We made it!

[MrsElle]

We all returned from Chads first ride in nine months safe and well

Chads owner (who bought him for me to have on loan) actually rode him today as I was too much of a chicken, but he was a little star. No bucking, no spooking, and the only time he had to stop and look at something it was an old man tipping water from a washing up bowl onto his plants. Daft lad!

Chads owner had ridden him 9 months ago when he was owned by someone else. He hadn't been ridden since then and has been known to be a little 'difficult' out on hacks. His previous owner used to have him in a severe bit with martingale and goodness knows what else. I now have him in a snaffle bridle, no nose band and an eggbutt bit. He apparently felt like a different horse, forward going and responsive but not silly at all. He used to plod very slowly but buck and nap, he just hated to be ridden.

In fact Ellie was the daft one today, we had a spook at her shadow and she decided she didn't want to walk up the bridle path past my house because my dogs were barking at her.

Tomorrow we are swapping over and I am riding Chad. Must admit I am looking forward to it

 

[scotsmare]

LOL - fab news

Did the girth fit??

 

[MrsMozartletoe]

 

[Donkeymad]

Did it rain?

Nothing like riding in long awaited rain

Sorry, had to say that after last night!!

So glad to hear how well the ride went - onwards and upwards

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Yey!!

Well done - and what a good boy for you both! Staring at old man with water is forgiveable....

On the way home on our hack today the two horses both had a melt down at a sign that has been put up for tomorrows bike ride - it was there when we went out but it was YELLOW on the way home.....

Let us know how you get on tomorrow

 

[MrsElle]

Scotsmare: Yes, the girth fits great thank you

Mrs Mozart:

back at ya!

Little_Donkey: Despite me doing a rain dance yesterday we still haven't had one drop of the wet stuff. We have none forcast here for the next week either

Bah!

slinkyunicorn: I think the man was bit worried having Chad stop and stare at him and refuse to move

Lol, at the yellow signs

 

[Steeleydan]

MrsElle Ive heard its forcast heavy rain from Monday round here.

 

[Donkeymad]

Bah! Started raining very heavily here last night when you posted, with thunderstorms, gales etc, still at it. There have been casualties from the extreme flooding, including a car being washed away on a normally flood free road

Can I send you some

 

[MrsElle]

[ QUOTE ]
MrsElle Ive heard its forcast heavy rain from Monday round here.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh I do hope so! My paddock is going brown already and the grass just isn't growing.

No sign of rain on Metcheck, but they will hopefully have got it wrong

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Well done and glad you had a good time, just be carefull though... I bought a horse who wa ridden in a severe bit and martingale (though the owner assured me he did nothing wrong), so i thought i would change it to a nice loose ring snaffle and no martingale. Well there was a reason for it, he would stick his head in the air and bolt (as i discovered the first time I trotted him on a hack). Fortunately he did eventually stop and no harm was done, but it taught me that I don't always know best and kinder isn't always better when it comes to bits, tack etc. Not saying your boy will be like this but just be wary. If he has a record of being naughty i'd feel safer keeping him in a martingale and a bit i know he will stop in just for the time being until you get to know him better and have seen for yourself how he reacts to things. Not trying to interfere just don't want you to get hurt.

 

[MrsElle]

Thanks for the concern PaintedLucky

Chads owner knows his history as she knew the last lady who owned him and the one before that. Until he went to his last owner he was was ridden with mild bit, no martingale etc but his last owner bought him for her daughters and was frightened of him so put in a severe bit to ensure he wouldn't pull or take off with her children. Unfortunately this had the opposite effect and Chad apparently went from a nice easy ride to a frightened and unhappy pony who didn't want to be ridden, and understandably so.

Hopefully he will soon learn that going out hacking is a pleasureable experience, he certainly seemed to enjoy today anyway