed to arrive to a huge field of grass, but did start some shrieking to a nearby grazing horse. On board and her back was up but I know her enough to know she won’t actually buck so I wasn’t too phased. Her eyes were on stalks and she was going nowhere near the fences, so let’s just say that her chances of ever becoming an eventer are very slim..!
She scooted round every log and jump with at least 15foot to spare, eyeballing them in absolute horror and snorting like a warthog. A trot settled her a bit more but I was very glad to have put my stirrups up a hole as she was absolutely wired and I had to be aware of random darts to the side. Chose a nice area for a first canter and decided to tire her out a bit. It worked. Into the various fields and rode between the jumps, up and down the hills etc. She became less ridiculous about the jumps but I decided not to press the issue and attempt to jump one!
Opened her up for a good canter/gallop for the first half of the last field and then walked back to the wagon to cool off. Very sweaty but happy little horse (and rider!)
Uneventful journey home, brakes fine. Though I will get the pads checked this week.
Managed one between the ears pic
Hasn’t travelled since last October but she was eager to load as always and travelled brilliantly. Then my brakes started to bind en route. Typical. The perils of only doing little drives around the yard for the last few months! Telltale seizing brakes, burning smell and engine feeling sluggish. Pulled in and let it have a few minutes to cool then set off carefully. Decided I was as close to the course as Home so carried on. Managed to get there fine, brakes started to feel better after a while.
Millie was overjoyed to arrive to a huge field of grass, but did start some shrieking to a nearby grazing horse. On board and her back was up but I know her enough to know she won’t actually buck so I wasn’t too phased. Her eyes were on stalks and she was going nowhere near the fences, so let’s just say that her chances of ever becoming an eventer are very slim..!
She scooted round every log and jump with at least 15foot to spare, eyeballing them in absolute horror and snorting like a warthog. A trot settled her a bit more but I was very glad to have put my stirrups up a hole as she was absolutely wired and I had to be aware of random darts to the side. Chose a nice area for a first canter and decided to tire her out a bit. It worked. Into the various fields and rode between the jumps, up and down the hills etc. She became less ridiculous about the jumps but I decided not to press the issue and attempt to jump one!
Opened her up for a good canter/gallop for the first half of the last field and then walked back to the wagon to cool off. Very sweaty but happy little horse (and rider!)
Uneventful journey home, brakes fine. Though I will get the pads checked this week.
Managed one between the ears pic
xx