Sunny First weekend in April plans?

SEL

SEL

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It's soooooo lovely to see the sun and have dry fields! I had to clip the microcob on Wed and my clippers protested by over heating so she needs a good tidy up tomorrow.

My lesson yesterday was cancelled so popped over to my friend's place for a play which was fun. Saddler due out this afternoon & heading to Cholsey for some canter work on Sun but pretty quiet otherwise. Loads going on with other people though - what's everyone up to?
 
Had a fantastic hack this morning in the glorious sunshine.

Bo is really fit and bursting with energy, so we had some long trots and fast canters.

He's so sweaty at the moment and I really want to clip, but I keep hearing rumours of snow at Easter!

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Working tomorrow but hopefully going to trailer him out somewhere where he can have a good long blast on sunday. Although, lovely weather + Easter hols means everywhere will be super busy I think.
 
Earlier this week, I took H to a local country park. It was the first time I'd been there and we parked on a housing estate.

I went because there is a local XC group lesson available, but it was £50 at a place where the ground bakes hard, and TBH H needs more adventure outings where he can just learn to be bold and independent in natural country as our local hacking is flat and a bit boring! This place is free, made from an old pit stack that has been converted into a nature reserve.

We had a fab time! There was plenty for H to look at. He is such a gentleman, very kind, curious and happy to get on with whatever I ask. Apart from cantering up a steep hill. He preferred a walk, and just managed a jog!!!

I plan on going every week now. I didn't cover half of the area. We popped little ditches, crossed a stream, crossed a bridge...

He's taken a long time to grow up due to lack of exposure, due to my personal circumstances. He seemed to really enjoy the two of us, out on an adventure together.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7488714256758705430

I just can't summon the enthusiasm to compete. I have found 2 other places to go adventure in, so I think adventuring will be featuring large this summer. That said, I think I've only ridden him twice this week: this trip and a ride out with Rigs, for a canter through the woods and a visit to the fish and chip van at the village hall. Plus a little play bareback in the school. That was yesterday. We had a play with riding with my arms folded or on my head LOL.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7489185708335222038
 
SEL said:
It's soooooo lovely to see the sun and have dry fields! I had to clip the microcob on Wed and my clippers protested by over heating so she needs a good tidy up tomorrow.

My lesson yesterday was cancelled so popped over to my friend's place for a play which was fun. Saddler due out this afternoon & heading to Cholsey for some canter work on Sun but pretty quiet otherwise. Loads going on with other people though - what's everyone up to?
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southerncomfort said:
Had a fantastic hack this morning in the glorious sunshine.

Bo is really fit and bursting with energy, so we had some long trots and fast canters.

He's so sweaty at the moment and I really want to clip, but I keep hearing rumours of snow at Easter!

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Working tomorrow but hopefully going to trailer him out somewhere where he can have a good long blast on sunday. Although, lovely weather + Easter hols means everywhere will be super busy I think.
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Because of you, Rigs is now having a full clip tomorrow! He's been doing cantering with my boyfriend and the sweat was dripping off him.

This is him, longing for chips!

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7489460394000387350
 
Red-1 said:
Earlier this week, I took H to a local country park. It was the first time I'd been there and we parked on a housing estate.

I went because there is a local XC group lesson available, but it was £50 at a place where the ground bakes hard, and TBH H needs more adventure outings where he can just learn to be bold and independent in natural country as our local hacking is flat and a bit boring! This place is free, made from an old pit stack that has been converted into a nature reserve.

We had a fab time! There was plenty for H to look at. He is such a gentleman, very kind, curious and happy to get on with whatever I ask. Apart from cantering up a steep hill. He preferred a walk, and just managed a jog!!!

I plan on going every week now. I didn't cover half of the area. We popped little ditches, crossed a stream, crossed a bridge...

He's taken a long time to grow up due to lack of exposure, due to my personal circumstances. He seemed to really enjoy the two of us, out on an adventure together.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7488714256758705430

I just can't summon the enthusiasm to compete. I have found 2 other places to go adventure in, so I think adventuring will be featuring large this summer. That said, I think I've only ridden him twice this week: this trip and a ride out with Rigs, for a canter through the woods and a visit to the fish and chip van at the village hall. Plus a little play bareback in the school. That was yesterday. We had a play with riding with my arms folded or on my head LOL.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7489185708335222038
Click to expand...
What a lovely place to explore together. Adventuring sounds like a good plan for the summer :)

It's my first weekend with loan horse and I'm swaying wildly between overexcited child and 'oh my god I don't know what I am doing, is this a good idea'. Thankfully it is a very supportive yard to be at and my instructor is very much 'no pressure' in her approach.

We did groundwork for our first unsupervised session together yesterday, just things I have learned in my lessons (walking, trotting, turning, backing up etc.) and that seemed to go okay. It does feel a bit weird when it's just me and the horse, and I'm sure he's a bit like 'who tf are you?' He did all the things I asked though and seemed willing, though did 'test' me a little with 'shall we go eat this grass instead' or 'ooh let's head out of the arena now'. He's an RS veteran - I am sure he will teach me well!

I'll be going to the yard tomorrow and probably Sunday too. I feel so unsure what to do but I think maybe ride tomorrow in the school and then maybe groundwork/lunge on Sunday. Tbh I'm finding it a little overwhelming as I don't know people at the yard well yet, or how things work there, which is a lot on top of having just moved house a few weeks ago where I also don't know anyone well and everything is new.
 
SaddlePsych'D said:
What a lovely place to explore together. Adventuring sounds like a good plan for the summer :)

It's my first weekend with loan horse and I'm swaying wildly between overexcited child and 'oh my god I don't know what I am doing, is this a good idea'. Thankfully it is a very supportive yard to be at and my instructor is very much 'no pressure' in her approach.

We did groundwork for our first unsupervised session together yesterday, just things I have learned in my lessons (walking, trotting, turning, backing up etc.) and that seemed to go okay. It does feel a bit weird when it's just me and the horse, and I'm sure he's a bit like 'who tf are you?' He did all the things I asked though and seemed willing, though did 'test' me a little with 'shall we go eat this grass instead' or 'ooh let's head out of the arena now'. He's an RS veteran - I am sure he will teach me well!

I'll be going to the yard tomorrow and probably Sunday too. I feel so unsure what to do but I think maybe ride tomorrow in the school and then maybe groundwork/lunge on Sunday. Tbh I'm finding it a little overwhelming as I don't know people at the yard well yet, or how things work there, which is a lot on top of having just moved house a few weeks ago where I also don't know anyone well and everything is new.
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The beauty of it is, you could just decide to groom and pamper, or lead out, or ride. No time pressure to do anything.
 
A friend and I are going to a tack sale on Sunday as we've both had a clear out of stuff we don't use/can't use/ don't need so hoping to raise a bit of money so that we can pop it towards some things that are actually of use to us aha!

Saturday will be a quiet one I think - I do need to do a thorough muck out and spring disinfect of my stables before July hits, so that'll be on the cards, but only one stable at a time - two would kill me as I give my boys massive beds so it's always a PITA to muck out, but always worth it when I hear their little snores of appreciation in the mornings :) Question is do I tackle the mucking out and disinfecting of a stable the day before

On Saturday one thing I MUST do is sit down for a little planning session of training goals etc with Rabbit who is my lovely rising 2 year old. The problem is nothing really bothers him - I've ran round the yard like a lunatic with plastic wrappers/bags/bedding bags dragging behind me, taken him on a few in hand walks where he's met all sorts of traffic, he regularly accompanies me to the top of the muck heap whilst I'm leading him and wheeling the wheelbarrow, he stands nicely, comes in from the herd with no fuss, gets left in the field on his own with no fuss, stables with and without company with no fuss, has been to a local show for exposure, worn a roller, worn a bit and bridle, stands like a dream for the farrier, is wonderful to groom (and cuddle!), gives the BEST kisses ever and generally has been the easiest rising 2 year old I've ever had the pleasure of training and dealing with.

I don't really want to teach him things like long reining, lunging and wearing a saddle etc just yet as he is still technically a baby and therefore growing - whilst it's great nothing phases him, I really don't wanna take that for granted. I think the main goal will be longer in hand walks and exploring our hacking routes a bit more as he's quite confident doing our usual few loops etc :)
 
Red-1 said:
The beauty of it is, you could just decide to groom and pamper, or lead out, or ride. No time pressure to do anything.
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Yes I must remember 'no pressure, just enjoy!'

I'd like to ask if I'm allowed to in-hand hack, maybe when the horse knows me a little better. I'm not allowed to hack alone (OH can join me on foot) which I think is fair and tbh it would take a while to build my confidence to solo hack anyway. I like the idea of taking a horse out for a walk. :)
 
Out enjoying the lovely weather on Cannock Chase yesterday on one of the trekking centre’s ‘specials’, a 3 hour trek instead of their usual 2 hour treks.

24 mounted clients out (two of us being HHOers) plus a number of escorts - quite the sight to behold! All well marshalled and organised.

I was riding another of their spotties, this is Tyri.

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My position in two point seat in canter is still rather more polished on the Racewood eventer simulator than on an actual horse, but we are getting there 🤣. The simulator sessions are so helpful.

 
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Lesson today and hack tomorrow. I've managed to ride 4 times this week, poor D 😂
She was in a foul mood when I went to check her last night though I think she might be coming into season so we might just pooter and hunt out the raspberry leaf depending on how she's feeling.
@Tiddlypom what a stunning looking horse 😍 your 2 point looks great as well!
 
Tiddlypom said:
Out enjoying the lovely weather on Cannock Chase yesterday on one of the trekking centre’s ‘specials’, a 3 hour trek instead of their usual 2 hour treks.

24 mounted clients out (two of us being HHOers) plus a number of escorts - quite the sight to behold! All well marshalled and organised.

I was riding another of their spotties, this is Tyri.

View attachment 157665

View attachment 157667

View attachment 157668

My postion in two point seat in canter is still rather more polished on the Racewood eventer simulator than on an actual horse, but we are getting there 🤣. The simulator sessions are so helpful.

Click to expand...
Fabulous photos!

I had two to ride yesterday, so I thought I'd do some ride and lead. Up to a year ago, when BF started to ride, they did a lot of this and are generally good. BF was socialising yesterday in a different city and is generally very busy at work, so 2 for me to work...

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7489716720509242646

They were good, however, Big H decided to stop for a poo on High Street yet Rigs knew we should not stop and there was a car, quad and container lorry all lined up trying to pass. I was stretched like washing on a line. Good job I use a 12ft rope 🤣

Soon all back in order, back for Rigs to have a comedy sock clip. My clippers broke about 18 months ago and I decided that the cost of new ones would pay for a fair few clips, and I hate clipping! So, a pro is coming this afternoon. However, Rigs is sensitive around his lower legs, where he used to have nasty mallenders and still has the final traces now. He stands like a rock for me but not for other people. I just find it wasier to do the legs for him so he can feel confident. He is the same for loading: pretty much loads himself for me, but won't load for other people.

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If he were a younger horse, I'd persist with press-ganging new people to come load him/clip him, but, he is an old man and is just fine for me and really I can't be arsed:eek:🤣

Oh, and he is disgusted to be back in his muzzle

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I'm about to go swim in a cold lake.
 
My sister is coming up this morning to meet Pippin and take some photos of him. She couldn't wait until next week when she was coming anyway!
Sunday is the departmental championships and I'm doing an 85cm with Enormosaurus. I hope she is in a better mood than yesterday during our preparation lesson. Warmed up great, first few jumps all good, I kept my contact into them, she jumped fine. Then she took one look at the triple the instructor had set up and went "Nope!". She ran out on the second element several times, even going so far as to jump the grouping of poo bins, a cross country jump and a few chairs rather than take the triple. In the end, we put the jumps right down and got over it and decided it's something to work on at another time.
We don't often do triples (apart from bounces, which she now manages well though I always enter in a trot to give her an easier time of getting through), so I wonder if we overfaced her with it being too big from the start, if she judged the distances weren't to her liking or if she was having a bad day, possibly due to her seasons... All things to unpick at another time. There should be no triples tomorrow, so I will see how she does on the round and retire if it's all going pear shaped.
 
Rigs is a 20 year old cob and had been struggling in the heat. My clippers broke (30 years old LOL) and, when I saw the price of good new ones, I decided not to get any more. I hate clipping and I'll be able to pay someone else to do them for years before it costs as much as new clippers.

She clips a stack better than I can, plus I don't have scratchy hair down my bra
😁
He looks stunning, will be cool, can have a rug at night, and we won't have to contend with the absolute mattres-worth of hair that Rigs had started to shed!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner all round!

Stunning!

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7489837185852558614
 
SEL said:
I've opened up a bit of new grass and the Appy is muzzled and furious. I wouldn't get anything done if I had a foal that cute to look at @Titchy Pony!
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It's hard! I've realised that I've got to go back to work on Monday and I don't want to!
On the bright side, he's seriously increased the appeal of leisurely poo-picking in the orchard! (just don't expect it to get done fast!)
 
Shadow had his first water treadmill and a saddle fit. He was an angel at the water treadmill and once he realised that standing on the treadmill wasn’t going to kill him, he was so good.

Then at the saddle fit it was insane to see how much he has chunked up in the last month or so. He came to me pretty underweight and undermuscled, looking more like a 3 year old than a 6 year old. But he is now looking like a proper 6 year old connie. The templating of his withers/shoulders was incredible compared to his last saddle fit.
 
Poor Curly has been struggling to maintain his weight recently, and it turns out he needs some dental work done, so I’m not riding until that’s done at the end of next week. Yesterday, I took him out for a decent in hand walk, instead of riding him, which he seemed to enjoy very much. Tomorrow, I think I’ll do groundwork in the school with him. I’ve not managed to make it to the stables today because I’ve been working, so he’s had the day off.

He’s currently on a new feed consisting of vet-approved soaked grass nuts with a cup of vegetable oil, and is thoroughly unimpressed. He much preferred the delicious molasses coated chaff he was on before, that he’s now not allowed for fear it gets stuck between his gappy teeth.
 
OMG, after the clip, Rigs was just full of energy and enthusiasm. We don't normally jump, but I'd got some out, as I like H to have a pop every week...

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7490090041956437270

But then Rigs looked interested, so I tacked him up and he had a jump too.

Old music for the old man! 🤣

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7490090415396277526

I know I post about the smallest things, but, especially since Mr Red died, I really appreciate every little thing that goes right in life, that is fun, that makes me feel alive.

I may not be competing, but I really feel like a winner with the little adventures that we have. My animals consist of a 17 year old dog, who I inherited from Mr Red, a 14 year old dog, who I inherited from mum, a 20 year old horse, who had many medical issues and an 8 year old, beautiful horse, who I took a gamble on buying online, unseen other than a video. I new have a wonderful boyfriend, after thinking that I'd never be happy in a relationship again.

Here are us adventuring with doggos this week...

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7488440286176283926

They are certainly not the sort of dogs that I would have gone out to buy, but they are just the sweetest.

Ever get so as you are so happy, it almost makes you afraid?
 
Screenshot_20250406-135256-452.pngScreenshot_20250406-135115-325.pngPost lesson snack, practised our canter transitions and trot legs yield. I need to get out of the nagging habit although she's getting rather exuberant off the outside leg 😅 also need to improve my fitness/asthma as I'm holding us back. Did some unexpectedly neat 20m canter circles and I can sit down properly in canter which I couldn't really do before as the strength wasn't there. She was so well behaved but she definitely has a strong sense of personal justice if ask for a bit too much the back comes up and she tells me off but does carry on quite merrily.

Then we did some ' hill work' this morning (our flattest hacks involve at least 2 steep hills but this was all hill). I don't think I've seen a cloud since monday. IMG-20250406-WA0010.jpg
 
Eee! I had a lesson on Loan Horse on Wednesday in the big open arena, and made progress with canter.

Thursday was ground work, a bit of tack cleaning, and some grooming. Saturday was also groundwork because I timed things badly with when he was needed for a lesson and I was too frazzled to just hop on quickly. The groundwork has been beneficial though because we did a little before riding today and I do think we are a little more 'together' than we were on Thursday when I thought 'oh god what if he doesn't like me?!'

Today was our first ride unsupervised. I've done this before with previous share horses so was a bit surprised to be feeling nervous. Had a word with myself to ride just the same as when my instructor is there, and not just walk round and round looking for things to be worried about. We probably just did about 20 or 30 minutes, including a bit of in hand warm up (aka me getting myself together to get on!) I'm really pleased with the trotting we did and then a nice swingy loose rein walk at the end with some 'no hands' steering.

I'm really looking forward to the bit where I'm feeling less unsure of myself and it's just the joy part. There was more of that today :D

LH doesn't really need anything but I'm starting to put together a small list of things to buy - some mane/tail spray, tack cleaner, and a lunge line. I'd dearly like my own saddle but that might be a bit much at this stage!

I can't really share a full pic of him but here's a bit of our first behind the ears pic :)

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You're doing better than I did @SaddlePsych'D took me a while to feel confident enough to trot without 'adult supervision' 😅 we now happily canter about and spook at birds without melt downs 😁 on both our parts.

Also I think it took me falling off to realise she did actually like me as she came running back to get me 😅 now she lets me squish her ears to my hearts content 😂
 
Tiddlypom said:
Out enjoying the lovely weather on Cannock Chase yesterday on one of the trekking centre’s ‘specials’, a 3 hour trek instead of their usual 2 hour treks.

24 mounted clients out (two of us being HHOers) plus a number of escorts - quite the sight to behold! All well marshalled and organised.

I was riding another of their spotties, this is Tyri.
Click to expand...
It was gorgeous out on Cannock Chase Friday morning, and Tim (Hill) takes great photos. I had a fabulous time on my best pony mate Wispa:

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I am so jealous of the hacking that some of you have.

There was a show just down the road today and I did think about it but decided I couldn't be bothered with all the prep and I had some catching up jobs to do. Then I saw on FB that loads of people from the yard I used to be on had gone and I wished I had made the effort. But from my yard I could hear a stressy mare shouting all day for her yearling companion who was at the show. She carried on after the show was over and, knowing the yard routine, I guessed that the yearling had been put straight in it's stable to save bringing it in in an hour or two. Then I was glad I'm on my own at home with my two horses happily grazing in their sunny paddock.

So I've been sprucing up the electric fencing ready for them to go on the summer grazing. We need some rain though. We're on sand and it's going to be like a dessert if we don't get rain soon.
 
I meant to say up post, for anyone recently converted to hacking, those that have always loved hacking or want to hack more, Your Horse Magazine run a Hack 1000 Miles Challenge every year.
It resets in April each an ideal time to join if anyone wants to join in!

There's a leader board to track miles but it's not at all competitive & it doesn't matter if you hack 50, 100 miles, 500 or full 1000 miles (you dont even need your own horse) it's just a lovely group to share photo's, hacking stories and have something to aim for :)
 
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