A very clever pony
Yesterday morning we were up early and Zorro and I went out for a couple of hours ride around the common. Zorro was pretty good - a little bit keen on taking turns to make a shorter loop rather than a longer one, but so much better than he used to be even still. Or I'm better than I used to be. Either way.
It was a brilliant bright morning and there were many birds and few people, particularly at first. There were Martins darting around, presumably preparing for their long flight south by grabbing at the tiny fine crane flies that seemed to be hatching out everywhere in the bright cool air.
Some of you may recall the problems I have run in the past with handling other horses going past, either in the distance or nearby. The way that Zorro would cue himself up to other horses over my requests made hacking out a little anxious, especially if there was another horse trotting or cantering in the other direction- Zorro typically seemed to assume they were running from certain death and that he needed to go with them immediately.
During our ride yesterday we met about forty horses from the local hunt going the other way. Zorro got a bit up, he was watching them and filled the saddle a little, but after they had past he just kept on going. They passed us a second time a little later on and Zorro didn't even get more anxious. I am so proud of that horse.
A bit of video from the morning ride ( no large groups of horses involved, I kind of thought I might need both hands on the reins at those parts... ) so you can enjoy the light and the bright heath and forest trails a little too:
It was a brilliant bright morning and there were many birds and few people, particularly at first. There were Martins darting around, presumably preparing for their long flight south by grabbing at the tiny fine crane flies that seemed to be hatching out everywhere in the bright cool air.
Some of you may recall the problems I have run in the past with handling other horses going past, either in the distance or nearby. The way that Zorro would cue himself up to other horses over my requests made hacking out a little anxious, especially if there was another horse trotting or cantering in the other direction- Zorro typically seemed to assume they were running from certain death and that he needed to go with them immediately.
During our ride yesterday we met about forty horses from the local hunt going the other way. Zorro got a bit up, he was watching them and filled the saddle a little, but after they had past he just kept on going. They passed us a second time a little later on and Zorro didn't even get more anxious. I am so proud of that horse.
A bit of video from the morning ride ( no large groups of horses involved, I kind of thought I might need both hands on the reins at those parts... ) so you can enjoy the light and the bright heath and forest trails a little too:
Click to view