Today should have been a ‘February Dressage’ post but due to the equine flu scare, I am not currently going to lessons or competitions. I know people have been saying that the whole thing has been blown out of proportion but I couldn’t forgive myself if I went out somewhere and took the flu back to the 30 other horses at my yard (most of whom never go anywhere outside of hacking into the nearest villages). So that is all I’m doing, local hacking and schooling at home.
It has been four weeks since my last lesson and I’ve been getting worried that all the schooling work is going to go downhill if we don’t have a lesson to set us on our way with the next steps. So far that hasn’t happened and Pea went better on Friday than ever before but I’m trying not to do too much schooling just in case!
I did a couple of little hacks into the closest village on my own this week and have been feeling increasingly brave. I decided that this morning I would venture a bit further and hack round both local villages. This may not sound like an achievement but hacking on my own is something I have only become more comfortable with recently. And when I say recently, I mean pretty much this week!
Pea used to be a bit spooky, sometimes nappy and certainly more forward when out on her own but this morning she was the epitome of the popular dealer phrase ‘dope on a rope’. I’m sure this is because I’m more chilled out now than I used to be. A classic example of how horses feed on your feelings.
Now that solo hacks don’t make me stress every second I actually found going out for over an hour a little lonely! I could have done with some music or a podcast to keep my brain entertained (though I would never ride with headphones in on the road). I certainly noticed the many many people out walking and enjoying the beautiful (almost) spring day!
To join me for the ride.. click play.
How do you feel about hacking solo?
I then did brave act of the day number 2.. turned Pea out without her rug on. It has got warmer this week and Pea is starting to shed some of her winter fluff so I decided the time was right for her to shed the raincoat too. I’m sure I will regret this in the morning but hey, it is half term, I’ve got time for major brushing each day!
What is your horse’s rug situation? Have you changed their rugs for lighter ones or ditched the rugs altogether?
Young Hip and Horsey 