New 2026 Hacking / riding thread

[Trewsers]

Harvey and I went for a nice canter on Thursday, but sadly that was the end of my riding for the weekend. Out neighbours decided to have their field harrowed without letting us know and Harvey managed to run around and pull a shoe.
I did manage to have a quick ride on a sales livery we have at the yard on Friday - sorry no photos as I don't have permission

As I couldn't ride the big grey mower was deployed to mow the track to the paddocks

Hacking
1 hour
4 miles

Schooling
10 minutes

Totals
Schooling
25 minutes

Hacking
124 miles
39 hours 30

Oh no to the pulled shoe! What a bummer. Joe used to lose his shoes for fun. And sometimes we'd fine him hobbling with one hanging half off too. Hopefully Harvey will be back in full action soon. But it would be nice to try another horse - just for a change?

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

Nice hack out this morning, Harmony in really good form.

 

[newforest]

Popped out today totally different weather, got back before the mist came down that turned into light rain.
We met some riders, one was a new pony she's not seen before. Those carrot stretches really are coming into their own with stretch and bend when they walked by

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

Another one today doing well 45 minutes

 

[Trewsers]

A lovely little potter in warm sunshine (again!). Its funny but I was thinking about the differences between Fuz and Storm. I would have described Storm as strong at one point but she wasn't really.
Fuzzy is strong - Storm was actually very light in my hand and not at all strong- lol just spooky! Totally different. Fuz is not spooky at all, she feels so steady. But she is strong. Like when you ask her to do something different. Just musing really.

 

[newforest]

The weather was less blustery but showers. She was already well so I out we went inhand instead.
Passed a young ex racer going in the opposite direction, she had to have a little jog.
I have noticed that she seems to be walking out more active and adding in the odd jog. So I definitely need to be on board so we can be trotting.
It's the first week of our new routine of going out mornings. I don't know why I was worried about taking her out mornings as opposite to the years of afternoons but there you go!! Stranger things have happened

 

[Trewsers]

The weather was less blustery but showers. She was already well so I out we went inhand instead.
Passed a young ex racer going in the opposite direction, she had to have a little jog.
I have noticed that she seems to be walking out more active and adding in the odd jog. So I definitely need to be on board so we can be trotting.
It's the first week of our new routine of going out mornings. I don't know why I was worried about taking her out mornings as opposite to the years of afternoons but there you go!! Stranger things have happened

I think we worry about change more than them sometimes. I nearly always ride Fuzzy about lunch time. Always have since getting her. But there are days in summer when its not nice weather at that time and come late afternoon its nice - but I've not plucked up courage to ride her thenI don't know what I'm thinking she's going to do lol She probably wouldn't mind at all!

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

good hydro session at 4.8m per hour rate so higher, spoiled by a cretinous driver who overtook me where a side road joins the main road and a car emerging from there turning left just as he overtook me with zero visibility - almost a head on

 

[Trewsers]

A nice potter today, its still breezy but so glad I did ride. I get withdrawal symptoms lol and its been rubbish over the weekend so I felt cheated. She was so good. Her summer coat is coming and she's so soft and pretty looking. But that isn't her personality hahaha, she's got a head like an anvil and not afraid to bop you with it!

 

[newforest]

I think we worry about change more than them sometimes. I nearly always ride Fuzzy about lunch time. Always have since getting her. But there are days in summer when its not nice weather at that time and come late afternoon its nice - but I've not plucked up courage to ride her thenI don't know what I'm thinking she's going to do lol She probably wouldn't mind at all!

I think it might have stemmed from the fact that turning up in the morning used to spook and upset her.
Then the same if I went in the evening. Fast forward and she's not fussed at whatever time of day it is, and if I do two or three visits.
But I was still a bit wobbly about going out.

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

Not out today as Harmony was vaccinated for flu. Vet and I compared her pictures on arrival and how she is now and she was very impressed at how much stronger and bulkier she was standing better. She wasn't underweight when she came just very weak. She now has a lovely shoulder and back and very muscled bottom.

 

[Trewsers]

Just call me the Queen of pootling hahahaha. Another lovely little potter today and we went slightly different and I think it puzzled her hahaha. She's so good - she's really getting her summer coat now. Though I noticed not so itchy and didn't roll soon as tack off. I wasn't going to bother as it kept raining but the sun came out and I'm glad I did now. Back to my spring cleaning now

 

[newforest]

Lovely session today. I wanted to play with the ditches as it's not really her thing if they look "dirty"
So used the time to try something different based on what I had seen on trainers short video clip. Introduced the change with the grass filled ditch we never have an issue with. That gave her the idea that things were different today. I am sure I almost got a what are we waiting for look, actually we are waiting for you darling

So on the third bigger, damp and dirty patch that turns into a stream in winter, I decided to end on a good note and head back.
That's when she noticed we had a rider trotting past the other way. Not really close but close enough for her to need to be on the high alert, with some noises from the nostrils like they do and a few stops and looks to see where they went. Focus on ME, I am the most important thing in your life, I need you to agree with that at this moment in time!!
She was able to refocus back to me, she's never liked seeing other horses trotting with riders on.
Walking by she's fine, but trotting seems to blow her mind.