mickey
Well-Known Member
Some of you may remember that a few weeks ago I posted about hacking. Essentially I have not been out hacking for some months due to my broken back in 2005 and associated loss of confidence. I was going to go out on the lead with my instructor. Unfortunately due to her shcedule and my schedule we never managed to do this.
Today I decided to bite the bullet and go out myself. There was hardly any wind, a nice warm day. After crossing the rather busy main road outside the yard I decided to ride around a few massive fields. I thought if I did really well I might be able to go through the woods and down a very long bridletrack until it met the road. This I did, and I rode around the fields to get back home. A good 1/2 hr hack.
So I did it! Mickey was a star. He only got a bit joggy/spooky on the way home because I used to sometimes canter him up the bridletrack. He also does feel when I am tense (however small that tension may be to me).
I tried to focus on all the many, many successful hacks I have taken him on, even when he was a 4 yr old. Tried to push bad thoughts out of my mind. Did a lot of talking and a bit of singing to him!! And some leg yields and work that I have been doing in the school to take our minds off spooky things/dangers.
So there we are. I enjoyed some bits of it very much. Will take a while before I am totally relaxed though....
Today I decided to bite the bullet and go out myself. There was hardly any wind, a nice warm day. After crossing the rather busy main road outside the yard I decided to ride around a few massive fields. I thought if I did really well I might be able to go through the woods and down a very long bridletrack until it met the road. This I did, and I rode around the fields to get back home. A good 1/2 hr hack.
So I did it! Mickey was a star. He only got a bit joggy/spooky on the way home because I used to sometimes canter him up the bridletrack. He also does feel when I am tense (however small that tension may be to me).
I tried to focus on all the many, many successful hacks I have taken him on, even when he was a 4 yr old. Tried to push bad thoughts out of my mind. Did a lot of talking and a bit of singing to him!! And some leg yields and work that I have been doing in the school to take our minds off spooky things/dangers.
So there we are. I enjoyed some bits of it very much. Will take a while before I am totally relaxed though....