Kallibear
Well-Known Member
Since it was a beautiful day other day, and Toby's having a couple of days off after his Common ride, I dragged my mum down to come for a 'hack' on Piper.
He's been used to being tacked up for ages, and has long reined out on walkes plenty of times (prefers it to being led). He's also been sat on occasionally.
And now that they're away on 'holiday' being lawnmowers, and I can ride in the field (not allowed to on livery, and there's no school
) I've been making the most of it so he's has been learning to walk on and stop, walking around the field. He thinks it's all a bit boring but Toby is getting very confused - riding is HIS activity and what's mum doing sitting on annoying Piper?
'They're MY reins Piper!' says toby.
Mum, what you doing up there?
Piper's just taken everything in his stride and not bothered in the slightest. I can bounce up and down, flap, jump on and off both sides and slide off his bum, he just doesn't care. Thinks it's all a bit odd and possibly pointless, but not scary.
He's also been lunged twice - making the most of the field by lunging Toby, but Piper does like to join in, so, after Toby was finished, Piper had a shot. Lunged perfectly on a perfect tension, on a perfect circle, walking and trotting and halting perfectly. Did it twice, not bothered again - thre's not much point really!
Then yesterday Piper went out for his first hack.
Getting tacked up:
Crossed the road and down the steps to the railways line. Toby was having an absolutle fit, screaming and charging about (first time he's ever been left on his own) but Piper didn't even notice.
Wandered along to the bench where my mum got on:
She rode about 10mins along the line then hopped off at the next bench and we all carried on onfoot to the river.
Piper's never seen a stretch of water more than a couple of feet wide, so he thought the river was amazing. Straight in there, up to his knees, splashing. Since I only had short boots on I had to drop the rope else be dragged in!
Eventually he came back out:
And wandered off for a snack:
And three:
Then it was back the way we came and my mum hopped back on at the bench for the walk home. Mostly he was just following me but he moved away and followed my mum's instructions when asked
Then it was off again the the orginal bench, up the steps and across the road to find Toby still in the correct field (thankfully) and not too horribly stressed by his awful ordeal
I'm so very pleased with him. My mum is a totally novice rider but I would trust him to behave with anyone already - he's just got that laid back easy temperment. Even when the horses in the field we pasted started charging at the fence he just walked a couple of steps faster.
Now I just have to wait (very impatiently) until next year until he can be ridden properly
He's been used to being tacked up for ages, and has long reined out on walkes plenty of times (prefers it to being led). He's also been sat on occasionally.
And now that they're away on 'holiday' being lawnmowers, and I can ride in the field (not allowed to on livery, and there's no school
) I've been making the most of it so he's has been learning to walk on and stop, walking around the field. He thinks it's all a bit boring but Toby is getting very confused - riding is HIS activity and what's mum doing sitting on annoying Piper?
'They're MY reins Piper!' says toby.
Mum, what you doing up there?
Piper's just taken everything in his stride and not bothered in the slightest. I can bounce up and down, flap, jump on and off both sides and slide off his bum, he just doesn't care. Thinks it's all a bit odd and possibly pointless, but not scary.
He's also been lunged twice - making the most of the field by lunging Toby, but Piper does like to join in, so, after Toby was finished, Piper had a shot. Lunged perfectly on a perfect tension, on a perfect circle, walking and trotting and halting perfectly. Did it twice, not bothered again - thre's not much point really!
Then yesterday Piper went out for his first hack.
Getting tacked up:
Crossed the road and down the steps to the railways line. Toby was having an absolutle fit, screaming and charging about (first time he's ever been left on his own) but Piper didn't even notice.
Wandered along to the bench where my mum got on:
She rode about 10mins along the line then hopped off at the next bench and we all carried on onfoot to the river.
Piper's never seen a stretch of water more than a couple of feet wide, so he thought the river was amazing.
Straight in there, up to his knees, splashing. Since I only had short boots on I had to drop the rope else be dragged in!Eventually he came back out:
And wandered off for a snack:
And three:
Then it was back the way we came and my mum hopped back on at the bench for the walk home. Mostly he was just following me but he moved away and followed my mum's instructions when asked
Then it was off again the the orginal bench, up the steps and across the road to find Toby still in the correct field (thankfully) and not too horribly stressed by his awful ordeal
I'm so very pleased with him. My mum is a totally novice rider but I would trust him to behave with anyone already - he's just got that laid back easy temperment. Even when the horses in the field we pasted started charging at the fence he just walked a couple of steps faster.
Now I just have to wait (very impatiently) until next year until he can be ridden properly
