Summer ‘social’ events/things to do?

[LilMyPony]

RN I’m hunting a fair bit, and I love it especially the social aspect. I’m wondering what I’ll do when the season ends. What would ye normally do during the late spring/summer/early autumn?
I suppose hacking wouldn’t kill me but it’s a bit limited and gets quite dull after a while especially when you’re on your own.
This will be my first full summer with my own pony, so I’d love to have some fun!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Sponsored rides are normally through the summer most have optional jumps maybe not as exciting as hunting but something to consider.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Maybe join your local BHS riding club. They generally attract top notch instructors and offer everything from pole work clinics to cross country training. Endurance GB usually have a non-competitive ride on the programme during their events. Working Equitation is a newish horse sport that looks like it could be great fun.

 

[LilMyPony]

Thanks.
I was hoping to to a few working hunter, but I’m really not sure about the height of the fences, 1m being the highest.
I know we hunt but it’s more ditches than jumps. She’ll eat a course of 50s for breakfast but rn 70s are hard enough, but then again there’s terrible footing, maybe it’ll be different in the summer?

 

[Vodkagirly]

Pleasure rides, I ride with different friends and its lovely to have a good catch up in beautiful countryside. Followed by a picnic or burger
Relatively cheap as well.

Eventing is pretty socialable.

Horse camps are great for meeting new people.

 

[millitiger]

Join a local riding club?

 

[LEC]

Join a RC and look for camps. Camps are probably the most social thing I do as time to relax and chat. Stay away sjing shows are also pretty social.

 

[Sealine]

I used to do distance rides in the summer. I'm not sure where you are but look around for a local group. I used to be a member of this group https://chilterndistanceriders.wildapricot.org/

It was fun and friendly and great for keeping a horse fit.

 

[tda]

Le trec or working equitation

 

[Irish Sally]

I'd join a riding club or else start competing and chatting to people. Most horsey people love a good chat about their horses!

 

[Rowreach]

Riding club or a hacking buddies group near you? BHS or centre run camp? Or Le Trec? Working Hunter clinics?

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

A lot of the hunts do hunt rides over the summer now so that’s an option and there’s always lots of pleasure rides. Have a look at Sport Endurance as they run quite a few pleasure rides too.

 

[LilMyPony]

Thanks for the ideas!!!

 

[Skib]

I hack and in summer it is heaven. In winter we ride on bridle tracks but in summer we can ride wherever we please. That means the horse has to listen and even the know it all mare hasnt any idea where I will ask her to go next.

I suppose hacking wouldn’t kill me but it’s a bit limited and gets quite dull after a while especially when you’re on your own.

It is very easy to just drift along riding solo and to get into the habit of trotting or cantering at the same place every time. The answer is to use the solo hacks to school the horse by which I mean lots of transitioning both from gait to gait and within a gait and also steering from side to side of the track and sometimes leg yielding. I once saw a dressage owner/winner at Olympia who had no school and was said to teach her horse everything out hacking.

She certainly planted the idea that I should stop being so lazy and ask the horse to do things. Though all things in moderation. I accidentally got the share mare so hyped up on Boxing Day that she took off with me and I havent been on her since. But I will. Riding a horse solo through a landscape has all sorts of pleasures, both historic and scientific.

 

[ponynutz]

I used to do WH at 50/60cm and still had great fun. If that's all you're doing it for then I'd say go ahead and don't put too much pressure on yourself to move up the height classes

 

[LilMyPony]

I hack and in summer it is heaven. In winter we ride on bridle tracks but in summer we can ride wherever we please. That means the horse has to listen and even the know it all mare hasnt any idea where I will ask her to go next.

It is very easy to just drift along riding solo and to get into the habit of trotting or cantering at the same place every time. The answer is to use the solo hacks to school the horse by which I mean lots of transitioning both from gait to gait and within a gait and also steering from side to side of the track and sometimes leg yielding. I once saw a dressage owner/winner at Olympia who had no school and was said to teach her horse everything out hacking.

She certainly planted the idea that I should stop being so lazy and ask the horse to do things. Though all things in moderation. I accidentally got the share mare so hyped up on Boxing Day that she took off with me and I havent been on her since. But I will. Riding a horse solo through a landscape has all sorts of pleasures, both historic and scientific.

I never considered it that way. It’s definitely food for thought!

I used to do WH at 50/60cm and still had great fun. If that's all you're doing it for then I'd say go ahead and don't put too much pressure on yourself to move up the height classes

Unfortunately all the classes for her height are 90/1m. If I find something lower I will definitely go for it! All I’m worried about for this summer is having fun. I made up my mind, being serious about this can wait, right now I am just going to enjoy the pony I have now, while we both can.

 

[Rowreach]

I never considered it that way. It’s definitely food for thought!


Unfortunately all the classes for her height are 90/1m. If I find something lower I will definitely go for it! All I’m worried about for this summer is having fun. I made up my mind, being serious about this can wait, right now I am just going to enjoy the pony I have now, while we both can.

Local shows will have WH horse classes starting much lower than that.

 

[Skib]

I made up my mind, being serious about this can wait, right now I am just going to enjoy the pony I have now, while we both can.

Quite right to enjoy it. When I was having supposedly serious hack lessons out with an RI in hot summer time, I might suggest that she let me play at being a pony club child. I didnt ride as a child but I had and still have all the wish fulfilment pony books. I remind myself that getting on a horse is a treat and not an obligation.

 

[lauragreen85]

RN I’m hunting a fair bit, and I love it especially the social aspect. I’m wondering what I’ll do when the season ends. What would ye normally do during the late spring/summer/early autumn?
I suppose hacking wouldn’t kill me but it’s a bit limited and gets quite dull after a while especially when you’re on your own.
This will be my first full summer with my own pony, so I’d love to have some fun!

Join a riding club, I really enjoy it and the challenges, competition's etc

 

[dottylottie]

i think local level showing is very social, because there’s SO much hanging around

 

[LilMyPony]

Thanks everyone I have lots to go on now!!