Post by dalesnfellfan on Jan 3, 2016 13:15:46 GMT -1
Emerald has continued to improve and I have been hacking her out around the village on my own, then over Christmas my friend said her daughter Vanesa would like to start riding again and asked if she could have a few rides on Connie. She hasn't ridden for over a year since having a baby so didn't feel she wanted to ride a green pony like Emerald, but it gave me a reliable babysitter for Em, the only down side was Julia also wanted to come out on her horse Kira and she is not known for going slowly and Kira is rather erratic, not good baby sitter material.
It has worked out OK with Emerald mostly ignoring Kira's antics, she tends to stick near Connie and doesn't seem to like Kira, pulling some awful faces at her, Connie also doesn't like her and does the same when we ride together.
We have had 4 rides now in company and we had her first canter on New Years Eve across the meadow.
This morning we all went on a longer ride which entailed doing quite a long stretch along the main road, I had intended to go the long way around and miss the main road but Julia said they hadn't got time so as it is usually quieter on Sundays I thought we'd give it a go. She was very good and just had one jump at a bike coming up behind us silently, the ride goes through a very winding green lane which was quite muddy and Emerald insisted on dragging my legs through the brambles and trees on the very narrow bits rather than walk through the mud. On the wider, less muddy bits we had some nice long trots then back through the scary farm yard and home.
It was the longest ride she has done since being back in work, about 6 miles, and also the most trotting she's done and she was tired on the last stretch, she behaved and coped very well and I'm really pleased with the way she is going.
I'm am hoping to take her to the ADR baby ride 28th Feb, that gives her another 8 weeks so I think she'll be ready by then, I'm hoping that Vanessa will want to take Connie so we have a babysitter, if not I'll just have to put my brave knickers on and take her on my own, my daughter's working that weekend so can't do it.
It has worked out OK with Emerald mostly ignoring Kira's antics, she tends to stick near Connie and doesn't seem to like Kira, pulling some awful faces at her, Connie also doesn't like her and does the same when we ride together.
We have had 4 rides now in company and we had her first canter on New Years Eve across the meadow.
This morning we all went on a longer ride which entailed doing quite a long stretch along the main road, I had intended to go the long way around and miss the main road but Julia said they hadn't got time so as it is usually quieter on Sundays I thought we'd give it a go. She was very good and just had one jump at a bike coming up behind us silently, the ride goes through a very winding green lane which was quite muddy and Emerald insisted on dragging my legs through the brambles and trees on the very narrow bits rather than walk through the mud. On the wider, less muddy bits we had some nice long trots then back through the scary farm yard and home.
It was the longest ride she has done since being back in work, about 6 miles, and also the most trotting she's done and she was tired on the last stretch, she behaved and coped very well and I'm really pleased with the way she is going.
I'm am hoping to take her to the ADR baby ride 28th Feb, that gives her another 8 weeks so I think she'll be ready by then, I'm hoping that Vanessa will want to take Connie so we have a babysitter, if not I'll just have to put my brave knickers on and take her on my own, my daughter's working that weekend so can't do it.
