Post by dalesnfellfan on Aug 15, 2016 11:05:28 GMT -1
Just back from a weekend in Kings Forest with my daughter Amanda, Emerald and Connie, we arrived at 10am Saturday morning and got our corral set up then went out to do our first 11 mile ride. It was only Em's 3rd ever ride and Connie hadn't been out on a PR for a few months so both left on their toes and pretty excited, Emerald decided her brakes didn't work, although she was happy to stay behind Connie, Manda just couldn't keep her off Connie's tail, and Connie bounced along like Tiger on speed. We passed pigs which neither ponies were bothered about, a few months ago Connie would have had a meltdown and after a few miles both settled and we had some lovely canters along long grassy forest tracks.
Saturday evening we had a BBQ around a huge camp fire and Manda and I somehow managed to drink a whole box of wine between us, lovely to catch up with old friends and Manda made some new ones.
Sunday morning we headed out for another ride, this time we opted for just 5 miles as Emerald isn't as fit as Connie and also Manda has a back injury and we thought another 10 miles might be a bit much. Emerald was kn**kered and although she was still enjoying herself her brakes were perfect and she kept popping herself back to trot or walk when she needed a rest. Connie on the other hand had only just settled and stopped pulling my arms out by the time we got back and was clearly up for much more.
It was a lovely weekend and we're now looking forward to the next one in 4 weeks in a different part of the forest, this time 2 nights away, hopefully Em and Manda will manage 10 miles each day by then, I'll have to work on Em's fitness in the meantime.
It is really lovely to see Emerald so settled and doing these things with Amanda, she really is growing up now, I just wish she lived nearer so she could ride her regularly. I hope to take Em on a PR with a friend to babysit us on her very quiet cob in October, but we'll see how things go.
Saturday evening we had a BBQ around a huge camp fire and Manda and I somehow managed to drink a whole box of wine between us, lovely to catch up with old friends and Manda made some new ones.
Sunday morning we headed out for another ride, this time we opted for just 5 miles as Emerald isn't as fit as Connie and also Manda has a back injury and we thought another 10 miles might be a bit much. Emerald was kn**kered and although she was still enjoying herself her brakes were perfect and she kept popping herself back to trot or walk when she needed a rest. Connie on the other hand had only just settled and stopped pulling my arms out by the time we got back and was clearly up for much more.
It was a lovely weekend and we're now looking forward to the next one in 4 weeks in a different part of the forest, this time 2 nights away, hopefully Em and Manda will manage 10 miles each day by then, I'll have to work on Em's fitness in the meantime.
It is really lovely to see Emerald so settled and doing these things with Amanda, she really is growing up now, I just wish she lived nearer so she could ride her regularly. I hope to take Em on a PR with a friend to babysit us on her very quiet cob in October, but we'll see how things go.
now that's an overnight! 