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!

End of the showing season

Yesterday was Countryside live and officially my last showing show of 2015. I really do love this show even  if I curse at having to bath this late in the year. Rory was clipped 2 weeks ago (poor em had to do a show clip and blend in legs etc) but he was getting lathered just doing a couple of laps of trot. Saying that I can't believe how much his coat has regrown in 2 weeks! Pait got to go as a hairy yeti as I only like to do 1 clip with her- useful tip roan coats look awful growing clips out.
The hot horse shower came out as even I am not evil enough to bath with cold water in october.
The show itself was ace, both ponies went brilliantly. Rory kept his head and stood in the line up (I just kept giving him polos lol) the go round was marred a bit as I ended up behind a highland cantering so slow it should have been walking with nowhere to go. I refuse to overtake another pony in front of a judge as it's my ultimate hate. Sadly this meant Rory had to break to trot and of course struck off wrong straight in front of the judge oh well ce la vie. Pait went well in the go round, got chosen to change the rein again lol and was pulled in with the top half of the field. Indivuals Pait went well but a bit stuffy and babyish, backing off a bit. Rory was a tad on edge to go stand in front of the judge and I didnt push the issue so probably didnt give an amazing first impression he did a nice show, just anticipated me on second canter trying to go before I changed his bend so he did half a stride wrong before I corrected him. He pulled out a brill gallop though that even the confirmaton judge commented on to me as I stood him up for her and Em told me a couple of riders next to her commented on it lol. I found it funny as he didnt even go full out due to the ground getting slippy.
Neither were placed but the fact that Rory behaved just made my day as I've really struggled with him this year.
Looking back on the year though he has had some major upheaval as I moved him from the yard that he's been at for the past 6 years, hes gone from only ever having 1 field companion, which for the past 2 years has been Duke, to having Belle and Fil put in with him. We lost Fil so Evie joined the herd then Duke has gone away for breaking leaving him with only the 2 mares.

good weekend. Sunday we took Rory and pait to a trec training session with the area 4 group. Both ponies took everything in their stride and tackled all the obstacles including a staircase and low branches. Pait was really funny under the branches as she dropped about 2hands when she went underneath

No updates for a little while. Since the last update GYS has been and gone Pait was brilliant if a bit overawed by it but got picked out to change the rein as lead pony in the go round which she pulled out stonking trot for- disappointed with her marks but thats showing. Rory was a turd at times and really wouldnt stand in the line up. This summer has had his horrid neurotic side coming out quite a few times which has upset me as I thought wed got past all that. I am currently playing around with bitless/ bit option and uping the workload. Saddlers on sat to check that and a lot of patience on my part to come I think. Have ridden Pait a bit in the last week or so which is unusual as I usually leave her to Em but I've had some nice schooling after I got a bit tough over leaning habit and we've had a couple of ace hacks out.

well its countdown to GYS so took Pait and Rory out to a local show to just give them a run out. Decided to do inhand at last minute so used his ridden bridle and he went quite well and refrained from biting me always a plus. Then a little wait at the box then riddens. Go round was ok but we were only asked to canter on the left rein. Individual he went very tense and wouldnt let me sit and ride him but didnt throw any wrong legs which has been his party piece recently so counting it as a win.

Times are a changing

Well since my last update we have sadly lost our friends mare who was acting as friend to belle and companion down at the field. Fil being gone left Em and I with a bit of a dilemma. Rory was still being horrid to Belle and possessive over Duke being a lot of the time Belle was outcast and if we wanted to take Rory and Duke anywhere it would mean leaving her totally alone which we weren't prepared to do. So we ended up with 2 options- a- find another grass livery to share the field but downsides are rory is evil and I'd never forgive myself if he hurt someone elses horse and the other problem was if they wanted to go out riding and we had the boys at a show if would leave Belle in the same predicament. b option was buy another horse (because we really need another lol). So Em enquired with Jo the DPS secretary and let her know we were looking for a dales mare didnt matter age etc and didnt want a riding one but the option to breed from it would be a bonus. Well our new addition is Sowermire Evie a 9 year old bay mare she had very little done with her handling wise and has had a very hard time when the lady we got her off rescued her they were certain she wouldn't survive but she's proved everyone wrong and come to join us. Weight wise shes ok now but she doesnt have much muscle so the plan is to do a bit of work with her and try and get some top line and core strength.
Rory being rory has taken an instant dislike and is constantly charging whenever people are about (go up before he notices you and its all quiet so not too worried) he may have met his match though as Evie has stopped running away and instead just bucks at him (we currently counted 2 kicks to his head and 1 to his neck). And of course now Evie has arrived Rory and Belle have become very close and have taken to sleeping laid down curled up together like a pair of puppies. honestly horses who'd have them!