I went outside thinking that I could not face Ace being sharp today and thinking that I would not ride. Then I remembered that part of the reason he was stiff yesterday was probably that he had not been ridden for a while, so I put him under the lights to cook. After 20 minutes I felt his back and it was definitely softer than yesterday, so I made myself get on and ride him. He was very different right from the start. One of the ways you can tell is how soon he does a poo. Straight away means that he is unhappy. He waited for quite a long time. I could also feel how much freer he was, and as a result we got only one kick back, which was probably more out of high spirits than discomfort.
We did a nice bit of work, trot figures of eight with change through walk followed by canter figure of eights with change through walk. I finished on some rein back which is much better than it used to be.
I went off the the hunt meet then to say hi to everyone on the last day of the season. It's a shame I couldn't take Radar but we have found out this morning that there are at least 40 houses around us still blocked in because the council have no machinery able to shift the snow in the banked and very narrow lanes. Maybe they now realise why they should not have got rid of the snowblowers.
Thankfully a massive swivelling JCB is now nearly in reach of us and we should be free by tomorrow.
C
Well done you the thought is always worse than the reality isn't it. Can't believe its taken a week for them to clear the road to you, it will be interesting how the council justify that.
ReplyDeleteThe funniest/most annoying thing just happened Lynda. A snowblower turned up. So far the digger drivers have taken 15 hours to clear 300 metres of road. The snowblower took exactly 11 minutes to clear the other 100 metres. In terms of cost, that means that it cost the ratepayers 300 pounds per hundred metres to clear by digger, and 15 pounds to clear by snowblower. If they try and use cost as an excuse for not having the right equipment, they will find themselves on a very sticky wicket! It was a 15,000 pound tractor attachment, that's all, not some 1/4 million pound machine! The whole neighbourhood is hopping mad about it, so I hope we can get it sorted for next year.
DeleteThe other news is that now the road is clear I have booked for Woody to be done tomorrow. It will be sad, but necessary.
C.
Only took 14 1/2 hours too long then what on earth took them so long - bonkers!
ReplyDeleteWill be thinking of you tomorrow. x
Cheshire East had nothing but diggers. They borrowed the snowblower either from Derbyshire or Staffordshire when they didn't need it any more. In the old days when the Council was Macclesfield District Council we were never snowed in more than 48 hours before a blower came down. The new unitary council, Cheshire East is a local and county council in one, but they are based in Chester 50 miles away and they don't have a clue about how to manage the roads they are responsible for between 500 and 2,750 feet above sea level. We are hopeful that this has been such an expensive cock-up this time that they will get their act together and buy some snow blower attachments to go on the tractors before next winter.
DeleteC.
Those diggers have to go!! I certainly would think someone in power would have enough sense to see that you really do need the snowblowers up there!!
ReplyDeleteA bit sad about Woody, but necessary. Sorry to hear the news, but I give you all the support I can from over here.
As for Ace...well, that's pretty ace as far as I am concerned. His demeanor and learning curve should make you feel better about everything.
Too bad they can't hold a "snow day makeup" hunt next week. But the fact that you weren't the only one snowed under made it a bit easier to bear.
We're already looking forward to next season, Jean. This one was the oddest ever!
ReplyDeleteC.