I have been spoiled rotten by my new arena. I rode Ace in the barn a few days ago and I could not believe how short of space I was. Today the weather was dire, but I would rather wait until it is fit to ride outside than ride in that cramped space. To think that I used to be perfectly happy to ride in their all winter long!
I did put all my gear on and ride Radar on the arena this afternoon in the wind and rain. He has to be ridden if he is to be fit enough to hunt, and the hunt today was a hill meet which I, for some reason that escapes me :-), just did not fancy in intermittent driving rain.
I rode Radar in a snaffle! He was not a lot diffferent from the mikmar except that is was a little more difficult to get him to flex without the leverage and the curb. But he was more "solid" in my hand, which was the point of trying it, and in the trot work I found it easier to support and steady him. The canter was more difficult to hold together, but not too bad. We were out there for a long time because he would not walk nicely after he had done some trot (as usual!) and I had to put him in shoulder in for a long time to get him to stop trying to dash off. It got him some decent exercise though, which was the whole objective, not 20 minutes good school work.
I hope to hunt next week, we'll be at the mercy of the weather for the rest of the season now.
C
You are spoiled if you braved that kind of weather to ride in the new arena. Wow!
ReplyDeleteRadar still seems to be progressing. There is hope!
There are tan winter breeches made by Kerrits here in the US. I'm sure MaryLou will find them in her search too. So far, no white or cream, but I'll keep looking.
I missed the excitement....what kind of surface did you get on the arena?
ReplyDeleteIt's all pictured in earlier posts Mandeigh. It's a 30x40 sand/rubber/fibre mix and it's fabbie!!
ReplyDeleteIt has been FOUL here for two days, real horrible winter. I needed the 4WD pickup in low gear ratio today just to get back from my friends.
I can't stomach being outside in it, it's such a shock, so no-one is getting ridden at all, though I have to get Radar out tomorrow if he is to be fit enough to do Saturday's meet.
C
Jean I think what your suppliers call "hunting tan" is what we call beige. It's actually a better colour than white or cream, which are not quite "correct" for hunting. If you can find me some then I will happily pay you to send me two pairs. Kerrits are sold in the UK but not in that colour!
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