Riding
A few weeks ago I got to ride Sam but I forgot to post about it.
Basically this ride reminded me how lucky I am to have a horse like Sam.
It was going to be V and Ted's first ride to the farm since August but the idiot who keeps his horses there caused a bunch of trouble for everyone and now we can't ride there until the spring. Ugh. Long story, if you're interested ask and I'll tell, if not that's cool.
So instead, because there was nowhere else to ride where Ted wouldn't do his nut in, we just went for a wander round the roads to build confidence in traffic. So off we went, V and Ted, A and Max, me and Sam.
It was an uneventful but benefiting ride. A couple of buses went past and Sam didn't feel the need to mount the pavement which is what he usually does. They really scare him. He never fails to impress me.
I knew that Sam was probably in need of a good run and obviously we couldn't do that on the roads. So just before we got back I decided I'd like to take him to Wyvale for a couple of canters/gallops. No one else wanted to come so I was a bit worried about how he'd react.
His first full hack with Ted and then, literally right before we get home (honestly, it's across the road) I was going to have to ask him to go away from home and away from his buddies.
I moved to the front of the ride so that he wouldn't go to follow Ted, trotted him round the roundabout and took him over to Wyvale. The initial turn surprised him but he complied without complaint. Then we got onto the grass and he realised Ted and Max weren't behind him. He stopped, refused to move for a little bit and then reluctantly moved on. With much encouragement we made it to the first canter track.
He was very flighty because he hadn't had a decent run in a loooong time and at the end of the track he leapt sideways up a hill and tripped *facepalm* so I made him stand still and chillax for a bit, gave him some fibre pellets (I keep them in my pocket at all times on rides, just in case reward/calming down is needed.)
Then I turned him back the way we came, he instantly bunched up to take off again but I made him wait until I said go. Then we tore down the track turned right, passed the exit and carried on all the way down to the other end then turned a very tight, very neat circle to the right in canter which I was very surprised at because normally he either wouldn't slow enough/turn/would break into trot when I try to do that.
Pony has very much improved on listening to me. He was such a star. He got to go straight home after that because he was so good. I was extremely tempted to go round again but he'd already been out for an hour and a half, had thought he was going home and then been turned away and taken away from his friends so it was long reins (well, until we got to the road) and pats all the way home.
Also, I really enjoy sitting his jogs. So comfyyyy and he really tucks himself up and brings his head down and in so it's almost like piaffe haha.
Sammy got a lot of love when we got back.
Love my boy :D
A couple of snaps from the day:
The field
V and Ted on the green
Ted making his way towards us in the feeding enclosure while V shut the gate
This next series of pictures makes me giggle
"Ted! Teeeeeeed!"
"Oh God..."
"Love you Ted!"
"Yes...I know..."
"You're always like this! God!"
"Sorry...you know I love you really!"
"Oh okay then! Good boy!"
*sigh*
And please, I'm the first person to bitch about people for being stupid around horses but if anyone goes all "YOU SHUD NEVARRR RUN UP TEW A HOARSE EXSPESHELLY FRUM BEE-HAIND!" does Ted really look bothered? At all?
Zomg teh Sammy
Me und Sam
Stunning boy, stunning sunset.
Also, tomorrow my friend J is going to be giving Sam and me a lesson! Should be fun! I can't wait!!! There's a cornfield that the farmer has and in the winter we can ride in there for £5 a pop. We're going to bring some jumps down and hopefully I'll have lots of photos/videos to post!
Basically this ride reminded me how lucky I am to have a horse like Sam.
It was going to be V and Ted's first ride to the farm since August but the idiot who keeps his horses there caused a bunch of trouble for everyone and now we can't ride there until the spring. Ugh. Long story, if you're interested ask and I'll tell, if not that's cool.
So instead, because there was nowhere else to ride where Ted wouldn't do his nut in, we just went for a wander round the roads to build confidence in traffic. So off we went, V and Ted, A and Max, me and Sam.
It was an uneventful but benefiting ride. A couple of buses went past and Sam didn't feel the need to mount the pavement which is what he usually does. They really scare him. He never fails to impress me.
I knew that Sam was probably in need of a good run and obviously we couldn't do that on the roads. So just before we got back I decided I'd like to take him to Wyvale for a couple of canters/gallops. No one else wanted to come so I was a bit worried about how he'd react.
His first full hack with Ted and then, literally right before we get home (honestly, it's across the road) I was going to have to ask him to go away from home and away from his buddies.
I moved to the front of the ride so that he wouldn't go to follow Ted, trotted him round the roundabout and took him over to Wyvale. The initial turn surprised him but he complied without complaint. Then we got onto the grass and he realised Ted and Max weren't behind him. He stopped, refused to move for a little bit and then reluctantly moved on. With much encouragement we made it to the first canter track.
He was very flighty because he hadn't had a decent run in a loooong time and at the end of the track he leapt sideways up a hill and tripped *facepalm* so I made him stand still and chillax for a bit, gave him some fibre pellets (I keep them in my pocket at all times on rides, just in case reward/calming down is needed.)
Then I turned him back the way we came, he instantly bunched up to take off again but I made him wait until I said go. Then we tore down the track turned right, passed the exit and carried on all the way down to the other end then turned a very tight, very neat circle to the right in canter which I was very surprised at because normally he either wouldn't slow enough/turn/would break into trot when I try to do that.
Pony has very much improved on listening to me. He was such a star. He got to go straight home after that because he was so good. I was extremely tempted to go round again but he'd already been out for an hour and a half, had thought he was going home and then been turned away and taken away from his friends so it was long reins (well, until we got to the road) and pats all the way home.
Also, I really enjoy sitting his jogs. So comfyyyy and he really tucks himself up and brings his head down and in so it's almost like piaffe haha.
Sammy got a lot of love when we got back.
Love my boy :D
A couple of snaps from the day:
The field
V and Ted on the green
Ted making his way towards us in the feeding enclosure while V shut the gate
This next series of pictures makes me giggle
"Ted! Teeeeeeed!"
"Oh God..."
"Love you Ted!"
"Yes...I know..."
"You're always like this! God!"
"Sorry...you know I love you really!"
"Oh okay then! Good boy!"
*sigh*
And please, I'm the first person to bitch about people for being stupid around horses but if anyone goes all "YOU SHUD NEVARRR RUN UP TEW A HOARSE EXSPESHELLY FRUM BEE-HAIND!" does Ted really look bothered? At all?
Zomg teh Sammy
Me und Sam
Stunning boy, stunning sunset.
Also, tomorrow my friend J is going to be giving Sam and me a lesson! Should be fun! I can't wait!!! There's a cornfield that the farmer has and in the winter we can ride in there for £5 a pop. We're going to bring some jumps down and hopefully I'll have lots of photos/videos to post!