First ride of the year

[harveydales]

Admittedly only a tiny sit down the road and Lou had me on the lead rein! I was looking for excuses not to do it today - it started to rain, was windy, Eve was sweating as she's so wooly etc. But we did it and I'm feeling pleased with myself! Eve was a bit on her toes because of the weather and she hasn't had me on her back for a few weeks now but all went well.

With Lou's help I've trained Eve to stand patiently while I faff tacking up and then again untacking at the end. She has to stand still at the mounting block for ages while I clamber on board and faff some more. Same for dismounting. lol It really has paid off spending so much time on groundwork. Hopefully by the summer we will be doing proper rides but it has been such fun building things up slowly.

[Fi]

Well done, and sometimes only doing a tiny bit is best, nice and easy for them, and us!

I used to do a lot of mounting block work with Sammie, I read somewhere that mounting blocks are usually a bit disturbing cos the edges are usually at tummy height and they are vulnerable in that area. Hence they often swing their backsides away from it.

[tinkeralison]

Great news, I'm sure she is gonna be good xx

[harveydales]

Fi - interesting about the turning from the mounting block thing. I hadn't thought of that as a reason for them swinging hindquarters away. In Eve's case it was my own fault. She started off fine and then I began rewarding her with a treat for standing so she turned her head towards me and hind end away so she could have the treat easier. Anyway, all sorted now....at home anyway.

Alison - I'm sure Eve will make a wonderful, fun riding pony but the question is, will I be too old to ride by the time we get there!

[tinkeralison]

Nooo, you know dales ponies can tailor themselves to the rider 😂😁😁

[Debbie]

I actually loved it when my friend could help me by leading me around with a leadrope I think it's lovely and reassuring to both pony and rider, kinda like the training wheels on a bicycle as you get used to one another.

You're a heck of a lot braver than me! I would have used any number of excuses to ditch out with wind and cold/rain. Keep at it, you and Eve seem really well suited for one another