Saturday 16 January 2016

Being brave

Wow now one told me how hard it is to be a grown up Dales pony. After achieving my human carrying exams last week (see my video http://youtu.be/RJ9U4_YzhEc ). Yesterday I did my first solo hack. Yes I was solely responsible for taking my human, Lynette, for a ride. Her Dad did escort me to the top of the railway bridge but then I was on my own!

It turned out that I also had to practice some Trec moves. We started with very low hanging branches. Lynette had to bend and hunch down on my shoulder to get us under the trees and onto the farm. No problem Lynette, I'll look after to you. I safely delivered her onto the farm and even though I jumped at a pigeon, I just didn't see it in the hedge, i think I scared it more as it flew away. I very cleverly and calmly negotiated water filled ditches (another Trec obstacle mastered) watched people and doggies playing in the fields. I did halts and walks and circles around two whole fields before heading home. Solo field hacking exam passed, yeah not bad for the third time I have ever had to carry a human.  


Lynette is a hard human to please,even after all my efforts yesterday she asked me to go on a road hack today. Thank goodness I didn't have to go on my own. I had to go in the box on wheels to a horsey friend Cyril knows, Red. He was very handsome and very cool. I was very excited and I don't think Red liked me marching out quite so quickly, but hey this was exciting. Ohhhh hang on scarey noise behind me, Lynette let me turn around to look at the car. Red just looked at me like I was stupid, oh ok, so I'm not supposed to do that?  

Then as I was concentrating really hard at not worrying about the cars, Red's field mates started doing handstands and galloping along the other side of the hedge. This got me a bit worried as I wasn't sure what was expected of me and cars were going past too. Lynette soothingly told me just to walk, ok I can do that. I followed Red's example as he didn't care about the cars at all. So I decided to ignore the antics next to me and concentrate on walking. By the end of the ride I think I had just about got it. I could go in front or behind of Red and keep walking even if the cars went past from behind or in front of me. Phew that was tough, thank you Red. I was glad to get back in the box on wheels and tell Zippy about all my news. 

Errrrr I have some new field companions, they seem to have moved in and tonight they are in the stable next to me - Ummm I don't have that much grass, I don't want to share my hay with them. Lynette are they staying?


One very tired Brian signing off, I need some sleep. Plus Lynette has asked me to keep an eye on Zippy tonight as her foot is still REALLY poorly. So keeping one eye on her tonight too. Growing up comes with a lot of responsibility but I'm ready, because I'm a Dales pony. 


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