Easter Egg Hunt

It was the day of the easter egg hunt which is organised by the local riding club. To be more precise: it is organised by 'Tom', 'Lillian's partner.

After a night of heavy rain, the morning wasn't looking much more promising. Although I sort of agreed to partake in the easter egg hunt, looking at the weather I wasn't so sure. Still, after yet another warming cup of tea (I will regret that later I am sure!) I went out to fetch 'Mr F'.

What I found in the field was best described as "Victor Meldrew". 

'Mr F' did come to greet me but he realised that I was somewhat dressed for riding ... which wasn't in his interest at all. 'What?! In this cold, wet and windy weather you want to go riding!?' 

With his nose up high, 'Mr F' decided to make for it up to the other end of the field, shooing 'Luke' to go ahead. Ah well, I can't blame him. I sure wasn't motivated myself. I busied myself with matters in the field and 'Mr F' couldn't leave it alone and came to look at what I was up to several times. Yet as soon as the head collar came up to his head, he was off.

Just as well I thought. I wasn't keen on going out either. I wandered back indoors to make myself yet  another warming cup of tea and decided to ring 'Lillian' and inform her that we admitedly were lacking the enthusiasm to partake in the easter egg hunt, solely due to the cold and wet weather.

However, when 'Lillian' turned up to fetch her horse she managed to 'twist my arm' and I decided to join last minute. Partly because I didn't want to let her down, and partly because I wanted to excersise 'Mr F'.

'Mr F' upon seeing that there was some action with moving trailers etc, decided that it was now suitable to turn up in the stable. He stood there with the face of: 'So come on, when are we leaving?' - 'Sigh ... temperamental horse!'.

With all this 'not making up our minds' business, 'Mr F' and I were of course late but we managed to be ready in record time. Booted and suited (hoof boots and tack) on in all of 35 minutes and all done camly but decisively.

Once we were on our way in the car, I realised that this will be a group ride of about 10 horses. The last two group rides I joined were quite disasterous - with me having a great deal of a struggle to keep 'Mr F' in check, and several times failing to do so, resulting in voluntary dismounting twice due to safety for both myself and 'Mr F'. If you want to know more, have a look here and here.

For a short moment I thought "Oh bummer ... I forgot all about the other participants!" But immediately I realised that this is exactly my problem: thinking what might happen, or what might not happen. Having expectations of myself  and of 'Mr F'  as well as intentions. I had already images in my head. All of this was limiting and not a good mental start point. While we drove to our start destination I was working on letting go of it all.

We unloaded, both 'Kitten' and 'Mr F' were relaxed and no sweating up. Both started to eat grass while everyone was trying to find some place to park their trailers in the fairly mudy fields.

I had to apply quite some diclipline not to letting my mind interfere with all its doubts and negativity, I wasn't allowing my ego to interfere. What is is ... and that's the end of it. We can only ever deal with the very moment.

And so the ride began.

Usually 'Mr F' would be dancing and jogging on the spot, wanting to be at the front of any group of horses he was part of. That is what he was trained to do as a race horse and he behaved like this on all the group rides before. 

This time however, he was much much more calm but I also realised that my ability to communicate with him through my seat / posture had increased by a great deal. We were communicating clearly, straight and simple.

We went into a little bit of wooded land where the easter eggs were hidden in tress, dangling off banners and other 'scary' (deliberately so to make it a challenge for the horses) objects. I have to say that 'Tom' did an excellent job thinking up of the little challenges and placing eggs all over the area.

'Mr F' (and I!) love exploring the woods and moving over or under obstacles. We went underneath the banner (which was very low, even he had to duck his head down), we went to pick up a bottle of wine guarded by 'scary' objects such as the plastic windmills, flags that were flapping in the wind and even a shopping bag which seemed especially intimidating. 

With people doing various challenges it meant that there was a bit of waiting time. Now waiting is one of those things 'Mr F' doesn't do when out in a big group. He suddenly was very unruly. Although there had been a bit of an incident: one of the other riders had fallen off and her horse was making a run for it, followed by one of the other riders on horseback. This may have unnerved him a little, seeing other horses run off while he couldn't.

I needed to distract him so we took on the wine bottle challenge. 'Mr F' thought that the little plastic windmill was rather frightening but he just stood still long enough for me to reach down to grab the bottle. 

As I no longer drink, the bottle was donated back to the riding club - and later on presented as a gift to the owner of the fields we were allowed access to for this event.

Homing in for the wine bottle, 'Mr F' not so sure about the plastic bag, the flags and the windmill.

 But he stood still-ish long enough for me to grab the bottle ... still a little pre-occupied with wanting to follow that other horse that had lost its rider and made a run for it.

And we also got a cream egg from out of one of the trees. That I ate of course!

After the easter egg hunt we continued with the ride and returned back for some lunch just in time before the heavens opened up again.

A very successful and fun day out. I learnt a lot today.

 

Over the moors ...

... and not so far away.

A relatively short notice decision to go on a ride with 'Lillian' and 'Caz'.

We loaded 'Mr F' and 'Kitten' early and left 'Buttercup Farm' at 8:30am to meet up with 'Caz' at her home.

Neither I nor 'Mr F' have ever been on the routes near 'Caz's home and it was just simply beautiful. There was all kinds of terrain, stoney, gravely, muddy and even some bog to ride through.

Some parts of the path were so stoney (due to greenlaning I guess) that we decided to get off and lead the horses. I was most impressed with 'Mr F's ability to navigate himself over the quite challenging terrain, not once did he stumble. It was most interesting to watch him, which I could as I was leading him, he would examine the ground carefully and plan where to put his feet. He is doing this very elegantly nowadays, he is almost a mountain horse!

Looking back: only 2 years ago he even struggled walking on an ordinary footpath. He has come a long way since! 

I had a bit of a revelation in terms of state of mind (or lack of, even better!). Things privately have been a little rough going but I have come to the conclusion that there is no point in resisting anything, not the circumstances, not what is happening, not even people. Not to have any expectations, not to have any intentions, but instaed to just 'be' in the moment. In fact just like the horses (and all other animals probably). They don't care how others 'feel', they don't plan ahead for weeks nor do they dwell on the past like we do.

Because whatever I imagine to happen in the future, even if it is 10 minutes away, is just 'imagination' and the same goes for the past. It is no longer, it is unreal. So no point thinking about it or being emotional about it. I had learnt to bit many years ago myself, again through another very rough set of circumstances.  Ovearll: there is no point spending time thinking / worrying about what we cannot possibly know, we can only guess.

And this is the attitude I had today on the ride. No longer did I 'resist' 'Mr F' ... I no longer did I tryguessing what he might do, I not longer tried thinking ahead what I should do as rider but was just there, in the moment. And with that I was aware of my surroundings, the people I rode with, anything that went on along the hedges ... his every single movement ... and so on.

The result was that I felt like I was glued to 'Mr F',  I was no longer tense. I felt very much at peace with everything. My body was 'Mr F's and his was mine, we functioned as one piece. I was quite taken by this experience but mostly by the peacefulness of it.

Trotting became effortless. Here I must add that by now I have learnt to post if it is a speedy trott. It took a while for me to build up the necessary muscles but today I noticed something else: beause I was no longer 'thinking', my body knew what to do. I didn't get involved, by this I mean I didn't get involved with thinking. I didn't resist it, nor did I question it but simply accepted it. And my body didn't get tired.

This was an important moment for me and suddenly a lot fell into place. 

'Lillian' and 'Caz' had a little canter while 'Mr F' and I went ahead trotting. I am not just yet ready for cantering in the open as I am not sure if I can stop 'Mr F'. He is an ex-racehorse afterall and I have seen him plenty of times very excited and out of his mind!

It was good to see 'Caz' having a good time and enjoying her horse once more. Her and 'Lillian' were enjoying a good chat while I peacefully spent the time just 'being'. 

Thanks to 'Lillian' for being the one that pursaded us to join and ignore our daily duties.

We all had a great time and enjoyed it very much and so did the horses. Here is looking forward to the next time!

'Where is that carrot?!' - 'Mr F'

An old friend returns

'Lillian' is bringing 'Luke' back to 'Buttercup Farm.' Great news! Him and 'Mr F' enjoy each other's company much and I too enjoy having 'Luke' around. 

'Luke' hasn't been ridden for nearly a year due to a leg injury. Although he was visited daily, he had become a little 'wild'. 'Buttercup Farm' is quite a safe place to start from and the place has a calming influence on them, especially if they are with 'Mr F'.

To get 'Luke' over to 'Buttercup Farm' he needed to go into the trailer. To make the journey as relaxing as possible for 'Luke' I suggested that 'Mr F' could give him company. 'Mr F' and I got ourselves ready and rode over to where 'Luke' was stationed and where 'Lillian' would await us with the trailer. 

I always have travel boots on 'Mr F' as they have in the past protected him several times.

Of course I couldn't ride him with them on so I strapped the travel boots together into a bundle and hung them over my shoulder. People gave us funny looks as they saw us ride. Bear in mind that I am very small and the travel boot for his hind leg is probably half my height! 

But I also wanted to see if 'Mr F' would cope with having some extra distraction on his back (the boots would every now and then touch is back just behind the pad). Nothing seemed to distract 'Mr F' from his job. He was a absolute star and has become so accustomed to me moving around on his back, either when mounting or dismounting (remember, no stirrups) and generally accepts anything I do up there. Which is great to know!

I arrived and we loaded the boys into the trailer. 'Luke' loaded perfectly, as though he'd been doing this every day.

It will be good to have 'Luke' back.

A snowy winter ride

It was time again to take 'Kitten' and 'Mr F' out with the trailer.

The forecast wasn't all that good but we decided to go anyway. Initially 2 other riders were to join us but their car broke down right before loading their horses (luckily before!).

We made our over to a lovely trail which is in summer very busy with cyclists, walkers and other riders. It was quite a bit higher up so we were expecting a little snow.

This time 'Mr F' did not sweat up at all. He was very relaxed and eager to get on the road.

'Kitten' - 'Lillian' - 'Mr F'   To give you an idea: I am smaller even than 'Lillian' ...

We were on horseback for a good 3 hours, although that was mostly walking. When in new surroundings, walking for 'Mr F' is more like marching so 'Kitten' spent much time trotting to catch us up, it's usually the other way round. Although more than 10 years her senior, 'Mr F' clearly is the fitter of the two. 'Mr F' is 23 years of age but he is still an athlete!

Both horses enjoyed the new surroundings, 'Mr F' especially so. He marches ahead, proudly and pleased with himself and any chance to explore something is keenly accepted.

Half way through the ride the snow really began to fall heavy and I wish I had bought those goggles I was planning on buying for some time. The snowflakes were quite cutting when they hit the open eye and most of the ride I spent either with one eye closed or head down.

But it was still pleasant, it was a different experience. Although I am sure that we were more bothered by it than the horses.

 'Lillian' on 'Kitten'.

Of all the waterproof gear out there, the good old Barbour / Driza-bone coats are the best! I have waxed mine at the beginning of the season and it has been through mud, thorny bushes and all kinds of other stuff and it keeps me warm and dry. 

And it is silent and doesn't make that annoying rustling noise most new-type waterproof gear produces.

After a good ride, two very smug horses and two frozen riders arrived back at the farm.