4/5/13 A Trip Down Abbie Road

I travelled to the yard in the sunshine, and it did a lot to improve my mood after such a bad day yesterday. (I had Royal Mail lose some important post, and a beautician ruined my eyebrows and left me with burns from using wax that was too hot, and on sensitive eyelid skin that should never have been touched). Anyway, I had been looking forward to riding all week, and the sun had brought a smile to my face.

I’d spent several days turning over the Abbie-Starsky choice in my head. There is one month exactly until my first Common Ride. I have an either/or option of horses, and they are Starsky and Abbie. I love Starsky, but I haven’t ridden him (or any horse over 16.2 actually) for 6 months: I have been itching for the big boys to be fit enough to take out for 2hrs, and was disappointed to have meet both Starsky and Hutch on a trek last weekend; I would have taken Starsky ahead of Tom if I’d known he was available. Anyhow, while my heart has been aflutter with the excitement of riding a big half-Friesian saucepot, my head knows that I need to ride Abbie: I have never ridden her before, and have only decided upon her from what I’ve seen. I might not get on with her at all, a risk I find slightly greater with mares than geldings, so I knew it made sense to ride her first – I could either remove her as a back-up or even try to get her for my final ride instead of the slower Hutch depending on my opinion. In the end, I decided to let YO decide.

I actually got a lift from the bus stop from YO and her daughter, and it was lovely to natter with them. I arrived early enough to see the horses get groomed, and I knew Abbie was free. (There were 8 horses at the season’s first Common Ride yesterday, and had left the yard at least an hour earlier). I also saw Spice fully tacked up: she is one of L’s lightning-fast favourites, and those hacks are always fast, furious and fun. Between the sun, and hardly anyone outside the office, my hopes were building for a quiet, fast ‘Spice hack’ in the sun… I was not to be disappointed!

I went into the office, asked for Abbie or Starsky (rather than Starsky or Abbie, as I knew riding her was more important), and I was given Abbie. In fact, I think Starsky might have been away, as Hutch went trekking with Buddy, rather than Starsky which was unusual. I got on her, and she felt smaller than she looks – she looks like a small, 15hh horse from the ground but sat on her, she felt a bit like Guinness – a 14.2hh pony!

We set off from the yard, with a lovely man S on Ripper being called up to make the front 3 with myself and L; she said she wanted the faster horses first. I think what she meant was faster riders, as I suspect that the 17hh Jacko would outpace Abbie in a straight-line! We trotted to the river, and my stirrups suddenly felt both long and uneven – I felt like an unbalance beginner, close to being bounced off! Abbie tripping in the river was certainly not a pleasant experience with such awkward stirrups. Before the first canter I had to change them twice, and got the length and evenness improved enough to feel secure. Abbie’s choppy trot stride didn’t help, but it’s certainly not impossible to sit to.

As predicted, Spice went from zero to gallop up the first canter hill. L wasn’t kidding when she said she’d meet us again at the top. Even Ripper couldn’t keep up! Abbie tried her heart out though, and kept in touch with Ripper. Her canter was balanced and easy to ride, and I was grinning from ear to ear!

Upon getting up to the woods, the home of most of the canter work, we had to avoid the long canter stretch as there were dogs loose at the top of it. L promised we’d do it on the way back, and as soon as we got further in and I realised we were taking the ‘private’ route (longer, faster, and more varied). With Spice leading us around it, I was chuffed! The hill we canter up there is much steeper than the first one, and gives the best feeling. The last rider, on the very slow Flynn, described the experience as a ‘bit scary’. I sort of felt for her then; they don’t come much slower and more reliable than Flynn, and canter’s easier uphill: it doesn’t get much easier, but at least we could trust Flynn never to try to gallop and catch up! lol. He is a fine introduction into those faster take-offs though, so I do hope it would help the lady’s confidence grow by managing to accomplish it all.

Abbie was fabulous in every canter: she went from walk to flying, and despite not having the reassuring big neck of Starsky (the horse I have the most fast work experience with), I always felt secure. We got up to the gallop on the farmer’s lane, and we dropped off Ripper a little. My friend says Abbie kept up with Ripper at the big Common Ride, so I think it’s just a fitness thing as it’s early in the season. I put my leg on and found she had a bit more in the tank, and catching up a little was fun! We turned at the end, and set off galloping back down the path again. Spice was going a bit mental, and it took L over 100m to stop her: the track ends in a corner that turns downhill, and I was not relishing even watching someone hit that at speed, never mind ride it myself! I asked Abbie to come back to me despite the lead horse still in a frenzy, and the wee mare did – she decelerated as momentum subsided, and we were in trot long before the corner. I’d got a good feeling for Abbie on a Common Ride: she will be keen, but still listening to her rider. She’s very off the leg if you need to put it on, but I rather suspect that she will be giving her all without any need for leg on the big occasion!

The only problem with having gone the alternate route is that we couldn’t take it to get out of the woods, rather, we had to retrace out steps. I think L wasn’t prepared to go the other way as it involves a gate, and she’d spent some time saying Spice would be an unbearable Common Riding horse when you have to get from gallop to walk to get through a narrow gate. Fair enough, but it meant going down that ridiculously steep hill. L assured me that we would be walking, and that I need downhill practice for the staff Common Ride (YAY! *gulp*). Spice started to trot near the bottom, and L was swearing at her to get her into walk. Ripper was grand, but Abbie lost her balance on the way down, pushing me forward; we got dangerously close to the point of no return, and I was already planning my fall. I was worried she could come over me, so I’d planned to roll down and away from her. Luckily she got her front end up a little, and I’d already got my weight back as far as I could. She then tried to trot, and I was terrified she’d leap off the hill like we were on the Hickstead Derby bank, but I managed to get her to walk. I intensely dislike going downhill (S will attest to my shouts of “Feck-a-doodle-do!”), and prefer to do it in walk only. That was definitely the sharpest gradient I’ve descended on a horse, and I hated every second. There better not be much downhill canter work on the Common Ride!

After that hairy moment, all was well again: the last two canters in the woods were belters, and we got to start them earlier on the path than usual. The only disappointment was the long stretch that we had to miss because of the dogs; on the way back to do it, we met Buddy leading Hutch on a trek, and he was already being a tool and wanting to join us. There’s no way we could have cantered with Budd nearby, even if we’d started 100yards later, so we missed it out on both ways. Still, we’d got some gallop work in and taken the faster, longer way around, so I wasn’t complaining!

After crossing the bridge at the woods, the hack steadies up. I’d not long thought “Well, we got 3 novices through the hardest bit on a fast, quite advanced hack: all’s good!” Not much sooner had I thought that than I heard “Sh*t! Stop! Debz, look behind you!” I had 3 horses up my backside, (Jacko, Lou and Flynn) and not a single rider on any of them, and not a rider in sight either. We’d just gone down a tiny hill, turned right, and then started trotting when we got on the flat before a tarmacked hill. We were at the top of the hill when L noticed, and I’d presumed that maybe someone fell on the way down. L dismounted to go back for riders, as did S; I was the only person left mounted. L said the horses were happy eating, so for me to trot ahead to find the fallers. One appeared around the corner before I could start, so I then turned on my heels to babysit the 5 loose horses. All I could think was “I want to canter up this hill”, and as soon as I thought it, Abbie did it! I knew L would hear the hoof beats and know I wasn’t trotting though, and that it would not be a good idea to be cantering towards the horses once I reached the top and they could see me. I gave a loud “TROT!” so L knew I wasn’t being reckless, and Abbie got the message immediately. I’d the easiest job in the house, watching all the horses eat grass in the sunshine!

About 5mins later, the 5 riders came walking up the hill, all of them smiling and able to move. It turned out that Jacko had tripped over his own feet, so his rider came off over his shoulder. The other two ponies had been too close behind him, so made a sudden diamond formation to avoid collision, and the riders weren’t balanced enough to sit the sudden jump to either side. They all got back on, were able to laugh, and no one’s confidence was destroyed. All’s well that ends well! Still, it’s A who’s known for leading hacks with fallers. 3 in a row falling off at a walk would have been impressive even for her – for L it is unheard of!

Abbie was unflappable and obedient during the road-work. She does shake her head, and it became more noticeable with so much walk and trot, as the only paces she doesn’t shake in are canter and gallop. She wasn’t disobediently yanking though, so it was easy to ignore, and was a small irritation at most. I did give her a long rein so there was no chance of her accidentally tugging, but because she was being a bit marish about being behind the faster Ripper, she’d drift out and I’d have to keep taking up the contact to correct her. I think I irked S a little bit with her creeping out of line, but she did toss a less with a relaxed contact. I reckon I’ll get the balance better the next time I ride her, and be able to pre-empt her stepping out better.

Before we know it, the railway line was upon us. I had been excited about it for the whole ride. Sadly the Park still isn’t open for summer, so the chance to join it early is still not available. (That’s annoying me a bit, as it normally opens for summer in April. It is now May, the weather is good, and it’s still closed. GRR)! We got onto the line, and L explained the procedure to the 3 at the back, because once we were on the straight, she wouldn’t have the chance! I volunteered to be the person to gallop with one hand, so I could pass a hand signal back about slowing up, but L said they should be far enough back to see what we’re doing long before they need to do the same.

We got onto the straight, there was no one around, and off we blasted from a near-standstill. It already felt like we were flying, but when we made it around the bend and could see the second half of the line, L really opened Spice up. Abbie obliged, tearing off in a gallop, and when I put my leg on as Ripper had started to get away, Abbie went up another gear for me. The line was clear the whole way along – we only had to come back to trot and to walk because we reached the point where the ground hardens. Abbie came back to me steadily and safely, and seemed as happy as I did. She was still full of beans at the end, jogging to try and get ahead, so I rode alongside Ripper so that we could all chat. L voiced her approval of me doing my first Common Ride earlier in the season, and booking the superb Starsky as my horse (Abbie as a second). L knows exactly what horses I like, where my confidence is, what horses I’m strong enough to hold, and what my skill is, as she pushes me closer to my boundaries than any other Ride Leader. When she rubber stamps a choice, I have confidence that it’s the right one, so that made me smile.

After the last gallop, I felt my hips aching – I knew that I still hadn’t found the right stirrup lengths. The next two trots seemed to go on forever, and I felt uncharacteristically untidy. I was glad to get off the roads, and finally got my stirrups to match at an ideal length. Shame I only managed it 20mins from home! I did make sure to note what holes they were in when I dismounted though, as it’ll make riding Abbie much easier in future. (Interestingly enough, the only horse whose leathers I know off by heart are Hugo’s). I enjoyed heading home in the sun, enjoying the chat, and with the most exquisite smell of wild garlic. It was enough to make me hungry!

Back at the yard, Abbie tripped in the river, in the exact same place that she had on the way across. I’m glad I have secure seat, or I could have got a dunking! Mind you, this is the first time where I thought it might actually be refreshing. She got taken off me a bit quickly as there were 4 rides to sort out, so time was of the essence. I got her unsaddled and gave her a scratch though, having stroked her most of the river-side walk home. She’d been a lovely little horse, and felt trustworthy almost immediately.

Part of the way round, S had asked me what I made of Abbie. “Nice” was my reply – she didn’t have the wow factor, but was more forward going and a bit faster than I’d expected. She was perfectly likeable, but it wasn’t love-at-first-ride. If it was a first date, I’d have told my friends that I’d definitely go on a second date as there’s potential there, but I wouldn’t have been gushing about the experience with love hearts in my eyes.

As the ride went on however, the more I liked Abbie. She was prepared to ride away from the other horses when I was left mounted on my own, and was obedient in all the paces in terms of transitioning up and down (and that’s at Spice’s manic pace, when the excitement levels are high). She did want to overtake Ripper, but was very submitting to correction, and I think I can pre-empt her better next time. She also wasn’t spooky, doing nothing worse than look and speed up a little when some dogs started snarling through their garden fence, and I’d noticed how long her ears were (a weakness of mine, and a sign of good nature in my experience so far). I’d gone from thinking “Hmm, I need to ride Starsky again before deciding whether Abbie is Common Riding material” to thinking that actually, she’s pretty perfect for a CR-newbie like me. She’s fast enough so as not lead to regret (c.f. Hero), but not enough to potentially be disconcerting. Despite her opinion about riding order, she’s actually polite, and was prepared to do what I wanted and not just what the horses in front were doing. There’s a part of me that wants to do at least one Common Ride on Starsky or Hutch, but I’d definitely be happy on Abbie. In fact, I’ll hopefully ride Starsky next Sunday, and then I can decide if I want him for Ride 1, and see if I can swap the slower Hutch for the faster Abbie on my last ride. She also stands out in the crowd as she’s skewbald, so if Tom or some workmates do go onto the beach to watch me, I should still be fairly easy to spot among the crowds.

All in all, I had a fab ride! I got my favourite ride leader and on one of the fastest horses on the whole yard. The sun had been shining, but there was a glorious cool breeze to make things comfortable, and to cool both Abbie and I down after the fast work (of which we had plenty_. There had been only 5 clients on the ride, compared to last week’s 12, meaning that it was safe to go faster and take the alternate route. The railway line had also been entirely devoid of pedestrians and cyclists. In fact, if the park had been open and my friend had been there (she also missed the last fast hack that we had, much to her chagrin), it might have been perfect!  Still, we’re riding out together next Sunday: fingers crossed for the same and more next time J

Oh, I also bought a helmet cam and SD card for the CR season this weekend: fingers crossed they’ll be here before next weekend’s hack, so that I can get a bit of practice at it. All being well, I’ll have a video blog entry soon! :D 

 L-R: Abbie & Spice at a Common Ride last summer.

A Quick Catch-up

So, I’ve been terrible at keeping up with everyone and everything lately; I just need to sort my routine, and then I will find a way to fit Twitter back in. I miss my Twitter Sisters! I started work in April, and I can confirm that I am ridiculously happy. My boss is a wonderful woman, kind and friendly, and world-renowned for what she does. She brightens up my day, and I am excited about my research in a way I never quite experienced for my PhD, because while it was very close to what I was really interested in, it wasn’t quite on my first choice topic. I’m now in Animal Welfare, and am excited about the challenges ahead. While I’m not hugely motivated by money, there is definitely an upside: being able to ride each week! I also have a new best friend: we even phone up and book each other in on rides, and do things outside of the yard too. We’re off for cocktails on Monday! I do love that horses bring people together, especially for an introvert like me who doesn’t make friends very easily :)

So, I suppose I better do a quick catch up entry. There’s two things I want to briefly chat about – the hacks itself, and how my Common Riding season is shaping up.

I haven’t had any hacks to write home about since that hairy, high-adrenaline and really fun private hack. I have had another private hack since, but we went the usual shorter, slower route as we didn’t have L as our ride leader. While LD took us out on a fast horse, we still didn’t have a lot of canters, and we had to stop for pedestrians on the gallop. (To be fair to LD though, we were going to go a different route that really extends the length of the gallop, but things got in the way). I was full of cold that day, and couldn’t be bothered fighting if I was going to have a horse that needed wrestling into position, so I said a dobbin was fine as I wasn’t with it: I got Hero, and was very happy at the end of the ride. I always pushed him so that we kept up (it’s a pet hate of mine when people are at the back on a lazy horse, never push on, and we constantly have to stop to let them catch up). The only times I got left behind were on longer canters, but only because Hero’s top gear is nothing like the bigger horses; still, galloping a little horse was a lot of fun, potentially more so than holding a bigger horse in a steadier canter. Still, the fog in my head had cleared 5mins after I left the yard, so I regretted not taking a faster horse a little, but I still made the most of it and enjoyed myself. I even got to canter some of the trots home. Score!

I’ve had Hugo out again, but with so many slow riders with us, I had to put him at the back with Ripper. He got the message on the first canter that I wasn’t allowing him past the pony in front, and he was a gent from thereon in. At least I got to practice extending and quickly collecting his canter with such slow ponies in front!

I’ve also had Tom out a couple of times recently, but unfortunately they haven’t been particularly fast hacks. I wanted a hairy ride on him, to make sure I have the measure of him for Common Riding when he’s pulling and trying to race. I’m sure I will, but it’s always nice to be sure, and those adrenaline-fuelled rides are a blast! I have however been doing some CR-relevant schooling on the hacks, and have been entirely able to adjust his trot and canter/gallop (not his walk: he won’t extend, only jog, but he does this with everyone. It’s an accepted part of Tom, that he doesn’t walk fast – just trot slowly)! Steering at speed and galloping with one hand also weren’t an issue, so I feel very happy on him. We did have two big spooks on our last two outings though: a couple of weeks ago he freaked out in the middle of the road on me when we were crossing a junction. He’s a star in traffic, regardless of whether he’s the first or last horse, but I think he was worried the car coming wasn’t going to stop. The car was perpendicular to us, so I think it might just have been the T-bone approach that made the difference, and the guy could have started slowing earlier to be fair to Tom. The second happened in town yesterday: builders were loading an angle grinder onto a flat-bed trailer. I couldn’t get Tom to walk straight past it, but I rode him positively and we passed it without napping via the grass, giving Tom an extra metre between him and the trailer to make him comfortable. He wasn’t silly with it either, no leaping or spinning, just shying away quick-smart: he got a quick pat for being so willing to keep moving forward and settling back down again so quickly. Starsky would have leapt a mile in the air, like a school girl at the sight of a mouse! lol.

On the Common Riding front, things have changed, both in terms of my Rides and my mounts. When I emailed my form to add a third Common Ride in February, I also requested to change my horse from Hugo to Tom on all rides. I adore Hugo when he’s a live wire, but I ached after those 2hrs on the private – I’d find Hugo hard work over 4-5hrs with my weak back, and I owe it to everyone to be as controlled at the end of the ride as I am in the start. Yesterday, I finally caught the Common Ride book with the YO in the office yesterday, and found that I hadn’t been changed to Tom as I’d requested. So, while I do have Tom for the staff ride out (a fast one), I was still booked on Hugo for those original pair of rides (A and B in my dilemma post). However, as it’s now the end of April, I knew that my choice of horse was going to be limited: I wasn’t wrong!

The first thing I did when speaking to YO was to swap off Ride B, the last in my calendar, for an earlier ride so that I can go with my friend./buses to, but she will be great support on my first ride when my nerves inevitably tremble a little to begin with. That ride will also be a better introduction for me than the staff Common Ride, as while it contains lots of field/open space galloping and a race course, it’s straight forward (as opposed to windy, or with a lot of gates where fallers actually come acropper). Anyway, I now have a Tuesday ride with my friend in June, the staff ride in July, and Ride A across the beach and race course in late July.

I now however have no consistent Common Riding horse – I’ll have a different neddy for each one! I watched LD book me on Tom for the staff ride, so I am delighted with that. Unsurprisingly Tom was booked for the June ride, so Starsky was my close 2nd choice: L singing his praises really had an effect on me, added to how much I’ve missed him and been itching to ride him (and Hutch) since the big fellas came back from their winter holiday. I was worried however that some of the heavier men would need him, as he’s about 17.2hh and built like a Percheron; so, either he’d be taken already, or I wouldn’t be allowed to ‘over-horse’ myself when I could ride smaller horses that others couldn’t. Luckily however Starsky was free for the June ride, and as a back-up (in case he’s needed for townsman), I’ve put Abbie – a firmly built ~15.1hh coloured mare, who I’ve not ridden yet, but who I can see is my type from the hacks on mine she’s been on. She also stayed close to Ripper at Edinburgh CR last summer, and Ripper’s my friend’s horse for all of her rides. (Tom and Ripper are also best buds, and are similarly fast, so that was an extra benefit as we’d be riding together throughout the day). So, I have about one month before the June ride: I need to get some Starsky and Abbie hacks in before then! I’m going to enjoy that, even if my friend will be disappearing into the sunset with Ripper :)

For ‘Ride A’, now my final ride for the summer, I found that Tom and Starsky were both in the official party. That meant that even if I had booked Tom as soon as reservations opened, he’d have been taken off me as he’s leading the parade and Common Ride for the day. YO immediately said Hutch was free and put my name down for him, and I didn’t even think to ask about Abbie or even Corrie. I feel like Hutch is an old friend that I’ve known for a long time: he’s not as fast as Starsky, but it’s a steady Common Ride anyway, so I’m happy enough. It stops me having to decide between which brother’s my favourite, as I love them both in different way!

So, despite being momentarily irked that my request to have Tom had been dismissed months ago, I am excited about a June ride on Starsky (or maybe Abbie), the faster staff ride on Tom-a-horse in mid-July, and my local ‘home’ ride on Hutch. I’ll also be easy to spot in the videos and photos when I’m not on Tom! lol. I am beyond excited, and still tempted to add Edinburgh or Ride B at the end of the season if money allows. I wouldn’t have first pick of horses booking so late, but I’m one of the lucky people that, as a regular rider at my yard, know at least three alternatives that I’d be happy with; many people come and try a horse just for Common Riding, and if they go lame, then they end up on a horse they don’t know for the day (albeit one matched with their riding ability, and as similar to their first choice horse as possible). I just need to see how my finances stretch this summer, but my finger is itchy already!

So, all in all, I’ve enjoyed my hacks, even though they’ve often not been as fast or quiet as I’d like. (Yesterday’s was a whopping 13, and while there were no incidents during canter, someone did manage to follow off whilst walking in a straight line). Now that I’ve swapped rides, it’s just over a month until my first Common Ride, and I’m excited that I’m going to spend May riding Starsky and Abbie, getting ready to roll for the big day. I can’t wait until this Saturday morning in fact – I’m definitely itching to ride Starsky first! Fingers crossed the Glen is open too, as it closed early last summer because of all the rain, and is now a month over-due for summer re-opening this year. I’m itching for a bit of variety, and miss the smell of the forest floor, the dappled sunshine of the sun peeking through the canopy, the sound of the waterfall, and the firm thuds and clacking of shod hooves on a wooden bridge. It also makes the gallop longer, so it’s a win win! Fingers crossed folks :D

Tom-a-horse, before he lost his winter fuzz (so still looking like a pony somehow!)

 

3-3-12 - Charge of the Fast Brigade

Today I went to the yard not first thing in the morning, but in the early afternoon. The past few weeks have been ones of frustration, hacking out with as many as 11 other clients, and being led by slower leaders or horses. Having made quite a few friends now, we exchanged numbers and agreed to set up a faster private hack, got a discount price arranged, and was assured we'd have one of the fast ride leaders. This was the first meeting of our private, adrenaline junkie collective, and I was delighted to go into the office and be given Hugo, as I'd been dicing in my mind between Tom (currently my Common Riding steed), and Ripper (a fave who'll normally be unavailable on private hacks as he's my friend's first choice – in fact, she only does Common Rides when he's free).

I mounted my floppy eared steed, enjoyed some chatting and patting, and off we set. L was leading us, and was riding Bobo - the OTTB, who was leader for the first time and kicks at any horse that gets close enough to over-take (which is probably why he’s an EX-racer! lol). The way we left the yard, the slower ponies had gotten behind L, and the faster horses like Hugo, Tom and Gem got stuck further back. I got Hugo moved forward a little when he positively skipped across the river, but was still behind the little coloured mare Indie, who I find a frustrating because she's not very fast. I knew I'd have to keep Hugo on a short rein to stop him tearing past during the fast work, but I also knew that it would be good practice - the hard part of Common Riding (nerves and being a balanced rider aside) is holding a horse at gates until it's clear to go, and either holding back or steering to avoid any chaos occuring around you.

We quickly came to the first canter up the hill, and we had 'the lurch': that  juddering, standing start to canter that gives you this feeling of G-force pushing you backwards. Hugo was keen, and I knew I was going to have a handful of a horse - a definite hint of the 'machine' he is on Common Rides. He was however polite, when I told him at the bottom of the hill in no uncertain terms that we were not to over-take.

Getting to the woods, the first canter was fine, and I got a giggle at Hugo cantering on the spot waiting for a gap to open up for us to move forward. We all stayed single file that I could see, and the speed was steady and controlled. The next canter was nuts however: first of all, Tom flew past on my right, nearly scraping his rider off in the branches as there's no real room to pass, and I held Hugo to the left so that he couldn't do the same thing. That worked fine, until Gem decided to race Tom, but got rather close to Hugo, my steed leaping left to avoid Gem's bitey end (one she's not afraid to use). I wobbled to the left, but managed not to overbalance, but it was still a horrible feeling to not be secure in my seat while cantering, and with the adrenaline rush of horses suddenly whipping past without enough space. I saw that Gem's rider, who's lovely but a bit wobbley anyway and was almost taken off our last hack because of it, was almost entirely off as he'd lost his stirrups and was leaning forward. Poor Cha Cha, one of the new mares, scampered off in a gap in the trees, avoiding the mess entirely! It was the most ridiculous thing, as the over-taking occurred with no control and all the horses bottle-necked suddenly at the large puddle that they'd all slowed down for, the sudden braking not helping anyone’s unsettled seats either. I knew then that this ride may be too hairy to be fun, and while I had the fastest horse on the ride (if Bobo has speed, he's yet to show it as he's sluggish in canter), I didn't want to be up front behind him: not when there's people not holding a good enough contact to maintain their file order behind me.

Hugo seemed a bit disappointed that he wasn’t allowed to join in the race, but apart from tugging on me to try and get his head then yielding when he failed, he was pretty well behaved. My nerves had been rattled a little however, and I hadn't realised by how much until I brought Hugo back down from gallop at one point, asked him for trot, got it, but I still forgot to release the rein pressure. I felt bad for that - it's been a long time since I've held my tension in my hands, but I consoled myself with the fact that I wasn't happy at the high speed of his trot as it got us too close to the kicking mare in front, and from then on I was aware to always release as soon as Hugo listened in order to reward him.

We left our usual trails in the woods, and one of the nicest canters on our detour was along a farmer's access track, with one with a clump of grass down the middle from where the tractor tyres hadn't touched. There was enough room to go double file here, but Indie was kicking out at Hugo, and after my slip-up last week on Tom, I was determined not to over-take even though there was enough room to do it safely. Hugo tried to pull out right to pass, but quickly gave up when he realised I wouldn't let him. When we got to the end, we did a 180 and cantered back up the path again. Rather than snaking around in file however, Hugo did a sort of canter pirouette, and turned on the spot, leaping sideways into canter! Off we went, and the horses ahead seemed to be racing again and weaving about. Hugo was a gent about it when I asked him to contain his excitement, but was going as fast as he possibly could get away with, given the horses in front. I felt so secure on his back and was happy to have short reins but soft hands as I trusted him to yield if I put pressure on the reins, but I wished that I could have opened him up, or lacked the conscience and riding etiquette to hold him back.

After that, there was lots of cantering on completely novel tracks. Many of these were single-file only, making the whole thing enjoyable as I knew I was safe from others and didn't have to wrestle at times with Hugo to keep him literally in line. The landscape was beautiful, and there were two steep hills that we just soared up: it really is quite a feeling! We did have a fallen tree in our way though, so had to go down a ditch and up, with trotting pole-width branches on the down and up. I'd half expected Hugo to stag-leap out of excitement, but he just lifted in his knees like a Hackney, giving me the feeling of riding the world's bounciest trot. Shortly after though, we went down a steep bank, and the momentum had gotten Hugo too close to Indie; the moody mare kicked out, and just as my balance was shifting to reflect the gradient chagne, Hugo giraffed and shied left, but also pushed me into the right place and avoided Indie's hooves. I could have kissed that big horse for that!

We got onto the normal canter tracks on the wood after that, with another standing start on the inclined canter with the huge puddle. Hugo felt like a roaring engine, and I would have dearly loved to have gone faster! All was well up the lake-like puddle, me leaning back to allow Hugo to traverse it. After that however, the horses ahead thought the race was on and went back into a scrappy diamond. Hugo moved right, but I had a firm hold of him so he couldn't speed up. Indie did not like him moving however and went to kick. I'm not sure who reacted first, me or Hugo; either way, we both moved right, which meant me taking a branch to the face and almost losing my left stirrup. The tree hit me on my nose and filtrum (that soft ridge on the upper lip, below the septum), but at least Hugo slowed until I caught my stirrup. My face hurt immediately though - it felt both bruised and swollen from a blunt-force injury, and had the sting of a bloodied sharp-force injury too, which others quickly noticed. I wasn't worried however, and L had slowed Bobo down to stop the horses racing. The end of the incline is single file only, and we all got up safely, though there were a few proclamations by L and some riders saying some folk would end up parting company with their horses very soon the way they were going! We cantered back down this incline with more control, though the low branch at face height was an issue at the bottom. Hugo wouldn’t go under the highest point of the brance for me because Indie took that route and he knew better than to get near her, and with Hugo's head carriage so high, I literally had to put my face to his neck to avoid that one.

The last woodland canter was more straight forward thankfully, a nice pace, but Hugo leapt at something, and I got a bit unseated - I'd been tilted so my heels had gone towards the cantle in that makes sense, like someone pivoted me around from my waist. I also lost a stirrup, but managed to sit the canter despite the fairly sudden braking to a trot, Hugo's neck doing much to ease me concerns about tipping forward. Twice that horse had pulled me out of being unbalanced, and I was grateful as it is so unlike me to have a wobble, never mind too! I heard the rider behind me say they won't get so close to Hugo again. The rider behind me told me that Hugo had bucked, striking out at her mare. It was nice to have an explanation, as I really hadn't understood how I'd got caught out and ended up tipped in a way I don’t think has ever happened in all my days riding. Unfortunately after this though, one of the ponies behind me was trotting short. L spent 5 mins assessing her paces and cleaning out her hooves, confirming that she was lame in the front right. We called back to the yard for a replacement to be brought out, and for Honey to be gently walked home. The whole thing must have taken 30mins, and Hugo got on my tits a bit as we waited. My back was sore from all the cantering in the light seat and Hugo arguing about speed and direction, so anytime he tugged for his head whilst we were stationary, it felt like someone was sticking a knife in my lower back. I threw my reins at him and said 'Try pulling on me now!' He wouldn't keep still though, so we ended up in a cycle of me taking up me reins, having to give them up because the fight hurt, Hugo then moving too much (he kept straying onto the path we were trying to keep clear) and L asking what was up. I explained, and she didn't seem to mind too much as I corrected him so quickly. On another day, I'd have been fit to win that fight, and Hugo would have accepted that he’s not being held on the buckle.

I enjoyed the quiet middle part of the ride, but I did find myself worrying about the railway line, the first time in a very long time (since Ransom maybe) that I felt apprehensive about riding it. The problem is that there's room to over-take, and space to get up to speed if there's no pedestrians. People josttling about was inevitable, but I've also found Hugo to get really wound up behind Gem. That time Hugo and I overtook the RL’s horse and lead the gallop was when Gem was in the lead. I therefore had mixed feelings about whether I wanted her behind, as she did the most unsafe over-take in the woods that nearly unseated several riders, or in front and winding Hugo up. In the end, I decided to keep Hugo behind Gem, hoping I was strong enough to hold him if he really wanted to take off. L eased my mind a bit saying that we were allowed to over-take each other on the line, just not overtake her. On the railway line we ended up waiting a few minutes for a walker to pass. While Hugo wasn’t dancing and almost rearing like I've seen him do with other riders on the line before, I certainly couldn't keep him still. He wouldn't stand in the same place, so we were constantly walking and circling. He kept trying to move up, and tried to go ahead of Bobo, so I kept turning him around so we'd be behind Bobo, Gem and Tom. It worked, and I managed to get in single file behind them but in front of the ponies. We walked at first, though Hugo passaged the whole way. We then had another lurching start, and off we went. Immediately Tom started the chase, and Gem tried to over-take. I felt a bit sick just watching it, as Gem was going off track into heavy ground on the right to try and make it past. Gem's rider also gulders to go faster, and Hugo responded to the shouting by doing the same. Hugo was desparate to really go, but I held him for dear life - there was no way I was getting involved in the fight ahead, and I did not want to over-take them and end up behind the kicking Bobo. (I had plenty of space on the left to over-take the pair of them, and a much faster horse).

 L suddenly raised her hand, as she could see walkers in the distance ahead. I had all my weight against Hugo, and he was slowing down, but Tom and Gem were not doing so well, and L pretty much shrieked at them as they hadn’t their weight back. Their diamond had split either side of me, so Hugo came up between them, and coming back to walk, momentum had taken us right up to Bobo's backside. I quickly shouted "L, I am walking but am at Bobo's bum: sorry!" but luckily Bobo didn't react (I think because it was so clear the racing was over, and Hugo and I weren't trying to over-take). I'd been working so hard to stay in control, my back sore both from the amount of cantering and Hugo pulling like a train at times, and felt bad. L didn't seem bothered however, and it was nice to finally be behind L now that the canter work on the hack was over, so I could enjoy both her company and not having to worry about surprise over-taking manoeuvres.

The conversation with L quickly turned to Common Riding, and I'd apologised for snoozing last week and letting Tom get so close to Bobo. She said the main thing you need on a Common Ride is brakes at the gates to hold before a canter, and either brakes or steering when galloping in case you need to avoid kicking, over-takers or fallers. I assured her that steering was not an issue, and I had got Tom to the canter speed I wanted, but I did have to brace all my weight against him to do so. She said Tom could be good for me on the rides, but we just practice so that I can fully adjust his canter at will when he is keen to go like that (and the horses are exponentially keener on a Common Ride). She said I should have Tom on my next ride with her, and keep him second in line behind her. We'd practice collecting and extending the canter, just to give me peace of mind that I can do it on a big occasion. I said to her that I wasn't proud, and if turns out I'm better on a slower horse for the Common Rides then that's fine; all I want is for everyone to have a safe ride and for me to have a blast! Now that I've found work and it doesn't require me to relocate, I know I'll have years of Common Riding to come, and time to move onto faster horses and faster ride-outs; I no longer need to try and do it all in one season as I feared a few months ago. L said we’ll keep going with Tom, but heartily recommended Starsky or Hutch too, extolling Starsky's virtue in particular. (One reason I’d ruled them out in my mind is they’re 17.2hh heavies, and all my weight against them would do nothing if they decided to clear off and ignore me). The only real downside to Starsky for me is that he's spooky, but L assured me he's not spooky on a ride out. In fact, she said there's nothing to spook at: with hundreds of other horses, there are no squirrels darting in front of you unless you're the leader, and he's fine with all the bagpipes and crowds in town (I've seen that for myself when I photographed the city ride, and plus with such a big herd of horses, there's comfort for him in numbers). She said he's spectacular on the rides, looks after his rider, and is controllable. She said Hutch was controllable too, but said little about him because I think she much prefers the faster Starsky. I do think Starsky gives a more fun, faster hack, but I’ve a special place in my affections for Hutch. I have to say, my heart has never been with Starsky for Common Riding, but I forgot how much I missed him, and got super excited at the news that the big boys start back to work in a fortnight. I'll definitely try him again with an open mind, knowing that there's always Hutch too. L said if I was going on a steadier horse, that Corrie probably wouldn't give me as fun a ride as either of the big grey brothers would. So, it looks like the list is narrowed down to Tom, with Starsky and Hutch in the back of my mind in reserve. (I may also be doing the 2nd or 3rd ride on Hugo, schedule-depending).

Travelling home behind Bobo was fun, not just for the banter, but because he's a bit of a lummox. He doesn't seem to have great proprioception, not knowing where his legs and feet are at all times. He bounced right off a curb when trotting on the roads at one point, like a bowling ball off a gutter bumper! As an ex-race horse, he also doesn't like mud or puddles, having been spoiled with a life in a stable and on the sand gallops. He often tries to dodge the path along the river by jumping onto the banks around the worn path, but then sliding off as he's not placed his feet solidly on top. It's quite comical to see! L decided we'd trot home, that way he wouldn't have so much time to plan any avoidances. It was hilarious - I could see him mentally thinking 'AARGH!", hesitating putting his feet down and then picking them up  again as quickly and as high as he could manage. L did a fab job of keeping him in front of her leg, moving on even though he didn't want to. All in all, he'd actually been a fab lead horse: he was green at times, just as he was when mid-pack, but he didn’t ever nap or spin, just hesitate. He always responded to L backing up her aids, and riding him positively through it all. Hugo also enjoyed the trotting back home, as Bobo (so called as he was bottle-fed as a foal) would speed up to make the mud pass by quicker, and Hugo loved making up the gaps. Even on the way home on a long rein, Hugo had not switched off - again we charged through the river, and had a naughty canter back up the bank and onto the flat, with everyone behind enjoying doing the same. I got off quickly despite numb feet as I wanted to get lots of hands-on time with Hugo. I don't usually have treats with me, but I did today for a change. Having found out that Hugo 'asks' on command by lifting a front leg and tucking his hoof up to his tummy, I asked him to say please and he did it with relish. He gobbled up that polo, and the other riders were impressed at his manners! I got his saddle off, marched him to the wash bay, and held him while he knobbed around a bit at the cold water. I got some good scratches with him when he was clean, and he 'asked' on command for my last two polos. He looked so adorable with his wet, shaggy coat, bright eyes, floppy ears, and pleading expression. I could have snogged his big hairy face!

When giving Hugo back, I'd raved about what a good time I had. The truth was that I had, and I'd seen so much good in Hugo even when he is wound up and pulling to go. He was a wonderful mix of thoroughly keen to run (and bloody quick when allowed), to utterly trustworthy in walk, trot and halt. He did not require a tight rein and strong control all the way around - only in the fast work, and often only at the beginning as he quickly got the message about what I would and would not permit. On the way home, he actually responded to my vocal commands alone to move through the gears, and bumbled along on the buckle. Some of the ride I had enjoyed in reflection rather than in the moment. The nervous adrenaline from that original over-take, the getting so sore and tired from Hugo’s tugging and so much cantering meant I fleetingly questioned my Common Riding ability. In the end though, I'd come full circle and appreciated just how good Hugo actually was even when I was nervous, that even L had got unbalanced in all the ruckus so I hadn't suddenly transformed into an unbalanced rider, and I'd enjoyed all the extra canter work and speed despite all the work and physical discomfort it took. I'm also excited that L's going to help me do some Common Riding prep, and soothe my concerns that my first Common Ride is no longer 'Ride A' from my dilemma post, but is new option C - the Staff Common Ride as it were. I told LD it would be my first, and he promised I wouldn’t do a death as we’d all stick together, but L later said that it's not exactly slow, and Ride A really is an ideal beginning. Still, I have months to practice, and time to decide if I'm taking Tom, or should take out one of the big grey brothers instead. I'm so excited about what's next, and got a lot out of a 2hr 40min fast hack that challenged my boundaries a little. In fact, I got home to find that we'd covered an extra 2 miles compared to usual in 2hrs (as almost all of that 40mins was spent sorting stirrups early on, and swapping out Honey), and I'd done my personal best recorded speed (40km/h or 25mph) despite maintaining control on the railway line and using a fraction of Hugo's capability. Win!

Hack stats (map blocked out, in case you were wondering about the white space):

I had to wait on the office being opened to get my bag, and while I was in my tarmac armchair (ie sat on the ground) with my second Jack Rat for company, the hack organisers had gone. I'd really wanted to ask about doing it again, and my friend that missed today is dying get the next one arranged so that she can come. I text the lady that evening to say thanks for organising it, I'd had a lot of fun, and I hoped we could all do it again sometime. She replied that it was no problem, and she hoped my face wasn't too sore! (I have been left with two cuts, making me look like I've had an accident trying to shave off a Hilter-esque tash)! So, I'm hanging on a bit of a wire about when it will happen again, but I'm sure it will. I'm so achey today though, that the idea of not riding for a while seems just fine! lol. Ibuprofen for breakfast anyone?

My second personal Jack Russel for company :)