diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
But we didn't Wade, we had some cold 'soda pop' after we'd hosed the horses cool!:rofl:
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A day at the stables
- Thread starter diamondlil
- Start date
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Thanks Susie! The gallop through the woods was so exciting! Kim kept looking over her shoulder to check Annabelle (on Ben) and I were ok. I'd doubted at times that I'd be so fit and happy again and be able to take up sych an active pastime. I'm on course for my special riding holiday next year, I just have to earn the money to pay for it first.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Yesterday's lesson started off good, then I messed up and lost concentration. Although the new yard is lovely for Merlin, the other riders there are very serious about their riding and they'd been critisizing the way Merlin and I goof around saying he should be better controlled. Meaning that instead of him playing his silly tricks then having cuddles during tacking up or making me laugh by grooming the top of my head everything should go like clockwork, which is not how I treat him, or how Kim raised him. To clarify, for the farrier, vet or whatever, Merlin stands like a rock and does as he should, but he likes to stop for affection when he's being groomed or tacked up and will play tricks like untying himself but then stand stock-still waiting to be told how clever he is) because Kim hand-reared him from a colt and not as a robot-horse.
Anyway, it was hot and the sand-school hadn't been watered, so every time Merlin kicked up dust it flew in his face, making him throw his head up and he stopped and coughed a couple of times. The other riders were watching and I could hear them how naughty he was being because he wouldn't keep his head down in an outline. He did the schooling pattern fine but by the time we were supposed to canter I just couldn't concentrate and my heart wasn't in it.
Talking to Kim afterwards she understood what went wrong and has agreed we can stick to hacking while he's at that stables, because all I ever wanted was to be able to ride out safely and enjoy my time with Merlin, not ride to anyone else's standards. She said she'd wondered why I was getting so tensed up, but because she was in the middle of the school she couldn't hear the remarks that I could each time I rode along the fence by the other riders.
Her house-buying is going through, so hopefully Merlin will be out of there by late Sept. Until then I'll only ride him in the school when there isn't a critical audience.
Anyway, it was hot and the sand-school hadn't been watered, so every time Merlin kicked up dust it flew in his face, making him throw his head up and he stopped and coughed a couple of times. The other riders were watching and I could hear them how naughty he was being because he wouldn't keep his head down in an outline. He did the schooling pattern fine but by the time we were supposed to canter I just couldn't concentrate and my heart wasn't in it.
Talking to Kim afterwards she understood what went wrong and has agreed we can stick to hacking while he's at that stables, because all I ever wanted was to be able to ride out safely and enjoy my time with Merlin, not ride to anyone else's standards. She said she'd wondered why I was getting so tensed up, but because she was in the middle of the school she couldn't hear the remarks that I could each time I rode along the fence by the other riders.
Her house-buying is going through, so hopefully Merlin will be out of there by late Sept. Until then I'll only ride him in the school when there isn't a critical audience.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
I had a wonderful day today! As tomorrow is both Kim and Merlin's birthday and I'm away on my holiday, Kim squeezed in a day together. So we went shopping for new riding boots (on order), had lunch out then out for a lovely hack through the woods. Just walk and trot to warm up, a little jump to pop over in the woods and then a great canter to finish. Absolute heaven!
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Jynx
Digger, RN
What a lovely portrait of Merlin! He's such a handsome fellow 
I can completely understand the problems with an audience. I used to have the same problem with Sadar at the fascility we trained at. Sadar would set his head beautifully, but he was also very playful too. If he felt like throwing his mane out, he would. Then he would go right back into a head set. God forbid those other showers saw it though. Apparently, they don't understand what its like to ride a real horse (especially an arab), and not a push button peanut roller.
I'd say tick to the trails deary. Its better there anyway. The world disappears, and its just you and Merlin.
I can completely understand the problems with an audience. I used to have the same problem with Sadar at the fascility we trained at. Sadar would set his head beautifully, but he was also very playful too. If he felt like throwing his mane out, he would. Then he would go right back into a head set. God forbid those other showers saw it though. Apparently, they don't understand what its like to ride a real horse (especially an arab), and not a push button peanut roller.
I'd say tick to the trails deary. Its better there anyway. The world disappears, and its just you and Merlin.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Do you know, you're so right. I have no wish to be anything other than a safe and happy rider. Today Merlin was slipping a little on the roads because he's due new shoes, then he got scared by the sudden appearance of a man picking blackberries. I may never be able to perform high school movements on him, but I held him up, rode him quietly through his anxieties, then sat the 4-feet-off-the-floor sideways leap when he got startled and got him steady and happy again so we could carry on having fun.What a lovely portrait of Merlin! He's such a handsome fellow
I can completely understand the problems with an audience. I used to have the same problem with Sadar at the fascility we trained at. Sadar would set his head beautifully, but he was also very playful too. If he felt like throwing his mane out, he would. Then he would go right back into a head set. God forbid those other showers saw it though. Apparently, they don't understand what its like to ride a real horse (especially an arab), and not a push button peanut roller.
I'd say tick to the trails deary. Its better there anyway. The world disappears, and its just you and Merlin.
I love the way the world just melts away when I'm out with Merlin.
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Owowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowow! I am so saddle sore! Today we had a 2-hour hack, about half of it in trot, because Kim is a sadist! Actually, I told her about next year's riding holiday being now a definate plan, so I have to get used to longer riding times. Which is also great for Merlin's fitness regime. Kim's house move will mean a lot more hills to ride up and down as well as some big open gallops along grass bridleways so both myself and my partner in crime will have to raise our game instead of just sauntering along.
can i just say again.....'OW!'
I took this picture of Merlin before tacking him up, after the ride I just about got him rubbed down and turned out before I collapsed moaning weakly on the grass!
can i just say again.....'OW!'
I took this picture of Merlin before tacking him up, after the ride I just about got him rubbed down and turned out before I collapsed moaning weakly on the grass!
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MedusaCorns
peek-a-boo!
Awwww so sweet love the babies.. Those Gypsy Vanners are one amazing horse!!! Wish I could have one
My kitty had kitties too anyone want one??? I have three left
My kitty had kitties too
anyone want one??? I have three left
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
A brilliant day today! First brunch out and shopping, then off to the stables for Kim to give Gus a schooling session. Then over to another yard for some remedial work with a gorgeous dapple-grey hunter who naps at gates. (No pictures of him, I had to follow with the mounting block so his rider could get off, do some groundwork and get on again every time he napped).
Then over to Kim's house, where Merlin and Ben moved on Saturday!
I forgot to show before, here are Kim's 2 ancient french mastiffs, Eddie (the brindle girl) and Khan her brother.
Then we tacked up and had a lovely hack around the hayfields, all off-road, with both boys pretending there were MONSTERS in the bushes and so lively I think that's the fastest walk and trot I've ever done on Merlin!
Then over to Kim's house, where Merlin and Ben moved on Saturday!
I forgot to show before, here are Kim's 2 ancient french mastiffs, Eddie (the brindle girl) and Khan her brother.
Then we tacked up and had a lovely hack around the hayfields, all off-road, with both boys pretending there were MONSTERS in the bushes and so lively I think that's the fastest walk and trot I've ever done on Merlin!
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diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Ah...I've had a long weekend under Pete's treatment regime, so just a slight limp and a little numbness left. The ride out today really helped loosen up my back and stretch the madleg!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Of course he does, hence our wonderful relationship!
diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Today Kim and I went out before her teaching sessions, for a lovely hack out on the Downs. All off-road along bridle paths, we had some very difficult terrain down steep slopes through woodlands, a good canter by some fields, a long climb back through some more woods then a really fast canter home. The woodland paths are a lot harder than the ones where Merlin was stabled before, but I'd have been pooping myself today if I hadn't had practise through them while he was there. At some points the slopes are around 40-45 degrees and Merlin isn't the most sure-footed of ponies so I had to help him keep balanced back on his haunches so we wouldn't slip on the muddy track.
With overhanging branches in places it was a good workout for my back when I had to limbo under them!
Merlin and Ben both got quite sweaty so they had a nice roll in mud to cool down when we got back, I promise Merlin didn't look like this when I rode him out.
Then off for Kim's schooling session on Gus, a quick lunch then 2 clients learning Parelli on their horses.
Wandering around, I found an injured dragonfly, some fungi and some colourful leaves.
With overhanging branches in places it was a good workout for my back when I had to limbo under them!
Merlin and Ben both got quite sweaty so they had a nice roll in mud to cool down when we got back, I promise Merlin didn't look like this when I rode him out.
Then off for Kim's schooling session on Gus, a quick lunch then 2 clients learning Parelli on their horses.
Wandering around, I found an injured dragonfly, some fungi and some colourful leaves.
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diamondlil
Mice! They taste so nice!
Thanks! I can't believe just how muddy Merlin got while I went to fetch my camera! He got so sweaty that Kim's going to clip him this week. I got the accolade of 'well ridden' from Kim after the woodland descent. It took about 1/2 an hour and I had to keep Merlin focussed and steady the whole way. Like most cobs he tends to amble along not picking his feet up and can stumble over a blade of grass on flat ground! At his last stables I had to learn how to hold his head up and get him balanced going down hills- I'd always thought horses did that naturally until our first woodland hack showed me that Merlins don't!
Pal-O-Mine
New member
This past weekend I was able to finally get back in the saddle after 2 1/2 months of not being able to ride due to back issues. And, just my luck, we were on stage! We did a re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings IN THE POURING RAIN! ( Great for chain mail! ) No one hit the ground, although my guy decided to swap ends and do a mini bolt when the warriors roared at him. FUN! But people loved our 3 blonde guys who were scrubbed within an inch of their lives and somehow stayed that way all weekend in spite of the rain.
At least they WERE clean until we came home. 3 days home and Indy decided to redo his hair himself. The round bale got down to the last of it and he's been reaching through the fence. Here's before and after shots!:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:
Devon
At least they WERE clean until we came home. 3 days home and Indy decided to redo his hair himself. The round bale got down to the last of it and he's been reaching through the fence. Here's before and after shots!:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:
Devon
