ConnieLove
Well-Known Member
Well what a day!
A hectic start of having a car pull out in front of us on the way to the opening meet. Causing the OH to pull an emergency stop with both the boys on the back - thus freaking them out and causing the Pony to have a nasty cut to his hind leg and looking pretty traumatized, what's a kick in the teeth as just got him traveling well with another horse!! Argh!
So after deciding to pull the Pony out, with the OH taking him home to be cold hosed and seen to by mum, OH insisted that I carry on with the big boy as it was his first time out hunting, was such a lovely day plus he was as dopey as ever coming off the trailer. The weather had just cleared up nicely and we were blessed with blue skies over Derbyshire. It was a beautiful setting and the ground was not as bad as last years meet at the same venue where it was pretty much mud mud and more mud! (not complaining but it is novel to only have to clean half as much!). Although the clay ground did pull a few shoes but the horses went well and wasn't too slippery considering the rain we had the night before. Had some nice lines at the start right before the hounds decided to follow a innocent dog walker who later was very kind enough to return one dog who had quite happily followed her for a more leisurely stroll around the woods! Whoops.
The big boy did well, stood very nice and calm at the start and kept up with the pace once we got going without getting excited, silly or strong - the complete opposite of what the Pony was like at his first few hunts! Stood well although did get fidgety when seeing the master canter off after the dogs but nothing unmanageable. No nappiness and was walking out calmly nearer the front of the group and was generally being a dream to hunt. Thought I was onto a winner for sure! However all changed when the none jumping group I was with found themselves popping a decent sized ditch (completely not planned), to which he fell in slightly before jumping out and then a second ditch that was bigger which he cleared wonderfully. Although he jumped lovely, the idea was to keep him just on the flat as I just wanted him to enjoy himself and concentrate on not getting completely stressed out, what he does around jumping. He then proceeded in jogging all the way back and throwing in some nasty nappy moments. Sending him forward worked but he just got more and more excited/stressed/nappy/n**headed when we were supposed to be walking so I pulled him out and sent him on back to the trailers just before the last line of the day.
I was so happy with how he behaved pre-ditch jumping moment although am disappointed in the last part as felt almost like a liability and very embarrassed with his behavior. He was such a dream, but then it always has to go tits up for muggins at some point! I guess we all get those days...
Anyway, returned home with him and sorted them both out. Pony's leg is looking fine and the cut doesn't look as bad now it's clean up and cold hosed. No swelling or lameness, thank the Lord. Now sat eating my body weight in sausages feeling exhausted. I keep telling myself it could have very easily been a worse day and I've seen people have worse. No doubt I will of forgot the big ones hairy moments and be out with him next weekend!
Hope everyones had a decent weekend and the weathers not put off too many adventures
Oh, as promised, one of me and the boy before the move off:
A hectic start of having a car pull out in front of us on the way to the opening meet. Causing the OH to pull an emergency stop with both the boys on the back - thus freaking them out and causing the Pony to have a nasty cut to his hind leg and looking pretty traumatized, what's a kick in the teeth as just got him traveling well with another horse!! Argh!
So after deciding to pull the Pony out, with the OH taking him home to be cold hosed and seen to by mum, OH insisted that I carry on with the big boy as it was his first time out hunting, was such a lovely day plus he was as dopey as ever coming off the trailer. The weather had just cleared up nicely and we were blessed with blue skies over Derbyshire. It was a beautiful setting and the ground was not as bad as last years meet at the same venue where it was pretty much mud mud and more mud! (not complaining but it is novel to only have to clean half as much!). Although the clay ground did pull a few shoes but the horses went well and wasn't too slippery considering the rain we had the night before. Had some nice lines at the start right before the hounds decided to follow a innocent dog walker who later was very kind enough to return one dog who had quite happily followed her for a more leisurely stroll around the woods! Whoops.
The big boy did well, stood very nice and calm at the start and kept up with the pace once we got going without getting excited, silly or strong - the complete opposite of what the Pony was like at his first few hunts! Stood well although did get fidgety when seeing the master canter off after the dogs but nothing unmanageable. No nappiness and was walking out calmly nearer the front of the group and was generally being a dream to hunt. Thought I was onto a winner for sure! However all changed when the none jumping group I was with found themselves popping a decent sized ditch (completely not planned), to which he fell in slightly before jumping out and then a second ditch that was bigger which he cleared wonderfully. Although he jumped lovely, the idea was to keep him just on the flat as I just wanted him to enjoy himself and concentrate on not getting completely stressed out, what he does around jumping. He then proceeded in jogging all the way back and throwing in some nasty nappy moments. Sending him forward worked but he just got more and more excited/stressed/nappy/n**headed when we were supposed to be walking so I pulled him out and sent him on back to the trailers just before the last line of the day.
I was so happy with how he behaved pre-ditch jumping moment although am disappointed in the last part as felt almost like a liability and very embarrassed with his behavior. He was such a dream, but then it always has to go tits up for muggins at some point! I guess we all get those days...
Anyway, returned home with him and sorted them both out. Pony's leg is looking fine and the cut doesn't look as bad now it's clean up and cold hosed. No swelling or lameness, thank the Lord. Now sat eating my body weight in sausages feeling exhausted. I keep telling myself it could have very easily been a worse day and I've seen people have worse. No doubt I will of forgot the big ones hairy moments and be out with him next weekend!
Hope everyones had a decent weekend and the weathers not put off too many adventures
Oh, as promised, one of me and the boy before the move off: