Hacking Out on Hutch - Video Blog

I won't bore you with the story of hacking yesterday on Hutch, sufficed to say I had a great time, even though I had Hutch, The Bus Replacement Service rather than The Hutch Express. It took some work at first, but I did get him going, trusting him implicitly to film with one hand and ride him on a long rein with the other. I even got someone to take a pic of us when we got back (though the quality's shocking as it's my phone, not my proper camera):

I also booked a lesson next week rather than a hack: 1hr flatwork and 30mins jumping, as I need to make sure my schooling's in check, and The Olympics/Jennifer Saunders gave me the jumping bug. I've not felt like I've actively wanted to jump in a long time! Hopefull will still be in one piece to blog properly next weekend... lol!  Ta ta for now :)

19/8/12 – The Hutch Express

I arrived on the yard already sweating: the sun was over 20oC when I left the house at 8:20am, and there had been little shade on the walks to and from both bus stops. I said hi to the horses, read my magazine, and got into the office 3^rd despite being there first.  Tom and Abbi were taken, two horses I wasn't interested in that day, and the YO was making the decisions about who folk were riding. She asked who I was usually on, so I gave the list, omitting Ransom and putting Corrie first as he's who I wanted but said that I'd ride anything that isn’t spooky. (I can manage a spooky horse, but it tries my patience, and can unsettle me if it’s severe enough to ruin all enjoyment). I quite fancied riding Robbie as I was in a racey mood, but he's a flying machine and with the weather so nice, I thought there'd be too many pedestrian-induced breaks in the canters so felt he'd be wasted. YO perused the list and gave me Hutch. I almost asked if Starsky was in, because Hutch was a plod last time while Starsky had a bit of life about him. With such a big queue of hackers, trekkers and lesson-goers behind me though, I thought better of it. There could well be a plan for all I knew!

I was a bit disappointed about having a plod, but got chatting to the lady I made friends with on Clyde last week, and the nervous lesson-goer. Clyde's unshod at the moment, so I was reassuring my friend that Ghandi was a good boy. I said I liked Hutch but would put my Granny on him: my friend wondered if I liked my Granny, as she’d often seen people struggle to hold him while out hacking. I wasn’t sure we were talking about the same horse! Lol. The nervous lady was on the gorgeous big grey James: a very handsome boy, but a slow chap I think. I must remember to ask about him.

I got on, the stirrups didn’t need adjusting, and was I delighted that I was getting my first hack from LD, as one of my fellow hackers weeks ago said LD gives great, fast hacks. I also liked that he dictated what order the horses should go in before we left the yard. Despite being the biggest, Hutch was put at the back, but I wasn't miffed given how steady he was last time out. He'd never raced to get past, and didn't keep up with his brother no matter how much leg I used.  Still, Hutch was not keen to be at the end of the queue when he saw everyone go. He was pulling, but eventually decided to wait so I could release the pressure. I had one of those 'thank heavens, because if he really decided not to wait, there's no way I could hold 18hh of solid draft-type horse' moments.

With Ghandi in front of me, off we set, and Hutch power-walked to the river and through it. He didn't hesitate stepping off the bank – he was blasting along in walk. We got to the other side and we didn't trot the first trot stretch. It's the first time I've ever not transitioned up there, but we were directly under the sun, so I wondered if LD was just keeping the horses cool. Hutch did a lot of jogging: he wanted to be trotting like usual, as did I. The trees didn't seem so bad on him this time either, or like they had on Frankie: I didn't have to duck over his neck even once!

We got to the road, and an uphill stretch that is usually our second trot. As Hutch had stopped to pee, we were a bit behind and he flew in trot to catch up. I have never experienced such a fast, ground-covering trot in all my life. Hutch had clearly been fed some rocket fuel!  We had a really active trot all the way up this hill: I had that wonderful, floating feeling of being in total sync with Hutch, the pace having some cadence. It felt perfect. Hutch even took me out of the way of the branches without being asked. He was feeling like the perfect ride so far!

On came the first canter, the uphill stretch. I got straight into the two-point seat and Hutch took off. We were still in direct sunlight at this point, and on the final 1/3 of the hill (the steepest bit), Hutch broke into walk. I pushed him into canter again, but heard him puffing, so moved him straight down into trot. He's fit as a fiddle, but interval training uphill in over 20oC was just too much (as it was for Hugo), so I moved him into walk as soon as we didn't need the momentum for the hill. I gave him a long rein, and he marched, but with his neck relaxed and blowing to get his breath back.

I've been missing schooling, and the jump lesson I intended to go to rather than hack wasn't on this weekend, so I'd decided to school myself during the hack. I'd been reading up on a clinic Sam Griffiths did about lower leg, seat and balance in the two-point seat, and also thought about what Tim Stockdale said to Jennifer Saunders about the seat coming from the upper leg (which I disagree with: I think lots of lower leg security actually comes from upper leg placement, and while this is integral to seat, is not the same thing. I've found Pilates and core engagement is a much bigger component of seat than leg personally). Anyway, I know I can put my lower leg forward for comfort, but Sam's said lots of people try and correct that by altering their lower leg without adjusting their upper leg position. So, I'd left my stirrups one hole longer than I'd usually do for hacking, but not uncomfortably long. I told myself I wasn't allowed to over-extend my heels to feel like I'm reaching them -  I had to lengthen my upper leg and try to soften my stupidly tight hip flexors and abductors. It meant my legs moved around at times while I was working and comparing one alteration to the other, but I could feel the difference.

My other main aim was to work on my lower back: Heather Moffat was saying recently lots of people don't have core stability, so can't flex their back (the back often tends to lordosis unless the core's engaged – learned that from Pilates and my Physio) – this leads to them not absorbing the horse's movement correctly, and leads to bobbing-head and leg disease in some riders during dressage (something that's especially prominent in eventing dressage tests). I also have profound lordosis of my spine when at rest and not engaged. Anyhow, long story short, I'd decided to try and sit to the second canter, with my new whole leg position, and using my Pilates to tuck under and allow flexion in my spine.  It worked: I stayed in that saddle and moved with Hutch’s big and fast canter, but it wasn't what I'd call a comfortable experience like Frankie’s. (I could sit to a short stride all day long). I then lightened my seat, feel more comfortable, and Hutch's stride opened up too. I was grinning like a Chesire cat as Hutch was flying, much faster than my first hack on him, and was itching to pass.  I had to switch to grinning inside my head to avoid getting muck in my mouth!

Up came canter 3, and we were cantering across the big, gravelly curve, onto another straight amongst the trees. Ghandi in front of me cut the corner, and I could see my friend’s balance all on his left and was worried she'd come off. I was determined to keep Hutch on track and out of her way, so put my left leg and right rein on to hold him out on the turn, avoiding the hoses in front and increasing the amount of ground covered. Hutch kindly obliged, so when we were approaching the straight, I had my gaze right to make sure I wasn't pushing him into the trees and bushes on the outside.  While that happened, Ghandi got too close to the kicking mare in from of him, Weazel and her ~10yr old rider, and with a buck, my already unbalanced friend was off. Hutch leapt/bucked from left to right to get out of the way (I don't know which – I wasn't paying any attention to the happenings on the left – I was focused on the trees to the right), so before I knew it, my balance was forward over his right shoulder. There was now a gap in front with Ghandi and Weazel stopped and us having taken the longer and wider line, so Hutch opened up into gallop to close it. I shouted whoa and pulled on his reins to no avail: I couldn't hold the  freight train, and couldn't regain balance at that speed. Before I could even think (normally I fall in slow motion, so fall 'correctly' as I plan where to hit the ground), I was on the ground, looking up at the trees and facing the wrong way.

I have never been gotten off by a leap/buck before, and my balance galloping is good (I’d even been doing some turning exercises with Hutch in that seat to make sure my weight down both legs was the same). Today, I had just been so thoroughly caught unawares that I was genuinely shocked to be on the ground, and it seemed to happen so fast for a chance. I had a “WTF?” moment, wondering if I'd really hurt myself, but no sooner had I thought that, then the pain kicked in and I could assess myself. I had a sore arse presumably from landing on it (I didn't even know how I landed, that's how sudden it was), and was fine. I could have done with a minute before standing up (and P always encouraged that: I think you're theoretically not meant to move even when fine until a First Aider comes over and checks on you). However, I'd fallen entirely out of view, was on a the biggest horse and was going the fastest, so wanted to let the rest of the ride know I was grand rather than them panicking, thinking I was no unconscious in the bush.

I scrambled up, walked out onto the path, shouted “I'm fine: I’m much more embarrassed than I am sore!”, asked my friend if she was alright as LD was helping her up, and I saw Hutch stood beside the horse he was trying to catch up with, but no one had his reins – he was stood like a lamb of his own accord. He had apparently stopped once I'd fallen off, but speed and momentum had carried him 20m in front! LD immediately gave my friend and I a leg up. I pitied him: I'm not light and I'd 18hh to get on top of. We did it first time, albeit not stylishly. This is the first time I can ever remember not being remotely nervous remounting a horse. While falling doesn’t always affect my confidence, I can be jittery from the adrenaline. I had no such rush, and no such anxiety: I would have laughed in your face a few years ago if you’d said I’d have fallen off a galloping 18hh horse out hacking, and got back on smiling and fearless.

 Having put my left foot in my stirrup, I wondered why I couldn’t get my right one in without looking: I leant over to grab it with my hand to find that it wasn’t there -  my saddle had no right stirrup leather or iron anymore! Uh oh: I love schooling without stirrups, but there was no way I was hacking Hutch without any. Frankie maybe if I was forced to, as I could sit to her paces all day, but I really need to school on 17hh+ horses more to get sitting to bigger canters right.  I was worried the leather had broken and although it took several minutes, it was found intact in the bushes where I'd fallen. LD said it was a safety feature of the saddle, which I liked, as I'm using to riding in safety stirrups of some kind but they don’t use any at the city school.  Anyhow, LD just about got on his own horse from the ground, and off we went. Weazel, the kicking pony with the only child rider amongst us, went to the back and I went up behind Dottie. At this point, the rider on Abbi pointed out that my arm was bleeding and sure as you know, it started to hurt only when I saw it. I was riding in long sleeves, as I always do, but entirely without thinking I'd pushed them up as I was sweltered. This is why you should always ride in long sleeves kids, and beware that you don't push up your sleeves whilst on auto-pilot!

The first trot after the fall was uncomfortable: while the pain subsided fairly quickly, I could feel blood on my backside from a cut or tear, and there was a stone in my breeches that I kept sitting on when I lowered back into the saddle. I really wanted to root around and dig it out, but with an audience directly behind me, I decided against it. It took a while to move down my leg and settle. I found it when I got home: it was about the size of a Malteaser. No wonder it hurt!

We got to a canter stretch only moment after the fall and LD asked if we were happy to get going. I shouted an enthusiastic “Hell yes!”. I had a fast, powerful and keen horse – I was ready to enjoy a fast canter!  Hutch transitioned from walk to canter, and was close to over-taking Dottie. As Dottie’s not a lover of water, he dodged a puddle while Hutch charged straight through and took clean over: I couldn’t hold him back and shouted as much on the way past, but the girl told me I was faster, should be ahead and Hutch passed safely, so it was fine.  We flew like the wind until we caught up to Abbi, and Hutch looked for a way past, but the path had narrowed. I’d really felt the wind in my hair, and Hutch enjoyed it too.

The rest of the hack was wonderful: we had more active, floating trots where Hutch and I were in perfect harmony.  Unlike the first hack where he was ploddy and on the forehand, he felt really balanced and engaged. I also really felt a swing to his movement, something he hadn’t possessed in plod-mode. He even worked in walk and trot in an outline: something I thought he might never have been asked for before, given how he held his head out first time I rode him! I wish I could have seen us from the ground: it felt like Hutch was really swinging and over-tracking in walk. I only got a quick glimpse on one window, but it’s emblazoned like a photograph on my mind. I just wish I had an actual one to show for it! The only moment we had a dog suddenly appearing and snapping, which made the first three horses leap, but Starsky just snapped his head and ears erect to check it out. He was like a rock, and got fussed over like nobody’s business afterwards.

The journey through the Glen was gorgeous, and the smells seemed all the more intense for the sun. We did the horse steps, and Hutch raced up them. I had to hold him going down, as he’d trotted downhill a lot, and I didn’t particularly enjoy that sensation. I’d hope we were going to do A’s trick of cantering from the steps to the gallop at the railway line, but no sooner had I got onto the flat, but LD’s phone went off, and he had to answer it as it was a fellow trek-leader. We ended up meeting dog-walkers and cyclers though as LD chatted, so it was a good job we hadn’t started. Still, as soon as the path was clear, LD called for a steady canter. I made Hutch’s reins extra short, meaning that I had to get the fluidity of my elbows perfect to maintain the contact without taking a pull. If we had to go steady on the straight, I was in for struggle and I knew it.

The canter was beautiful, and when we got the gallop, A on Shiloh and a trekker on Frankie were trotting down it. I could see that Frankie was most definitely not happy about going so slowly! On the upside, we couldn’t see any pedestrians, and LD gave the words I longed to hear: “Once these guys are out of the way, we’re really going to have a blast along here!” I knew it: I was going to get a proper gallop along here, without disruption and without feeling bad (I get a bit of guilt for letting Frankie gallop when others are cantering, even though she can safely do so in the gap because her strides covers much less ground).

Hutch was literally chomping at the bit, and I lengthened the reins: I had no intention of controlling his speed whatsoever, apart from when the gallop was done. I was excited and grinning,  Hutch was doing the impatience passage.  Finally, the two ponies disappeared and after an extra minute or so, LD’s horse leapt from halt to canter, straight into gallop, and a second or two later, there was enough room for me to start.

From halt to canter to gallop, things were fast but smooth. I could feel the switch from 3-4 beats, and had the most amazing rush as the world whizzed by, but in a really comfortable, safe feeling away. On big horses like Corrie and Hutch the gallop feels slow: I suppose the idea is that it’s an energy efficient way to run and escape. With their long stride length, and the extension from canter to gallop, their feet seem to hit the ground with more of a gap and with such ease, that it provides a comfort that as a kid who hadn’t galloped, I didn’t think such a quick pace could afford. It certainly feels faster on Frankie, as her hooves hit the ground so often, but in terms of actual speed, the big boys have it. Hutch was racing, and although I’d held him at a gap in halt to make room, he’d made it up about 3/4s of the way along. Abbi was falling behind the front pair, and Hutch kept looking down the side to get past like an impatient car behind a tractor, but the path was too narrow to do it safely. He made that decision all on his own too: I didn’t have to fight him to keep him in line (and I’m not sure I could have either: there is no battle with that horse unless he chose to let me).

LD called the end of the gallop, and Hutch down-transitioned like a dream. I gave him a longer rein to let himself stretch and relax, expecting him to switch off as often the horses do after a gallop, as the ride’s fairly quiet from then on.  Not Hutch: the whole way home, he was active, engaged, swinging through his back, and really working into my contact. The only disappointement to use both was meeting another walk-trot trek on the final trot/canter by the river, meaning we had to walk home. Boo! lol. I remember last time I thought Hutch should have longer reins as I was holding them where rubber ended.  Today he was up in his frame, and my hands were further forward to maintain the contact at a comfortable elbow angle (although at rest they do look short on him). He also only shook his head once or twice the whole ride, and not the almost constant fidgeting in walk or trot. I don’t know what it was that first day: whether Hutch was in lazy mode or he felt my nerves, and mistook me for a novice that wouldn’t push him. Either way, I was glad to see an excited Hutch, the Hutch my friend told me about. Also, it fits with the fact that while in almost every Common Ride I can find (be it yard staff’s pictures, randomers’ fb photos, or official ride photography), I have only found Hutch twice, but have found Starsky every other time without fail (proof that giant, rose/steel grey Fresian crosses jump out of photos). Maybe this is the real him: an excitable handful. I hope so: I’ll be asking for him again if it is!  Honest as the day is long, but eager and kind too.

This ride proved something to me, as did Corrie: I am not afraid of speed and I am not afraid of riding big. I had a challenging hack on Ransom not because he’s about 19hh, not because he was fast, and not because he always wanted to overtake: I struggled because balancing to his uneven movement was hard, and was hurting my hip; I managed it though. So, thank you Hutch: I may have whiplash, a cut bottom and bruised cheeks, but I had a blast and learned a lot. Same again next week, yeah?! :D

Hutch on a Common Ride (front right: the grey to his left is about 16.2hh to give some perspective):

12/8/12 Hugo's Boss

Before I write about today's hack (on Hugo, in case you hadn't guessed), I'm going to tell you about how I first met Hugo: it was the day my little sister went riding for the first time when she was visiting me last month.

On a previous hack with my favourite leader, L (the one who owes me a proper farm-land gallop), I asked her for some recommendations for hacking horses. She said it depended on what you like, but in terms of fun, Hugo's one of the best for a bit of a blow-out. I thought great: I have a quick horse to ask for next time, especially as L said she'd give me a gallop in good weather when I'm “on something proper”, implying that Frankie pony is improper. How dare she: that moody little madam's my beloved Turbo Cob! lol.

Anyhow, I arrived on the yard with my sister, and the lady in front of us was given Frankie. I smiled at her and told her she was my favourite hacking pony, and she seemed pleased. Zoe, as the tallest person there, was given the real horse – Hugo, something I was a bit nervous about given that he sounds like a likely speed-demon out hacking, but I didn't let any of that slip. All my little sister needed to know was that Hugo was recommended to me and I really liked the sound of him :)

We got outside, and I had my camera ready. Frankie came out first, and the lady riding had lots of questions about her. I left out the galloping, speed-freak bit about Franks when she's in the mood, and told her about how sweet she was, had a short stride that might feel bouncy at first but is easy to get the hang of, and she always comes back to you when you ask her to slow down. She was delighted, and didn't mind me photographing Frankie either. As possessions are locked in the office while out hacking, my camera or phone are never on me when I go out, so I wanted to snap her while I had the chance. In case you didn't see what my beloved Turbo Cob looks like in my last blog, here's the little fit stick for you now!

Next came out this sweet looking bay gelding, with a little white star and corrective shoes on his hind feet. I had a feeling it was Hugo, and I was right: his name was called a moment later and Zoe looked nervous but excited. She was looking forward to riding, but I think she would have preferred something smaller! As it turned out, with Dottie (15hh Appaloosa gelding), and only ponies for company, she was on the biggest horse by a about a hand. Well Zee, if you will get the long legs that me and my other sister covet, you will be given a horse that takes them up! lol. Anyhow, she got up and my birthday instructor M sorted her stirrups and girth. I taught Zoe how to hold the reins, and patted Hugo. Hugo immediately came in for a cuddle, and when I stepped back for a photo, he stepped toward me with neck curved for another. That was it, I was hooked: a giant sook, a fun hack, and my little sister's first ever riding horse – he even has a name I have on my horse name list for my own gelding some day! What wasn't to like?!  Here he is, with my little sister on board:

M took the lesson, and I was glad: was nice to have little sis riding with an instructor that I knew and trusted. The only thing I was worried about is that M talks a LOT! I loved having that much info to take in, and while I couldn't use it all at the same time, I got a lot out of digesting everything afterwards. Zoe did not seem phased however: she watched M like a hawk while getting instructions. Just look at them!

Anyhow, I won't bore you with the details of my sister and a bunch of adults learning how to trot in an hour, suffice to say that Frankie surprised me with her laziness and corner-cutting, and out of the folk who'd never ridden before (a few were adults who hadn't ridden in over 10 years), Zoe got the hang of the rise and fall better than they did, but still wasn't in sync the whole time. She improved loads though, and stopped carrying tension in her reins quite quickly. It wasn't perfect (and it's not meant to be – there's so much to learn and do that it's an ugly start for everyone), but I was chuffed at her. Hugo looked after her too, and while he was a bit lazy as most RS horses are with beginners, he didn't put a foot wrong or give Zoe any cause for concern.

D, who gave me my first ever lesson at the city yard on the Groupon voucher on Whisperer, came up on Indy and we chatted a bit. He was taking the trek out, and shouted to ask if everyone was happy to go. To my surprise my sister said no, and M said it was fine – she'd give her a private lesson instead. Zoe quickly said it wasn't nerves – she was physically sore from trotting and was done after an hour. Without skipping a beat she said I could take Hugo on the trek, and she would happily wait for an hour. My sister is 18, and does not do waiting, not without advance notice and a book to read or console to play! I said I didn't know if I could – I'd already ridden on a Groupon voucher so wasn't strictly allowed. M said the YO was around so she'd ask: YO took one look at me and said “Yes, you hack here regularly and enjoy anything we throw at you. You can be 2^nd escort at the back of the ride and look after everyone. Is that alright?” Hell yes it was: I'd blagged a ride, got to try Hugo who I already adored, and got to chat more with the people on my ride, most of whom had asked me a million questions about the horses they were on, what the trek was like and so on. I was on board Hugo about 45seconds after that yes!

There was no time to change stirrups as everyone else were on their ponies and ready to go, so I was on my sister's leggy leathers: they were like dressage stirrups, but on a GP saddle - not very easy! Treks are only walk and trot though, and my stirrups were even so I was more than happy. Off we went on our merry way!

We got to the river to cross it and Frankie, who'd been lazy the whole schooling session, turned for home and napped. She would not budge towards the river, so I had to pretty much grab and pull her along. I couldn't believe it: the Turbo Cob is usually raring to get off the yard with me, or if she's in one of her moods, while she is no longer jogging with excitement, she's never napped tried to spin. They definitely know who's on board and who'll be firm with them or not, even when they don't have an hour to feel how well you can ride or not!

We got across the river, and up came the trot. My lower legs were going forward, but I wasn't worried as I knew what was happening: really reaching for my stirrups causes me to push forward as I try to get the length from over-lowering my heels. I knew if they were the right length, it wouldn't be happening. I found Hugo's trot easy, but it's certainly not one I would have chosen to learn on. Given Dottie's flat back and short-coupled  typically Appy build, I'd much rather be on him than on Hugo who has some sway and bounce.

Frankie took the piss the whole way: she kept dragging the lady into trees (no one escapes that trick it seems: she has opinions on the route with the best footing, and will exercise this as much as possible: she even refused to move over last week with me if you remember). She also kept stopping, snatching reins, and leaning down to eat grass like a Welsh A with a tot on board. I kept getting asked “What do I do?” so I gave her full instructions, and things improved quite a bit. The lady said she was glad I'd been there today, to learn about Frankie, to soothe her trek nerves and get some photos. I was touched, and clearly very happy to oblige!

When the lady had better control of Frankie, she moved up the ride order. I then had the pair of European girls in front of me. Bless their souls, but they really had not learned how to trot: they stood up about once every 5 strides and bounced the rest of the time. I even tried calling out 'up-down, up-down' to the pace of their ponies Marley and Gizmo (this is surprisingly hard when you're on a horse with bigger strides and you're rising and falling on a totally different rhythm yourself: felt a bit like playing two different sets of beats on a drum kit). That didn't help them either. They asked how I was doing it so easily, and I tried to explain about the horse pushing me out of the saddle, letting my hips bring me forward, and then gently sitting down as soon as that forward momentum stopped. I don't think any info really helps beyond the basics to rising trot: you just have to practise, and you'll get the hang of it eventually.

The girls had no common sense either, bless them. I had to call to them to lean back on every downhill stretch, and forward when uphill. They never did it themselves – I had to call every time. I also had to shout left a lot: they never seemed to realise when we were on roads with potential oncoming traffic, and D didn't speak once that I heard except to shout walk or trot. It felt like he was just showing us the way, and I was the one keeping an eye on the 4 riders out with us! Even I had started to wonder how it would have went without me there! The girls kept falling behind too, and I kept saying to catch up. There were points we couldn't see the ride in front at all as they'd taken bends, and I kept saying it's not safe to be left behind. The girl on Gizmo was not happy – she pretty much didn't want to trot at all. Gizmo is 13.2hh of mischief, and I was glad he knew his job: he knew when to trot and did it anyway. I think we would have ruined the ride for everyone else otherwise, with them having to halt regularly to allow us to catch up. I felt for her, I really did, but I knew I wouldn't have permission to  walk her back to the yard on my own, so onwards we pushed. In fact, on the final trot by the river she lost a stirrup and was completely on Gizmo's left side. How she didn't fall off I don't know! Still, I was able to calm her enough to trot her back to the ride and walk home.

We reached the water, and while I came out of single file to cross alongside Gizmo, Hugo strided on and got easily ahead. I waited on the other bank and got a slightly ill-tempered shout of “I'm fine – just go!” I calmly replied “The YO told me to stay at the back of the ride, and as she was so kind to let me take Hugo, I'm not arriving on the yard ahead of you!” She may not have felt grateful, but she needed the help and the extra pair of eyes whether she liked it or not!

Throughout all this, Hugo was a total gentleman. He pranced and danced, telling me “We canter here when someone like you is on my back!” but settled as soon as I asked with him with minimal cues my seat or hands. He wanted to overtake and enjoy trotting with Dottie and the ride leader who were much faster, but waited every time I asked. I was so impressed with him: he was a mix of cute, affectionate, keen, attentive and kind. I knew I'd be asking to take Hugo out at the next available opportunity. In fact, I asked and asked and asked... twice Hugo was in lessons, once for a regular and once for a total beginner, and then the slowest ride leader of them all nabbed him as her lead horse.  Grr! Well, finally I got the big sook, and here's how we got on:

I'd a nice walk to the yard with a lady that I met on the bus and who rode as a kid. She had her first ever trek at the yard that morning thanks to a Groupon voucher. When her sister arrived, I left them on the bench and went to see the horses. I said hi to Whisperer, to Jordie, to Shiloh and even to Frankie. Franks did  not say hello back: she looked snoozey in the corner of her stable, and even a Fruit Pastille didn't tempt her! (The first time I've ever had treats in my pocket at this yard, as I'm generally against treating from the hand with most horses, but she deserved it and refused. Charming! lol).

The yard got busy with two lessons, a trek, a one-hour hack and our two-hour hack turning up, so I made sure to take my seat and got into the office first, as me and the lady were the first people to arrive. Two of the YOs daughters came into the office, and I like them best as they usually read out the horses and give you a choice, or just assign you without asking which makes for my kind of lottery – you always win a ride! lol. I was asked who I wanted, and rather than give a short-list of two or three as I usually do, I just said “I want Hugo if he's in please”.  I got an immediate yes and sort of guffawed in shock: I said I'd been asking for him for a month and he'd been booked for something else every single time. With my bus, I'm always on the yard at 9:15, 30mins before hack's due to start, so K said “Well, you wait from what feels like 8am so it's about time!” I laughed, said the wait was totally worth it this time, and went out smiling. My beautiful boy was out second, and after 2 loops on his stirrups, got sorted to as close to even as one can get with synthetic 'leathers'. I also chatted to the lady I walked in with again, who was on Frankie's son Finlay. I told her I hadn't ridden him, but adore his mum and he seems sweet, and she looked happy. I asked my groom when we were out of earshot if Flynn or Finlay were lively to ride out like mum, or typically relaxed geldings. She said yes (never a helpful answer when given two choices), but then said had settled down really well. I presume that meant that when first broken in, they were a handful to hack (as many youngsters are), but were now quiet rides. I was a bit disappointed, but still might give them a go, especially Finlay as he's a bit chunkier than Frankie and looks like he has more mischief in his eyes (except when he's snoozing, as per the pics in my last entry).

There were so many of us on the yard, that they needed a sheet of horse names to group people together! I was called first with Hugo to go towards the river, and I was determined to be behind the leader on this ride. We went by the slow ride-leader M, who stopped to give Hugo some love. I asked if he was a favourite of hers and she said “Yes, in every way!” We passed L and when she said it hadn't been decided who was taking us out yet, I urged her to volunteer. YO then said S was taking us out, and L came over when she saw me and two other regulars said “If I'd known it was you lot, I would have TOLD the YO I was leading this one. Next time you come, tell them in the office that you want me to take you!”  I'll definitely be doing that: three of us before the ride had all said we wanted her!

Off the yard we set, and Hugo keenly crossed the river, which was the shallowest I've seen it since my first hack in April. The first trot came, and it was as easy to before, though I wasn't 100% happy in my stirrups, and felt my lower leg move a bit. I corrected every time it did, was happy to notice my mistakes at least, and resolved to do what I've seen two other ladies do: bring their own genuine leathers and irons to go on the saddle, so they can always insure that their stirrups are even and are easily adjustable!  I was happy to let it go at that.

I'm not sure how, but that first trot stretch where on tall horses or Frankie I've been battling branches galore, I don't remember a single dodge being required. Perhaps I have struck the Goldilocks rule: that in-between is just right, and at 16.1hh or so, Hugo is what I was call a medium-sized horse (15hh something being small, 16hh something being medium, 17hh something being big/tall, and 18hh plus being huge)! Duly noted for all future excursions :)

Hugo was keen as mustard the first few trots, though always kept a horse's length behind the lead pony Lou. Lou didn't seem to be in a tail-flicking, kicking, marish mood, but I do wonder if he's once-kicked, twice-shy, as he would give me more impulsion when I put my leg on, but wouldn't get closer (thus making me think it was safety, not laziness driving him). I also quickly noticed his waggley ears now that I wasn't watching beginner riders: they move like he's swimming! Seriously, when he walks, his ears are like a swimmer's arms: sometimes they bob in circles one at a time like the front crawl, sometimes they floppily circled together like the butterfly stroke. I was so transfixed, I missed some of the scenery sometimes. I even sang to him too! “How much is that horsey in the window?  The one with the waggley ears!” lol.

The uphill first canter was coming up and I was grinning like an eejit – I was so excited! Hugo was quick, but unlike the fast Ransom, was a gentleman and didn't try to overtake, even though he could easily have done. I was in the two-point position as I like to allow the horse that extra reach uphill, and because Frankie's broken into gallop up it before, so it leaves me ready for that eventuality.  I did however make a mistake: Hugo's canter felt like it would be really easy to sit too, so once we got to the slower part at the top, I sat down. The way I changed my seat however, I accidentally blocked his movement so he went to trot. I asked him to canter, but he quite rightly ignored me: he was concentrating on keeping up the same speed and momentum in his trot, and we were so near the top, it wasn't worth upsetting the rhythm. That was completely my fault: I should have just stuck to what I'd planned to do originally.

The next canter quickly came up, and I stayed in the two-point position the whole time. I noticed how high Hugo carries his head: I presumed before riding him as he's in a martingale (though  bobbing Ransom isn't for some reason), but as he doesn't fight for his head and doesn't suddenly go from high-head carriage to low head-carriage unpredictably like Ransom, it wasn't an issue – just a difference.  On canter three, I decided to sit the whole time for start to finish and I was right: I did find his canter easy enough to sit to. So far the cut off for finding it easy is around the 16.2hh: certainly the 17hh above have such big canters that I really need to get used to them in the school. Sitting still and classically while a horse is launching you with such a powerful back end requires some practice it seems!  Hugo also hadn't held my error on the hill against me: he wasn't hesitant, worried I was about to block him again. He went forward keenly, quickly and politely.

With some closures and things, we did have to retrace our steps again, but S took us on a new route to do so (whereas M made us turn 180o once we'd finished a canter) and put loads of cantering in. In fact, by the time we'd made it to the bridge over the valley about 40mins into the ride, we'd done 5 stretches of canter already: that's how many we do under M over the whole 2 hrs!!! S also joined two stretches together and made a mega-long one. I was out of the saddle for this one and had a blast. Hugo did slow towards the end a bit though, and was suddenly sweating a lot. He's a fit horse that does common ridings, but running around in the 19oc heat was getting to him poor chap!  The walk after this was quite long, and beautifully scenic, so we both appreciated it. The hooves seemed particularly loud and echoey over the valley today, and with the bright sun, made for a picture perfect view. I really need a hacking jacket, so I can zip a phone or camera safely up and bring it with me. That, or I'd love Santa Claus to bring a helmet cam this year! How much fun would it not be to see the Turbo Cob in action up that hill, over that bridge, and on the railway line?! :D

Apart from trying to get Hugo to get a bit closer in walk, the rest of the walk and trot work in the middle of a hack was a breeze and a delight. I'd offered earlier if the lady on Dottie wanted to go ahead as Dottie was rude and tried to over-take me on a narrow canter stretch earlier. She'd turned me down, and then out of nowhere pushed in. I've no problem in changing order to find the best place for horses of different speeds: why not accept my offer, or ask to change up than just butt in? The lady on Clyde almost did the same, as they were two-abreast chatting, however when we had to go single-file again, the lady on Clyde dropped back and told me I should be ahead of her. I thanked her for that: I was on a faster horse, and I didn't want to be held back just so that they could be an easier conversational distance away from one another.

We reached the Glen, and it was finally open today! There was a sign apologising for closure, but a tree falling and landslides in the unusual summer weather had lead to closing the route for safety reasons. I understood a bit better why it had taken a month to reopen again after reading that.  I hadn't realised how much I'd missed the Glen until I got back in: it has all the sights, smell and beauty of the woodland we cross, but because it has proper paths rather than mud trails, there are no branches sticking out to catch you! I also got chatting to the lady on Clyde too, about Common Rides and lessons. While the school are down to one full-time RI and thus limited private lessons, they have some part-time instructors who do the regular group lessons. (The yard runs on the American system of Beginner lessons on particular days and times, Intermediate lessons on specific days/times etc, and a girl comes in to take some of these). There's a flatwork lesson where they do more advanced work like lateral movements, so am tempted to try that when money's less of an issue. I also found out that Clyde's a monkey in the school, so is used for hacking and Common Rides only. I never would have expected it: he's such a quiet, ploddy, so-straightforward-he's-boring kind of sweet little horse, I thought he would have been positively snail-like in the school!  I said I'd be interested in joining that lesson as my love is dressage, though I've been bitten by the jumping bug a bit after The Olympics. She said she was a nervous rider who only rode out on Clyde ever, and couldn't stomach jumping at all. I told her how hacking and Common Riding takes much more guts, and she's not to call herself a nervous rider anymore! She also told me if I liked Corrie then I must be an absolute speed merchant. Was pleastantly surprised that Mr Smooth had a reputation as Mr Speedy too, because he can certainly move! I then turned back forwards and enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the Glen.

We came across the wood pole-lined big steps, and Hugo powered up and down them. He clearly knew we were near the railway line!  We got the bottom, and sadly we didn't do the thing of cantering all the way from there to the end of the railway line. I don't think this is a regular canter point for S, as she wasn't checking up ahead to see if he we had space to go. I was disappointed, but we got so much cantering in earlier and I'd had such a great time, I didn't dwell on it. We came to the Railway Line, and we walked more of the beginning of it than usual before she stopped us. She said it would be a steady canter, and back to trot for pedestrians. The sad fact was that, on such a cracking day, we had to trot most of it to get into some clear space.  Hugo had such big airs off the ground it felt like he was doing what I call the 'impatience passage': not as pretty as a dressage horse doing the real thing and not trained in the horse as a schooling movment, but a natural trot-jog where the feet get proper air time. It felt amazing to ride, and I could feel the fire in Hugo's belly grow as we trotted more and more, but he wasn't making a dash for it – he waited like I asked.

Finally, we got a clear space and before I could really tell that the leader was cantering, Hugo leapt into action! Completely involuntarily I shouted “WEEEEEEEEEE!” and off we went! We quickly hit a smooth gallop, but with diminishing space in front of us, dropped down to an active canter instead. I'd expected Dottie to go faster given he'd tried to take over me earlier, but he started to fall behind, and when I called out that I was passing as my horse was faster, Dottie and rider moved left and cut me off. I didn't see her hands move: I think Dottie did that all on his own. Still, the cutting us off slowed things down even further, and before we knew it, there were more pedestrians so we went back to a trot. Hugo and I were flying along, expecting to move back up to canter again once the people had passed, but we didn't. While I was disappointed, I'd expected it days in advance: with such good weather, you get more people out and about, and more broken canters. I'd enjoyed myself in the 5 canters in the pedestrian-free woodland anyway, so I wasn't gutted and certainly didn't let it detract from my mile-wide smile :)

Hugo had given me such confidence, that when we were on the side of an A-road waiting to cross, I held the buckle to allow Hugo to eat. S called up that a few tractors were coming but I'd every confidence that Hugo couldn't have given the tiniest poop about them and I was right. Except when crossing roads, I road Hugo on a very long rein after that as it's the final quarter of the ride anyway. We had two superb trots as well: the totally in sync, moving as one and floating across the ground feeling I've felt so many times on Guinness when I've got his hocks under him and pushed him into medium trot. It felt amazing, and made me feel like my schooling's not just fallen apart because I haven't done it for a few weeks! Those two trots were incredible, and I enjoyed every second as a grinning idiot.

When we finally got to the long path beside the river, I rode without any stirrups for about 20mins and on a long rein. I'd never been fully comfortable in the stirrups, and wanted rid of them to give my joints a break and regain circulation in my toes. I trusted Hugo implicitly, and he was a gentleman the whole time. (I normally only take my feet out for a minute of circling on the way home). We got to the part that was originally the first trot stretch, and S stopped to ask if we were happy to canter it. Before I could even think, I'd involuntarily shouted “HELL YES!”,  as it was been a pleasant surprise to be asked (of the 5 leaders I've had, only one other uses this to canter). Everyone laughed and said “Hell yes, me too!” and off we went. I was grinning at first, but I learnt the hard way about how much the muck on this trail flies up, so had to shut my mouth and smile on the inside. Hugo dropped out of canter once as we ran out of space, but transitioned straight back up when we deliberately fell back. We both had such a blast: I think the pair of us were rather frustrated by the lack of cantering under the railway bridges!

We arrived at the yard, and while I circled my feet (not because I needed to, but to buy time), I patted and praised Hugo - something I did so often on the ride as he did everything I asked of him that he possible could, bless him. I hopped off, and started to unwrap and run up his stirrups and loosen his girth. He started getting bargy, which he hadn't been before, but I quickly realised why: there was a bucket of feed on the ground! I got him away, and he stood when I asked. I then went to rub his head. He showed me he was itchy, so moved in to use my as a scratching post. I hate no manners in a horse, and this is one rudeness that I don't agree with, so I stepped back and offered my hand: I happily play the “scratch me here” game with a gentle horse, and was happy to scratch by hand, but I was not being barged over by his beautiful big head and floppy ears. L came up and took him at that point, but we were both happy, and he'd had the two sweets from my pocket as he hadn't begged or harassed to get them (another behaviour I hate in a horse that's so easily prevented).

 I knew from L's recommendation that Hugo was going to be a cracker, and I felt his potential as a hacking horse on that trek. I had not been disappointed on this ride; in fact, my only minor gripe is his saddle: about an hour into the ride it felt uncomfortable, and it continued from there-on in unless I was in the light seat. I thought it was what I was wearing at first causing the discomfort, but I was in the same clothes and undies I usually wear to hack. It then clicked with me: it must be his saddle, as Zoe was sore too. Grr! If they got a better one, Hugo might just be the perfect ride. I texted my little sis on the way home to tell her I felt her pain, that horse riding doesn't usually hurt so much, and Hugo's the dog's danglies. She was pleased to hear it!

So, here's a pic of me and the man himself (taken on the day of my sister's lesson, as I don't usually have a photographer, though Zee didn't give me much warning as you can see). I think this boy's the shizzle: when I'm wearing more padding, I'm asking for this guy again! :D

5/8/12 – Flora, Fauna and Marey-Weather

Today I arrived early at the yard, and enjoyed reading my H&H magazine until the rain came and I had to put it away. The rain didn't last luckily, and with the staff at breakfast, I got a good nosey around on my lonesome. The main yard has a U-shaped set of stables, and then an American-style barn that only staff are allowed into. Most of the riding horses are brought into the barn, so you can't see who's in for the taking. For some reason, there were lots of riding horses rather than liveries on the outdoor U-shaped yard this time, so while I only had my Blackberry, I did take some photos! I said hi to Ransom and had a kiss, although had no intention of taking him and putting my hip out again now that it's just started feeling even again. The Physio also costs more than the hack! I met lots of the coloured ponies (coloured 14-14.2hhs are the yard fave it seems), so said hi to Roma, Clyde, Indie, Ghandi and such like, all of which had saddles on and their reins hung up, meaning they were up for use this morning. I met a new face or two as well in the form of Abbi, a chunky coloured mare about 15hh. I also saw and fussed over Corrie: he was in, but had no saddle on and no bridle hanging up, so I guessed he probably was on a rest day or booked for later, but it was worth a try asking for him given how good a ride I'd had first time. I saw Frankie's son Finlay in too, who is a chunkier, coloured version of Frankie but with stripe rather than the blaze of his mum and brother. He looked half asleep, so I was tempted to ask for him, but worried he'd be ploddy and I was in the mood to have a  speedy blast.

Ghandi, the trouble maker!

Clyde, the plod, having a stand-up snooze:

My beloved Corrie

Frankie’s son Finlay, asleep in the morning sunshine in the barn:

By this point other folk had arrived, including parents and their daughter who ride every Sunday morning, so I sat back down outside the office. I always see them, and make pleasantries, but this is the first time we really talked. The mum is back riding nearly a year, after a horrible accident at the same yard a few decades ago as a teen. She remarked how brave I was to ride any horse, be it big or small, ploddy or turbobred, and cantering out in the open. I shared the story of the accident that wrecked my confidence as a teenager, and how I'd been back in the saddle two years now as an adult, and have been hacking out all shapes and sizes for nearly 6 months now. I told her that it takes time, the confidence comes, and when it does, it'll be stronger than ever before (if she's anything like me). We talked about the things that make her nervous (even horse's natural fidgeting or pawing makes her afraid she'll be bolted with again, even though she knows she's being silly), and how to conquer it a bit. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation, and we spoke again once out of the office about our horses. She was on James: I'll definitely be asking about him in future. He's about 17.2hh of grey loveliness, with a pink nose from where he has a hidden blaze. He's gorgeous!

Despite arriving first as usual, an Italian guy having his first ever lesson jumped the queue into the office. He was given Hugo, who I was planning on asking for as I fancied a faster ride. My other two top choices were Frankie and Corrie, who have been my fave hacking horses so far in completely different ways. They asked who I was 'normally on' and replied with those two, saying they were my favourites. Without skipping a heartbeat, they gave me Frankie, and I went back out into the now sunshine to get my favourite little mare. I also now have photos of her: isn't she a total fitstick?!

I got up and watched other folks horses come out. None of the 'regulars' I'm so fond of were on my ride today. There was also a nervous couple using a Groupon voucher. The man was given Abbi, and got on her to find her a fidget. She was dancing around a bit, and he had his hands up high, his heels up and his shoulders forward; it was not looking like a great mix. As more horses filled the yard between the trek, hack and lesson being boarded, Abbi started chucking herself around a bit more. I was not relishing the idea of someone new to riding or rusty on such a horse, and almost asked to be swapped onto her. People getting nervous or sore spoils the hack for other people – have learned that the hard way! Anyway, A came and got on Ghandi, and I was delighted. M is a nice woman and all, but her hacks are slow and a bit boring. A makes the most of canter and trot stretches, where M will take a shorter route but throw more walk in to make up the 2hrs. We set off, and I managed to get Frankie third in the snake when the YO called us back. Despite the YO shouting at the man a few times to put his heels and hands down, his heels were still up and Abbi was being bolshy and pushing into Ghandi already. YO said she was swapping horses and I was relieved: I was not looking forward to the possible fallout. YO took the man off and put him on Starsky, another horse I'm itching to try as he's got the build of Hutch, but without the ploddy attitude. We took off again, but the others pushed us out of the way and Frankie and I were in penultimate place behind Starsky and before Clyde. I don't like being at the back as Frankie doesn't always enjoy the tail-end, but hoped Starsky would be fast enough to give us room for a blast.

We hit the river, and A like me, could see the nerves and lack of basic technique from the Groupon riders. She shouted “Last chance: is everyone here entirely competent in canter? If not, a walk trot trek is leaving in a couple of minutes...” I shouted an enthusiastic yes, and the other guys gave a much quieter one. That did not instil me with confidence! Frankie looked towards home when we moved from halt to cross the river, but she didn't spin as she did on my sister's trek, or as Ransom did with me. I guessed she'd be in slower mood today and I was right on that mark. The first trot came, and she was keen enough to start, but needed lots of squeezing to keep the pace with Starsky. I did feel immediately at home though: I do find a shorter stride naturally suits me better, and I haven't hacked out anything under 17hh in months! I had her pattern right away, and didn’t have the Corrie-Frankie comparison in my muscle memory oddly. Clyde was totally turned off: I often had to look back to make sure we hadn't lost him rider, wife of the man on Starsky.

Up came canter one – the uphill canter. Frankie came alive: she danced as we waited at the bottom for Clyde to catch up so we could set off. Frankie went from walk to canter, and kept up with Starsky's huge stride without getting up his bum and trying to pass. I normally ride Frankie's canters in the 3-point seat, but went 2-point for this to see if it helped her open up. It made no odds: Frankie tears up that hill, no matter who's on their back, and no matter what seat they're in! Lol.

Canters 2 and 3 immediately followed, with only a small break in between to switch paths. I gave the first one a go sat down, but switched part way into the two-point position to try and decide how best Frankie was working today. As I hadn't made up my mind to try both on one stretch before I started, I hadn't shortened my reins enough to maintain a good contact in both seats, so couldn't do much when she went a bit left as I was out of the saddle. It was nothing serious – just a few instances of putting my head forward so that the crown of my hat took the branches. She was in her usual mood of not following, but taking her own favoured footing, so I vowed to be much more decisive about what I was doing in future and adjust beforehand. I took the 3^rd one sitting down and it felt wonderful: I was glued onto her back, with my leg under me, my heels down and a grin on my face.  Lots of people might find a choppy stride bouncy, but I naturally seem to sit to it well. I definitely need more practice to get that glued into horses 17hh and above. I've been fine on everything below that size so far thankfully.

We went back on ourselves a bit here as we did with M a couple of weeks ago, but we did a loop rather than end a canter, turn 180, go again. The bit where Corrie had galloped with me last time hadn't lead to a gallop this time: the horses in front were too slow to give me that kind of space. I wasn't bothered though: I decided after my last hack on Frankie that I'm going to not bother trying to sit her verge of gallop on the railway line: I would be in the point-two position, and hopefully with the room to take off!

The route was as beautiful as usual. The bridge over the valley made that wonderful echo of hooves, and it was a novelty to not be on a horse that could freak out and put me over the high safety rail. I think Frankie could only manage that if she flipped me off her nose in a rear, like a seal with a beach ball! lol. I also had to work hard around all the fences and wing mirrors again: my feet could not clear them on Frankie, so it came back to careful steering, leg yielding and one hitching up of my heels to my buttocks to avoid a post! This is where we bumped into some fauna though: we were walking down a path with field on the right, and a grass verge on the left. In the field were 3 Friesians bulls by the fence. I was looking at them thinking “You don't often see that many full grown Friesian bulls, and gosh are they staring hard at us...” No sooner had I said that than the whole ride in front of me spooked and leapt to the left. One of the bulls had charged the fence: I looked up to find the bull stopped and no more by the barbed wire, and lead pony Ghandi as deep into the grass verge as possible! Frankie was the only pony not to react: what a clever girl she is :)

We got to our usual entrance to the Glen, and the gates were closed with signs up. Seriously, how can it take over a month to lift a tree off a path easily accessed by vehicles? The view and smells in there are gorgeous, and A often makes the two canter stretches into one, including the gallop on the railway line: it’s an utter treat to be out with her because of it. I was gutted to see it still closed, meaning we had to do some more road-work to get there. Still, we do get on the railway line at an earlier point than many other of the routes, and A did not make us wait until after the first bridge to kick off like M did. She did however say to me that we had to take it steady for obvious reasons today, so no tearing it up. I was gutted: I was revved up for a gallop on the Turbo Cob. I'd made sure my light seat and contact were practised over Frankie's short neck in preparation, even though I think we both enjoyed the sitting canters more! (I laughed, because in the light seat, I could touch Frankie’s ears easily if I wanted to, where I’d have been on the floor before I reached that far on Corrie, Hutch or Ransom)!  I do completely understand though: shoe on the other foot, and if I was nervous, rusty or new to cantering and would've panicked about galloping, I'd appreciate the ride staying at a good canter pace instead. You can't have it all ways unfortunately. Some day though, when I'm in work and earning more money, I'm paying extra for a private hack in good weather, and getting my gallop without disturbance!

Off we went on this canter. Frankie had got more and more forward, needing less and less leg as soon as she saw the park gates and knew we were close to the fastest part of the ride. I was glad of that: not because I wasn't willing to use my legs or crop to push her into being more active, but it meant I knew she was enjoying the hack out even if she was a bit calmer and lazier than usual.  Anyway, she leapt into action, and while I rode in the two-point seat, hoping for Starsky to create enough room ahead that I could safely speed up a bit (Clyde behind me was in drag-his-arse mode: I was not worried that my speeding up would affect him), but I never got it. In fact, Frankie and I ended up creating space the wrong way. Frankie was not just bearing left this time, but running completely on the grass under the trees and ignoring me entirely. I had my right hand only a foot from the bit in her mouth, and no pulling back with my right hand and putting my left leg on was shifting her over. She was in total knobber-mare mood, set her neck against me, and cantered more slowly but with some right flexion due to the constance pressure on the right rein. She totally smashed my left foot against one of the stone tunnels, and it hurt so much I shouted out (even though I really didn't want to because I was worried A would stop the canter fearing the pair on Starsky and Clyde had come off). No one seemed to notice though, so I then started to get vocally annoyed with Frankie. I'm not ashamed to say I shouted “Move over you little bitch!” when I almost grabbed the bit itself in an attempt to move her. I wanted to swap my crop into my right hand to push her over too, but didn't feel I could switch it and maintain my contact well enough. I also got such a big smack from some branches on my face (there's your flora) that I had to check I wasn't bleeding. It had felt like my cheek was in a slightly different place than where it had started by the end of that stretch!

The canter ended, and rather than the usual pat and good girl, I kept quiet. She had totally ignored my leg and rein aids, and had spoiled my favourite bit of the ride a bit by slowing down and setting her neck, rather than keeping up the pace and moving out. I knew earlier she was in her 'under the trees' mood, but she'd yielded off my leg alone at that point, and moved when asked with the reins too. Both together on this stretch and she shut me out entirely.

Frankie then started to try her luck eating. My rule out hacking is that you do not snatch the reins, and you do not stop to eat. You can however grab anything within your reach on my contact as we go past. Horses are varied grazers after all, and self-medicate with their diet. I don't know what variety of plants they have access to on turn-out, so am happy to allow mid-route snacking as long as it's polite.  Well, Frankie stopped dead twice. All the ride long I'd been squeezing with my calf muscles, but she got not one but two digs of my heels on two separate stops. I wasn't having any nonsense and it worked: she never tried it on again after that.

We got to our last bit of road work, and the heavens opened, and I mean really opened. You know how the rain pours in an equatorial country at noon, with rain splashing back a foot off the road and more? It was like that!  I'd left my raincoat off as it was really sunny when we left the yard and I hate being sweltered.  The rain stopped, and while I was pretty wet, I was not saturated. We then got onto the woodland path by the river, and despite thick tree cover, the rain started again and really came down through the canopy. I was totally soaked: I mean, like a dish cloth in the kitchen sink – literally wringing wet. The only part of me that was dry was the bit I was sitting on, but with a synthetic saddle that didn't last either: the material cover was soaking up the rain into even the bits I was sitting on, and I started to feel my undercarriage get damp. Every time I moved my head, a river poured off my hat. I kept leaning forward to pour it off Frankie's shoulder rather than have it go down my back, but lots ended up going straight down onto my hoodie, making it even wetter. Even my toes were wet, despite my boots being waterproof: that’s how much was running down my legs, because it certainly didn’t come in through the sides!

We got what had been our first trot stretch again. While M makes us walk it, the other ride leaders let us trot again, all apart from A that is. We canter it with her, as I had done on Hutch!. Hutch hadn't been keen on it, especially at the S bend, and Starsky in front of me was the same: Frankie and I cantered until we caught up with Starsky, but had to trot as he was trotting. The man was shouting “Sorry, he doesn't want to canter”, but wasn't giving any canter aids: on Hutch, I'd let him trot the bend and moved him straight back up so that I and anyone behind could enjoy the canter. I was a bit disappointed, and even wetter too. There's lot of branches here, so I went into the two-point seat as it's easier to dodge them all from this position using the crown of my hat. I had then, of course, exposed the only partially dry part of me to the rain; so now I'd had a prematurely short canter, and was saturated right through to my knicky-knacky-noo-noos! Yuck.

I couldn't believe the difference in the water level in the river from 20mins of rain: the water had gone from Frankie's hocks to around her stifles! She crossed like a pro though, and kept up with Starsky with no encouragement. I'd had a good ride, and was still smiling, even though Frankie was a bit lazier than usual, and had gone all mareish and opinionated on me on the railway line. I normally find the trick with a mare is to make things seem like their idea: I couldn't think of a way to achieve this while busy cantering on that stretch. I definitely need to have a plan for next time, and I'll definitely be swapping my crop into my outside hand!

We got to the stable block, and one of the girls in full galoshes came straight up to me to get Frankie. I said I needed a minute to circle my feet after having my heels down, and she agreed it's horrible dismounting with sleeping toes. To be honest, I was more bothering about having a minute with Franks before she was whisked into the barn. I stroked and praised her while I circled my feet, then hopped off. I thanked the girl and Frankie, and patting her whither one more time, I could see the water jumping out of her coat when I did so. Maybe she's just like me and not a fan of the rain! It definitely puts me into moody-mare mode, getting that wet... expect when I'm on a horse though. I was smiling at this point! If it happened out shopping though, I'd have been effing and jeffing about being so wet and cold.

While I originally planned to leave riding for a fortnight, P had given me a free lesson as my last, so I had the money spare to ride again this weekend. With my official passing of corrections and graduation notice finally arriving this week, and with 18oC sun this weekend, I've booked another hack for this Sunday. I am not asking for Frankie though: I need a bit of something different, and I hope that when I do next choose her, that I have her in her dancing, lively mood next time. The devil in me wants Hugo or Robbie at this point: am in the mood for a lean, mean, galloping machine. I'd even give Ransom another go except that I needed physio last time! 2hrs on a horse uneven on the same side of me is a recipe for disaster. I think Ransom will have to be a lesson horse in future. Still, you never know who or what's in store for a hack here in the city: the choice is vast! :D

22/7/12 Corrie's Nation

This weekend, with my hip still hurting I decided that while I may not be able to ride beautifully enough to school, I could certainly ride effectively and enjoy a hack. So, that's what I did: postponed my flying-changes lesson with P for a 2hr hack at the city yard instead. I also had found the ride with Ransom a bit hairy, and while I got a lot out of it after I settled and got the hang of him, it was still bothering me that I'd not enjoyed the hack to the max as I usually do. So, with my wonky hip and my determination to have fun, I'd resolved to hack and to ask for Frankie as my first choice, with Hugo and Starsky as speedy but trustworthy alternative choices.

After a long wait and lots of chatting with my fellow riders (most of which were new to the yard entirely), I got into the office first. They asked who I normally rode and I gave them a list of horses I have ridden or would like to, with Ransom excluded. I was told M had requested Frankie for escort duty (so that's two hacks in a row that my ride leader has stolen my horse; last time it was Hugo), and the other horses I'd asked for were by and large having a rest day because they'd done a Common Ride the day before. I quickly realised I was going to be on not only a new horse, but a horse I didn't know at all. I was right: I was given “ Corrie” , a horse I'd never even heard of, and left the office to queue at the stables.

One of the grooms asked me who I was on, and I saw him get the tack: I could tell from the saddle that Corrie was not a pony, but a big horse. I was right: a moment later this 17hh or so grey beast came out. I had assumed Corrie was a girl, so was a bit surprised when I realised he was a gelding! Corey is a boy's name, but Corrie is short for Corenne in my book; the only thing that makes sense to me is that his paper named contains the word Coronation! Corrie also had what I call that 'Bailey' look: the kind, gentle plod look, with a sweet but gormless head that looks so oddly placed on the neck that riding in an outline is impossible! (I don't mean all that in a snobbish way either: I've ridden 'gorgeous' horses from some of the best SJ and dressage breeding in Europe, and Heinz 57 boggers. There are only two types of horses in my eyes: those I love, and those who just aren't my cup of tea. Breed and breeding have nothing to do with which category they fall into)! Anyway, the man told me that Corrie has one of the smoothest trot to canter transitions going. I said I was on Ransom last time, who leapt from halt to canter, so smooth would be a welcome change to make for a different sort of hack this time around.

As the first person mounted, and as the hack was huge (a snake of 11 or 12), I had a lot of waiting time on Corrie. There were a lot of Groupon riders hacking out despite not being on a horse for years, so I spent a lot of time telling them what I could about their ponies from either my experience of riding them or riding out with them. I also met two of Frankie's sons: I didn't need t be told who they were either. Finlay is Frankie with a sheath and with white patches! Honestly: he's a bay tobiano, and it's as if someone's transplanted Frankie's head on a coloured body! Flynn had a stripe rather than Frankie and Finley's blaze, and Flynn was heavier-set, but still gorgeous. I am very tempted to try them out and see how much like their mum they really are! I also chatted to Corrie a lot while waiting, patting him and scratching his withers. Every so often he turned his head around to make eye contact with me, and with his 'Droopy', Bassett Hound-style eyes, he seemed to be expressing his boredom of not going anywhere in a really gentle way. I'm used to stamping, snorting, scraping the ground or jogging towards the exit: Corrie was positively gentlemanly about his impatience, sharing his feelings only with his eyes!

Having thought I was going to be on a sweet but slow plod, a bit like Hutch, I was glad to know I'd be able to enjoy things fully as compared to Ransom, but I do enjoy speed: it's what I found a turn-off about Hutch and why I'd like to try the keener-to-go Starsky. Well, as gentlemanly as Corrie had started, as soon as the rider leader shouted trot, Corrie was off! Not a bumble-along trot either, but a forward 'let's get going' one. I was delighted: perhaps this horse's gentle 'plod' face and build were misguiding!

Unlike Ransom who spun at the river, Corrie went for it without encouragement, following the path of the two horses in front despite the fact he was big enough to take a straight line rather than a curve. With Frankie leading, the married couple I often ride with were there, and the husband was on Robbie in front of me. We chatted about our favourite horses, and I said I'd had Ransom last week: a horse I'd seen him hack out before. He described Ransom perfectly – like a Ferrari, and said that while he liked him, he felt he spent too much of the hack fighting with him. This man is a naturally good, calm rider, so I took comfort at another strong rider enjoying him but finding him as complex and as hard work as I did. The Ferrari analogy is perfect: not only is Ransom almost disgustingly sexy and eye-catching, but is on the fine line between adrenaline-fuelled joy and sheer terror in terms of speed and handling. While a Ferrari is fun sometimes, especially when you're in the mood for mischief, you wouldn't need or want that speed or complexity every time you nip out for a drive.

We had a second trot, and with more space between the horses because of the terrain, Corrie was even more energetic, and with even more speed. It was spoiled a bit when we had to stop very suddenly having just began as someone screamed! With so many riders, one of the grooms was escorting at the end of the ride: she shouted forward that someone had screamed because their pony bucked. I knew at that point the ride would be tame: some of the Groupon folk were taking on quite a lot for their first ride in 10 years, and their nerves were clearly troubling them if a playful buck terrified them. M, the ride leader, gave an exasperated shout about not screaming unless you fall off, and off we went again.

Having spotted the tree that almost hung me when on Ransom last week, Corrie was just small enough at 17hh for me to miss it when I ducked. All the signs I had that I might have chosen the wrong horse in Ransom had been successfully navigated on Corrie: I knew I had the right beast for a good time, and rather than the inevitable nerves about the first canter on a new horse in the big outdoors, the hill could not come quick enough. I couldn't wait to try out Mr Smooth! We had to wait at the bottom of the hill for the snake to catch up, and for M to get a shout of okay from everyone to canter. Frankie was dancing and prancing, as was Robbie, and Corrie was fidgeting and jogging a bit. The suspense was killing me: I wanted to get on with it, and eventually after the yeses rolled in, off we went. Corrie went from walk to canter, and it was incredibly smooth: I was out of the saddle because I think it's easier for the horses to reach forward when working uphill, and because apart from Frankie who's about 14hh, it's much easier to dodge branches on bigger horses when in the light seat. I'd judged the size of his stride well though: no smacking of the saddle in my bum! I was grinning ear to ear: I had no nerves about this horse, he was not being kicked by the horse in front, and he did not rush to try and over-take. I immediately felt comfortable with all his paces: I knew I could definitely enjoy this ride to the full!

The next canter was on the level, with a giant puddle to dodge in the middle. I tried to sit to this one, but my right hip was pinching when I did – it couldn't absorb the shock of the movement without being in pain, so I went to the light seat again to let my knees do the adjusting rather than my lower back. Corrie broke down into trot as he ran out of room to canter beside the puddle, but changed straight back up once past it without being asked. While the canter didn't feel fast, not like Frankie who feels lightning quick because her hooves hit the ground so often with her little stride, we were really eating up the ground. So, as speed = distance / time and all that, we were actually going fast, but thanks to Corrie's rangey stride and predictable head movements, it felt comfortable and controlled. I can't think of a better balance of speed and comfort: Ransom and Frankie both have the speed, but are not particularly comfortable (Ransom with his sudden head movements and trying to overtake, Frankie with her bouncy, short stride and tiny saddle). Corrie has speed with comfort, and I lapped it up!

The third canter came very quickly afterwards, and as I thought would happen from the start, Frankie and Robbie got into a race upfront. Having thought Corrie might just continue at his speed, he was NOT going to be left out, and with a bit of a gap in front of us with the lead pair having taking off sooner, Corrie broke into a gallop on the end of the stretch! L was right: the gallop, when not from a bolt or unanticipated tanking, is unbelievably smooth and comfortable! The stretch ends with a single file hill however, that cannot be done in more than a walk. There's a large stone which can be walked or trotted over, not cantered (and definitely not galloped), and no sooner had I seen it and thought “I have to start slowing Corrie now to be in trot by over there”, Corrie saw it too and steadied up into a collected canter without any aids from me, and we were in a lovely trot to clear the stone. We'd completely caught up with the front, and once on the level again, had to wait for the rest of the ride to catch up. I was quite glad to see the rusty rider behind me quite a way behind on Laurel: I really hadn't thought at the time as I was too busy watching Frankie and Robbie race and enjoying become a part of it, but it would have been a lot to deal with for the woman on Laurel to gallop. It's meant to be canter, and she was sitting to it as well: she wasn't confident enough to ride the canter out of the saddle, and would have struggled to stay secure sitting on a galloping pony. From the gap though, it was clear that Laurel had maintained her steady speed rather than picked up our gallop at the front!  Phew: I would have felt rather guilty about that!

At the top of the hill though, rather than move forward, we went back down on the canter stretch. I was worried that because there were a few experienced riders near the front, and the rest were all rusty and nervous that we were headed back to the yard early for someone reason: perhaps to get a third ride escort to take that lot trekking instead. We also only cantered once, despite having had two canters this route in the opposite direction. Luckily when we got to the flatland again, we just took a different route rather than headed back home. Phew!

Around this point, the escort at the back said one of the pony riders wasn't happy with their position in the ride. M begrudingly said that Snoopy, the 11hh or so flaxen ginger, should be behind her. The rear escort said a bit further back would be better, and wouldn't you know, the tiny pony was put in front of my giant grey.  Boo! It also looked as if the girl was nervous, but luckily it turned out that she was a very experienced rider, and was bored amongst all the nervous and slow rusty-riders, who were holding their horses tightly and slowly! V, wife of the man on Robbie, also moved behind me at this point, and another Sunday morning regular moved up behind Robbie on the coloured mare Roma. It meant that all us experience riders were together at the start of the ride, with the riders after V on Gandhi were the slower, more nervous ones. Whilst ponies were passing to rearrange the ride order, Corrie lent into the lady on Roma for a cuddle, to which I let out a big “Aww!”. :)

Now in line, the girl on Snoopy was a bit off-put by how close Corrie was getting. While his legs were behind Snoopy, his neck was so long (and Snoopy's body so short), this his head was around the little girl's back. I said Corrie was friendly though, having cuddled our last passer-by, so quickly she turned to pat him and from then on, at any quiet moment when Corrie was close enough, she enjoyed a pat and a rub with my gorgeous grey companion! At one point Corrie was head-tossing a lot, more than he'd done at any other point, and all I could think of was he was trying to shake off the bit of grass hanging off the side of his mouth. The little girl pulled it out the next time Corrie got closer, and hey presto – his head-tossing stopped. This girl can't have been more than about 10, but we had lots to chat about, and she seemed to enjoy having an audience who knew about BD levels, BSJA classes and so on!

While doing trot-work through the towns, I worked on rhythm with Corrie: he was a dream, and we maintained our rhythm perfectly, only changing when Snoopy in front would slow down and Corrie and I ran out of space to maintain our pace and rhythm. As often happened, we passed through one of the towns just as church was winding up. We had a couple of tourist couples taking photographs of us, and I was grinning like a Cheshire cat on my gorgeous horse in each one :) Three old dears also waved at us from outside the church, and while hardly anyone was prepared to ride through town one-handed, I trusted Corrie and happily waved back! Not long after the church, I  started playing with the trot again, and I tried sitting trot: I immediately had to give up; as expected on a big horse, it was bouncy, but it was causing shooting pains in my right hip just as sitting to the canter had done earlier. I also noticed that I had always been on the right rein's diagonal the whole time, and when I swapped, I found I was in pain. The left rein diagonal is Ransom's uncomfortable diagonal, so my theory about my hip injury was supported: I had put my hip out on Ransom not by riding in uneven stirrups, but because Ransom's movement is uneven. We therefore mirrored eachother, me and Ransom: both of with our right hip/leg being our weak-spot! I therefore just spent the rest of the hack on the right-rein diagonal: I physically couldn't manage the other anyway, and in a country where we hack and drive on the left, it feels like the natural diagonal to be on. I normally deliberately alternate though so the horse doesn't become uneven. Hope it averages out for Corrie!

Nearing the end of the road work, we came across a hill in trot. Corrie deliberately fell behind Snoopy upon approaching it, and I didn't squeeze him on as I wanted to see what he was doing – he hadn't need my leg at all up until then. As soon as we were on the hill, Corrie speeded up: he'd wanted to go faster up the hill so had created the space for himself to do it. What a clever boy! We then turned off left to get on farm-land, and Corrie let out a big spook: leaping from walk to what would have been a tanking off, if he hadn't stopped after one stride. It was odd, because I hadn't seen anything move suddenly and Robbie immediately in front didn't appear to have spooked. The ride leader told us though that Robbie's spooked on this turn-off before, kicking out and ending up causing £1000 worth of damage to a van! Since then, Robbie can be a bit nervy around this corner and I think Corrie picked up on that: I certainly can't think or remember anything else that would have set him off apart from the transfer of mood that herds of horses rely on in the wild.

I was a bit annoyed with our ride leader: I'd found on hack one that she walks more of the hack than the other leaders do, and today was no different. At least with the park still closed for the tree-fall, we got to trot a lot of the alternative road-work. Passing through gate posts, I found that Corrie wasn't quite tall enough for the soles of my feet to clear them, but Corrie was not Frankie – he didn't drag me into any posts or trees!

Eventually we came to the fast canter stretch along the old railway line. People have been complaining about meeting horses on it, so we were under strict instructions that we had to walk past anyone we met: trotting wouldn't do as it had before. We could see it was clear though, but with so many riders, we had to walk through the stone tunnel before we started to canter. I was disappointed, because I love the noise of thundering through it. I quickly found something I hadn't realised before though: that by avoiding the park, you get onto the railway line at an earlier point, so the run is actually longer! This way, there is actually two old railway bridges to pass under, so we still got that thundering sound I'd got the first-timers to the city yard all excited about!

I was all set for this canter stretch: typically I'd always held Frankie in a canter despite her wanting to gallop. The lady on Roma through confirmed this was a gallop stretch when were talking outside the office, and with Corrie having changed up earlier, I was all set to gallop this stretch as we could see it was clear. Frankie and Robbie were racing again, with Robbie and rider actually over-taking, but with Roma and Snoopy in front, while we got a long canter at a good speed, it was not the gallop I'd hoped for. Corrie was a gentleman, not trying to get past Snoopy, but I secretly wish he had.  I really wish the order hadn't been changed and I was still 3^rd in the queue: Frankie, Robs and I could have had such a great time alone up front! As it was, I had to settle for a canter stretch similar to the others, rather than better. I still enjoyed every second of it mind you, and the trot-to-canter transition really was as smooth as silk :)

As M was our leader, this was our last canter of the hack. With L or A, there is always at least one, sometimes two more canters after the railway line. There wasn't even a lot of trot-work to make up for it: much of  it was walk. While it was a beautiful day, and the views were as stunning as ever (including the high-up valley bridge, where I was finally on a horse not so tall it could have put me over the double safety railings), the ride was slower than usual overall. I much prefer L or A as a ride leader, and am itching to get my field-gallop with L when the weather's better. The lady on Roma also introduced me to LD, one of the male grooms who I didn't know did rides too: apparently his hacks are legendary. I look forward to a fast-paced one of those if I'm lucky!

The whole of this ride, I'd been impressed at how little kicking their was between the horses: with Gandhi behind me rather than in front this time, I didn't have a kicking pony in front of my runaway horse to contend with. The front four of us also walked in a diamond for part of the way, getting lots of chat in about our favourite horses, and I got lots of advice about doing Common Rides from the lady on Roma. I'm hoping next summer that I'll have the money to be able to do them, riding through towns and galloping across fields with hundreds of other riders for hours and hours on end! It was nice to be on such a sociable hack: I've never as chatted as much before, and getting close was possible on sociable horses rather than ratty mares in season. It certainly made the amount of walking more enjoyable. The guy on Robbie also fell in love with my big sook, and did lots of patting and cuddling with Corrie when we were alongside. He said Robbie was his favourite horse: lots of speed but without the same fighting as with Ransom, and I heartily recommended Corrie to him: he travels fast, but with his long stride and comfortable transitions it felt slower and more comfortable to ride compared to Ransom's speed. He seemed rather taken with him: I think Corrie will be going on his list to try some day that Robbie's not available! We chatted on the yard too about the range of horses available: it's great to ride a giant draft horse one week, a TB the next, then an ex-dressage horse, followed by a cobby pony the next: it really is one of its strengths, especially compared to P's yard, where my choice of horses was as little as 3 at one point, and never more than about 6.

We got back to the yard after more walking, even along stretches we had trotted along on the journey away from the yard. I waved lots of flies away from Corrie and I, although they were mostly just water gnats without bites: they are huge though, and I had a big one in the corner of my eye that I didn't get out until I got home. Boke!  When on the yard, I spent quite a bit of time wriggling my feet around before I slid off. I made sure I was deep into the yard, so that I would be one of the last to have their horse taken away. I got to unfurl the stirrup twists, run them up, loosen the girth and take off the breast-plate, as well as getting loads of cuddles in with the big man. I am now a massive Corrie fan, as was everyone who ride beside him it seemed: I felt immediately comfortable with this horse, never nervous of his actions or paces, and had enjoyed the ride as if I was on an old friend. Even the spook didn't get my blood up, something that usually happens beyond my control, even though it doesn't scare me on a conscious level! Just occasionally, I ride a horse who's soul I feel I've met before and I know them already: Whisperer had been one of them and now Corrie was another. I'm not going to say that that the Turbo Cob is no longer my favourite, but I do think I need another ride on both to compare. I think it could be the fact that Frankie will become my favourite flying pony and Corrie will be my favourite comfy but quick big horse! I did enjoy seeing Frankie leading: she was dancing, prancing, pulling and snorting, so eager to go. Given how Ransom doing the same had thrown me a bit as I felt insecure in my canter seat on him, I loved that I appreciate and enjoy these things in Frankie. I need a spin on her again soon!

I had such a brilliant time, that when I went back into the office, I immediately booked another hack in a fortnight's time. The lady on Roma did agree the hack was too slow though: she not only felt that M didn't trot or canter enough, but that Frankie wasn't fast enough to lead. I'm not sure about the speed: I think I'd have had space to gallop behind Frankie alright! I am however seriously considering making this weekend my last lesson with P (though that will have the downside of meaning I can't ride both Homer and Troy, before I leave, having two little demons still to eradicate). Honestly though, I think I'd rather hack for the summer, and by the time the weather turns, hopefully the city yard will have its new instructor and I can get back onto flatwork schooling with them. Whether I can bring myself to go so quickly once I see everyone on Saturday will be another matter mind you!