Post by dalesnfellfan on Sept 7, 2015 15:51:20 GMT -1
Connie and I did our 3rd PR yesterday, it's a ride I've not done before on a private estate near Ipswich, and it was stunning, the best ride I've done I think. The weather couldn't have been better, warm and sunny with enough breeze to keep the flies away.
It was 12 miles through woodland, parkland and farmland in a hillier park of Suffolk, there was lots of stubble but the best bits were loads of wide, lush grassy tracks so inviting for fast canters and the going was superb. I went with my instructor Sam and her Connemara Al, Connie was super, so relaxed, she gets better with every ride, it was very open so she could see lots of horses on the horizon and up ahead but she took no notice.
The route was very twisty, going round fields and back again before continuing to make the mileage up, so Connie and I had quite a few debates about which was the best way to go, she was convinced she knew a quicker way home at almost every turn on the second half of the ride. The problem was that the route was marked with coloured tape rather than arrows, blue for left, red for right and white for straight on, she was happy to accept my way if I was quick thinking enough to see the tape in time to be clear about the turn before we got there, but if I waited until we were on the turn then hesitated before deciding which way to go, she took charge and insisted her way was better as she clearly thought I didn't know where I was going.
When we got back she was obviously hot, as we reached the horsebox I felt her knees start to buckle, so jumped off quick and removed her saddle, she got down but her first priority was to spend a minute eating grass whilst lying down before rolling, well she had gone without even a mouthful of food for 2 hours and was obviously wasting away.
I keep taking my camera with me and forgetting to use it, I'll try and get some photo's next time.
It was 12 miles through woodland, parkland and farmland in a hillier park of Suffolk, there was lots of stubble but the best bits were loads of wide, lush grassy tracks so inviting for fast canters and the going was superb. I went with my instructor Sam and her Connemara Al, Connie was super, so relaxed, she gets better with every ride, it was very open so she could see lots of horses on the horizon and up ahead but she took no notice.
The route was very twisty, going round fields and back again before continuing to make the mileage up, so Connie and I had quite a few debates about which was the best way to go, she was convinced she knew a quicker way home at almost every turn on the second half of the ride. The problem was that the route was marked with coloured tape rather than arrows, blue for left, red for right and white for straight on, she was happy to accept my way if I was quick thinking enough to see the tape in time to be clear about the turn before we got there, but if I waited until we were on the turn then hesitated before deciding which way to go, she took charge and insisted her way was better as she clearly thought I didn't know where I was going.
When we got back she was obviously hot, as we reached the horsebox I felt her knees start to buckle, so jumped off quick and removed her saddle, she got down but her first priority was to spend a minute eating grass whilst lying down before rolling, well she had gone without even a mouthful of food for 2 hours and was obviously wasting away.
I keep taking my camera with me and forgetting to use it, I'll try and get some photo's next time.
I'm relieved to read she slowed back down and did a proper halt at the road crossing. 
