Enjoying Summer!

Yesterday 'Mr F' and 'I' once more rode over to the neighbouring village to meet up with  'Lillian' and Co - (Co being: 'Tom', one of the sensei's from our dojo, and another riding club member. 

The plan was to ride over to a village a little further away and to meet up with friends there in the pub. Much of the route was the same as on our Christmas ride. Except this time the ride was much more enjoyable as 'Mr F' does no longer go loopy if he is not at the front.

It was a very hot day and I could tell that 'Mr F' was struggeling a bit at first. But we took it quite slowly, partly also to be kind to his hoof with the crack. All went fine and as some of the group wanted to go and canter, they took a different route. I am under instructions not to travel at high speeds because of the position and depth of that crack so as not to put strain on the hoof wall.

'Lillian' and I made our own way to the pub because the others wanted to canter. On the way there we had to cross a small stream. 'Mr F' refused to walk through it even though I tried for ages all kind of tactics. Then suddenly he decided to jump accross it!  Both myself and 'Mr F' were probably equally surprised at this as he had to think about it for a bit afterwards.

Surprisingly I found the jumping motion very easy without stirrups and I did not feel out of balance at any point. After this he was in high spirits and was up for anything, despite the heat!

We arrived at the pub were we met up with non-horsey friends and the rest of our group which got lost under the leadership of 'Tom' and they arrived quite a  bit later. Of course horses in a pub always attract a crowd: 'Oh my daughter loves horses, can she stroke one of yours it?' etc etc ... perhaps we could put out a money box: 'One stroke 50p ... '   Just kidding!

On the way back we got caught out by thunderstorms with quite heavy rain. But each rain shower was followed by warm sunshine, just enough to dry out in between.

When we reached 'Lillians' village,  'Mr F' and I separated and made our way home on our own once again. I enjoy my rides out with just 'Mr F'.  

 We had to ride through yet another thunderstorm but this time we stopped to watch it. In the midst of the heavy rain, surrounded by thunder and lightning,  'Mr F' ate grass without a care in the world, while I had the pleasure of observing a stunning display of lighting. A timeless moment!

'Mr F' August 2015 - trusted companion - somehow knows me too well!