THE FIRST jumping experience!

HAHAHAHAHA!

I'm so happy. Me and Mcfly had such a good day.
The weather was lovely, surprisingly, and I felt like a trip to the school as we had been riding out alot. I was in the mood to enlighten Mcfly to a couple of really easy lateral movements to get him listening to me.

We started off in the school like we normally do.Mcfly bombing around, trying to trot as fast as his little legs can carry him. But eventually he calmed down, after doing some bending exercises.
When I looked up I saw Caz (Mcfly's owner) walking down the drive. She come over to the school and stated to watch me and Mcfly finishing off our schooling exercises I had planned out for the day..
To cut the story short, Caz suggested that I should try him over some trotting poles, so I did! The first time he sheepishly trotted over them almost jumping each pole. After the second time through the grid, he'd got it and was really picking his feet up over them.
Caz then said she was curious to how he'd act over a small cross pole jump, and that I should take him over it, just to see what he does...eek! It had been 3 years since Id jumped, even though it was only a tiny jump on the ground, I actually didn't fancy a faceful when I had tumbled to the ground..hehe

But I went a head with it anyway, the brave rider I am (HAHAHAHA! yeh :s)
He ducked out the first time, so when we approached it the second time, I used more leg on the side that he had ducked out and he popped over it nicely. It was no olympic record but I felt like we had made huge progress.

Maybe he is finally beginning to trust me :D


loves
xx

Our first hack..

There are lots of places to explore, around the stables.
The actual yard is situated in the middle of the Apedale country park, so as you can imagine you can ride, walk or bike for hours on end.

It was a couple days after Boxing Day and I was itching to get out and about, after a couple of days going round and round in the school, which don't get me wrong I love to do now and again. So i tacked up and put on our fluorescents; me in my tabbard and Mcfly kitted out in his boots and such and we set off on our little mission for the day..

His owner Caz, who I share Mcfly off, warned me that the lad hadn't been out on his own before whilst being ridden. O great, I immediately thought. He had only been led out and about on his own and that was some time ago...Right well, here goes nothing.

We strode off down the lane, at an eager pace, may I add but all was relatively calm. We passed sheep. Argh! Surprise. Okay he had a little shy when one bleeted underneath him but surprisingly Mcfly continued on his way. He needed no encouragement from me. I think he was actually enjoying himself.
However for the first ouple of months Mcfly didn't have shoes on his feet, so he had to daintly tread everywhere so the bricks wouldn't hurt too much. He paced on though, treading quickly but very, very carefully. Bless him.

We finally reached the gate to the country park and i had to get off to unlock the non-horse friendly gate :( He stood perfectly still the whole time. I locked the gate back up and then re-mounted, all the time he was as good as gold.

WOOOOO! grass, endless paths, fields.It was like a maze, I honestly knew before we even started to walk again that i was going to get lost....
We trotted down the little yellow brick road (yeh, thats it's nickname...) and as soon as we hit grass i nervously nudged 'Fly into canter. It was the first time we had cantered and everything. I didn't know if he was going to bolt or go loopy or get really strong. But as usual he was absolutely perfect....

We got to the top of the hill and the misty fog just dropped on us. I could only see just past Mcfly's ears, everything else was clouded by this white sheet!! o know, we need to hurry back incase it got worse AND it had already started to go dark.. eek!

I couldn't sse where I had come from OR where i was going.
Luckily there was a man wlaking his dog closeby and he managed to direct me to the right path that led to the entrance.

Without that man I think I would of still been stuck there! haha

We had managed to get back to the stables in one piece and Mcfly had behaved impeccably. You would never have known he didn't ride out on his own.....

loves
xx

From the Beginning...

So, I thought I would go back to the beginning..
and write down everything we had done so far..


Mine and McFly's journey together started on Boxing day 2008.


I brushed him and bonded with him for a couple of days before I attempted to ride (by 'bonding' I mean 'bribing' with polos and apples and carrots etc..o and Milkybar buttons.hehe )

So the day arrived, I was dressed in all my new christmas presents. New boots,
new jodphurs and new jacket. "Well, at least i looked the part!"

It went really well in the end. I got on in the school, so if I did get thrown off, I'd have a least a little bit of cushion on my landing. But He behaved brilliantly. A little fast but that's never a bad thing....
It felt like I'd gone back 9 years to when i first rode my first pony, Chelsea Lee. Unfortunately i don't have any digital images of Chels i will try and scan some in for a later date.

With the quick little steps and the head held higher, i was used to riding an armchair! What with the cobs in the past.
Barney had long, low strides and when he cantered he felt like a rocking horse, so smooth.





So getting used to McFly's trot was a challenge!.....

Next time - Our first hack out..

loves
xx