first solo hack done and nailed!

Sunday I decided to take Duke out for a hack, was planning on getting Em to nanny on Pait but she'd buggered off horse shopping with L (not for another for us thank goodness) so I had the choice of go in the school, ask another livery whose horse I dont know how it behaves to accompany me or just go it alone. Got on in the school and had a good walk, trot round then decided to just go for it. First obstacle the gate- me being lazy couldnt be bothered getting on off so Duke and I muddled through how to open a gate 101 which he did well. Rode through the village which luckily was quiet as he was on edge going forward and listening to me but snorting a bit. Got to the end of the village which to be honest was as far as I had planned to go but as he was being good and the fact I didnt want him to think we just turn round and come back I decided to continue onto the tracks and through the little woods.
We did have a OMG moment at the huge pony eating boulder (which many older experienced horses paddy about) I was not about to let it become an issue though so with a lot of stop start snort we edged our way past and continued onto the wood where I met gate number 2. Gate opening 101 class was revisited and through the tracks and up into the last little woods where we met gate number 3 (by this point pony had half an idea of how to do a gate) which to add to difficulty opens towards you not just push away. Back through the village and arrived back at the yard. He was a little star though mentally I think he was quite tired by the end.

Duke is home and evasions galore!

Bit belated again (story of my life) Duke came home a week last sat and has spend the time just settling back in with the herd. He's had a bit of a culture shock as all his life he's had Rory babying him, letting him get away with murder and fighting any battles for him, well he's been away a couple of months in which time Rory has just been with Belle and Evie. Rory has not been impressed at the return of Duke as the girls are now his and poor Duke is a bit bemused that he keeps being chased off.
Sunday was my first ride on Duke since coming home, tacked up in the field and Em held him whilst I got on. Did a little bit of walk and trot but he felt a tad nappy towards the others in the top half of the field and I was very conscious that I was on very long, wet grass so we went for a walk down the track with Em as foot soldier. He was good as gold and noo attempts to hang back to the field so I think it was riding in his usual grazing area which was confusing him. Plan is for him to go to the yard for a month and let me get used to him with a school before going back to the field and hacking out for the rest of the winter. Rory will be thrilled at the upheaval again no doubt.
Speaking of Rory Im convinced he's writing an encyclopedia on evasions, currently the focus is on getting him to accept and take a contact, well latest trick when made to do that is to srop out through the shoulder instead and when that is corrected try twisting the hind quarters which is awful to sit to especially on a short backed pony!