I keep singing "I'm riding in the dark" to the tune of Aled Jones "I'm walking in the air".For Jean and any others who won't know it :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQt6NmOKzYw&ob=av2n
Radar was such a twit! He did a really good session walking and trotting nicely, including figure of eight. Then I changed the figure of eight to the other way around, and we were out there until well after sunset before he would consent to stop running away and throwing himself around the arena. He plays right into my hands really, because I need him fit for Boxing Day and he gave himself a really hard time. I tried all sorts of things -small circles, squares, stopping to calm down, but each time I started again he found another excuse to drop his shape and set or run. He did it in the end though.
I did Ace first and he was a bit naughty. I just wanted to do some trot and canter circles to get some energy out of him after keeping him pent up inside the barn, and he bucked a few times in the canter. Nothing too serious, but deliberately naughty when he felt my leg on his side, so I did smack him for it and he shut up then. We finished on some shorter/longer trot and he was setting when on the right rein. I cured that by sitting to the trot and making sure to wiggle my fingers so he couldn't set on the bit. He got a bit cross at first not to have his own way, and then gave in and did some fairly good longer strides.
Jazz had the day off and I was too tired to play spin the pony after I had melted off Radar.
C
Ah, well, sometimes even the best of horses have bad days, or nights, as the case may be. *G*
ReplyDeleteI actually used to ride in the dark a lot when the outdoor arena where I boarded had no lights. Once your eyes get used to the dark the light from the stars and moon can actually be enough to find your way around the arena.
Still...the reason you ended up in the dark is not exactly what you wanted. I guess RadaR still lurks under all that fit muscle and jumping talent.
By, the by, how's the weather holding up? Mud drying? Wind dying? Good forecast for Boxing Day?
The shortest day is tomorrow! I actually like it though because I love candles and Christmas lights.
ReplyDeleteRadaR is a stubborn fellow, isn't he. It would be so much easier for him to give in and do what you want in the first place.
The horse can see Jean, we don't need to, do we :-) ??
ReplyDeleteYeah, lighter evenings from now on ML !!
Would you just tell Radar that for me - he won't listen to me, I'm his mum!
Forecast is OK for Boxing Day but a lot of rain first, so we'll have to hope the ground conditions will still allow us to go. The farmers are very kind and they won't want to stop the big Boxing Day meet unless they have to.
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