Ben is still settling in really well, and now with some restrictions lifted I have lots of plans to get him out hacking.
I am really hoping these hacks will steer his brain completely away from racing, which is deeply engrained and I often forget until I take up too much rein contact.
It has really started to occur to me the chalk and cheese of horses I have in every way imaginable! Personality, Ben is classic racehorse, he like to trot a side at all times, never strong, just springs in his hoofs.
He will enjoy a cuddle while laying down, but certainly doesn't want to come near you when he is out in the field, he is too worried you might catch him. Travis on the other hand is like walking a dog, he will run over to you with just a call, mostly in the hope you have food of treats, will walk on the end of the lead rope behind you dragging his heels, and doesn't have an ounce of 'yeehaa' when you turn him out!
To ride, Ben is still very green, straight lines are a slinky wobble, while rein contact is difficult and holding an outside rein is almost impossible, he actually has a naturally slow unbalanced trot, which is very hard to push on, as pushing on with rein contact means GO and without means 'rush'!
Travis (spook) on the other hand (spook) is a horse that requires (spook) your undivided attention (spook)…… if you get the picture! He needs ALL the outside rein contact to know you are there and feel safe, but zero inside rein contact or he still stress. He needs all the leg contact to keep the hind engaged and stop him from falling on your face and he needs you to sit as quiet as a mouse!
And nothing is harder to get used to than their size difference! Despite both being 16hh at the wither, Travis is like my comfy pair of slippers, where as Ben is like a pair of stilettos, and it won't be last time I fall straight out the side door i'm sure!
Ben
Travis
Once again I threw Arlo in at the deep end, affiliating him purely for the Arena UK second round show, and once again he pulled it out the bag. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little horse? We haven’t really competed this year. I don’t really compete over the winter, and also my horsebox was away for repairs up until the beginning of June, so I had no transport even if I’d wanted to.
With the dry ground we don’t seem to be having much luck with shoes, as little madam managed to pull both her front shoes off within 12 hours the other day! We entered the arena with two shoes on for a schooling session and left it with one missing (took about an hour to find it). Then that afternoon, as I went to put some hoof ointment on, I looked down and had to double take, thinking I was looking at the wrong hoof. But, no, the other shoe was missing too.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.