Pony is well - a little too well.

In fact, he is a lard arse. Wedding and honeymoon jammed his exercise schedule (he was not at all gutted) and now he has rippling bits of fat clinging to him, despite my kind friend using his grazing muzzle interspersed with nights in on soaked hay.

Yesterday I lunged him for five minutes just to remind him that his legs still work and today we put an hour in. We practiced riding in straight lines at walk, trot and canter and though rusty, there were some nice moments. 

Assuming I can catch him we'll do as much as possible to limit the lard. I do fret about fat ponies, even if they don't go down with laminitis it's so much strain on their legs and feet...

Me and Rodney waddling about

Today I also had my weekly riding lesson, which is helping to whip me into shape for my Stage 2 exam. I ride a very sweet pony called Brooke and today we did some work without stirrups and some walk to canter transitions. The sweat was pouring off us by the end but it was great - I do love a lesson that gives me things to practice with Rodney.

Happy horsing everyone x

The rage passes

I stopped blogging for a while due to the rage-inducing return of Rodney's favourite summer habit - The Grass is Here and Now You Can't Catch Me.

Last year was my first summer with him and the habit was short lived. We had two weeks were he went AWOL, rounded him up with a band of helpers and then kept him on much poorer grazing for the duration combined with catching him a lot just for a treat and a groom.

This year I could feel it coming when he gradually became spookier to catch and sure enough the day arrived when I had to walk away empty handed.

Combined with starting a new, busy job and planning the wedding, I just totally lost heart with him and any interest in riding as I felt I couldn't make any plans.

Recently, things are a bit better. He's (temporarily) at my friend's place as her companion horse is poorly and her ridden horse needed a friend. The grass is too good there so he's been in a grazing muzzle and my friend usually brings them in in the evening for a fuss and a time out from the grass.

He'll come in when his friend does so we've had some nice rides, hacking about and a bit of jumping in the field. My enthusiasm has returned and I feel much less cross with him. Although I know it's silly to get annoyed I still do because I love to ride out and the catching issue drains the fun out of it. Always for me the biggest challenge in the all-consuming-ness of horses is handling the disappointment that inevitably happens from time to time.

In other news, I passed my Riding and Road Safety test. The whole group passed which was great as the training has been a right laugh. One of the ladies even organised some fizz and cakes for after which was a lovely conclusion to it all.

One of the ladies who did the training has a lesson each Monday so I've now joined her for that while I to brush up for my Stage Two. The syllabus looks good - I've done most things on it but I'm keen to revisit everything thoroughly and brush off the cobwebs.

Not everyone likes the BHS qualifications but I think they're comprehensive and encourage you to be better - wish me luck with the revision. A friend (who is a vet) has lent me the most beautiful book on anatomy so I am doing my level best to make sense of it...

Happy horsing everyone x

Riding in the rain

On Monday I headed out for a hack with Emma. Rodney is obsessed with Tia and chats to her while we ride along which is creepy but cute. On the way back there's a good spot for a canter and they looked at each other and decided to just P off which was hilarious. We felt like Thelwell Pony Clubbers being run away with by our overgrown ponies.

Handsome Rodney 

It was a very English summer's day, with a bit of rain and everything looking very lush and alive - my favourite riding weather, even if it is a bit soggy. Once home I put a little jump up for Rodney and he aced it - it was so much fun.

Nancy in the hay barn

Happy horsing everyone x

Schoolie

Just a little ride today - maybe thirty minutes in the school. The sun was blasting and we did some walk, trot, canter and lots of turns, with me just concentrating on staying balanced and asking him to use his back end. I also asked for some rein back with various levels of success.

We're (I'm) rusty - no matter, great to ride.

I spent the afternoon doing a bit of teaching at the RDA riding school where I volunteer. I've never taught any of the Sunday groups before so I was nervous but it went ok and I always enjoy it -hopefully the riders did too.

Happy horsing everyone x

Sunny Saturday ride

Went for a little ride today around lunchtime, just me and Rodney and some flies the size of pterodactyls. The ground was very wet and everything looked very luscious and overgrown. 

We rode around the fields, jumped a tempting water-filled ditch a couple of times and played about on a quiet country road that floods a bit - so lots of water obstacles.

It felt good to be back in the saddle and a big tap on the shoulder-style reminder "Hey, Alison. Your horse didn't get ridden for two weeks and hauled your ass around for an hour with no complaints or funny business." Lucky girl I am.

Happy horsing everyone x 

No bragging, just riding

I wrote my last post in a fit of optimism which promptly collapsed under the weight of a snotty cold and Rodney getting very foot sore.

Fortunately he has had his shoes tip tapped back on and looks miles better. So tomorrow, before any dreams of conquering the world on horseback can even be dreamt, my task is to sit on my horse...

...and go for a ride. There, that wasn't so painful, was it? ;)

Happy horsing everyone x

Not dead

I am not dead. And neither is Rodney. 

But I have been absent from blogland for a few weeks due to starting a new job and getting organised to become a landlord.

Now I'm starting to fall back into normal land so it's time for a catch up.

Rodney has settled really well and been great to catch which is ace. And we've had some lovely rides around the fields, which are flanked by dramatic forests full of wildlife. His new home is very pretty and so near to where I live that I love to go there. 

At the moment though, he's missing a shoe, so he's having a little holiday while I keep fit walking Nancy, who has turned into a giant :) 

I'm liking the idea of getting Rodney backed to drive so I'm also investigating costs for harness, costs and a suitable person to get him started.

I've got a few avenues to explore with this idea and I'll write further as soon as there is more news. I also start my BHS Riding and Road Safety training tonight, which will enable me to progress onto Stage 2. At the end of June I'm going to the Northern College of Racing for a taster day where I'm hoping to speak to staff about a course that would be suitable for me. I've had some very small but happy dealings with the world of racing and it's time to scratch the itch and see how I can get more involved.

And in general - life is good! Work/free time is nicely balanced and Phil and I have some camping holidays coming up. 

I hope you are all well too - happy horsing x

Ps - found this beatiful poem in the back of a book the other day and it really spoke to me. Not horsey but relevant to most of us I think.

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi"?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Written by  Dr. David L. Weatherford