Kallibear
Well-Known Member
We had a ball 
It was the newcomers hunt today with Lauderdale.
Everyone was so nice. I've emailed a couple of peoples asking lots of silly questions (about short fat cobs, and barefoot ponies mostly) and they were always helpful and kind.
Got up at stupid o'oclock to get the ponies ready and set off in the dark. Only to get there FAR quicker than AA Route Planner said and wander about aimlessly for half an hour, trying to work out where we were meant to go (directions included 'the other horse boxes', which doesn't really help when you're the first to arrive! ) But still plenty of time to get ready and had a nice relaxing tacking up and last min stuffing face with hay.
Weather was perfect: not too cold, very still and dry. However sadly the same could not be said for the couple of days before where there there had been major flooding yet again. The ground was SOOOOO wet. Even up the top of the hills where it drained, everything was extremely soft and muddy.
Pony was fabulous Tried his little heart out to take on the big horses, SOOOO sure footed and agile, bounding over soft wet ground and slopes like they weren't there, never slipped once, and perfect brakes even if he was rather keen. He just bowled along in an easy long canter (impressive for a short fat cob!), kept pace with the big horses easily and walked/trotted quietly on a long rein inbetween. No jogging, pulling or messing about His high knee action helped him as we trotted through knee-deep mud, although his short little legs were less helpful crossing the stream and stubbling into the deep part, up to my boots
I was really worried he wasn't going to be fit enough but he was raring to go and although fast, it was only a little over 2hrs. We stopped and started a fair bit for the first 45mins, then basically cantered/trotted the next hour. A final fast trot up a tarmac hill (not actually fast, they just had longer legs that him!) eventually knackered him but thankfully we then stopped for 15mins whilst the hounds worked. After his breather he bounced home and had almost dried off by the time we got back to the trailer. About perfect : he was tired but not exhausted and enjoyed himself immensly.
And for those wondering about hunting barefoot: he coped perfectly and I was so glad he didn't have shoes on for most of it. His grip on the slippy ground was better than the shod horses, he made far less mess and sank less, found the deep going much easier with no risk of lost shoes, he could canter up the tarmac with ease (finds canter easier than fast trot), bounced over the big stone paths (large football sized stones to help protect the ground) much better than the shod horses and didn't mind the stoney tracks. The only surface he had to take care on was a tarmac road that had hardcore scattered over it.
Only negative was being landed on by a rearing horse . 10mins from home the horse behind had a hissy fit (again), reared and launched herself through a gateway, straight at Piper and I. She landed on my knee, although thankfully with her knees, not her feet. Very painful but thank god she didn't land on Piper, or hit me with her feet. We were actually seriously lucky : if Piper hadn't moved she would have landed on both of us So I've now got a suitably impressive swollen knee and pretty bruise but no lasting damage. Clever little Pips for swinging out the way just in time.
Friend cob was also as good as gold and we're just so pleased with their behaviour, esp after seeing some of the others First time for both of them, they're only 5yrs old and they were perfect. Much love for cob pony right now
And major learning from today: 1) my pony is amazing. And 2) do not wear your show boots, an expensive leather girth or your show bridle out hunting. Invest in cheap (but smart) spares instead!
Sunrising as we drove down
Tacked up, mane plaited (essential) and filling up on last min calories.
Clean (ish, legs were hosed before we set off!)
I'm sure someone said horses usually get het up and excited out hunting? Memo clearly missed Piper.
Home safe and sound and a lot less clean. Photo's don't do his muddiness justice! Note nice mud/blood stain where the rearer hit my knee
Still raring to go and fidgetting
Friends rather nice cob showing off his mud
Legs rinsed off, PJ's on and ready to go home
Brillaint time had and we hope to go again soon, although the cost is extremely limiting
It was the newcomers hunt today with Lauderdale.
Everyone was so nice.
I've emailed a couple of peoples asking lots of silly questions (about short fat cobs, and barefoot ponies mostly) and they were always helpful and kind. Got up at stupid o'oclock to get the ponies ready and set off in the dark. Only to get there FAR quicker than AA Route Planner said and wander about aimlessly for half an hour, trying to work out where we were meant to go (directions included 'the other horse boxes', which doesn't really help when you're the first to arrive!
) But still plenty of time to get ready and had a nice relaxing tacking up and last min stuffing face with hay. Weather was perfect: not too cold, very still and dry. However sadly the same could not be said for the couple of days before where there there had been major flooding yet again.
The ground was SOOOOO wet. Even up the top of the hills where it drained, everything was extremely soft and muddy.Pony was fabulous
Tried his little heart out to take on the big horses, SOOOO sure footed and agile, bounding over soft wet ground and slopes like they weren't there, never slipped once, and perfect brakes even if he was rather keen. He just bowled along in an easy long canter (impressive for a short fat cob!), kept pace with the big horses easily and walked/trotted quietly on a long rein inbetween. No jogging, pulling or messing about His high knee action helped him as we trotted through knee-deep mud, although his short little legs were less helpful crossing the stream and stubbling into the deep part, up to my boots I was really worried he wasn't going to be fit enough but he was raring to go and although fast, it was only a little over 2hrs. We stopped and started a fair bit for the first 45mins, then basically cantered/trotted the next hour. A final fast trot up a tarmac hill (not actually fast, they just had longer legs that him!) eventually knackered him but thankfully we then stopped for 15mins whilst the hounds worked. After his breather he bounced home and had almost dried off by the time we got back to the trailer. About perfect : he was tired but not exhausted and enjoyed himself immensly.
And for those wondering about hunting barefoot: he coped perfectly and I was so glad he didn't have shoes on for most of it. His grip on the slippy ground was better than the shod horses, he made far less mess and sank less, found the deep going much easier with no risk of lost shoes, he could canter up the tarmac with ease (finds canter easier than fast trot), bounced over the big stone paths (large football sized stones to help protect the ground) much better than the shod horses and didn't mind the stoney tracks. The only surface he had to take care on was a tarmac road that had hardcore scattered over it.
Only negative was being landed on by a rearing horse
. 10mins from home the horse behind had a hissy fit (again), reared and launched herself through a gateway, straight at Piper and I. She landed on my knee, although thankfully with her knees, not her feet. Very painful but thank god she didn't land on Piper, or hit me with her feet. We were actually seriously lucky : if Piper hadn't moved she would have landed on both of us So I've now got a suitably impressive swollen knee and pretty bruise but no lasting damage. Clever little Pips for swinging out the way just in time. Friend cob was also as good as gold and we're just so pleased with their behaviour, esp after seeing some of the others
First time for both of them, they're only 5yrs old and they were perfect. Much love for cob pony right now And major learning from today: 1) my pony is amazing. And 2) do not wear your show boots, an expensive leather girth or your show bridle out hunting. Invest in cheap (but smart) spares instead!
Sunrising as we drove down
Tacked up, mane plaited (essential) and filling up on last min calories.
Clean (ish, legs were hosed before we set off!)
I'm sure someone said horses usually get het up and excited out hunting? Memo clearly missed Piper.
Home safe and sound and a lot less clean. Photo's don't do his muddiness justice! Note nice mud/blood stain where the rearer hit my knee
Still raring to go and fidgetting
Friends rather nice cob showing off his mud
Legs rinsed off, PJ's on and ready to go home
Brillaint time had and we hope to go again soon, although the cost is extremely limiting
