Post by Emily+Meg on Dec 27, 2007 2:19:59 GMT 1
But dont worry, I didnt knacker my mostly-but-not-quite-properly-fit horse. We only did 10 mins!
We hacked to the meet and got there nice and early. It was busy busy being boxing day! We got to the square before the hounds and other horses as they were meeting at the Kennels. She was fab to walk around the square etc with all the people everywhere.
She got VERY excited when the horses and hounds turned up, but didnt do anything except spin in lots of little cirlces and back up a lot. She eventually settled and stood really quietly so I was pleased. The square has one entrance into it being used, so a kind of funnel effect! so to let the master and hounds etc out, you all squash up. I put Peg one side of us and stood behind one of our Masters horses who I knew was sensible, so Nikki could see all the hounds rushing out. She was So good and didnt bat an eyelid by then.
We set of down the road, and I lost control a bit - she was really very strong. I could hardly hold her on the road so I pulled out before we met any fields. I had hope to maybe do 45 mins / hour didnt want to have to spend the whole ride yanking at her when we clearly had schooling issues with stopping when excited! we then had a nice hack home along the back way.
So Nikki met hounds, met lots of horses, had a trot....and then we went home!
So before I hunt again I am taking a 3 pronged approach to sorting out my lack of control.
1) practicing lots on hacks til a touch on the reins = automatic stop, so she can basically stop just off my seat. I need a school
The more ingrained it is in quiet situations, the less I will lose it when surrounded by 50 other horses.
2) Finding lots of people to hack with and teaching Nikki to stop easily and gently with other horses around us - shes very good in her snaffle with Peggy or one other but needs to be used to lots of different horses cantering up behind / going off in front etc.
3) Think I might try a cheltenham gag with one rein on the snaffle, and one on the gag for emergencies for hunting. Or poss a pelham if I have one to fit her. Either way with 2 reins so I can use the snaffle when poss.
Pics:
at home before we hacked there
rubbish pic but HOW shiny is Peg atm
Nikki
You can see my bum on the left, green ribbon. Thats when the hounds came past and you can see how gooood girl she is being
group pic
We hacked to the meet and got there nice and early. It was busy busy being boxing day! We got to the square before the hounds and other horses as they were meeting at the Kennels. She was fab to walk around the square etc with all the people everywhere.
She got VERY excited when the horses and hounds turned up, but didnt do anything except spin in lots of little cirlces and back up a lot. She eventually settled and stood really quietly so I was pleased. The square has one entrance into it being used, so a kind of funnel effect! so to let the master and hounds etc out, you all squash up. I put Peg one side of us and stood behind one of our Masters horses who I knew was sensible, so Nikki could see all the hounds rushing out. She was So good and didnt bat an eyelid by then.
We set of down the road, and I lost control a bit - she was really very strong. I could hardly hold her on the road so I pulled out before we met any fields. I had hope to maybe do 45 mins / hour didnt want to have to spend the whole ride yanking at her when we clearly had schooling issues with stopping when excited! we then had a nice hack home along the back way.
So Nikki met hounds, met lots of horses, had a trot....and then we went home!
So before I hunt again I am taking a 3 pronged approach to sorting out my lack of control.
1) practicing lots on hacks til a touch on the reins = automatic stop, so she can basically stop just off my seat. I need a school
The more ingrained it is in quiet situations, the less I will lose it when surrounded by 50 other horses.2) Finding lots of people to hack with and teaching Nikki to stop easily and gently with other horses around us - shes very good in her snaffle with Peggy or one other but needs to be used to lots of different horses cantering up behind / going off in front etc.
3) Think I might try a cheltenham gag with one rein on the snaffle, and one on the gag for emergencies for hunting. Or poss a pelham if I have one to fit her. Either way with 2 reins so I can use the snaffle when poss.
Pics:
at home before we hacked there
rubbish pic but HOW shiny is Peg atm
Nikki
You can see my bum on the left, green ribbon. Thats when the hounds came past and you can see how gooood girl she is being
group pic
My new years resolution is to get schooling more - did 20 whole minutes this morning!