Remy and Anky Out and About

It was very hot this morning, so Remy and I had a short lungeing session before going out for a walk. He  needed a bit of a change so I took him for a walk up the track. He's been up there with Jim leading Corky but never just me and him. He's been quite sleepy this last couple of days but he soon woke up when I took him up and out through the gate! We went past our neighbours house and he looked at the chickens in the run, snorted at their dog when he came up to say hello, eyed up the silage bales, but was a very sensible boy and I think he enjoyed it. So did I.
After lunch I rode Anky out without Jim and Obi and she was pretty good. She stopped a couple of times, not wanting to go, but I just sat quietly at halt until she decided to walk forwards. We were out for about an hour and she felt easy through her back, and, it felt like a real hack!! Now that's a first!

I just have to fly the flag!!!
Well done Jenson and Lewis!!!

A beautiful day with Happy Feet.

After my post yesterday, Gareth (barefoot trimmer) phoned to say that, if convenient, he would call to trim the horses in the afternoon. He arrived shortly after 1pm and set to work straight away. He was happy with all four, especially Corky who has very flat feet, but is doing much better than we expected. Considering that Corky and Anky only had their shoes removed 7 weeks ago, both are doing well and are already showing improvement. He thinks the two youngsters both have excellent feet and should have very few problems remaining barefoot. So I'm a happy bunny.

This morning was bright and sunny, but with quite a blustery wind. I went for a ride on Corky which I think I enjoyed more than she did. The fact that I turned up with tack for the second day running didn't go down very well. I'm sure she'll get into the routine though, she does make me laugh.
I thought I'd make the most of the wind and take Remy out for a walk. We haven't been out in the wind before and I wanted to see how he'd behave. I took him up through the field to the school, around the school, over the trotting poles and then down the little green lane between our fields. He knows that there's an apple tree there and was quite happy to go check it out.

We have electric fencing on the fields and a couple of days ago we had a short in one of the gateways (the wire is underground, but must have broken somehow).They must have all felt it as they wouldn't go through. It's been really interesting to see how the horses dealt with it after it was fixed.
On the several occasions that they've gone through since, Bonbon has been the first to check it out, very sensibly putting her nose close to the ground to see if she could feel it and then quite calmly walking through. Having watched her , Anky first, followed by Corky, would then canter through quickly. Remy, on the other hand, has just stood and refused to go through, not panicking, but just not willing to risk it. Jim said that there was a large hoof print just over where the wire was broken and perhaps it was Remy who got the worst of the shock, I don't know, perhaps he's just a wuss.

Leading him back to the yard this morning I brought him through the gateway and he was still a little hesitant, but he came through when I asked, I'm fure he'll get over it.

My laptop is back from the repair man after having a new hard drive installed, so now I'm off to re-install all my 'stuff'.

Aaaaaah, that's more like it.

I've just come in from a lovely ride on Corky, just a short ride as she has to get used to her new boots. Not wishing to be a drama queen, but the feeling I got as I sank my backside into the saddle was, marvelous, darling!!!!!
It's a beautiful day, warm and sunny,so when I returned from my ride,I took Remy for a walk, just me and him up the lane, through the field towards the wood. I expected him to be calm, curious and perhaps a little bit hesitant at times and he was just that, but mainly he was calm, relaxed and despite being distracted by "new things" he was still focussed on me.

A ride out - of sorts and Remy walks out.

I decided I had to ride today. I have to start getting Anky out- 1. for practical reasons, she has to get used to the boots and 2, for the sake of my sanity, I must ride!
So, boots on, we set off. Anky decided she wasn't going anywhere without Corky from the start, but after a little persuasion and, rather ungenerously, we made it onto the track and towards the little wood. It's only five minutes, but by the time we reached the electric fence just before the wood she was backing off and, with the thought of her backing into the fence, I got off. I'd taken a long rope with me and put her bridle over her headcollar, so I clipped the rope to the headcollar and started to lead her. She wasn't very happy and kept trotting ahead, but when she does this I just make a little circle to reclaim my leading position and carry on. After a few minutes she settled and followed calmly. I continued to lead for another few minutes and then, with the help of a convenient log, I got back on and rode her home. She was very calm going home and felt quite relaxed in her back with a good stride. I rode her in the Torsion saddle and I'm beginning to like it more and more. The really positive thing about today was that I now know that I can get her out on a ride and if we have a problem I can lead her until she settles and I can remount.
I feel that if I do this often enough she will gain enough trust in me not to worry when we ride out alone.
While I was out with Anky, Jim had been wrestling with the Old Macs, so when I returned he had Corky booted up and we went for a walk down the lane with Remy. This was his first ever walk out and as expected, he was absolutely fine. I think it helped having Corky with us, but we took the lead and he was quite happy to follow me, investigating this new world outside the gates! A very good boy.