No Riding this weekend

I didn't manage to go riding this weekend as I had nobody to come with me although I did get down to the farm Saturday afternoon anyway. Instead of riding, I spent the afternoon running around after a lot of goats.  I've actually been just waiting for the opportunity to spend a bit of time with the goats as I think they are really cute.



My youngest son with the goats, last summer.



When I arrived they were just about to start vaccinating them so joined in herding the goats up so the farmer could grab hold of them and vaccinate them.  There were a lot of them so this took some time and they weren't overly keen but to be fair they made less fuss than my children or possibly even myself when faced with the prospect of being jabbed with a needle.  Then,  I watched whilst the ones that were a bit lame had their feet trimmed.



Last order of the day was milking.  I think there are about seven hundred goats to be milked twice a day which takes sometime.  The milking parlour can milk about forty goats at a time so more rounding up goats and then attaching them to the milking machine.  I actually got to have a go at this.  Brought back some memories of breastfeeding my two kids which I am glad to say they are too old for now.  Spraying the teats with antiseptic after milking to avoid mastitis and then sending them out and getting the next lot in. 

I was surprised at how much fun I had and it certainly cleared away the hangover.  I'm not sure the novelty wouldnt wear off if I had to get up at six every morning to do it but I enjoyed the novelty.  However, I think the smell of goats is even worse than the smell of horses and the first thing I had to do when I got home was strip my clothes off and put them in the washing machine before jumping in the bath for a nice long soak.

A New Years Ride

After all the snow, but with the expectation of more to come, my only opportunity to ride over the Christmas holidays when there was no snow and I had no children was the afternoon of New Years Eve.  Nevertheless, I was determined to go and it still left plenty of time to go home and get dressed up for a night in the pub on New Years Eve. 

That said with all the snow, I have been quite relieved that Sam is back at Trevelog as it meant I was spared a half an hour journey through the snow and ice every day to muck out and feed him which I would have needed to do if he had still been in Cardiff.  I now have the luxury of a horse I can ride whenever I want with none of the day to day chores.  I do, of course, groom him before I tack him up and again when I get in before I put his rug back on and put him back out in the field.  I am also reliant on finding someone to ride with, as not only do I not feel sufficiently experienced to ride out alone but Sam is not a fan of going out on his own, as being a trekking horse he is used to travelling with the "herd".  He does not like to be the lead horse either.

I actually retreived Sam from the field myself this time which was an experience.  The mud (and horse poo) was like sinking mud and I found the mud creeping over the top of my wellies and was in grave danger of falling flat on my face as I tried to catch Sam.  He wasn't running anywhere fast but was reluctant to leave the nice big pile of hay that he was eating.  Unfortunately, I think I made myself a little unpopular because whilst I remember to shut the gate, I didnt actually tie it shut properly and a few of the horses escaped.  I don't think they went too far but I believe someone had to go round them up on the quad to get them back. 

My winter rides have been shorter in distance than when I go pony trekking in the summer.  Typically, we seem to end up going a bit slower as the horses are less confident in small groups and are not as fit as in the summer when they are working regularly.  New Years Eve, we went down the lane to the bridle path back onto the road past the pub and up to the forestry where we did a small loop before going back down, through the river, to clean the mud off the horses a bit and then back along the lane to the farm. 

I am still struggling a bit with the basics though.  I know I have to keep my heels down and my hands down but when things don't go right, I tend to forget and then I seem to do the opposite.  Particularly true, when I am trying to get Sam to do something he doesn't want to do and he starts resisting and trying to turn around and go backwards if I try and get him to lead, for example, or on a few occasions, where I am convinced he is about to try and buck me again.  I am getting better at mounting unaided without someone holding the stirrup on the other side, but as I was reminded the other day, I should be able to mount without a girth on the saddle, in theory so tightening the girth tighter so it doesn't slip is not really the answer.  I am hoping my diet and some weight loss may help with this bit.

The weather is still cold but surprisingly, it never seems as bad as expected when I actually get out although I do tend to wear thermals and a couple of fleecies at least.  As well as New Year, I also managed another ride yesterday and the sun even came out to shine for a while which was lovely.  We had a lovely ride, but took an awfully long time to cover the distance and didn't go quite as far as originally planned because the horses decided they wanted to turn back before we got up the mountain.  Nevertheless, we had a nice little ride down the bridle path and the lanes and managed to get them through the river even if we didnt make it as far as the road on the top of the opposite bank.

Apologies for not including any photos but keep forgetting my camera.  Apologies to those blogs, I normally visit, I have not been reading much either as have been so hectic with xmas, new year and now the first week of school and job hunting.

A Nice Winters Ride

The ice finally thawed out at Trevelog enough to ride so I was one happy girl.  I'd managed to get down there the previous weekend for a bit of socialising but the road was still pretty icy and not suitable for riding but this weekend the snow and ice had finally cleared.  Unfortunately, more is forecast this week so I was even more determined to get out riding, in case I dont get a chance for a while.

Even better, I had company for the ride as Dave has Pringle over the winter and he was down to ride Pringle as well.  I think I would be a bit nervous going out on my own and not sure Sam would go anyway as he is pretty stubborn when he wants to be.  I dressed up warmly but for the winter, it was a pleasant day with some sunshine and didnt regret my decision not to bother with gloves.

Dave took Pringle down to the camping field to lunge him for a bit whilst I was tacking up.  Its only about five minutes walk so I followed, ten minutes later on Sam.  Although, it wasnt far, he started to play up as soon as we got out of the farm drive and kept trying to turn around and go home. Dave could hear me coming long before he saw me because I was yelling at Sam.  Probably, not the textbook way to get him to do what I want but I got there eventually.

Once he had company, Sam was fine although Pringles western saddle wasnt fitting very well so we went back to change it for an english one before setting out down the lane, along the bridle path as far as the river.  Sam was fine when he was following Pringle but got quite stroppy when I tried to go at the front and wouldn't walk side by side either.  I had decided today was the day to practice my gate opening both on and off the horse so was quite pleased that managed to hop on and off quite a few times with out anyone holding my stirrup or needing a mounting block.  I managed to close a few gates on horseback too.  Maybe, one day I might actually get good enough at riding to help out as a trekking guide lol but think I still have a way to go.  We had a few little trots but no where really suitable for a canter so on the way back we thought we'd go down the other bridle path and maybe call in the pub for a quick one.  Having past the farm drive, surprisingly easily, we got onto the bridle path and shut the gate.  Suddenly, the horses decided they had had enough and wanted to go home and kept trying to turn around.  I came Sam a tap with the crop but was convinced he was getting ready to buck me again and Pringle had had enough too, so we headed back and took the car to the pub for lunch instead.

Sam is a lovely horse and very much a beginners horse when he is trekking with the herd, but it is amazing how different he is when he is on his own or in a very small group.  I'm sure it will all benefit my riding in the end though.

Not loving the snow

I am not loving the snow at the moment.  I was hoping to go up to the mountains to ride Sam last weekend but decided even if I could get up there it would be too cold and slippery to ride him.  On the bright side, at least I didn't have to drive half an hour to the stables and try and get up what would be a very icy unmade road just to feed him now he is back home.  Given this week's snowfall, it seems he went home at just the right time.  I am hoping this is not going to be the theme of the winter though.

Sam went home.

I was very sad to see Sam go back home to Trevelog on Friday.  After arriving early to give him a good groom and make sure he looked his best, he was already to go.  His owners picked him up and I felt a little upset but then i reminded myself, they would be keeping up at the trekking centre for me to ride over the winter.  Whilst it is a bit further to travel, I won't need to go day every day whatever the weather, only when i want to ride Sam so it is probably for the best.

Whilst I was enjoying my time messing around down the stables and even the mucking out, everything else went downhill.  My house wasn't getting the cleaning it needed, the ironing pile was getting bigger and the Christmas shopping hadn't been started.

Anyway, I went up to Trevelog yesterday to ride Sam and we had a lovely ride despite the cold.  I had been a bit nervous as he had bucked me off the last time I rode him but he was back to his normal self.  I think he was glad to be home in familiar territory as he didn't like the stables and the schooling ring which were new to him.  So hopefully, he will be much happier back home and i won't fall off again.

A Horse of my Own - but not for long.

Haven't posted for a while partly because I have not had a computer since my last one blew up.  The other reason being that whilst I knew looking after a horse would be a lot of work, it seems to take up even more time than I anticipated although to be fair that could be partly the time spent drinking tea at the stable as well as actually riding and looking after Sam.

Unfortunately, my docile placid plodding horse seems to have had a bit of a temperament change since his move.  He really doesn't like the schooling ring and was developing the habit of not going forward at all and barging at the gate.  My riding is not the best and so both he and I were unfamiliar with the schooling ring which probably didnt help.

That said I have now learnt how to tack up properly, a bit more about grooming and definitely more about mucking out, lol.  I have also learnt how to delouse a horse after there were a few cases at the new stables, although don't think Sam actually had them.

Unfortunately, the last week has been a bit of a disaster.  On Saturday, after a nice little walk and trot out in the lanes, I decided to hang back once we got back to the farm and ride him round the field whilst the others went back to the stables.  After a very reluctant start, it took me about four attempts to turn him round and go back in the opposite way of the other horses, we managed to get into the field.  Having walked him away from the gate and trotted a little we cantered back up the hill a couple of times and he went like the clappers.  This from the horse who is normally reluctant to get out of a trot to the point on most of the treks where I have ridden Sam I miss half the canters.  Unfortunately, when I went to walk him back in the other direction for the third time, he took off from a walk in a canter/gallop not sure which and I promptly fell off, although I did manage to land on my feet with the reins in my hand which was something and I got back on and decided it was time to ride back to the stables.  My friend ticked me off for cantering him an open field but I hadn't believed he had it in to go that fast.  Won't make that mistake again.

My friend rode him for me on Monday (she can actually ride properly) because I was working and he seemed fine.  However, when I tacked him up on Wednesday to ride, I had a bit of a nightmare.  I got on in the schooling ring after Saturday's hiccups and he immediately moved sideways and rammed my leg against the gate and refused to move.  I managed to get him moving and he did it again nearly trapping my foot against the fence post.  Got him to start walking round the school and was feeling very nervous as he seemed to be behaving strangely.  I wasn't sure but he kept putting his head up and thought he was trying to buck, but this is out of character for him so thought maybe it was just my nerves. And before we were even half way round the ring, I realised he had definitely being trying to buck when I went flying up and off him and landed on the floor in a heap.  Whilst it was not the first time I had fallen off, every other time it was very much my fault because my position was poor and I lost my balance and sorta slipped off the side as opposed to getting tossed in the air.  Scary moment as wasn't sure how I was going to land but luckily it wasn't on my head.  Hit the ground hip first.  The only thing I could think was I needed to get back on or wouldn't get back on at all.  I got back on briefly and he bucked twice more without unseating me before I got off again.  This all happened in the space of about ten minutes.

After dismounting and untacking, we had a look at him and he seemed to be flinching when his back was touched just below the withers so I felt a bit guilty about riding him as this was probably the main reason for him bucking.  It was recommended I not ride him for a few weeks and then see how his back is doing.  Not sure what the problem was because it was quite sudden so guess we need to monitor it for a bit.

Having spoken to Sam's owners, he is going to go back to the trekking centre because she was a bit concerned about how much he had been playing me up and the fact he doesn't seem to like the new stables.  Although she has said I can still come up and ride him over the winter, even though the centre is closed for the winter. Hopefully, in familiar territory, he will revert to being the lovely slow plodder he normally is.

Whilst it is a bit disappointing it hasn't worked out quite as planned, if he has possibly got an injury would rather she was around to oversee his care and I will still get to ride him, but in familiar territory for us both.  Undoubtedly, it will be a lot less work too which may be just as well because my housework and kids have been feeling a bit neglected in favour of the horse.  So a bit of a set back, but not enough to deter me from riding for the moment.  Although I thought I had got off scotfree in terms of bruises etc it seems that 24 hours later, that it wasn't exactly the case although just aches and pains rather than anything serious.

A Horse of My Own (well, for the winter anyway).

I have been wondering what to do in terms of riding, when the trekking centre shuts for the winter.  I had toyed with the idea of lessons or maybe trying another trekking centre which doesn't close for the winter but wasn't entirely sure about either.  One of my friends who works at the trekking centre had arranged to borrow a horse for the winter and after a few conversations, we decided it might be fun if someone else had a horse down in Cardiff with her.  I was unsure whether I could committ to looking after a horse as my employment situation is a bit up in the air at the moment and I will have to look for a new job soon.  However, my friend kindly offered that if I borrowed a horse too, she would feed it and let it out for me in the week each morning and bring him in the evenings.  With two small children, mornings are always a nightmare and there would be no way I could make the hour round trip to the stable and back before the school run each day so this seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.  The owner of the trekking centre very kindly agreed to loan me a horse and we agreed on Black Sam who I have ridden in the past and has a lovely temperament and is suitable for the kids to ride too.  He is very forgiving of a new rider.  He is the ultimate bombproof pony and not the most forward going horse so I feel confident that he will not take off with me when I don't want him to.

My first ride in the schooling ring with Black Sam

Black Sam arrived on Monday night and I have been really excited. Perfect timing as I have twelve days off work, starting last Wednesday, so lots of opportunities to go horse riding.   He seems to be settling in well and I have finally learnt how to tack up and I am learning a bit more about feeding and grooming.  I had a frustrating day yesterday, as he would not trot for me and was being very slow.  He is still finding his feet in his new surroundings and he isn't used to riding in a schooling ring or riding out on his own without following another horse, so it is a learning curve for us both.  I think he is also testing me a little, as well.  I am hoping that having my own horse to ride as often as I like will mean that I learn a lot about riding this winter as there is no substitute for time in the saddle so I have been told. 

The new stables seems really nice.  The people are lovely and very helpful.  There is a schooling ring to practice in, fields for grazing and a few that I can ride in as well.  We are also very close to some lovely countryside and forestry trails.  It is not quite as stunning as riding in the Brecon Beacons perhaps, but certainly lovely and much better than having to ride on the road with traffic all the time.

I had another ride today and he was great, much more responsive and we had a canter in the field.  I managed to canter without holding onto the mane which is my normal technique.  I think, even a few hours over the last few days, riding round the school without stirrups has paid off as I feel much more balanced.  I am still struggling to remember everything as I have a tendency to concentrate on one thing and forget other important things like keeping my position.  Yesterday, I was kicking a lot to get him to trot, abd I found my feet slipping back and myself falling forward, a bit too often when he finally did trot.  Today, everything seemed to come together and despite a fair bit of rain, we had a lovely day and I got to do lots of horse riding.  Looking forward to a hot bath now tonight as my muscles are feeling it, riding him in the schooling ring seems to be much harder than trekking on my muscles, possibly because I am actually starting to ride him rather than just sit on him.

Look forward to following my progress through the blog.