So we've been long reining or lunging in the dark before work most mornings and he's coming along nicely. We had planned to hack out with the friend again Saturday, but her husband has planned a surprise lunch out for Valentine's Day so I put on my brave pants and ventured out without another horse for company. Obviously I wasn't hacking on my own I had Deli with me, but whilst the road the yard is on isn't a main road it can be fast at times. Deli is very good to hack but needs to build his confidence so I'm keen for him to have good experiences. Followed the same route we did last week, dissapointingly had a few drivers who ignored my "Please pass slow and wide" tabbard. Maybe they were illiterate and missread as "Please pass fast and close" The worst Deli does is stop in his tracks and maybe walk backwards a few steps bless. One driver was so cautious of the bouncy black pony that he slowed down (thank you!) but gave us such a wide birth he went through a puddle at the side of the road. The noice didn't bother Deli just the sight of the water crashing back down to earth back into the puddle which he spooked at! Then on the way back I was pleading at the nice retired police horses (which are turned out in a field which runs alongside the road) not to follow us and just to stay standing there watching the bouncy black pony passage his way home. Just as I had moved out to closer to the centre of the road to turn right into the lane to the yard a empty 3.5ton flat bed came round the corner so we trotted that bit pretty sharpish and kept trotting to get some distance before it came clattering past!
I've turned Deli out now, as the freezing temperatures have gone I've decided it's spring and he can start living out. I'm going away next weekend so to make it easier for my sister looking after my two if one of them are out! Poor Sapphire is still feining footsore, I know she lies as once she realises theres a chance of dinner when I drag her in from the field she walks fine - she's such a princess.
I've turned Deli out now, as the freezing temperatures have gone I've decided it's spring and he can start living out. I'm going away next weekend so to make it easier for my sister looking after my two if one of them are out! Poor Sapphire is still feining footsore, I know she lies as once she realises theres a chance of dinner when I drag her in from the field she walks fine - she's such a princess.