Wobbly Wednesday

Ok so I really am getting sick of this weather now! Rio is getting better each time I bring him up in this wind, but I'd really rather it just went. I'm not even getting chance to get any photos or do anything exciting to share with you at the moment because it's the bare minimum! Today we even struggled with getting hay down for the boys in the fear it was just going to blow away before they had chance to eat it. 

I broke my phone last week and sent it off to be repaired on my insurance, and was hoping to collect it tonight but thanks to the wind and the bridge being shut, the whole darn town was gridlocked, and an 8 minute drive home took 50 minutes so there was no way I was getting out of town to get to the depot (a 45 minute drive away) before they shut. So frustrated, and it's just getting ridiculous now!

PLEASE bring on the Spring - I want to teach my boy! Here are some pictures of our yard (the summer grazing so you're not worrying!):

Ride safe x

Wet wet wet

Oh my gosh, every time it seems like we are getting to the end of this wind, it just picks up again! The forecast keeps changing every hour, but here's what we're looking at for tomorrow at the moment... and Sunday is worse!

We have now joined the masses in the muddy field clan, the boys' field is now like a big mud pit, and it's only a matter of time before the river comes right over into their field and restricts it even more. It's a battle of my own conscience at the moment as I would dearly love to bring him in overnight, but he's got to be better off with the freedom outside at the moment - the barn is WAY breezy and I don't want him to freak out! 

We're off to pony camp tomorrow, I'm helping my friend take her little girl for the first time with her pony, so should be fun! I've never done pony club before. 

On the plus side - at least the days are getting longer now! I was down at the yard at 6am this morning and there was a sliver of light over the horizon, and I could see fairly well by the time I left at 6.45 - bring on Spring. PLEASE!

Ride safe x

Windypops

To ride a horse is to ride the sky

Today we didn't even look at the gate as we came up to the yard, the wind was blowing a gale across the paddocks and although there was a little discussion across the school it was a vast improvement. I was planning on riding. Then all of a sudden I wasn't. Rio had spotted some movement on the muck heap and it really upset him. I untied him to try and avoid him breaking off and realising he could do it again if he wanted. We walked round the yard in hand for a bit, then walked him back to where we were, and stood quietly with him for a little while. He soon settled back down, so the girls persuaded me to still take him out with them on the field. 

Proud moment alert.

Not only was I proud of Rio - he didn't bat an eyelid (except at a tarpaulin on the way out that was blowing around...) and I put him at the front, in the middle and momentarily at the back. We walked. We trotted. We cantered. Twice. Beautifully. I was also proud of myself. I pushed aside my worries and in turn, Rio rewarded my trust with a lovely ride. By the end we were even riding on the buckle, and after the first time around the field, I was working him on a longer rein and giving him his head more. 

I've opted to try out some baby oil on Rio's feathers today - his legs last night when I went up with hay looked brown, and they are meant to be a beautiful bright white!! This weather is dragging on so much, their field is now starting to get sloppy with this crazy rain. 

Ride safe x

Sunday Snaps

Walked out in hand with Rio! He's acting all cool with his collar up...

Goat show jumping - my friend's goat, not mine!

Horsing around at a show with my cousin, they did well for their second time out!

Ride safe x

Sit in, hands steady

Do what people tell you. It does work. Today I had a lovely ride round the village with my friend and Rio's field buddy. On the way back, I put into practice what we were working on last weekend on canter transitions. We went up front, had a few strides of trot, and I sat in like I had a fifty under my butt, and we had a glorious canter. I was so proud of Rio, and myself - just goes to show, if I truly focus, so does he!

I wish I had taken a photo but when we got back, I found for the first time he had a foamy mouth where he had truly relaxed and enjoyed himself. It was only a little bit, but it was there! He's a superstar, and with every day I just love him more and more. 

On another note, he has however jumped through the fence numerous times this week. They now have a completely new line run on the bottom rung as the old one had several breaks. The bottom of their field has also been slightly extended to the river line, so there's a little more grass. It seems to have worked for now, but he was obviously next door for some time over the week as I retrieved a heaped wheelbarrow of poo from the neighbouring field today! 

Took my camera to the yard today (yes! and still failed to get any of Rio, I know!) here's a little snap of my friend's pony. She's such a star, she'd just practised some loading ready for the shows in the summer, oh and pony club very soon!

Ride safe x

Thursday Things

Rio has been escaping his field in search of pastures green. Three mornings and one evening visit resulted in bringing him back into his own field... Lots of poo to be picked in the neighbouring (thankfully empty!) field at the weekend I think. The fence line has been re-run with a new length as it seems he's being a clever sausage and lifting up the bottom rung where his rug goes up his neck and slipping underneath to avoid being shocked. Their field has also now been extended a little to cover the little bit of extra grass that they couldn't get to. Here's hoping.

I feel a bit sick tonight as I've lost my purse. I hadn't even noticed until I went to buy some chocolate for my sweet craving this evening that it was gone. After a dash to the cinema where I last know I had it, and being told it's not been handed in, I've been racking my brains but had to give in and cancel my cards. Now I'm worrying because someone out there may have my driving licence and goodness knows what other information in there. No pin numbers etc but driving licences have names, addresses, dates of birth... It's a perfect start point for fraud. So here I am quietly panicking. Don't think I'm going to sleep properly tonight...

Ride safe x

Words are not enough

I did good, mum!

I can't describe the feeling I had after making it down to the yard this afternoon. 

I went down and did morning duties as normal despite being off work on holiday today, and just gave Rio half of his usual morning feed so that he could have the rest after we had worked. My head was banging, so once I was done, I came home and did a little housework before retreating to bed to try and sleep it off. Unfortunately when I woke up an hour later it was still there, but I decided I wasn't going to let that stop me, and duly headed to the yard. 

There was nobody around when I got down there, just how I like it, so I made for the field. Rio was a model pony coming out of the field, walking in, and I am proud to say we had no stops or hesitations and he was absolutely on his own the whole time. We schooled, did work on transitions, walk and trot, and continued the cantering exercise we started yesterday. We managed one truly successful attempt, and I would give us a few points for another attempt. Rio did wonderfully, I just need to work on sitting in and keeping my hands still. I'm sure I'm just confusing him on some levels. 

We got back, he had a brush down, ate the rest of his grub, and had his plait re-done. He behaved pretty well whilst I walked him down with a haynet for my friend's pony, and was rewarded with a little sneaky munch before I dropped it at the gate! When I turned him loose in the field, he stayed right next to me for a moment, went for some water, and then came back over. It was hard to leave him today, as he usually wanders off down into the field fairly soon after I turn him away, but today he watched me walk all the way back to the barn. I just wanted to cuddle him! I love this horse SO MUCH!

You can just about see him at the back there!

Ride safe x