Some of the silly things I’ve been making the Scottish thug do

[Boulty]

Seeing as I keep managing to miss the weekend threads / not have photos etc ready here are a few of the ways in which I have embarrassed the fluffy thing in the last few months.


We had a go at playing with swords… I swear someone took more pics than this one but they never seem to have surfaced.

Not satisfied with a short pointy thing I started trying to play with longer pointy things & other assorted obstacles with a questionable level of competence.












We even built a course at home for the Top Barn challenge (video of us doing it not on open FB yet)




Then we went away to TREC camp and managed not to rear. Did have to get off at one point though as the HIGHLAND PONY was upset by the rain (which admittedly was blowing sideways in sheets) and he’s learnt some fun new tricks that involve body slamming me with his head & throwing himself into reverse.

 

[Boulty]

Continued as hit the file limit









Then off to do moooore learning about long pointy sticks, not getting eliminated & how not to do gates!

 

[Boulty]

After becoming slightly less rubbish we then had a go at actual competing. This involved tucking all his mane fluff away in the abominations that are my plaiting skills. My reward for this was the activation of slug mode which erm didn’t exactly HELP our scores (neither did me forgetting the dressage test or taking an “interesting” route between some obstacles when I got a bit lost on course)

 

[Kunoichi73]

Fantastic stuff! So jealous! The pointy stick stuff is the kind of thing I would do if I had my own horse.

 

[Boulty]

A few of the mane floof in a more natural state

 

[SEL]

I love these! Definitely something I'd like to try although given my accident record this week no pointy things.....

 

[Emilieu]

I’d love to have a crack at that Le Trec stuff, looks brilliant. Your pony is gorgeous.

 

[Northern Hare]

I love your action packed photos, you look like you're both really having a great time. Wonderful!

 

[Squeak]

That all looks like so much fun! I love a highland too so he's automatically gone straight in as one of my favourite HHO horses!

I'm impressed you manged to plait that mane at all, I wouldn't have even bothered trying!

 

[southerncomfort]

All looks like excellent fun! We are having a WE lesson on Bank Holiday Monday. Can't wait!

 

[crazyandme]

That looks like fabulous fun, and the pony is stunning!

 

[smolmaus]

Wonderful collection of photos! What a beautiful chunk of a boy you've got there

I loaned a horse on a Trec focused yard a few years ago and had so much fun playing about. I must see what I could do in our arena and find myself a big pointy stick...

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

He is fabulous and you both look like you just have the best time together! Thank you for sharing the wonderful pics.

 

[Burnttoast]

What a fantastic lot of pictures! All looks brilliant and hello to Holly in the background there

 

[gallopingby]

That’s fabulous, well done. Not convinced all highlands like to be actual ‘working horses’ why did you plait his mane, other than they get in the way? A friend tried plaiting for dressage with hers and produced an immediate ‘spook’ mode although he much prefers jumping to dressage which in his book includes flower pots.

 

[Reacher]

That looks fantastic!
Near me they ran a horseback archery session, though I felt we were dangerous enough with a bow and arrow…..

 

[Boulty]

Reason he’s plaited is cos it’s in the damn rules for WE that they have to be and sadly as he’ll actually tolerate it without trying to kill me I can’t ask for an exemption like I used to with the Welsh one for activities that normally require it.

He says any rumours that he enjoyed any of this as a vicious lie and he would like to remind the world that he sees his job as professional hay inspector, track tour guide and hedgerow taster. (Admittedly he doesn’t show anywhere near the enthusiasm of the Welsh for partaking in silliness, although he also doesn’t spend the first half hour spooking at everything either!) Oh and he prefers being described as a bodyguard, bouncer or enforcer (or simply “the muscle”) rather than a thug. (Even though that’s exactly what he is!)

Horseback archery is on my radar if I discover somewhere / someone local enough to give it a go. Hoping to do some more skills at arms stuff at some point in the future as well.

 

[Kunoichi73]

Have you tried the BHAA?

British Horseback Archery Association:- Join the BHAA

Horseback Archery: Want to learn horseback archery: Get lessons, Join a club, Take our qualifications, Enjoy competing; then, you should join the British Horse Back Archery Association.

www.bhaa.org.uk

I did a 3 day course last year with The Knights of Middle England which was great fun. We did archery, tent pegging, jousting, sword work, trick riding and quintain stuff. It was brilliant.

 

[ThreeFurs]

Raising a Working Eq jug to you and the Scot from Down Under. Having a 'Intro to WE' on my dressage schoolmaster Classic a few years back. It was something we did just before his retirement at 23, and he loved it, except didn't 'get' the full pass along the pole, having spent his whole career doing half pass. It is so much fun.

 

[silv]

He is super, I love highlands, WE is really taking off here now. Not my thing but it is very, very popular.

 

[southerncomfort]

I don't really get the turnout rules for WE comps, for horse or rider.

It seems like full show turnout for both..?

Must admit it puts me off a bit.

 

[saddlesore]

I just love highlands. If I could afford another I’d go for one

 

[Goldie's mum]

I don't really get the turnout rules for WE comps, for horse or rider.

It seems like full show turnout for both..?

Must admit it puts me off a bit.

I agree. This puts me off too. Not that I'd be getting to that level but they even do the cattle phase fully plaited/suited and booted, which I think looks ridiculous. I get that they wouldn't want you to turn up in torn jeans, with cow poo on your boots but it's meant to be a test of working horses. Why make competitors dress for a totally different sport?

 

[Goldie's mum]

 

[Cortez]

I agree. This puts me off too. Not that I'd be getting to that level but they even do the cattle phase fully plaited/suited and booted, which I think looks ridiculous. I get that they wouldn't want you to turn up in torn jeans, with cow poo on your boots but it's meant to be a test of working horses. Why make competitors dress for a totally different sport?

Well you’re actually supposed to wear traditional formal Portuguese or Spanish gear; they’ve made an exception for the English riders to wear their formal outfits.

 

[Goldie's mum]

Well you’re actually supposed to wear traditional formal Portuguese or Spanish gear; they’ve made an exception for the English riders to wear their formal outfits.

Interesting - I didn't know that.
I was thinking of dog competitions, that i know more about. The dress code for a sheep dog trial is pretty much a cleaner version of what you'd work sheep in. Guess I'm showing my ignorance then (and my origins). When you say "working horse test" to me, I picture trying to get through a gate in the p*shing rain and mud, with a lamb under one arm! Maybe I should start a new class...!

 

[sjb10]

That all looks fantastic fun, and what a beautiful pony
Loving his view of his JD. My (non-highland) pony had v similar views ...

 

[Landcruiser]

I’d love to have a crack at that Le Trec stuff, looks brilliant. Your pony is gorgeous.

It's usually just called Trec in the UK now. Why not have a go? Contact your regional club, most run training events and "Introduction to Trec" events. There's a whole load of info on the TREC GB website as well: https://trecgb.com/about/
Treccies (as we call ourselves) are a really friendly supportive bunch, and there's no bothering to plait or wear formal clothes or any of that malarkey. Winter events are often indoors and you just need your normal riding kit, and any kind of tack inc riding in a plain rope halter if that's your thing. Summer events you need a bit more kit (hi viz, most notably). Give it a go, you'll most likely be hooked.

 

[Caol Ila]

I love the sound of WE, but I hate, hate, hate plaiting and wearing show clothes.

*destined to be a bum forever*

 

[Goldie's mum]

Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.

Henry David Thoreau.