PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
I am officially a numpty. The hunt came through our yard yesterday - right past Kal's field and round the field we ride round to get to Bramshill/along the gallops.
Today, Kal has been going so well that I decided it was time to try a solo hack . . . just round the gallops/perimeter of the farm.
Did I mention that the hunt came through yesterday?
I wore spurs in case he was nappy (he's been known to plant, spin and rear), put the Waterford on the bridle in case I needed brakes and carried a short whip . . . figured we had covered all eventualities.
Did I happen to mention the hunt came through yesterday?
We marched out of the yard with purpose and intend. He was on his toes and looky and threatened to stop at the end of the first track, but I put my leg on and he walked on. We turned right and went up the track that bisects our fields from the owners' horses' field and then reached the bottom right corner of the four acre field (the one the hunt rode round - I mentioned them, right?). Imagine a cross roads - or a compass - in the top left quadrant is the field, in the top right more of our fields, bottom right is Kal's field, bottom left owners' horses' field. I fleetingly thought about turning right and doing a small loop back to the yard . . . but dismissed that rather sensible idea and pushed on up the track alongside the huuuge, open, four-acre field (complete with cross country jumps) on our left. We got almost to the beginning of our gallops when Kal lost the plot, we went from walk to gallop in one second flat - there was no stopping him - it was a full on yeeha! moment. I thought he was about to pull up, when a pheasant flew up, he shot sideways and I went out the side door
.
Thankfully he galloped back to the yard . . . the alarm went up and folks caught him and came to find me (bless them) - I was walking back by then.
I did get straight back on and go in the school and make him work HARD.
I kinda wish I'd stuck with the original plan and long-reined him round the gallops today instead. Probably not the brightest idea to take my (former) hunting horse out into the field he'd seen the hunt gallop through the day before.
Sigh.
P
Today, Kal has been going so well that I decided it was time to try a solo hack . . . just round the gallops/perimeter of the farm.
Did I mention that the hunt came through yesterday?
I wore spurs in case he was nappy (he's been known to plant, spin and rear), put the Waterford on the bridle in case I needed brakes and carried a short whip . . . figured we had covered all eventualities.
Did I happen to mention the hunt came through yesterday?
We marched out of the yard with purpose and intend. He was on his toes and looky and threatened to stop at the end of the first track, but I put my leg on and he walked on. We turned right and went up the track that bisects our fields from the owners' horses' field and then reached the bottom right corner of the four acre field (the one the hunt rode round - I mentioned them, right?). Imagine a cross roads - or a compass - in the top left quadrant is the field, in the top right more of our fields, bottom right is Kal's field, bottom left owners' horses' field. I fleetingly thought about turning right and doing a small loop back to the yard . . . but dismissed that rather sensible idea and pushed on up the track alongside the huuuge, open, four-acre field (complete with cross country jumps) on our left. We got almost to the beginning of our gallops when Kal lost the plot, we went from walk to gallop in one second flat - there was no stopping him - it was a full on yeeha! moment. I thought he was about to pull up, when a pheasant flew up, he shot sideways and I went out the side door
Thankfully he galloped back to the yard . . . the alarm went up and folks caught him and came to find me (bless them) - I was walking back by then.
I did get straight back on and go in the school and make him work HARD.
I kinda wish I'd stuck with the original plan and long-reined him round the gallops today instead. Probably not the brightest idea to take my (former) hunting horse out into the field he'd seen the hunt gallop through the day before.
Sigh.
P