The most awesome thing about horses is that they
remember you! The greetings from the boys were tentative until they could smell me, then Joop was totally overjoyed! Between the two boys I got a million horsey kisses.
In the last couple of months, apparently Joop's been bolting and trying to bolt pretty consistently out on open rides. Behaving well in the school but as soon as he gets the chance he's been putting his head down and tanking off. The little girl who rides him is now too scared to canter him at all and Renata thinks he needs a new bit as he's 'too strong'. So off out we went along the lanes, with only a 'IT'S A MONSTER!' jump at a wood pigeon in the bushes for which I pushed him on reassuring him. (Thanks to Merlin's habits it's something I'm very used to). I rode Joop up to the bridle, with steady rein and leg contact to get him moving at a smart pace, trotted past SCARY cars, half-halted a couple of times to stop him rushing.
Across the first open field, I told Renata I wasn't ready to canter yet, as Joop was still trying to rush, so instead I asked for and got nice collected trotting/walk/trot transitions. By now we were both comfortable, so when we got the next uphill open area we cantered. Like pros. Collected and calm.
Then into the woods and a long, steep, winding trail ride. The bridle path has been newly resurfaced, it was deeply rutted mud but has been filled with tons of graded hardcore. It really needs bedding in more or a covering of soil and both horses showed their dislike of the surface by trying to walk in the margins where there is soil. No good as a rider, as it means getting whacked by branches and scratched by brambles. So instead of letting Joop pick his path, I made him avoid the brush and encouraged him with legs and voice to keep going.
Out of the woods, a stop to let the boys rest and graze, then a chance out on open ground for some more cantering. Again, perfect behaviour from Joop. Lovely, calm, collected riding, transitions from trot/canter/trot as I asked him and at no point he tried to get away from me. Then we rested the boys and tried to work out where we were, because we'd followed a completely new trail and lost our bearings! The view out across the river was amazing, I'm going to have to get a backpack that means I can take my (heavy) camera out without it bumping me, maybe an extra strap added to the camera case. The woods were full of anemones and the bluebells are just starting to bloom.
Then after talking to some hikers we worked out the best way home avoiding the slippery trail, and started our circuit home Now it was into my favourite type of riding, there was a path cut into the woods with good footing that meant there were opportunities for short canters, areas where overhanging branches meant laying on the horse's neck to get under, and then steep downwards sections where every step has to be thought about and placed to stop the horses slipping. Joop is not naturally brilliant at the steep slopes, I had to get him to sit right back on his hocks and take his time. Telling him all the time what a brave boy he is. We stopped for short rests every 15 minutes or so in this section, as it's hard physical and mental work for the horses. Eventually, back into the lanes and home, to hose off the hot, tired horses and turn them out for a good roll.
