Sol
Well-Known Member
Morning started off very very stressy, mock driving test didn't help, plus I really detest hacking, especially with Dan!
Think he sussed that we were going somewhere good though as the only thing he spooked at were the canopy things blowing around outside the pub, and quite happily made his way to the farm ride. Then proceeded to bounce his way up the drive way, because we ended up just behind some other people who also had hacked there. Oh dear. Apparently cantering on the spot will get you further than actually walking forwards you know!
Forced myself to pretend I was doing rising trot until he got the gist and simply trotted on to catch up, silly creature 
Paid, found out which way we were heading and set off on the farm ride! Got to the first jump...
'What's that?!' Honestly, he stopped about 10ft away and was very certain he couldn't go near it. So we tried the smaller one and kicked... he popped over it no problem. Then the penny dropped that we were jumping! 
Proceeded around the whole 8 miles of the ride, jumped plenty but once he'd settled a bit and stopped finding all quite so exciting let him relax and just did the odd one
Had some lovely gallops too! Headed back, let him have a breather while I had a drink, then headed home.
Bless the pony, he walked all the way home on a long rein, and had his ears pricked for the whole 14 miles that we did today!! Amazingly, he wasn't even noticeably tired Definitely enjoyed himself though, didn't even protest about being bathed, then let him out in the field to chill for a bit
He was so good, I'll even forgive him for very nearly depositing me in front of a load of people because 'that bit of ground was weird!'
Sol
Think he sussed that we were going somewhere good though as the only thing he spooked at were the canopy things blowing around outside the pub, and quite happily made his way to the farm ride. Then proceeded to bounce his way up the drive way, because we ended up just behind some other people who also had hacked there. Oh dear. Apparently cantering on the spot will get you further than actually walking forwards you know!
Forced myself to pretend I was doing rising trot until he got the gist and simply trotted on to catch up, silly creature Paid, found out which way we were heading and set off on the farm ride! Got to the first jump...
'What's that?!' Honestly, he stopped about 10ft away and was very certain he couldn't go near it. So we tried the smaller one and kicked... he popped over it no problem. Then the penny dropped that we were jumping! Proceeded around the whole 8 miles of the ride, jumped plenty but once he'd settled a bit and stopped finding all quite so exciting let him relax and just did the odd one
Had some lovely gallops too! Headed back, let him have a breather while I had a drink, then headed home. Bless the pony, he walked all the way home on a long rein, and had his ears pricked for the whole 14 miles that we did today!!
Amazingly, he wasn't even noticeably tired Definitely enjoyed himself though, didn't even protest about being bathed, then let him out in the field to chill for a bit He was so good, I'll even forgive him for very nearly depositing me in front of a load of people because 'that bit of ground was weird!'
Sol
I always feel a bit mean as Dan hardly ever gets to do anything 'different'. I try to jump him once a week or so, but he's not the best to hack usually so we end up schooling more than anything!