Holly Hocks
Well-Known Member
Some of you know that I have an ex-racer mare who I've been through thick and thin with. Bought in 2010 directly from racing, she fell ill two months later and after a multitude of insurance claims, hospital stays with both sinus and leg problems she finally started work again in March this year.
She is a darling - temperament to die for with stunning looks and a presence which screams "Look at me, I'm gorgeous"
She was always a bit nappy when I did have her in work for short periods in between the illnesses, so this time I thought I would start from scratch. Long-reining out on the roads for weeks and weeks before getting on her again. I got on her mid April and apart from one incident a few weeks ago when I had to get off, she's been fine. I've been hacking out at 6.30am to avoid the traffic doing the same route over and over ( any diversion from this route at the moment causes brain meltdown).
Well this morning, in the lovely sunshine we set off. Quiet narrow lane and all of a sudden her head comes up. I patted her, put leg on and she went on. Then I realised what she had heard. Well I thought it was a pig on the other side of the hedge. It sounded very similar to the spitting llama as well which there is no way she will go near and I think she thought that the llama was on the other side of the hedge. (It was actually a sheep with a sore throat). So rear, spin and bronc down the road back towards home. The runner coming towards us at this point did an about turn and would have beaten Usain Bolt in a sprint finish. I felt like a rag doll. In fact next time I'm at the fair I'm going to have a go on one of those bucking bulls, cos I reckon I could give it a run for it's money. There was no stopping her and I'm pretty sure a cartwheel was next on her list of tricks. In a millisecond of stillness, I voluntarily dismounted before she did the deed for me. Lead her back in the direction we were originally going, got back on about 100yrds later and although very wound up she carried on absolutely fine. I wasn't sure what action to take on the way back past the llama/sheep/pig combination. Initially I was going to get off before the gymnastics commenced so that I could prevent said gymnastics, but on the approach we were still going forwards.......then I had an idea......a battle charge. I kicked her into trot, sang the national anthem (well it is the Jubilee) to drown out the llama/pig/sheep and before I knew it we were past!
But why why why does she do this just as my confidence is building up again? Remind me again, why do I keep her?
Hope you've had a bit of a laugh anyway!
She is a darling - temperament to die for with stunning looks and a presence which screams "Look at me, I'm gorgeous"
She was always a bit nappy when I did have her in work for short periods in between the illnesses, so this time I thought I would start from scratch. Long-reining out on the roads for weeks and weeks before getting on her again. I got on her mid April and apart from one incident a few weeks ago when I had to get off, she's been fine. I've been hacking out at 6.30am to avoid the traffic doing the same route over and over ( any diversion from this route at the moment causes brain meltdown).
Well this morning, in the lovely sunshine we set off. Quiet narrow lane and all of a sudden her head comes up. I patted her, put leg on and she went on. Then I realised what she had heard. Well I thought it was a pig on the other side of the hedge. It sounded very similar to the spitting llama as well which there is no way she will go near and I think she thought that the llama was on the other side of the hedge. (It was actually a sheep with a sore throat). So rear, spin and bronc down the road back towards home. The runner coming towards us at this point did an about turn and would have beaten Usain Bolt in a sprint finish. I felt like a rag doll. In fact next time I'm at the fair I'm going to have a go on one of those bucking bulls, cos I reckon I could give it a run for it's money. There was no stopping her and I'm pretty sure a cartwheel was next on her list of tricks. In a millisecond of stillness, I voluntarily dismounted before she did the deed for me. Lead her back in the direction we were originally going, got back on about 100yrds later and although very wound up she carried on absolutely fine. I wasn't sure what action to take on the way back past the llama/sheep/pig combination. Initially I was going to get off before the gymnastics commenced so that I could prevent said gymnastics, but on the approach we were still going forwards.......then I had an idea......a battle charge. I kicked her into trot, sang the national anthem (well it is the Jubilee) to drown out the llama/pig/sheep and before I knew it we were past!
But why why why does she do this just as my confidence is building up again? Remind me again, why do I keep her?
Hope you've had a bit of a laugh anyway!
