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A day at the stables
- Thread starter diamondlil
- Start date
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Yep, as far as we know Joop is registered as an Irish cob and they can turn barrel shaped in no time! Renata's horses are for riding, not animated grass mowers, so even though we didin't canter we worked 'em hard with the ride, planned out for hills and obstacles. Took them through the open stretches where we will be able to canter, showed Joop the logs we'll be jumping. The ground was too boggy and slippery yesterday for speedwork to be safe, plus I wanted to get a good feel of just how Joop behaves under saddle and out in the open.
I couldn't be happier with how he responds to the aids, especially to the tone of your voice, he has obviously been very well schooled and very well loved.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Thanks! Actually Joop did ride a lot like Merlin. In theory Goldie was the ideal size and shape for me to ride as I'm such a shortie, but she always felt too little!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
I've neglected this thread! I haven't been riding for weeks due to Renatas work commitments and me being busy attending weddings and going fishing, so today we put that right! Joop hasn't been neglected in the meantime, he's had Mick's S-I-L ride him a couple of times and a teenage girl. But apparently he's been naughty with them, dumping the girl and attempting to bolt both with her and the others who've ridden him recently.
So off we set, and at this point I'd totally forgotten about his recent behaviour, so when he tried to go faster than I wanted I just calmly brought him back into line a couple of times as we were cantering along a big field when he wanted to gallop, and back to collected canter. When we pulled up Renata remarked how well I'd done and I was a bit lost, until she explained that this was the very field he'd bolted in twice! To be perfectly honest, I'd felt him trying to get away but he's so easy to bring back I hadn't really noticed it and had no trouble with him at all that I was aware of.
Probably if I'd remembered about the bolting I would have tensed up, but because I stayed calm and in control he listened to what I wanted. In fact I ended up making a game out of changing his paces because he tried it on a little later in another field, so I had him extending and collecting his trot then opening up and collecting his canter, back to trot, walk and then back up again. He's such an easy horse for me to sit that I wasn't ever worried by his antics. We did a bit of a sideways jump from A GATE! in the hedge that he pretended was a monster, so I made him circle and go past it a couple of times 'fiddling' on his reins until he again worked out that there wasn't actually a scary thing there at all.
We rode for almost 2 hours through lovely open country on a cold but bright day, before rubbing the horses down and setting to a marathon poo-picking session.
So off we set, and at this point I'd totally forgotten about his recent behaviour, so when he tried to go faster than I wanted I just calmly brought him back into line a couple of times as we were cantering along a big field when he wanted to gallop, and back to collected canter. When we pulled up Renata remarked how well I'd done and I was a bit lost, until she explained that this was the very field he'd bolted in twice! To be perfectly honest, I'd felt him trying to get away but he's so easy to bring back I hadn't really noticed it and had no trouble with him at all that I was aware of.
Probably if I'd remembered about the bolting I would have tensed up, but because I stayed calm and in control he listened to what I wanted. In fact I ended up making a game out of changing his paces because he tried it on a little later in another field, so I had him extending and collecting his trot then opening up and collecting his canter, back to trot, walk and then back up again. He's such an easy horse for me to sit that I wasn't ever worried by his antics. We did a bit of a sideways jump from A GATE! in the hedge that he pretended was a monster, so I made him circle and go past it a couple of times 'fiddling' on his reins until he again worked out that there wasn't actually a scary thing there at all.
We rode for almost 2 hours through lovely open country on a cold but bright day, before rubbing the horses down and setting to a marathon poo-picking session.
Attachments
SnakeAround
Formerly Blutengel
Was that only the 2nd time you rode him? I hope you had more chances to enjoy him since the first time! Sounds like a great horse with a character I'd like too: not as hot as a thorough bred but keep an eye on them or they will take advantage of you!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
My 4th time on him, Bar, as I said I've neglected this thread!
Yes, he's a typical cob, very strong so could get away with tricks with a less confident rider. Because he rides like a fitter, slimmer version of Merlin, he's a perfect match for me and really feels like I've known him much longer. Which probably influences how he acts in return. The partnership is definately flowing two ways through the saddle and the reins. I'm giving him clear instructions and he's giving me the responses I want.
I really love galloping on him, because I'm totally confident I can slow him when I need to.
Yes, he's a typical cob, very strong so could get away with tricks with a less confident rider. Because he rides like a fitter, slimmer version of Merlin, he's a perfect match for me and really feels like I've known him much longer. Which probably influences how he acts in return. The partnership is definately flowing two ways through the saddle and the reins. I'm giving him clear instructions and he's giving me the responses I want.
I really love galloping on him, because I'm totally confident I can slow him when I need to.
SnakeAround
Formerly Blutengel
I literally felt goose bumps reading this J9, I feel your enjoyment!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
As you may have guessed, I pretty much love being around horses, full stop. Because of the other activites I enjoy and my job I can't commit to owning my own, so having the opportunities I have through friends means so much to me. To put it in perspective if I paid at a local riding school I could expect to pay at least £50 for a hack like yesterday and would probably be in a large group and lucky to get the same horse twice in a row. I'd most likely be riding a horse that was used to riding the same route every time, which would expect to canter at certain points and not have the freedom to explore the lovely countryside like I do with my friends.
Renata and I met through her being one of Mick's friends and luckily we've hit it off like a house on fire. After I'd helped with Goldie she specifically chose Joop as being suitable for us both to ride, as Calla (her arab/lippizaner) is far too lively for me to ride out. She'd seen photos of me riding the other horses and decided Joop would be a good fit, especially after discussing his personality with his former owner. If she'd got a really hot horse she'd have had to find another riding partner, I'm not that brave! At the same time I don't need a little plodder, so Joop is just right.
Ren can't ride both horses at once, but also was very much scoping my style of riding out at first, which is understandable, as she doesn't need someone who'll sour her horse. As well in this kind of relationship you need to be on the same wavelength about how you ride and how you treat the horses. There were sections of the ride yesterday where the ground was just too wet to let the horses canter, so we had them dancing about all excited and had to firmly keep them under control whilst letting them burn off energy by trotting, both of us realised the change in ground at the same time and decided on the same way of dealing with it without either saying anything. When it comes to areas where we can open up and go faster whichever of us is in the lead at the time always checks the other is ready to go or not. Renata clearly adores the boys but has a firm and practical manner which means they are so much easier to be around than horses that are spoiled or bullied.
SnakeAround
Formerly Blutengel
I guess this time you have had some luck within your horse riding hobby and a new phase has started 
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Finally, after heavy rains and snows, the ground has started to dry out, so I got an invitation to go over to ride Joop this weekend. But I've been having trouble with my back and leg so I'd already arranged to have a walkabout on Joe. As he rarely can be persuaded to maintain a trot I thought it would be a good idea to stretch out my leg and get my seat sorted out on him.
Bad mistake! After lovely greetings from Coconuts and the gang, grooming sessions and then groundwork to get Joey warmed up, I hadn't realised Cathy hadn't brought a saddle down the field. Ok, so I was going to sit Joey bareback. Except there's no mounting block either. Stupidly I stood on a grooming kit box then found out too late it wasn't high enough and ended up with my leg sung over Joey and the rest of me not following gracefully. Basically I was doing the box splits and I felt my hamstring go 'ping'. I slid off and then took a step to try again and excruciating pain shot through my thigh. I tried to walk it off but a normal stride was impossible.
Hopefully it's just a minor sprain and rest and anti-inflammatories will do the trick, along with plenty of tiger Balm!
Bad mistake! After lovely greetings from Coconuts and the gang, grooming sessions and then groundwork to get Joey warmed up, I hadn't realised Cathy hadn't brought a saddle down the field. Ok, so I was going to sit Joey bareback. Except there's no mounting block either. Stupidly I stood on a grooming kit box then found out too late it wasn't high enough and ended up with my leg sung over Joey and the rest of me not following gracefully. Basically I was doing the box splits and I felt my hamstring go 'ping'. I slid off and then took a step to try again and excruciating pain shot through my thigh. I tried to walk it off but a normal stride was impossible.
Hopefully it's just a minor sprain and rest and anti-inflammatories will do the trick, along with plenty of tiger Balm!
Attachments
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Not really how it was meant to go!
As a bonus though, I got to spend time just enjoying being with the horses. Lola took all of about 5 minutes to work out who I was and as she's not had much done with her over the last few months I worked her through her avoiding the halter, rubbing her face with it, putting her nose in it to getting it on successfully over half an hour of work.
If the girls are finally going to be backed this year I'll have to visit a lot more often to keep her trusting in me. Mick's making a mounting block for down the field as I really hadn't realised they hadn't got one there yet and quite plainly trying to use upturned buckets etc isn't the safe way to proceed!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
He took one step forwards, which is why I couldn't get my foot back on the grooming box! But luckily he wasn't at all bothered by the shenanighans otherwise I would have ended up in a crumpled heap. As soon as my leg's back to normal I'll be back to try again!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Haha! Absolutely! Although never in my life (Oh hang on, when I was 18 and dabbling in Tae Kwondo) have I been flexible enough to do box splits!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Back in the saddle at last! :cheers:
Out with Renata to visit Joop and Calla, and off for over 4 hours riding through beautiful woods, bridal paths and out over the Downs. My backside feels unearthly, I've got a bruise from a branch whacking my arm, scratches from brambles..and I can't stop smiling!
Out with Renata to visit Joop and Calla, and off for over 4 hours riding through beautiful woods, bridal paths and out over the Downs. My backside feels unearthly, I've got a bruise from a branch whacking my arm, scratches from brambles..and I can't stop smiling!
