Friday 7 November 2014

Two Weeks

Sunshine + Ponies = Happy T

Today marked two weeks since I last sat in the saddle, and it also marked the end of my patience with being sick. Bridget and I popped out for a short hack in the sunshine. I'm so lucky have her around! I know I'm not physically up for a ride on Ginger yet, but Bridget is quite happy to wander along with little input from her rider and requires no prep in the form of lunging or apparently even regular riding. She's exactly the same as I left her - which in default mode is a mobile couch on which you may get out and see the sights :) I was feeling a little out of shape and wobbly and of course the very first vehicle to drive up behind us on our way to the trail head was a logging truck with a b train. As always, even though she was unsure, she opted to just take a hard look, keep going and carry her rider safely along :)
Off we go through the forest

The only sticky spot requiring any extra attention from me was caused by the many (new) puddles. I ride out on the trails as I do in the ring -  I pick my line and expect to stay on it. Horses that weave in and out and tiptoe around the edges of things drive me crazy. This is the west coast and puddles and mud are a way of life for most of the year. Also, wannabe eventer ponies can not be weird about water or footing! When pressed to stay between my aids she opted to politely jump a couple, but Midge does not have the motivation to jump them all and was quite happily wading through in short order. Being the good girl she is figured out what I wanted very quickly and I went back to being able to point her where I wanted on a loose rein without having to nag. I asked for a couple of short trots and canters, but since I'm still very easily tired it was pretty minimal, just a few strides here and there. I was just looking for nice transitions, which I immediately got, so I happily left well enough alone.
Conquering the dreaded puddles

So there you go, no fabulous training breakthroughs or progress to report, just a really nice ride out on a very well behaved pony. I'm so pleased with her, particularly considering we're only at just over 2 months under saddle (which includes a two week break)!
Off she goes to check in on Ginger.

Sadly, we're missing out on the spooky trail challenge event this weekend, which I fully expected her to dominate :) It's just too much for me at the moment. I do hope to attend whatever our local club schedules next on the calendar - it could be anything, but we're game! (Seriously hoping it's the dressage clinician or the eventing coach though, rather than trick riding or something!)
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8 comments

  1. That's not a puddle, it's a pond!
    Yay Bridget, she is so like my Nancy-belle, who packed me and lead Kika of our first forestry hack since June this week.
    I hope you continue to feel better & totally agree that horses + sunshine = healing power.

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    1. I so love your girls :) And yes, we get huge puddles - that's why the tip toeing around the edge annoys me so much - sooner or later they fall in anyways lol

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  2. Those are some seriously adorable ears. :D Hope you get to feeling 100% soon!

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  3. thank god for mobile couches. feel better!

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    1. I love my mobile couch - thinking I just need a really puffy bareback pad and we'll be set!

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  4. Mobile couches - ha, that makes me laugh! That is so great Bridget is so calm and steady like that. Hope you are feeling back to normal asap.

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    1. She's a super chill girl. Ginger mistrusts everything, Bridget's default is to trust everyone/everything! I don't think Bridget would have survived too long in the wild lol

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