summery hacks!

This weekend I've had a much needed revision break and de-stress..and the weather has been lovely, such a bonus! Did a lot of research into local bridle paths near me last week and decided to put that to test this weekend! Yesterday, I took Jack out for his first ever hack all by himself. It wasn't exactly the smoothest ride and I did have to dismount twice, but all things considered he was a very good boy! He was very brave and I didn't mind him being spooky or nervous as it was obvious he was genuinely scared and he stood lovely and let me mount him from the ground again. Took him down the bridle path and decided to go for a little trot, but I'm having a lot of issues with trotting him at the moment, so in the end I decided to just go for it and have a canter as I'd actually be more in control! Wasn't entirely sure what to expect from him, but he was lovely and came straight back to me and we even had a little gallop..he was so chilled about it all! Afterwards, he turned around and walked back along the track we galloped along on a long rein, so was super pleased with that :)

Then today me & Sparkie met up with Lottie & Molly and went hacking..which was eventful. We completely forget that the farmers were preparing for the County Show next week so there were tractors EVERYWHERE. Like literally..we saw 8 in one hack. Wow. And it wasn't like they were little, friendly looking tractors they were mahoosive huge ones with big trailers full of grass and straw on the back..yay. Not fun when your pony really does not like tractors..had to do very many emergency dismounts. Ah well, it was an experience I guess...we actually had a really nice hack! (Yes, Sparkie does look like he really, really does not want to be there, that is simply because there is another horse within 1m of him. He has issues.)

Beth, Sparkie, Jack & Carling! xxx

Jackaline updates!

I couldn't think of an appropriate title ^ Decided to quickly write this in a break from revision! Well, it was almost a month ago now, but at the end of April I had my first ever lesson with Jack and we went to our first show..which was interesting to say the least! Pretty disappointed with how I rode him in our lesson, I really let my nerves hold me back and I don't think the instructor got to see what he was really like, he was very tense and forward :( but he did try very hard and started to learn lateral work! our show as then the next day.. he hacked down perfectly and was very good and all in all was actually a star when he was there. He'd never been ridden for that long before and he got fed up and started rearing and throwing himself to the floor..provided entertainment for everyone put it that way haha! But I just got off and let him settle down and relax for a bit and then he was really good after and even had a little canter round :) which is fab as he's only ever cantered once in an open field never mind with loads of horses trotting around and all the other various distractions! 

We then moved yards, meaning he went in the trailer for the first time since his accident...I didn't go with him because I'm quite scared of being in the trailer now, but my Mum & Dad said he was brilliant and loaded straight away no problem..no excuse now to not go to shows Jack;) It took him quite a while to settle in and he was being quite naughty, but he's only moved yards once before so we'll let him off! Haven't really had much time to do anything with him really because I'm super stressed with exams, but just been doing a bit of lunging and finally rode him again last night and took him for a hack last weekend with my friend and Jack's twin Sundance(who Jack hates for some unknown reason) and he was really good considering! .. definitely feel like we've been set back a bit though, lost a lot of confidence with him for some stupid reason, but ah well, we'll just have to work through it I guess! Sometimes I find it hard to remember that 12 months ago he'd never been sat on and that even the fact I can ride him is an achievement in  it's self.. 

Sparkie is also fab, he is going SO well at the moment..was planning to take him to our first show in 7 months this weekend, but unfortunately my dog bit him this week in a complete freak accident and he's had to have stitches across his nose..pretty gutted really, finally felt like we were ready again, but ah well, it's not the end of the world, there's always more shows to go to. 

Beth, Sparkie, Jack, Carling & Barney! xxx

5 years with the ginger bean!

well today, 8th May it's been 5 years since I first met Sparkie...something I completely can't get my head around! doesn't seem like 5 minutes he was a little 3yo now he's almost 9...Jesus on a boat, when did my baby grow up!? the last few months apparently...me & my family have both noticed *touch wood* that he really seems to have finally matured recently! For example, last weekend I moved yards...last time Sparks moved(2 years ago!) it took me two weeks to be able to even complete a lap of the arena without any bunny hops, whereas on Saturday he settled straight ij and I jumped him the next day in an open field and he was fantastic! he's always been a very stressy pony, so it's nice to see :) I have a lot more updates(lessons, shows etc!) but I will write about that another day! ta ra