Had a lovely weekend riding in the Brecon Beacons at Trevelog Pony Trekking. My favourite horse, Penny was finally home from her winter holiday. She is really cute. About 15 hands, bay with a white blaze and blue eyes and very fast. Was dying to see if I still enjoyed riding her as much as I did last year as have ridden lots of different horses since then.
Had a lovely ride on the first day. I was worried she might be a bit sharp after all that time off but she was going great. As we had a few beginners with us, I got to hold back and lead the canter which is always good fun on Penny. She doesn't get too agitated when you hold her back but when you loose the reins she goes like the wind. I was just saying to one of the others how nicely she was going and how well she was behaving when we decided to swap the order round so one of the guys who hadn't ridden for a while could try a canter. Unfortunately Penny took exception to his horse being behind her and started playing up. She spun round a few times and kicked out and was generally very mareish. She obviously likes the boys and didn't appreciate having one of the girls behind her, getting a bit too close. Still I stayed on without too much effort which was fine.
Saturday night stayed over at the farm and went down the pub with some of the guys who work at the farm and then Sunday morning we were up early to tack up again for the arrival of the next lot of trekkers. Had another great ride on Sunday -riding Penny again.
I only need four more rides this season and I fill up my loyalty card and get a free ride. And another private riding lesson booked for tomorrow as my exam is looming. Hope I didn't pick up too many bad habits at the weekend as noone nagging me about my seat and position.
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Thursday 24 May 2012
Flicka: Country Pride
I watched this film on on demand the other day and I loved it. I never got round to reading my friend flicka as a child and had been meaning to read it even if it was a kids book because it seemed such a well known horsey story so when I saw the new film I couldn't resist.
It was a real treat and despite it being a U classification and both my kids being in bed, I sat down to watch and had a fab evening. I was even a bit teary eyed in parts but I loved it. Three day eventing on a mustang, bitchy girls, the underdog comes out on top and a happy ending with a little romance thrown in - what more could you ask. Anyone else seen it? If you haven't it's worth a watch.
FLICKA Country Pride
Mock Exam
Had our mock exam on tuesday which was good but I didn't think good enough. I have had a couple of private lessons in the last week in the run up to my exam so was hoping for an excellent performance in the riding. However first horse was a bit of a plodder and messed up the first canter transition because I hadn't managed to establish a decent trot quickly enough before the corner. Sitting trot without stirrups is never my strong point either.
Then we swapped horses and I was lucky enough to get a slightly more forward horse - only problem was he wasn't listening to my half halts in trot and was up the horse in fronts arse rather than one horse length away and then trying to canter 20 metre circle he just got away from me and I forgot about using the outside rein to control speed and was just pulling back on both reins without slowing him down so looked like I was hanging onto the reins cos I had no balance when was actually trying to slow him down either way wasn't completely in control.
Cantering in light seat over poles was better and got my diagonals right and at the end my teacher told me I was "in with a chance" at passing the riding which is slightly better than two months ago when she said I wasn't at the standard required to pass.
Then during the practical tacking up mock had a bugger of a horse who decided to might be just for standing to close to his head when I wasn't even doing anything at that point. Hadn't started grooming him or tacking up. That said think the oral theory should be a breeze. Theoretical learning I can do with my eyes shut after all the exams I did in my teens and twenties.
Work has been a nightmare the last couple of months and auditors are stressing me big time at the moment so decided to treat myself to two days of trekking htis weekend at Trevelog. Should probably be having more lessons this close to the exam but really need to chill out so two all day rides in the mountains will be more fun.
Then we swapped horses and I was lucky enough to get a slightly more forward horse - only problem was he wasn't listening to my half halts in trot and was up the horse in fronts arse rather than one horse length away and then trying to canter 20 metre circle he just got away from me and I forgot about using the outside rein to control speed and was just pulling back on both reins without slowing him down so looked like I was hanging onto the reins cos I had no balance when was actually trying to slow him down either way wasn't completely in control.
Cantering in light seat over poles was better and got my diagonals right and at the end my teacher told me I was "in with a chance" at passing the riding which is slightly better than two months ago when she said I wasn't at the standard required to pass.
Then during the practical tacking up mock had a bugger of a horse who decided to might be just for standing to close to his head when I wasn't even doing anything at that point. Hadn't started grooming him or tacking up. That said think the oral theory should be a breeze. Theoretical learning I can do with my eyes shut after all the exams I did in my teens and twenties.
Work has been a nightmare the last couple of months and auditors are stressing me big time at the moment so decided to treat myself to two days of trekking htis weekend at Trevelog. Should probably be having more lessons this close to the exam but really need to chill out so two all day rides in the mountains will be more fun.
Sunday 13 May 2012
Dashing through the snow on a one horse open sleigh
“Hallo!” our Austrian hosts greeted us, followed by a kiss on each
cheek. This warm friendly greeting was soon followed by a most welcome glass of
Schnapps. We were glad of a little warmth, having just braved a snowy blizzard
on our journey from Linz Airport Austria Austria
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| me riding Viktoria |
After a hearty lunch of fresh bread and sausages in goulash sauce, it was time to take our first ride. Wrapped up warmly, we mounted our horses and set off for our ride through the snow. The horses made light work of foot deep snow. My fear of sliding all around the ice on a large beast, which could slip and plunge me to the ground before landing on top of me, dissipated in no time. Before long, we were cantering gleefully through the snow at a fast pace, and being pelted in the face by snowballs kicked up by the horse in front. On the way back, we stopped outside one of the archetypal Austrian houses, which were scattered across the hillside. An Austrian gentleman emerged with a tray of schnapps for us all to taste, whilst still sat on horseback. We responded with grateful cries of “Dankeshun” before preparing to be set off again only to be told, it was obligatory to have a glass of Schnapps “for each leg” and we found our glasses promptly refilled once again.
Another highlight of the trip was our trip on the sleigh pulled by a pair of beautiful white Lipizzaner horses. We snuggled up in the numerous blankets provided and sat back to enjoy the snow covered scenery whilst the horses worked hard pulling our sleigh. A more romantic scene, it is difficult to imagine, than sitting on a horse drawn sleigh listening to the tinkle of the bells as the snow falls silently around us. It was only a pity I was surrounded by a group of riding pals rather than the man of my dreams.
Without doubt though the most spectacular ride was when 20 of us, locals and tourists alike, set off in fancy dress to ride to Haid for the Snow Games. On arriving, we sat down to another typically Austrian meal of meat and dumplings washed down with beer. Then off we went to watch the games, a number of light hearted races where either two riders raced at speed towards the crowd before veering off sharply to avoid the snow drift. This was followed by races between two “one horse open sleighs”. Our only disappointment was that we weren’t racing ourselves but next year …
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| me riding peperyl |
Postscript: I originally wrote this article for a travel writing competition and wanted to keep it short and concise and appropriate but with my bloggers, I will share the stories of riding out in the morning stopping for three hours lunchs with schnapps drinking competitions and copious amounts of gluhwein before staggering back to our horses as it was getting dark and cantering up snow covered country roads with no lights hoping we didn't meet too many cars. Hip flasks full of schnapps were also a must to sip on throughout the ride and to my surprise I found riding slightly under the influence seemed to improve my riding acheiving what my instructor repeatedly told me to do and I struggled to do consciously - relax! Although I made another discovery sitting trot on a full bladder on the way home from the pub is most uncomfortable.
Amazingly the horses didn't slip once even cantering downhill in the snow. Admittedly they had specialised shoes with studs but was very impressed with them. It beat a skiing holiday day hands down every time.
Riding Update
Its been a long time since I posted anything on here. I changed the url and lost a lot of readers and got a bit disheartened but just noticed a few new fans on the facebook page so thought I'd write a new post.
My BHS stage 1 course is nearly at an end now with only four days of the course left and my exam in just over a month. I've really enjoyed the course and will be very sad when it ends. I've made some lovely new friends on the course and learned lot about horses. When we covered feeding, I groaned remembering having Sam on loan the winter before last. No wonder he was lively being fed sugar beet and rolled barley twice a day when he was only being ridden three or four times a week for an hour.
I've definitely improved as a rider although had a few moments along the way. I've decided 16"3 thoroughbreds are definitely not for me and that I much prefer a nice 15-16 hand cob type horse. I've had a few scary moments. Whilst I wasn't the first in the class to fall off, I was one of only two and I was the only person to have the distinction of not only falling off two different horses but doing it in the same lesson within ten minutes. The horses were definitely more spooky than usual that day and when my horse spooked for the fourth time, I lost my seat fell forward and kicked her in the flank by accident causing her to buck and me to land on my head and take a kick to the head. Ten minutes later, installed on a different horse who wasn't listening to me from the start, a lawnmower started outside the school and she bolted down the centre line nearly mowing down the instructor with me hanging on round her neck for the first 40 metres before once again landing on my head. Amazingly I got up and agreed to ride yet another horse and managed a canter before the end of the lesson. An examination of my hat afterwards revealed a very big crack in it which made me realise how important it is to always wear a riding hat as I knew that could have been my head instead.
I'm a little worried about the exam as still not really quite up to standard and it would be nice to pass but in some ways I have already achieved my objectives and improved my riding whilst having fun. I need to get some extra lessons but am now working and with the year end things are hectic at work and time is limited.
In terms of my other riding, I am still riding at Trevelog in the Brecon Beacons which is great fun and they have some lovely horses. I now get to ride the more fun horses and leave the plodders to the never ridden before brigade. I also discovered a lovely place close to home where you can ride on the beach and have some lovely fast canters on the open beach and on the windy paths in the sand dunes. Unlike the mountains, where the terrain can be a bit too hazardous to ride in the winter and the centre closes, I can ride there in the winter too. Riding at Ogmore is great fun and they are a good crowd up there too. I even went to watch the point to point racing with them the other week.
My BHS stage 1 course is nearly at an end now with only four days of the course left and my exam in just over a month. I've really enjoyed the course and will be very sad when it ends. I've made some lovely new friends on the course and learned lot about horses. When we covered feeding, I groaned remembering having Sam on loan the winter before last. No wonder he was lively being fed sugar beet and rolled barley twice a day when he was only being ridden three or four times a week for an hour.
I've definitely improved as a rider although had a few moments along the way. I've decided 16"3 thoroughbreds are definitely not for me and that I much prefer a nice 15-16 hand cob type horse. I've had a few scary moments. Whilst I wasn't the first in the class to fall off, I was one of only two and I was the only person to have the distinction of not only falling off two different horses but doing it in the same lesson within ten minutes. The horses were definitely more spooky than usual that day and when my horse spooked for the fourth time, I lost my seat fell forward and kicked her in the flank by accident causing her to buck and me to land on my head and take a kick to the head. Ten minutes later, installed on a different horse who wasn't listening to me from the start, a lawnmower started outside the school and she bolted down the centre line nearly mowing down the instructor with me hanging on round her neck for the first 40 metres before once again landing on my head. Amazingly I got up and agreed to ride yet another horse and managed a canter before the end of the lesson. An examination of my hat afterwards revealed a very big crack in it which made me realise how important it is to always wear a riding hat as I knew that could have been my head instead.
I'm a little worried about the exam as still not really quite up to standard and it would be nice to pass but in some ways I have already achieved my objectives and improved my riding whilst having fun. I need to get some extra lessons but am now working and with the year end things are hectic at work and time is limited.
In terms of my other riding, I am still riding at Trevelog in the Brecon Beacons which is great fun and they have some lovely horses. I now get to ride the more fun horses and leave the plodders to the never ridden before brigade. I also discovered a lovely place close to home where you can ride on the beach and have some lovely fast canters on the open beach and on the windy paths in the sand dunes. Unlike the mountains, where the terrain can be a bit too hazardous to ride in the winter and the centre closes, I can ride there in the winter too. Riding at Ogmore is great fun and they are a good crowd up there too. I even went to watch the point to point racing with them the other week.
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