Sheriff's ride?! And hacking help!

[ohdearme]

(This may be a better forum...oops!)

Hi all,

Has anyone heard of/been to the 'Sheriff's Ride' in Lichfield in September?? I have just been invited to go and would love to, but am a bit anxious as neither me or my (new!) pony have been hunting or on a fun ride or anything similar. She has hacked a lot in the past, but I've only taken her out once and she was pretty spooky and nervy - I do enjoy hacking, but the jumpiness did ruin it a bit!

I've looked at some vids of the ride and it looks lovely - seems like a hunt without the hunt (?!), going along roads and paths, cantering through fields etc in a group. It's 20 miles, with a couple of breaks, seems well organised. But perhaps a bit spook-provoking for the nervy pony

Does anyone have any experience doing something like this with a spooky/high-strung horse? I would love to go but don't think either of us would find it enjoyable if she's spooking and tense the whole way

Do I 'bite the bullet' or stay safe and give it a miss? In regards to spookiness out hacking, does 'practise make perfect'? Should I start taking her out more and more to see if she relaxes?

Thanks!

 

[9tails]

I think it's too long for your first fun ride, try to find some that are around 12 miles with an 8 mile shorter option before September. That way, you get her out and hopefully will overcome the spookiness and potential excitement. Mine is a great hacker, but the first couple of miles of a fun ride are done in jog which isn't that much fun.