of being described as a really nice hack! He was very good today. He still keeps dropping back off the bridle but he is easier and easier to put back out where he frees up his back and shoulders. And he was only argumentative about how fast we were going to walk home for less than five minutes in a good hour's ride.
We did a really tough hack really fast. We must have ridden up a total of at least 1,000 feet in hills (once you allow for going down after each rise and then rising again). I really enjoyed myself and had plenty of energy for the first time in days.
Ace has not been ridden for nearly two weeks, and unless the weather changes tomorrow he probably won't be ridden then either. I got Radar out in a rare dry and calm hour this morning, before it turned wild and wet again, as it has remained all day.
Jazz has been ridden once. I put my brother's girlfriend on him, who was really very novice. So there she was, trotting round the barn, with her hands wobbling, her seat wobbling, her feet standing on tiptoe in the stirrups. And there he was, in an absolutely perfect outline, going round and round wondering what on earth she was asking him to do, but not bothered at all by it. What a good boy!
I am not hopeful for a hunt on Saturday. My normal one is too far from home and the other seems unlikely to run with ground this wet :-(
C
Well, it is winter, after all....
ReplyDeleteGood news about your feeling better and even better news that Radar is still improving. All he needed was some time and some schooling. I am sure his body feels better all the time when he uses it correctly. Way to go!
He's nine this year Jean, and Tetley did not mature fully physically until he was nine. I'm sure Radar is going to be the same and bulk up this spring, though heaven knows he's big enough already! He has also suddenly become much more interested in standing with me. He still doesn't want to be fussed, but he does want to stand with me.
ReplyDeleteTalking of standing, not a hope of riding today, none of us were safe on our feet in this wind.
We are lucky to have power, 10,000 houses in the local area are out.
I've got a cold too as a result of freezing in Montana for a week amongst other things. Being up at night won't help my energy - glad you have yours back.
ReplyDeleteRadar is a mean machine - all that muscle and energy finally consenting to your control.
Aww - what a good boy Jazz was. When I put Sam on Tetley a few years back (Sam doesn't ride at all) Tetley did the safest thing - just stood there rooted to the ground. We could hardly get him to move.
Are you in Horse and Hound? There is a picture of the Cheshire Farmers Drag on Boxing Day.
ReplyDeleteI go out with the North East instead most of the time Judith. They lay the scent with a horse and have longer and much better prepared runs than the North East. I have just decided not to go out today, the ground is dire and there's a high wind and I just don't feel up to it :-(
ReplyDeleteI guess Tetley thought a novice was beneath his dignity ML :-)
C