The Fuzzy Furry
Old Timer
So, friend and I were booked in to go xc schooling at a localish place this morning, times given for mid morning etc, then messaged last night as they were going to postpone for a fortnight as a number of fences had been vandalised.
Made a call or 2 and got us booked into another local course instead, as had planned the outing anyway - and I had cleaned my flipping tack and boots!
We were not out to emulate a trip round Badders or Blenheim, but to lob round 2ft 3.....
Off I trundled from the yard and just as I drove into the field to park at 8.15, friend pulled up behind - hows that for timing?
Tacked up & dragged our respective mounts off the boxes.
Now, mine is teenager-jump-hater but ex top show ring, patent safe granny hack, hers is novice 5 yr old - willing but sometimes a bit spooky.
Opting for the longer ride first (most of the jumps are in a big field, tho there are about a dozen around the hedgelines of the long route too). Off we pootled moaning about the heat already.... we do love to have a good moan
Warmed up and trotted along chatting, we rounded a corner & her mount stopped & boggled at the airfield wind sock waving over the big hedge. No flies on my FLF, she gave it a glance and trundled cheerfully onwards, so youngster followed, on and over a log fence (blimey, FLF actually hopped it from canter) so we lobbed on into canter on brilliant bouncy turf. Missed a large log with ditch under (FLF having the vapours at the very thought of being even asked to pass it)
Got to the corner of the field and had to go down a dip, over a 1 foot wide trickle of water which was about an inch deep over firm gravel - to get to the next field and set of jumps... this is where the perennial FLF/running water issue commenced.
Handbrake firmly on, no amount of bopping her, eventually getting off and dragging (that usually works) nor reversing, nothing persuaded her to move. Friend hopped off and her 5 yr old was happy to lead back and forwards though, so she tried to assist me.... ended up with FLF's bridle in my hand and a mulish looking FLF that I honestly thought was swearing at me!
I have never given up, but sweat was pouring down me, everywhere... yeuch! So, clambering on board (from the ground!! I was SO angry that I managed it!) we retraced our steps to use another track.
Suffice it to say, that the 2nd crossing further up had the same treatment, so we had to miss on 5 or 6 fences (and I did feel very bad for my friend).
Right, rapidly losing the plot with the heat and a sticky mount, I asked friend if she was ok to push on a bit, got the affirmitive, so FLF was MADE to canter, she hurtled over a brush fence, up and along and down a bank, over a ladder-rack type fence and a palisade - up to the crest of the field and then down over a large log and then a 2nd log fence to get into the main xc field.
Never have I driven so hard, legs working, whip carried to potentially disuade any further braking - and on we went - along a small bank, drop down and over a tyre fence, then stopping to catch my breath.
FLF's eyes were popping, friend was gasping - apparently she hasn't seen me jump like that - I was on full steeplechase mode all the way, rolled back the years for me. I am SO used to having horses that need maybe a check - am rubbish on ones I need to crack on with... but this time apparently FLF was actually giving me some respect! (hurrah!!)
Right, breath caught, we swung round and hopped a double of silver birch trees, then over a tumbledown log pile, swung right and over a triple of a sleeper, oil drums and then a mini irish bank, all completed ok, I nodded to friend to take the lead as we swung left.
Keepin the rhythmn, we swept over 3 straightforward fences, then the baby boggled at a brush upright, so I barged past (its ok, she had said to do this!) and FLF almost stopped but decided Mr Stick was more scarey, so over she went and followed up by heading over the next mini-bank and some half tractor tyres embedded in the ground to finish that section.
Finally we lobbed over a ditch with a log on the top, and a blue water barrel fence to finish.
FLF exhausted (not as much as me!) so we walked them off to cool down.
Summary: I enjoy riding in the winter, I don't like riding with sweat pouring down the back of my neck.
I prefer my rides to take me into a fence, not the mount to be dragged kicking and screaming to them.
Driving home in soggy t shirt is pretty yeuchy, showers are lovely once home.
FLF is dear soul, but she will never be anything more than a safe conveyance to go anywhere ..... I need to speak to her owner as I AM missing my SJ and XC at a decent height.
TFF, off to collapse on the sofa.
(and for the morning crew, I had dosed up last night and this morning - and my back has held up!! Either that or the angry adrenalin prevented issues!)
Made a call or 2 and got us booked into another local course instead, as had planned the outing anyway - and I had cleaned my flipping tack and boots!
We were not out to emulate a trip round Badders or Blenheim, but to lob round 2ft 3.....
Off I trundled from the yard and just as I drove into the field to park at 8.15, friend pulled up behind - hows that for timing?
Tacked up & dragged our respective mounts off the boxes.
Now, mine is teenager-jump-hater but ex top show ring, patent safe granny hack, hers is novice 5 yr old - willing but sometimes a bit spooky.
Opting for the longer ride first (most of the jumps are in a big field, tho there are about a dozen around the hedgelines of the long route too). Off we pootled moaning about the heat already.... we do love to have a good moan
Warmed up and trotted along chatting, we rounded a corner & her mount stopped & boggled at the airfield wind sock waving over the big hedge. No flies on my FLF, she gave it a glance and trundled cheerfully onwards, so youngster followed, on and over a log fence (blimey, FLF actually hopped it from canter) so we lobbed on into canter on brilliant bouncy turf. Missed a large log with ditch under (FLF having the vapours at the very thought of being even asked to pass it)
Got to the corner of the field and had to go down a dip, over a 1 foot wide trickle of water which was about an inch deep over firm gravel - to get to the next field and set of jumps... this is where the perennial FLF/running water issue commenced.
Handbrake firmly on, no amount of bopping her, eventually getting off and dragging (that usually works) nor reversing, nothing persuaded her to move. Friend hopped off and her 5 yr old was happy to lead back and forwards though, so she tried to assist me.... ended up with FLF's bridle in my hand and a mulish looking FLF that I honestly thought was swearing at me!
I have never given up, but sweat was pouring down me, everywhere... yeuch! So, clambering on board (from the ground!! I was SO angry that I managed it!) we retraced our steps to use another track.
Suffice it to say, that the 2nd crossing further up had the same treatment, so we had to miss on 5 or 6 fences (and I did feel very bad for my friend).
Right, rapidly losing the plot with the heat and a sticky mount, I asked friend if she was ok to push on a bit, got the affirmitive, so FLF was MADE to canter, she hurtled over a brush fence, up and along and down a bank, over a ladder-rack type fence and a palisade - up to the crest of the field and then down over a large log and then a 2nd log fence to get into the main xc field.
Never have I driven so hard, legs working, whip carried to potentially disuade any further braking - and on we went - along a small bank, drop down and over a tyre fence, then stopping to catch my breath.
FLF's eyes were popping, friend was gasping - apparently she hasn't seen me jump like that - I was on full steeplechase mode all the way, rolled back the years for me. I am SO used to having horses that need maybe a check - am rubbish on ones I need to crack on with... but this time apparently FLF was actually giving me some respect! (hurrah!!)
Right, breath caught, we swung round and hopped a double of silver birch trees, then over a tumbledown log pile, swung right and over a triple of a sleeper, oil drums and then a mini irish bank, all completed ok, I nodded to friend to take the lead as we swung left.
Keepin the rhythmn, we swept over 3 straightforward fences, then the baby boggled at a brush upright, so I barged past (its ok, she had said to do this!) and FLF almost stopped but decided Mr Stick was more scarey, so over she went and followed up by heading over the next mini-bank and some half tractor tyres embedded in the ground to finish that section.
Finally we lobbed over a ditch with a log on the top, and a blue water barrel fence to finish.
FLF exhausted (not as much as me!) so we walked them off to cool down.
Summary: I enjoy riding in the winter, I don't like riding with sweat pouring down the back of my neck.
I prefer my rides to take me into a fence, not the mount to be dragged kicking and screaming to them.
Driving home in soggy t shirt is pretty yeuchy, showers are lovely once home.
FLF is dear soul, but she will never be anything more than a safe conveyance to go anywhere ..... I need to speak to her owner as I AM missing my SJ and XC at a decent height.
TFF, off to collapse on the sofa.
(and for the morning crew, I had dosed up last night and this morning - and my back has held up!! Either that or the angry adrenalin prevented issues!)
