And we’re there...

[Trewsers]

Monkey is in the bad books today

He gets a bit manic about treats sometimes, he’ll try all different moves in quick succession to get the treat, and normally I tell him to stop and he does, but I laughed at him on Sunday because L has been bringing him apples from her tree but as she has run out he got manic. I obviously let it go too far.

This morning I’d called them down off the grass and they stood by the barn waiting for me to take rugs off, very politely, so I got some treats out. As I went to unbuckle his chest strap, he thought the treat was incoming and went to snatch it, teeth first, problem was he just got a mouthful of my arm!

It's a balance isnt it. Same with Zi, he loves loves ginger biscuits and my fault, I taught him tricks for treats when I wasn't riding him and doing ground work! So he often helpfully does the most silly / funny antics (part of his party piece) and expects a treat. This is all well and good and quite harmless most of the time unless I'm in his box with him and trying to skip out. Sometimes I will find a huge ginger head and then some teeth searching my back pocket / jeans waistband! He has been known to make skin contact too!!

 

[Jessey]

It's a balance isnt it. Same with Zi, he loves loves ginger biscuits and my fault, I taught him tricks for treats when I wasn't riding him and doing ground work! So he often helpfully does the most silly / funny antics (part of his party piece) and expects a treat. This is all well and good and quite harmless most of the time unless I'm in his box with him and trying to skip out. Sometimes I will find a huge ginger head and then some teeth searching my back pocket / jeans waistband! He has been known to make skin contact too!!

Yep that’s exactly it, Monkey doesn’t check pockets thankfully, but he’s convinced there is always treats in my hands, even if I haven’t given him any in a week! I should stop hand feeding them to him, but with our sandy soil throwing them on the floor isn’t an option and he’s so food motivated it’s a great training tool.

 

[Jessey]

First ride in almost 2 weeks, but he was as good as gold

We just did about 45 minutes and timed it just right, as we stepped back into the barn it started raining again!

 

[Jessey]

We got out again this afternoon, it was so dark and gloomy even at 3pm though!

We had a pleasant ride though, I wore my riding skirt for the first time, although it was still 9c I was really feeling the cold! Thankfully Monkey didn’t mind the skirt, all 3 paces and no objection and it definitely kept me much warmer

When we got back I got the Talking buttons out for the first time. The only target training I’ve done before was to present his ribs to me for mounting and that was before I backed him. I started with the treat button and of course he had it figured out in about 3 treats and I could move it around and he’d press it for his reward! I’ll introduce the scratch button during the week and then some decision making between the 2. Rug on and rug off buttons will be later. It’s going to be an interesting experiment!

 

[Jessey]

Another go with the button tonight, in either hand close to my body, out to the sides, above my head and he understands, as soon as I put it down somewhere he found it much harder! But he did eventually start to understand and I think with practice he’ll enjoy it.

I then gave Jess a turn, she doesn’t do things touching her nose at the best of times, and was thoroughly offended at being asked to touch it. I don’t think she’ll take to it!

 

[Jessey]

I had today off, to recoup from the insane working for the last month and a half and I couldn’t drum up the energy to ride, but I did lunge. Monkey was surprisingly well behaved given how little attention he’s been getting.

This evening I had a fiddle with the Freeform on Monkey, he’s gone into his lean winter shape and my treed saddle isn’t sitting quite right. I’ll ride in it tomorrow.

I also took my new massage gun down to see what the kids thought. Monkey was wide eyed initially but relaxed into it so much his knees buckled at one point


I put it on Jess after, she leaned into it on her body but on her lower neck she started quite violently head shaking, didn’t move away though. When I use it on my calves the soles of my feet itch insanely, but it feels so good on the muscles, so I can only assume it does similar to her.

 

[Jessey]

We got out this morning in the new(ish) saddle (I’ve only had it on him a couple of times back in June when I got it) but it seems to be working well. I hopped off a couple of times to tweak the stirrup position and Monkey was very patient with me


We disturbed a herd of deer napping in the forest, they’d stood up by the time I got my camera on! They’re right between his ears, there’s about a dozen of them.

He’s so good, just stands and watches as the bound off through the bracken.

It was a lovely morning for it

 

[Jessey]

We had a good ride, did a steady 5 miles and it was beautiful and sunny but chilly as soon as we were out of the sun in the forest, I came back stinging and with a stinking headache, even my hands were cold and I very rarely want gloves even mid winter!



I think the Freeform is going to work for us, each tweak it gets more comfortable for me and Monkey seems to like it

 

[Jessey]

We had a lovely ride this morning, I wasn’t sure we’d make it before the rain but we did an hour and didn’t get wet I was all bundled up for the rain that never came and stayed toasty warm


I think he’s been missing treats since I’m not riding so much now it’s dark, he just stood in the driveway looking hopeful long after I left to unlock and open the gate

 

[Trewsers]

We had a lovely ride this morning, I wasn’t sure we’d make it before the rain but we did an hour and didn’t get wet I was all bundled up for the rain that never came and stayed toasty warm

View attachment 133662View attachment 133663
I think he’s been missing treats since I’m not riding so much now it’s dark, he just stood in the driveway looking hopeful long after I left to unlock and open the gate
View attachment 133664

Aw bless him, I know the hopeful face - I think it must be a gelding thing. Zi does it too.

 

[PePo]

I'm so glad things are working out well for you both still He's so lovely & a credit to your hardwork X

 

[Jessey]

We had a good ride yesterday, I actually put a mild sweat on him for once! We did a lot of trot work as he felt a little jangly going out, so I wanted to focus his brain and he was as good as gold.

There was a lot of new trees and branches down overnight, it had obviously been windy!

 

[Jessey]

Got out again this afternoon, and Monkey was 98% foot perfect

He was pretty chilled and didn’t fuss about things he could have on the way out, didn’t even fuss about passing the highland cows that he’s not very keen on

He didn’t mind the river although its belly deep at the moment, this is the bridge we go through the river under as it’s too narrow to ride across

we got a little further up and I asked for another trot, and he leapt into action but I caught him before he got carried away then I asked for canter and he concertina’d and bounced, so we trotted for another mile or so before I asked again. Stupidly I asked alongside a big pit, and he cantered sideways right towards it, but sit-up and leg-on straightened him up enough to get past it but he was still coiled and pinging! I tried twice more, he was totally calm in between but could not canter forwards. I’m not sure what was bothering him, perhaps his wet spatz (I had 2 on, both on the off side) will try again tomorrow.

 

[Jessey]

I didn’t get out yesterday, my brain went down a rabbit hole that he was behaving oddly because of the saddle. I’m not sure it is as I’ve cantered him fine in it up until now, but I’m still not entirely happy in it myself so down the hole I went!

This morning I fiddled with the saddle, stirrup and seat placement again and I think it’s just a hair too short for me, with my knee as far forward as I dare have it, my calf sits on the back edge of the flap which hurts

With my stirrups down a hole it’s much more comfortable but then my stirrup leather digs into my calf and I don’t feel secure like I’m too far forwards on him. So I’ve booked a saddler to come in 3 weeks to try some new saddles

He was good today but I didn’t canter him as he was feeling a bit tired, when I thought about it he’s done as much this week as in the last 2 months, so I’ve probably worn him out!

 

[Jessey]

L&L came over today and we went out for a lovely ride, both ponies were a bit excited so we mostly just walked and talked which was so nice in the sunshine


Interestingly L commented that the Freeform really tips my pelvis forward compared to normal, so maybe my rabbit hole wasn’t a duff!

 

[Jessey]

I got Monkey out this morning, I’d been warm doing jobs so only put a light jacket on and was freezing about 20 minutes out, so we didn’t go far

 

[Jessey]

We had a nice ride with L&L today, we both upped our hi viz game


We had a slow one and just bimbled around, practiced walking over logs and let Monkey lead us down a new track that’s appeared through one block of forest.

As L’s trailer was there I tried Monkey loading on it, I wasn’t sure what he’d think to a different trailer but after a good sniff he was happy to load and lead out the front ramp (my front ramp doesn’t work so not something he’s done before) and went on and off repeatedly, the last time he went without me (I have a really long lead rope) as I was chatting

 

[Jessey]

We had another nice ride with L&L today, they’re coming over most days that I’m off to make the most of it the sun even came out to join us again today

He’s grown up so much this year, he’s finally out of that gangly stage!

 

[Jessey]

The weather was good today apart from the wind, and as dry as it’s been we’ve been having trees come down in even light wind so I didn’t fancy the forest today, so I rode in the field.

I have always enjoyed schooling, but I do not enjoy schooling Monkey so I need to do it regularly so he gets it! He just doesn’t get going in circles and gets slower and slower and harder and harder work. Onwards and upwards!

 

[Jessey]

The wind finally dropped a bit today, I’m glad I didn’t risk going out in it, there’s multiple trees down on the tracks.

We had a nice ride, Monkey seemed to be happy to be hacking rather than schooling

I went back to the tree’s saddle for a few rides but he was less happy in it, so back in the Freeform today, which I’m less happy in, the 5th can’t come soon enough!